Car Breakdown Discussion

lyndilou1

Hi
I had the same thing happen to me with GreenFlag.

davew9999

Just thought I'd let you know that RAC's online price has gone up to £60 and your guide still shows £45. The cashback on Quidco and TopCashback is both £22 now and so the total is £38 and not £20 anymore.

BarneyTwelveson

I'm quite surprised that MSE are still recommending the AutoAid cover. The website is clearly quite misleading and assuming your policy is as per their policy wording there is a very good chance that people think they are covered and are not!

The website clearly states:

"Your legal spouse, civil or common law partner is covered under our Car Breakdown Recovery policy for no additional cost!*

However the current policy wording states:

“If the vehicle cannot be driven as a result of a breakdown which happens while you or your legal spouse or civil partner are driving”

The website clearly has an "*” in two places and yet is not referenced at all on that page.

I know MSE have added a single line on their page saying "the policy is being updated" regarding partners but an insurer will likely refer to your policy wording in the event of a claim.

Buyer beware.

murphydavid

BarneyTwelveson

“If the vehicle cannot be driven as a result of a breakdown which happens while you or your legal spouse or civil partner are driving”

I've read this a number of times and as it stands on its own I have no idea what its relevance is. No time to look it up but - If that condition exists which it normally does when you are broken down then what?

EdGasketTheSecond

Phone them up to come out and help you?

TheBeeMan

Hi all, hopefully this is the correct place to post this question. Your advice would be much appreciated.


AA Breakdown member since 2016.


Questions:
Do the AA need to notify you before you contract is due for renewal?


Should they be telling me the amount due for renewal?


Are they just allowed to increase the premiums with payment via direct debit and without notification?



I've never received an email, letter or call regarding this and my premium is now at £37.45 per month.


They started at £13 per month between 07/2017 & 06/2018 ( Im guesing this is the Introductory offer)


Increased to £29.24 between 06/2018 & 04/2019


Increased again to £37.45 between 06/2019 to present day.


No notification ever regarding increases or payments going forward. I have also previously asked for Auto Renweal to not be used on my account. Doesn't look like this has been done.


Do I have any right to a refund as no notification has ever been given to me regarding my cover and increase of premiums?


Cheers all

murphydavid

addition

TheBeeMan wrote: »

Hi all, hopefully this is the correct place to post this question. Your advice would be much appreciated.


AA Breakdown member since 2016.


Questions:
Do the AA need to notify you before you contract is due for renewal?


Should they be telling me the amount due for renewal?


Are they just allowed to increase the premiums with payment via direct debit and without notification?



I've never received an email, letter or call regarding this and my premium is now at £37.45 per month.


They started at £13 per month between 07/2017 & 06/2018 ( Im guesing this is the Introductory offer)


Increased to £29.24 between 06/2018 & 04/2019


Increased again to £37.45 between 06/2019 to present day.


No notification ever regarding increases or payments going forward. I have also previously asked for Auto Renweal to not be used on my account. Doesn't look like this has been done.


Do I have any right to a refund as no notification has ever been given to me regarding my cover and increase of premiums?


Cheers all

Sounds awful. I note from Google search that a number of people are also complaining about this very bad policy. What I can't quite understand is who is the bank you have your direct Direct Debit with. I have Barclaycard and First Direct and if I cancel any auto-renewal with anyone (which I always do to get the joining bonus if there is one) I simultaneously use online banking and cancel the direct debit myself with my bank. That way it cannot be accessed. I may be wrong but I think that when you take out a direct debit you get a direct debit guarantee statement. I have had hundreds of them but never actually read one but I suggest in this case you take the trouble to do so.
https://www.smartdebit.co.uk/what-is-the-direct-debit-guarantee/

TheBeeMan

Sounds awful. I note from Google search that a number of people are also complaining about this very bad policy. What I can't quite understand is who is the bank you have your direct Direct Debit with. I have Barclaycard and First Direct and if I cancel any auto-renewal with anyone (which I always do to get the joining bonus if there is one) I simultaneously use online banking and cancel the direct debit myself with my bank. That way it cannot be accessed. I may be wrong but I think that when you take out a direct debit you get a direct debit guarantee statement. I have had hundreds of them but never actually read one but I suggest in this case you take the trouble to do so.

Thanks for your advice.

I bank with Barclays myself and wasn't aware of the Guarantee scheme. I will for sure contact my bank and check. But as the guaantee is only for 2 months past direct debits, this wont solve my issue with the AA.

Being Disabled the large premiums without notification has hit hard.

Hopefully someone else might be able to shed some light on wether the AA need to notify me the customer of price increases when in or out of contract. They must have some legal obligation, otherwise its "Carte Blanche".

murphydavid

Yes sorry its not a lot of help but

At least you can stop it happening again next year by contacting Barclaycard.
See
https://www.barclays.co.uk/help/payments/standing-orders/cancel

Unfortunately it is a recurring theme
See
(2014) https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4971158/unauthorized-auto-renew-payment-taken-by-aa

Richard_BA

Just a word of warning if you have an RAC Policy and think you have cover if involved in an accident
please read the terms and conditions.

Despite All the paperwork saying
"Free Accident Care"
"If you are involved in an accident we will recover you"

There is nothing free about it they will charge you, if you have the time to wait on hold and go through all the verification's etc they will then explain that they charge for the service.