GEM - Best Breakdown..... BUT

Stoke

I've been with GEM for years, and I must admit, I do believe they're still the best breakdown cover you can buy, yearly anyway.

That said, there's a cheeky little exemption that might have you a bit sore this winter if you're not careful. Cars stuck in ice, mud, or immobilized due to 'terrain' are not actually covered. I found this out last weekend when we visited Bakewell and were stuck in a field. Initially, nobody was able to help us out because nobody had a tow rope (I've bought one since and I recommend everyone else does). I phoned GEM and was told that only £70 would be covered as a goodwill, but that it would come to nearer £180 to get me out the pickle.

Luckily, a nice guy with a big Mitsibushi pulled me out, but still.

Carry a tow rope with you!! £7 its cost to buy one.

Franz_Ferdinand

Why not avoid driving into muddy fields in winter and save £7?

Just saying.

Stoke

Franz_Ferdinand wrote: »

Why not avoid driving into muddy fields in winter and save £7?

Just saying.

Was the only place to park. Not uncommon for tourist attractions to use adjacent fields as car parks.

Even so, GEM is a popular choice of breakdown cover on MSE, so it's worth knowing.

Franz_Ferdinand

Stoke wrote: »

Was the only place to park. Not uncommon for tourist attractions to use adjacent fields as car parks.

Even so, GEM is a popular choice of breakdown cover on MSE, so it's worth knowing.

Thanks for your tip but as this is a money saving site I'll stick with the RAC.

AdrianC

Stoke wrote: »

I've been with GEM for years, and I must admit, I do believe they're still the best breakdown cover you can buy, yearly anyway.

That said, there's a cheeky little exemption that might have you a bit sore this winter if you're not careful. Cars stuck in ice, mud, or immobilized due to 'terrain' are not actually covered. I found this out last weekend when we visited Bakewell and were stuck in a field.

I'm not even going to ask how or why you got stuck in a field, given that Bakewell has plenty of car parks, but there we go...

Anyway - I very much doubt you'll find any breakdown provider who will tow you out of a self-inflicted situation like that without charging.

Stoke

AdrianC wrote: »

I'm not even going to ask how or why you got stuck in a field, given that Bakewell has plenty of car parks, but there we go...

Anyway - I very much doubt you'll find any breakdown provider who will tow you out of a self-inflicted situation like that without charging.

If you know Bakewell at all, you'd know that parking in Bakewell is never great and it was the weekend of the Christmas Markets. All of the car parks were completely full except the car park for the Winter Wonderland which is down by the Farmers Market.

Adrian, interesting that you call it self inflicted. What about if you have a flat tyre? Is that not self inflicted.... if not, what about if you clip the curb and then flatten your tyre.... now it's definitely self inflicted?

I was once towed home (and covered) by GEM (well, the sub contractor) when my alternator went. It had been whining for days as well, so I knew for a fact it was on the way out. Surely that was self inflicted? I knew it was going to go, I was just waiting for it.

What about if your engine runs out of oil because you've not been topping it up?

To me, breakdown is breakdown. It is for if you immobilize your car, and I've found GEM to be better than excellent. I don't see how being stuck in the mud can be considered anything other than a breakdown.

AdrianC

Stoke wrote: »

If you know Bakewell at all

I grew up two miles away and went to school there.

To me, breakdown is breakdown. It is for if you immobilize your car, and I've found GEM to be better than excellent. I don't see how being stuck in the mud can be considered anything other than a breakdown.

Lovely, an' all, but the Ts & Cs of every single breakdown provider will say different.

Franz_Ferdinand

Stoke wrote: »

If you know Bakewell at all, you'd know that parking in Bakewell is never great and it was the weekend of the Christmas Markets. All of the car parks were completely full except the car park for the Winter Wonderland which is down by the Farmers Market.

Adrian, interesting that you call it self inflicted. What about if you have a flat tyre? Is that not self inflicted.... if not, what about if you clip the curb and then flatten your tyre.... now it's definitely self inflicted?

I was once towed home (and covered) by GEM (well, the sub contractor) when my alternator went. It had been whining for days as well, so I knew for a fact it was on the way out. Surely that was self inflicted? I knew it was going to go, I was just waiting for it.

What about if your engine runs out of oil because you've not been topping it up?

To me, breakdown is breakdown. It is for if you immobilize your car, and I've found GEM to be better than excellent. I don't see how being stuck in the mud can be considered anything other than a breakdown.

What do you call it?

Whoever drove into the field has sole control of the vehicle.

Stoke

Franz_Ferdinand wrote: »

What do you call it?

Whoever drove into the field has sole control of the vehicle.

I would probably call it inflicted by the morons who decided it was safe for 500+ cars to go in a bog of a field. That's beside the point though.

No reasonable discussion about my other point regarding the flat tyre then?

Franz_Ferdinand

Stoke wrote: »

I would probably call it inflicted by the morons who decided it was safe for 500+ cars to go in a bog of a field. That's beside the point though.

No reasonable discussion about my other point regarding the flat tyre then?

But you drove in there by choice.

Stoke

Franz_Ferdinand wrote: »

But you drove in there by choice.

Very True.