AA Breakdown Repair cover. Is it legal?

AdrianC

spartadomingo65 wrote: »

If I had known the resulting warning light - indicating a fault on my steering mechanism - was potentially dangerous

How many times do you have to be told that it wasn't?

Once again...

ESP - Electronic Stability Program - does nothing UNTIL you exceed the grip available. In other words, until you're driving inappropriately for the conditions.

Then and ONLY then would the fact that the ESP is inactive leave you in exactly the same position as if your car did not have ESP fitted.

If the problem with the rack was not down to a faulty steering position sensor in the rack, then it could not have been related to the low battery.

If the problem with the steering was faulty electronic power steering (does your car have it? You don't appear to have mentioned what the car is), then - yes - it could have been both dangerous and related to the low battery, but would have been immediately obvious to you on driving the car.

JimmyTheWig

spartadomingo65 wrote: »

I have every right to expect a duty of care from the AA and therefore why did the patrol man opt not to do a diagnostic check ?

Listen, I don't know anything about cars but many people on this thread (with no reason to defend the AA) who do have said that what the patrol man said was reasonable.
It may turn out that he was wrong, but that doesn't mean that what he said wasn't reasonable.

Gloomendoom

I have experienced an ESP problem twice. Both instances were triggered by a disconnected or a dead battery (the car was left undriven for over a month.)

In the first instance I took the car straight to my local dealer for a check over but the ESP lamp went out before I got there. The OBD system had stored a historic code indicating that there had been a problem with the steering angle sensor. However, simply driving the car recalibrated the sensor and the fault had gone away.

The second time it happened, I just drove the car for a few miles and, sure enough, the ESP lamp extinguished.

I can actually make the ESP warning lamp light up at will by turning off the ESP manually. My car doesn't instantly turn into a death trap at the flick of a switch.

Based on my experience, the AA man gave the OP good advice.

Rover_Driver

spartadomingo65 wrote: »

First of all

The Policy in no place says the breakdown can be limited to one cause!

It doesn't, but they have to be cause(s) of the breakdown, as the warning light was not a cause of the breakdown, and did not cause a subsequent breakdown, (an ESP fault would not cause a breakdown) it would not be covered under the breakdown insurance

Paperbird

AdrianC wrote: »

How many times do you have to be told that it wasn't?

Once again...

ESP - Electronic Stability Program - does nothing UNTIL you exceed the grip available. In other words, until you're driving inappropriately for the conditions.

Then and ONLY then would the fact that the ESP is inactive leave you in exactly the same position as if your car did not have ESP fitted.

If the problem with the rack was not down to a faulty steering position sensor in the rack, then it could not have been related to the low battery.

If the problem with the steering was faulty electronic power steering (does your car have it? You don't appear to have mentioned what the car is), then - yes - it could have been both dangerous and related to the low battery, but would have been immediately obvious to you on driving the car.

How many times do you have to read what the OP has put to understand it. The GARAGE TOLD HER SHE HAD A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FAULT.

I have the same cover and after the AA replaced my alternator when the engine was started the engine fault light was on. The patrolman connected up to his computer to check what the fault was. It was an air flow meter fault code due to him disconnecting it before disconnecting the battery but if the same fault code had come on again after being cleared showing that the air flow meter was faulty I would expect it to be covered by the warranty even though that was not the reason for the original callout.
The patrolman should have cleared all warning lights to check they were caused by the flat battery, if he had done this the OP would have known there was a problem with the ESP as the fault light would have come on again.
The original patrolman was wrong to tell the OP there was nothing wrong with the ESP without checking.

According to the owners forum for my car fault lights caused by a low battery some will clear by turning the ignition on and off others need up to 40 starts before they delete themselves depending on what system they relate to ie. engine, brakes, transmission.

AdrianC

Paperbird wrote: »

How many times do you have to read what the OP has put to understand it. The GARAGE TOLD HER SHE HAD A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FAULT.

Yes, I've been told that by garages in the past, too. They're very often talking up something very minor and perfectly safe.

Without more information than has been given, we can only work on those given facts and an understanding of motor vehicle technology. And, given what we're working with, "...THE GARAGE TOLD HER..." sounds like (charitably to all involved) a misinterpretation based on misunderstanding and a desire to hear what she wants to hear - both of which the OP has already demonstrated repeatedly and clearly in this thread.

Unless, of course, you think there's a plausible scenario that's been missed?

Rover_Driver

Paperbird wrote: »

How many times do you have to read what the OP has put to understand it. The GARAGE TOLD HER SHE HAD A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FAULT.

It may be a potentially dangerous steering fault, but it didn't cause a breakdown, and the ESP warning light would not indicate a fault with the steering in any case.

Which is why it would not be covered by the breakdown insurance.

Popsicle64

I wouldn't go the small claims court, please contact the Financial Ombudsman Service. Consumer help lineMonday to Friday – 8am to 8pm / Saturday – 9am to 1pm / Tel 0800 023 4 567

I recently had a claim with the AA which was turned down. I had paid for the AA Breakdown Repair Service which covers you if you break down and they can't fix it at the side of the road and they tow you to a garage. The cam belt had broken. The AA rep towed the car to a garage and I asked if it was okay to get it fixed and would the AA pay and he said yes. When I put my claim in the AA said that I should have got a claim no off them first before getting the car fixed and then refused to pay because we didn't have a receipt for the last time the cam belt had gone which was just under 5 years before and the AA were called out to that too. Anyway after receiving the letter from the AA justifying why they were not going to pay I sent their letter to the Financial Ombudsman and 6 weeks later received a letter from the Financial Ombudsman stating that the AA should pay in full (nearly £400) plus 8% interest on top.

Firstly get confirmation from the AA in writing the reason they are not paying your claim. Please then send it on with your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman.

Hope this helps.

tykesi

Not really seeing as the OP was having trouble back in September last year. I'd imagine he's got it sorted now!

TadleyBaggie

And the OP hasn't logged back on since the 24th September, so don't expect a response.