Car Breakdown Discussion

TP71

For the money I'd say it's great.
My ex, when we were still together, called recovery just because she'd hit some debris in the road and it had caught in her wheel making it sound awful. I told her to get recovery and if it was nothing we'd pay for it if AutoAid didn't. It was nothing, but AutoAid paid anyway, as she'd been subject to "an incident," as they put it. Can't argue with that.
And also, on my bike, I got a puncture heading up the M1 on a Sunday evening. The recovery people who turned up recovered the bike to my home as my local bike shop was closed, so I could keep it in the garage securely, and I had to pay nothing - they said they'd just bill AutoAid direct (I guess they did, as I never got any bill!) and then I got my local bike shop to come and collect the bike on the Tuesday morning to replace the tyre, and AutoAid paid for that too. Ideal. Two journeys with a sick bike paid.
Not only that, but I lost the receipt for the journey to my local bike shop in the back of their van. THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER it was discovered and I sent it to AutoAid, thinking they'd tell me to ... f ... f ... fff ... forget it, but within four days the money for the recovery element of the invoice was on a cheque and in my bank.
So within the terms of the insurance, I'd say they're great. And they have even paid me for things they could have told me to forget.
Recommended. :-)

Thelionsleepstonight

I am about to renew with Autoaid, but am going to France for a week in June so want European cover for that. My car is 13 years old. What is the cheapest way to do this as Autoaid don't do overseas I believe?

kitler

Just discovered that the offer on the 'normal' RAC website of free At Home cover does NOT apply if you go via Topcashback (a different version of the RAC website comes up if you click the link in TCB) - that can make a big difference in any savings you think you are making!

Quentin

Thelionsleepstonight wrote: »

I am about to renew with Autoaid, but am going to France for a week in June so want European cover for that. My car is 13 years old. What is the cheapest way to do this as Autoaid don't do overseas I believe?

Try kwikfit (not a recommendation, but they are cheap)

den169

Well looks like Autoaid is on the way out just had a letter stating there selling out to right choice insurance.Bet the prices start jumping up from now on.

joe134

den169 wrote: »

Well looks like Autoaid is on the way out just had a letter stating there selling out to right choice insurance.Bet the prices start jumping up from now on.

I've had that letter too, and mine is due for renewal in a few weeks time.They say service should not change, but, larger companies usually mean higher prices.AA.RAC.:eek:
looking at kwikfit, but the name alone gives me the jitters, but it's a good price , for breakdown? My car is 4 year old.
Kwikfit and Auto aid, both sub their breakdowns to the nearest service, so you could get the same guy with either company, if you breakdown?
As Autoaid have 0800 for mobiles(thanks Quentin), that's a big bonus if your credit is low, on payg, like me.I always leave my old phone with credit in the car for that purpose only.

elaine241

Hello just a quick question. I have an older 4x4 that I tow a horse box with. It has never given me any trouble (touch wood!) but I would like to get break down cover just in case. What would be the best option in my case? I have another car that I use for work but neither vehicle does a lot of mileage. If I take a personal policy would it cover Dobbin in the box? Lol

faddy

My car broke down around midnight last Monday. Phoned Autoaid, agent turned up within half an hour and diagnosed a dead alternator (it turned out to be a slipping belt but to be fair to the guy it was dark and p***ing down). Was recovered to home.

Late Tuesday rang their control centre again to confirm that I was covered to have car taken to a garage (since recovery to home was at night). Told that it was, but had to be the day after the initial recovery. I expressed my disappointment and was told they might be able to do it the following day, I should ring and ask. I also enquired whether I could use a garage's own recovery service and reclaim, to be told pay and reclaim had been suspended. The woman in the control centre seemed unsure about any of this, and confirmed that the control centre is run by a separate organisation from Autoaid (maybe the new owner?).

I then rang Autoaid admin, who said
- the only restriction on recovery to local garage after night time recovery to home is that it can't be booked in advance
- pay and reclaim has been "suspended for a trial period", though he didn't expect it to return
- all service has to be booked through control centre, you can no longer call out garage of choice and reclaim

Rang control centre on Wednesday and there was no problem getting car recovered to local garage.

joe134

faddy wrote: »

My car broke down around midnight last Monday. Phoned Autoaid, agent turned up within half an hour and diagnosed a dead alternator (it turned out to be a slipping belt but to be fair to the guy it was dark and p***ing down). Was recovered to home.

Late Tuesday rang their control centre again to confirm that I was covered to have car taken to a garage (since recovery to home was at night). Told that it was, but had to be the day after the initial recovery. I expressed my disappointment and was told they might be able to do it the following day, I should ring and ask. I also enquired whether I could use a garage's own recovery service and reclaim, to be told pay and reclaim had been suspended. The woman in the control centre seemed unsure about any of this, and confirmed that the control centre is run by a separate organisation from Autoaid (maybe the new owner?).

I then rang Autoaid admin, who said
- the only restriction on recovery to local garage after night time recovery to home is that it can't be booked in advance
- pay and reclaim has been "suspended for a trial period", though he didn't expect it to return
- all service has to be booked through control centre, you can no longer call out garage of choice and reclaim

Rang control centre on Wednesday and there was no problem getting car recovered to local garage.

Hi, just renewed mine yesterday, nothing said over the phone.
said I would get an e-mail and docs via post.
no e-mail.?
If pay and claim has been suspended, does it auto become like aa and rac?
will see what my new docs say when they come.
PS.How did you pay then, or didn't you??
Was the local garage, a garage of your choice?? or theirs.

faddy

joe134 wrote: »

Hi, just renewed mine yesterday, nothing said over the phone.
said I would get an e-mail and docs via post.
no e-mail.?
If pay and claim has been suspended, does it auto become like aa and rac?
will see what my new docs say when they come.
PS.How did you pay then, or didn't you??
Was the local garage, a garage of your choice?? or theirs.

I didn't have to pay. Local garage (actually auto electrician) was my choice. I was told it had to be within 20 miles of home.