RAC policy recovery restriction, beware

martinhix

I bought an annual policy with RAC in June. Have home, roadside, national recovery and onward travel cover. However, my vehicle broke diwn at home and so will only be recovered 10 miles. The additional 27 miles i need requied over £180. 
Has anyone been caught by this?
Has anyone had any satisfactory resolution for not making this very clear when I bought the policy?
This is scam to overcharge people when they probably dont have a lot of choice but to pay. Disgraceful callous behaviour.

martinhix

Incidentally, my car previously secured car with the window stuck open, not a problem when i was expecting recovery. When i refused to pay £180, RAC refused to reattend and secure my car. They even suggested that i should pay a different organisation to do it...

ciderboy2009

Why did you need to transport the car 37 miles?

I think you'll find that the AA, RAC, Green Flag etc all have something in their terms whereby they will only transport your car to the nearest garage.

The only way you're going to get anything from them is if 10 mile limitation isn't mentioned in the terms and conditions that you confirmed that you read and understood when you signed up with them? 

Car_54

martinhix said:

I bought an annual policy with RAC in June. Have home, roadside, national recovery and onward travel cover. However, my vehicle broke diwn at home and so will only be recovered 10 miles. The additional 27 miles i need requied over £180. 
Has anyone been caught by this?
Has anyone had any satisfactory resolution for not making this very clear when I bought the policy?

The RAC's terms and conditions run to 14 pages (not unlike those of AA and others). These were available to you before buying and I'm sure you had to agree to accept them.

How would you suggest they make this and every other single condition "very clear"?

AdrianC

ciderboy2009 said:

Why did you need to transport the car 37 miles?

This, with bells on.

They will take your car home if you break down 37 miles away, to prevent you being stranded roadside and having difficulties getting home... but why does the car need to be taken 37 miles when you are already safe and warm at home?

Even if you live in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands, I bet there's a garage nearer than 37 miles.

If your car is still under manufacturer warranty, and you want it taken to the nearest franchised dealer, then that might be a reasonable excuse - but would the dealer collect?

Here's the Ts & Cs of the policy...
https://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/breakdown/310314-drive-uk-breakdown-terms-and-conditions.pdf

The relevant bit is on page 7...
Section B – At Home (optional – see your schedule)
Covered - We will provide the same cover as the “Covered” part of Section A (Roadside) if your vehicle breaks down at, or within ¼ mile of, your home

So let's look at that bit.
Section A – Roadside (included – see your schedule)
...
Covered - If your vehicle breaks down within the UK more than ¼ mile from your home, we will:
...
2. If we are unable to repair the vehicle at the roadside, we will recover the vehicle and passengers to:
   a. an approved garage; or
   b. another local garage; or
   c. a destination of your choice
up to a maximum of 10 miles from the breakdown

Section C covers the optional national recovery. It seems perfectly clear that a breakdown at home will only include 10 mile recovery.

DiddyDavies

martinhix said:

Has anyone had any satisfactory resolution for not making this very clear when I bought the policy?

Not very clear?
I've just had a look and it's perfectly clear and stated in at least two places.
The reason it's limited to 10 miles is simply because it looks like you chose the cheapest option. If you had gone for a more expensive one, the benefits provided are better (such as unlimited towing).
 https://www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/join-uk-breakdown/build-package/packages?version=complete-breakdown-cover