AutoAid Car Breakdown Discussion

Money2017

First Post on MSE! I have been with Auto Aid for a number of years. Car broke down last weekend 5 pm on a Saturday, Car warning system came up with "Engine Failure" alert, Someone was with us in under an hour, friendly and helpful service from call centre, engine was checked found to be an instrumentation problem and we carried on our way. No receipts or claim forms to deal with, all done automatically. I hope this information is useful to somebody

doleawg

I've used them twice, turned up, smiled, did job, no argument from me.

melbury

I have received my renewal reminder and was quite surprised that I can no longer pay via cheque. On phoning them I was told that there would be no charge for paying by credit card, so did that.

Hopefully they don't keep your credit card details and then auto-renew - does anyone know about that?

Is it also true that you no longer have to pay and then reclaim any costs? If that is the case, then it seems a very progressive step.

CanVan

AWFUL.
Recovery turned up with NO TOOLS. Had to lend him a flathead screwdriver -which my friend eventually used to fix the problem.
I called Autoaid out as I hoped they would fix the problem of a stuck fuel cap with more finesse than hitting it with the screwdriver as my friend suggested.
Autoaid prodded it for about 15 minutes but then rang someone else for advise, saying "I just drive the truck"
I bought a policy with them on the strength of recommendations on MSE only to find months in, my van is NOT actually covered as it's a 3500kg! I gave them all my DVLA details and they took my money.
I am now trying to get a refund for miss-selling the policy.
Thank goodness I wasn't in a real dilemma alone!

scousemicky

Dead battery today. Phoned Autoaid.

They said recovery would be an hour. After 55 minutes Autoaid phoned me to ask if recovery had turned up, I said no. She then put me on hold while she contacted recovery. Said it would be 15 more minutes.

Recovery got to me within the 15 minutes. Autoaid also phoned me again on the 15 minute mark to ask if he had turned up.

Mechanic sorted battery out n I just signed his form, nothing to pay.

Took car for a 30 min drive and all's good.

Can't ask for any more than that! Been with them since 2013, used them once in 2015 and earlier today. No problems each time, perfect!

MickM

My car stopped about 10 miles from home and 5 miles from my local garage. I rang the garage and they came and towed my car to their premises. The bill for this was £36.
I subsequently rang AutoAid and they emailed me a claim form which I returned with the garage invoice.
Three days later I received a cheque for the £36.
I have been a member for several years now and have claimed using both the "old" reclaim system (as above) and the "new" system where they dispatch a breakdown vehicle and no payment is required.
If I can use my choice of garage and they are available then the service will be quicker. If not I have to wait for a breakdown vehicle which has never taken more than an hour.
I must add though that all my troubles have occurred locally within about 20 miles!

dunc673

I read MSE advice pages on breakdown insurance and checked out AutoAid. I had a few queries which could not be answered on their FAQ's so repeatedly tried phoning them over 2 day period, no answer whatsoever, so best check this out MSE team. I even emailed them yesterday, requesting they call me back when less busy....still waiting, seems RAC are about to get my business instead, they answer their phone. Just as well I wasn't broken down yesterday!

o202

Signed up with AutoAid a few weeks back (through Quidco, every little helps).

Low and behold, pulled up to lights last Monday and car starts misbehaving. Pulled up and called AutoAid, spoke to a pleasant chap who asked the usual info about where I was, what the issue was etc.

He couldn't get a response from the recovery firm whilst I was on the call but asked if I was okay to finish the call and he would text me the details in the next 5 minutes. Finished the call, text came straight through with details of who would be coming out and a time to expect them by.

Recovery driver turned up, had a play with the car, couldn't work out what was up so took me to a garage.

Only slight issue I had was I had my dog with me. AutoAid did ask as part of their questions about who was in the car, mentioned the dog, told not an issue, will find a recovery agent who is okay with this. Upon arrival, recovery guy said it was a H&S issue and dog couldn't ride with us. Luckily, I managed to sort something out for the pup but don't think this is strictly AutoAids fault, more the recovery firm for OK'ing the job.

So around two weeks in and I reckon I've got my 40 quids worth.

GraceK

We've been with Autoaid for a few years now & was thoroughly confused (til I read the last few posts on this thread) by their change of working procedures - to the way most other breakdown cover works - you no longer pay up front for work & reclaim the costs - you are simply covered.

Had a flat battery at home - guy with a battery charger arrived in about 20 minutes & found the alternator belt had been thrown off. Second equally helpful guy arrived in less than an hour with a low-loader & took us to the garage of our choice.

Two weeks later we had a flat battery again, (as we hadn't taken ti for a long enough drive following the fixing of the belt) - the phone operator confirmed that we had had the previous issue fixed & that we had paperwork to prove it (as per their T&C's) and then the same guy with the low loader came out in less than 20 minutes to jump the car for us.

Both times the call centre called back to confirm that their workmen had arrived & that we were happy with the service provided.

Would definitely recommend.

Wombat

Just looking for the best breakdown cover after receiving the AA's exorbitant renewal quote and noticed Topcashback are giving 12.6% cashback on Auto Aid (Quidco offer 12%).