Car Breakdown Discussion

theshed

Unfortunately auto-renew is often hidden in the small print. And they word it like they are doing you a favour !
Probably not much you can do but worth a complaint all the same.

grassmarket

CBC were good way to find cheap Euro breakdown insurance. Far cheaper than AutoAid (our UK breakdown cover) with AutoAid, who were eye-wateringly expensive for the Euro add-on. 

Ad with hire car extras - where it’s also far cheaper to get add-one like excess cover from a different provider than your car hire itself. Horses for courses!

ChocolateWombat

Shockingly bad experience with auto aid today.

When I renewed my policy in the summer, I could see the new clause of higher charge for cars 16 years old.  As my car was 15 years old I qualified for the old standard price. Even had a conversation with an adviser to confirm when renewing.

Today, firstly when I rang with a flat tyre, they said I wasn’t covered as car now 16 years old and I’d have to pay £100.  I explained about my previous conversation and the recovery was booked, on the basis I’d have to pay £100 when I got home unless they could evidence I was covered.  Not happy.

Later they confirmed I was covered.  However, needless stress had been added to the stress of already having flat tyre that wasn’t needed.

I was told the wait would be about 90 mins.  This was after I’d already been on the call/waiting for policy to be checked for over 30 mins.After 90 mins and no sign of them or contact I range again to be told the truck was delayed by 10 mins.  20 mins later, nothing.  Called again and got same message.  Waited 20 mins and nothing.  By now, desperate for loo and no toilets nearby.  Phoned again and was told there had been a problem and truck would be leaving and be with me in 35-40 mins.  Shad already been over 3 hours.  Cried down phone.  Was put onto supervisor.  They told me to walk to restaurant 20 mins away for loo and said they would book another truck too in case first didn’t turn up and get back to me to confirm it.  They didn’t get back to me.  45 mins later, so at the 4 hour point the truck arrived.  At that point AutoAid called me for the first time to see if the truck was there.

I was a woman alone with a child and I was left in the pouring rain for over 4 hours.

Needless to say I will be filing a complaint.

Slappmeister

Always worth a haggle! …..Just had my AA breakdown renewal price for this year for an incredible £438!! (Both me and my wife for roadside, recovery and homestart… was £367 last year) so I got an online quote from the RAC for equivalent cover of £147 (“special offer” for new customers, normally priced at £246). I then phoned the AA, and was sat on hold for approx 30 minutes, I then told them I needed a discount to consider renewal, citing the RAC price.

He put it straight down to £278.

I then told him that wasn’t enough so I was still going to leave, so he put it down to £175!!!

Thus saving myself £263 happy days! Thanks to the advice on this website, that's a great saving.

Lungboy

The most recent version of the Breakdown Cover article (https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/breakdown-cover/) doesn't mention Green Flag at all. Is there any reason?

Johnmcl7

Lungboy said:

The most recent version of the Breakdown Cover article (https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/breakdown-cover/) doesn't mention Green Flag at all. Is there any reason?

I wondering the same, my RAC renewal has come in at £180, I think I can get the same cover for £120 with AA and Green Flag are £105. However I'm concerned they're not even listed or mentioned on the guide here.

Carman999

Anyone have any dealings good or otherwise with LV=Britannia Rescue? I see that they don't cover travel to and from sporting events, so if I'm on the way home from paragliding, golf or rambling then I'm stuffed if I understand that right. Think I'll give them a call. 

theshed

Carman999 said:

Anyone have any dealings good or otherwise with LV=Britannia Rescue? I see that they don't cover travel to and from sporting events, so if I'm on the way home from paragliding, golf or rambling then I'm stuffed if I understand that right. Think I'll give them a call. 

That's a bit random. What would that matter if you broke down ?

PixelPound

AA have a 50% discount until the end of July.

Single car cover £74. Add National breakdown  (I prefer them to take me home and not to a local garage) and it goes to £59.90. Hopefully cashback tracks and that comes down. 

remember to untick the auto renew in the hidden dropdown.

jaizan

nic_c said:

AA have a 50% discount until the end of July.

Single car cover £74. Add National breakdown  (I prefer them to take me home and not to a local garage) and it goes to £59.90. Hopefully cashback tracks and that comes down. 

remember to untick the auto renew in the hidden dropdown.

Thank you !      A good price and no messing around waiting for cashbacks.    Convenient timing for me too.