RAC renewals not valid.

littlecub

Hello, what is your take on this..

I have been with the RAC for the past 5 years, letting my cover auto renew every year. This year my renewal letter came through and I have been shopping around since every penny counts more than ever, it was then that I discovered the membership I have is not available on cars over 10 years old with the options I have (just road side).

Curious if the cover I have been paying for for the past 3 years is valid I called them and they confirmed if I did have to call them out it would be at this point they tell me my cover is useless! And I would have to upgrade it and pay a extra premium for the short notice call out (this is an extra fee you have to pay if you use a service you only just enrolled).

I am really annoyed there is not an automatic notice advising people of this, as it would easily be possible since the car registrations are on their system, allowing people to pay for a useless policy repeatedly should not be allowed.

I know it will be fully documented in their t&c's somewhere but when you receive the renewal letter it simply states along the lines of 'you have to do nothing if you wish to renew automatically'.

Should I be angry at myself or do you think I have a valid point?

nobbysn*ts

The AA have a similar clause, but state 'Where only Roadside Assistance is held, the vehicle must be no more than 10 (ten) years old at the date of registration with the AA' so renewals should cover vehicles that age with the policy.

littlecub

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

The AA have a similar clause, but state 'Where only Roadside Assistance is held, the vehicle must be no more than 10 (ten) years old at the date of registration with the AA' so renewals should cover vehicles that age with the policy.

Yes that's what really brought my eye to the fact that the RAC comparison just said no 10 year old cars on road side, it was only at that point I questioned what exactly I had been paying for.

I don't expect them to keep my old banger on the road for the same as the younger cars, just really wasted money I have been paying and thankfully I never needed to call upon them.

Iceweasel

That's one reason I joined the ADAC - no restriction on the age of vehicle.

And the cover is far greater than anything the AA or RAC have to offer - at any price.

nobbysn*ts

Iceweasel wrote: »

That's one reason I joined the ADAC - no restriction on the age of vehicle.

And the cover is far greater than anything the AA or RAC have to offer - at any price.

I'm a member too. ADAC recovery is very limited.

sh0597

I found this too. Was about to pay for cover when I noticed this in the terms and conditions. They are quite happy to take your money without making it clear you aren't actually covered.

Nodding_Donkey

littlecub wrote: »

Hello, what is your take on this..

I have been with the RAC for the past 5 years, letting my cover auto renew every year.
..........
Should I be angry at myself

Very angry, leaving aside the whole under 10yr over 10yr thing you have been ripped off royally everytime you let it auto renew.

Change every year existing customers get shafted.

Iceweasel

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

I'm a member too. ADAC recovery is very limited.

How have you found it limited, nobby?

I asked at the ADAC network hub in Wurzburg - right next door to the TUV where I was getting my German Low Emission Zone sticker - and the guy there said that if my home address was Scotland - they would recover my entire family, Sprinter Van and trailer all the way to Scotland.

They explained that they would take me to Calais - get me on the ferry and then the AA would HAVE to take me the rest of the way home.

It's a reciprocal agreement between all the European motorclubs.

The AA and the RAC don't like it - but there is damn all they can do about it.

nobbysn*ts

Iceweasel wrote: »

How have you found it limited, nobby?

I asked at the ADAC network hub in Wurzburg - right next door to the TUV where I was getting my German Low Emission Zone sticker - and the guy there said that if my home address was Scotland - they would recover my entire family, Sprinter Van and trailer all the way to Scotland.

They explained that they would take me to Calais - get me on the ferry and then the AA would HAVE to take me the rest of the way home.

It's a reciprocal agreement between all the European motorclubs.

The AA and the RAC don't like it - but there is damn all they can do about it.

Only if it can't be repaired locally. If it can, there is a limited recovery cost to a local garage. Not like the UK, where you have the choice with the AA, to be taken home, or complete the journey.

Iceweasel

nobbysn*ts wrote: »

Only if it can't be repaired locally. If it can, there is a limited recovery cost to a local garage. Not like the UK, where you have the choice with the AA, to be taken home, or complete the journey.

Ah - never thought about that possibility.

Personally I'd probably be happier for it to be fixed where it broke down, but I can see circumstances where that wouldn't perhaps be the best, most economical solution.

nobbysn*ts

We've got family AA recovery for the UK, I took the chance with ADAC for personal European breakdown, as I would probably want to have the vehicle repaired abroad anyway. For the cover I wanted, for 4 of us, it worked out the most cost effective option anyway.