We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Grrrrrrrr AA Gold Warranty
Options
Afternoon all,
Apologies for the long post, but looking for some advice, Mods please feel free to move this to consumer rights if you believe it is better suited there. I’m aware that AA Warranty monitors these forums for their negative feedback so everything written here is correct.
20 Months ago I purchased a Nissan Xtrail from a main Dealer, I paid extra for an 2 year AA Gold warranty with additional cover for turbo chargers and other things. Anyway 20 Months of trouble free motoring bar wear and tear items such as brakes, tyres etc and the engine management light popped on. Took the vehicle to my local garage who stuck it on the diagnostic equipment and said it was a faulty EGR valve.
Now when I took the policy out I was told it was a main dealer only warranty so I took it to my Nissan Dealer who has done all the services and told them the independent garage have already read the fault code as EGR valve. They said they would need to do their own diagnostic test first and that it was £70.
I asked them before they did that to confirm with AA warranty that the EGR valve was a covered part, which they did. They then read the diagnostic code as EGR Valve Seized and reported to AA Warranty who immediately turned round and said no not covered it’s down to a build up of carbon and not a sudden failure, its wear and tear. I asked them how they could be so definitive given the part hadn’t even been removed yet, and they said it always was.
I told them I didn’t agree and asked for their company details and FCA registration number, which they were very reluctant to give. Eventually they did and I found out they aren’t the AA but are Motorway Direct PLC. They said that they would re look at the complaint once the part was removed.
Anyway I authorised Nissan to remove the part and repair the vehicle and I would foot the bill if the AA warranty wouldn’t. The part was removed, The Garage tested the EGR Valve which wasn’t seized, and they suspected it was the electronics either the transformer or solenoid. With this information the garage went back to AA warranty and they asked for pictures, a video was even sent showing the technician being able to manually operate the EGR Valve.
I have paid for the work, the garage gave me a bit of a discount and have been nothing but helpful in trying to deal with AA warranty. I have the old part in my possession and have taken it to another garage who will also examine it for me, but their initial examination states the Valve is not seized and opening and closing when operated manually, there is carbon build up consistent with it coming off of a car that has been used, but that this wouldn’t cause the failure.
AA warranty say that it is still down to wear and tear and a build up of carbon and won’t reimburse me. I’ve asked them for a deadlock letter stating we cannot reach agreement, which they are going to send.
So the question is where do I go from here, I am tired of dealing with the terrible customer service at AA warranty and believe they are just hoping I go away, I’m quite happy to take them to small claims court with the evidence I already have, but as they are covered by the FCA would this be a better avenue?
Apologies for the long post, but looking for some advice, Mods please feel free to move this to consumer rights if you believe it is better suited there. I’m aware that AA Warranty monitors these forums for their negative feedback so everything written here is correct.
20 Months ago I purchased a Nissan Xtrail from a main Dealer, I paid extra for an 2 year AA Gold warranty with additional cover for turbo chargers and other things. Anyway 20 Months of trouble free motoring bar wear and tear items such as brakes, tyres etc and the engine management light popped on. Took the vehicle to my local garage who stuck it on the diagnostic equipment and said it was a faulty EGR valve.
Now when I took the policy out I was told it was a main dealer only warranty so I took it to my Nissan Dealer who has done all the services and told them the independent garage have already read the fault code as EGR valve. They said they would need to do their own diagnostic test first and that it was £70.
I asked them before they did that to confirm with AA warranty that the EGR valve was a covered part, which they did. They then read the diagnostic code as EGR Valve Seized and reported to AA Warranty who immediately turned round and said no not covered it’s down to a build up of carbon and not a sudden failure, its wear and tear. I asked them how they could be so definitive given the part hadn’t even been removed yet, and they said it always was.
I told them I didn’t agree and asked for their company details and FCA registration number, which they were very reluctant to give. Eventually they did and I found out they aren’t the AA but are Motorway Direct PLC. They said that they would re look at the complaint once the part was removed.
Anyway I authorised Nissan to remove the part and repair the vehicle and I would foot the bill if the AA warranty wouldn’t. The part was removed, The Garage tested the EGR Valve which wasn’t seized, and they suspected it was the electronics either the transformer or solenoid. With this information the garage went back to AA warranty and they asked for pictures, a video was even sent showing the technician being able to manually operate the EGR Valve.
I have paid for the work, the garage gave me a bit of a discount and have been nothing but helpful in trying to deal with AA warranty. I have the old part in my possession and have taken it to another garage who will also examine it for me, but their initial examination states the Valve is not seized and opening and closing when operated manually, there is carbon build up consistent with it coming off of a car that has been used, but that this wouldn’t cause the failure.
AA warranty say that it is still down to wear and tear and a build up of carbon and won’t reimburse me. I’ve asked them for a deadlock letter stating we cannot reach agreement, which they are going to send.
So the question is where do I go from here, I am tired of dealing with the terrible customer service at AA warranty and believe they are just hoping I go away, I’m quite happy to take them to small claims court with the evidence I already have, but as they are covered by the FCA would this be a better avenue?
0
Comments
-
Hello.
For future reference Warranty Direct covers the ERG valve even as a wear andtear item. I have used them for years and have successfully claimed withouthassle when problems arose. Other warranty companies, like the AA, don't insureas many items and seem to have too many restrictions.
In your current situation I would think it’s a case of learning from thisand spreading the news at how inefficient AA warrant is and look to use anothercompany in future.
0 -
Are you sure? Check all the complaints about warranty direct. Terrible reviews.
If its just sticking because of the carbon buildup then all it needs is a cleanup not replacement.Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
OP states that the carbon build up isn't the cause.0
-
Yes there is carbon on the valve, but it's an exhaust part and this is to be expected, the valve itself still opens and closes when pushed with a finger.
The problem according to Nissan is the actuator.
I wouldn't touch AA warranty with a barge pole in future as they instictively look for a way to avoid honouring it.
As I believe I am in the right, do i try and recoup my losses through a small claim or throuigh the FCA ?0 -
forgotmyname wrote: »Are you sure? Check all the complaints about warranty direct. Terrible reviews.
I was sceptical about the claim that WD would cover perfectly predictable and common carbon build-up, too - but a quick look at their website says that they make a sales point of covering wear-and-tear on a wide range of components, paying a mileage- and age-based %age of cost - 100% parts and labour for <60k mile cars... Sounds like the policyholder can't possibly lose, right?
Yeh, right. My mild scepticism turns to full-blown alarm bells. No business can survive if they regularly pay out more than they take in. Basic economics, right? So they MUST pay out, on average, less than the cost of the policy. A chunk less, because they also have to pay for admin/marketing/etc.
Which leaves only one option to stay in business... Find any grounds possible to deny a big chunk of the inevitable claims...0 -
The more I read about these aftermarket warranties, the more I think it's better to just put the money you would spend on a warranty into a savings account and keep it aside for when the car goes wrong. These warranties seem to cover !!!!!! all!0
-
I also had a Motorway plc policy supplied by the RAC. What a waste of paper.
The first thing they did was to go through my service history with a fine toothcomb to try and find a way out of paying, which they succeeded in doing. Never again.0 -
Well, I think the general opinion is they don't wish to pay out, but the question is now I am not happy with their decision, and believe I have enough independant evidence to back this up is HOW TO PROCEED?0
-
If you haven't already done so, make a formal complaint to the warranty company.
If that doesn't work, contact the Financial Ombudsman Service http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/If it sticks, force it.
If it breaks, well it wasn't working right anyway.0 -
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 351.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards