Question regarding Natwest Green Flag breakdown cover

tomstanley

My car is currently broke down in London. I live in Sheffield and have a mechanic there that I trust and would prefer to use.

Green Flag say they will tow your car anywhere in the UK.

If I call them on Monday morning (bank holiday) how likely are they to tow my car home for me? From what I can see they will tow your car anywhere providing it can't be fixed locally the same day. I'm assuming that everywhere will be shut on Monday so they're quite likely to fulfil their end of the deal.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions it'd be great to hear them.

Tom

Car_54

First, I'd be surprised if you don't find in the small print that Green Flag expect you to call them at the time of the breakdown, which you haven't.

Second, your assumption that everywhere will be shut is flawed. Green Flag (and its competitors) use hundreds of recovery firms who work 24/7, and many of which have extensive repair facilities. Whether they can do it on Monday would depend on the nature of the problem.

tomstanley

Car_54 wrote: »

First, I'd be surprised if you don't find in the small print that Green Flag expect you to call them at the time of the breakdown, which you haven't.

Second, your assumption that everywhere will be shut is flawed. Green Flag (and its competitors) use hundreds of recovery firms who work 24/7, and many of which have extensive repair facilities. Whether they can do it on Monday would depend on the nature of the problem.

How would they know when I broke down?

tomstanley

Also, do breakdown recovery companies still try and fix the problem there and then or do they just automatically try and tow you to the nearest garage of your choice?

Nobbie1967

tomstanley wrote: »

How would they know when I broke down?

Your engine will be stone cold, unless you can start it. They may not care though, particularly if it's a contractor. They'll get paid if they tow you.

AdrianC

tomstanley wrote: »

Also, do breakdown recovery companies still try and fix the problem there and then or do they just automatically try and tow you to the nearest garage of your choice?

They will try and fix the problem first. Why wouldn't they? It is MUCH quicker, easier, cheaper and less hassle for EVERYBODY involved if they can fix your car and you are on your way.

Unless, of course, you think this might be a cheaper way of getting your car 200 miles than spending on fuel...

Car_54

Nobbie1967 wrote: »

Your engine will be stone cold, unless you can start it. They may not care though, particularly if it's a contractor. They'll get paid if they tow you.

I used to work for one of the breakdown "clubs". No matter what the OP does to "get round" the system, they will have seen it before:(

With Green Flag there is much less chance of his being attended by an employee, and as you say a contractor may not care. However, there is much more profit in repairs than in towing ...

tomstanley

AdrianC wrote: »

They will try and fix the problem first. Why wouldn't they? It is MUCH quicker, easier, cheaper and less hassle for EVERYBODY involved if they can fix your car and you are on your way.

Unless, of course, you think this might be a cheaper way of getting your car 200 miles than spending on fuel...

haha that would be a very elaborate way of trying to get your car up and down the country

dogshome

Look carefully at the current small print on the Greenflag cover provided through a Natwest bank account .

My son had this and up till about a year ago it was fairly comprehensive, then he recieved a book of small print advising of changes to the add-ons on his account
Greeflag had gone from comprehensive to:
Attempted fix at the roadside.
If fix not possible a tow to nearest garage
Or a tow to a garage within 10 miles of my son's choice
Any tow beyond the 10 miles was chargeable to him.

So you get stuck 80 miles from home and a roadside fix can't be done, the choice is a fix at a local garage who's reputation and charges you don't know, or a tow home at £xx a mile for 70 miles