Car Insurance call out bill

Jim8085

Hi, recently I’ve received a bill from my insurer for ~£100 due to a call out a few months ago. (Call out wasn’t covered on my insurance).

I called the AA as my car wasn’t starting they arranged to turn up on the Monday between 6 and 8am. At 8am no one had turned up, I called the AA and they had no record of someone coming out to see me. At that point I had to get to work (key worker). After work they had a left a note on my car to say they were here between 8.15 to 8.40 (at this point I’d gone to work – there was no call from them at all). I friend helped me jump start the car later and I completely forgot about the call out.

Do I have any recourse on this? Or am I going to have to pay the £100 and chalk this up as a lesson learnt?

AdrianC

You called them to attend.
You weren't there when they arrived.
You hadn't cancelled the call.

Yes, I'd say you are liable.

Sandtree

If they advised there was no appointment scheduled it would have been impossible for you to cancel something that doesnt exist (as far as the agent on the call was concerned).

Did you advise the agent that you were going to have to go to work?

Whilst normally I agree with AdrianC on most things on this occasion I think there are grounds for complaint if you were explicitly told there is no scheduled appointment and so it was reasonable for you to assume they wouldnt be turning up.

AdrianC

Sandtree said:

If they advised there was no appointment scheduled it would have been impossible for you to cancel something that doesnt exist (as far as the agent on the call was concerned).

Umm, the OP says they were told when they placed the call for assistance that assistance would be there between 6 and 8.
They arrived at 8.15, to find the OP had already left, without cancelling the request.

I think there's a bit of confusion over the reference to "insurance" - I think this is breakdown cover, bought as a bundled part of the car insurance.

DiddyDavies

AdrianC said:

Sandtree said:

If they advised there was no appointment scheduled it would have been impossible for you to cancel something that doesnt exist (as far as the agent on the call was concerned).

Umm, the OP says they were told when they placed the call for assistance that assistance would be there between 6 and 8.
They arrived at 8.15, to find the OP had already left, without cancelling the request.

But when they hadn't arrived by 8am, the OP phoned the AA and was told that there was no record of anyone arranged to call on the OP so if they had nothing to show that a visit was imminent, how could it be cancelled?

Jim8085 said:

At 8am no one had turned up, I called the AA and they had no record of someone coming out to see me. 

neilmcl

DiddyDavies said:

AdrianC said:

Sandtree said:

If they advised there was no appointment scheduled it would have been impossible for you to cancel something that doesnt exist (as far as the agent on the call was concerned).

Umm, the OP says they were told when they placed the call for assistance that assistance would be there between 6 and 8.
They arrived at 8.15, to find the OP had already left, without cancelling the request.

But when they hadn't arrived by 8am, the OP phoned the AA and was told that there was no record of anyone arranged to call on the OP so if they had nothing to show that a visit was imminent, how could it be cancelled?

Jim8085 said:

At 8am no one had turned up, I called the AA and they had no record of someone coming out to see me. 

^This. The OP has every right to feel aggrieved and I too would be pushing to have the fee waived. 

Jumblebumble

AdrianC said:

You called them to attend.
You weren't there when they arrived.
You hadn't cancelled the call.

Yes, I'd say you are liable.

How long do you think the OP should wait on the phone for someone to answer so he can cancel instead of going to work ?
I think if someone says they will be come by 08.00 and then they don't then they have cancelled the call themselves.
There is no way I would be paying £100 to anyone under the circumstances described and I think it is the new girl trying it on.. 

born_again

Jim8085 said:

Hi, recently I’ve received a bill from my insurer for ~£100 due to a call out a few months ago. (Call out wasn’t covered on my insurance).

I called the AA as my car wasn’t starting they arranged to turn up on the Monday between 6 and 8am. At 8am no one had turned up, I called the AA and they had no record of someone coming out to see me. At that point I had to get to work (key worker). After work they had a left a note on my car to say they were here between 8.15 to 8.40 (at this point I’d gone to work – there was no call from them at all). I friend helped me jump start the car later and I completely forgot about the call out.

Do I have any recourse on this? Or am I going to have to pay the £100 and chalk this up as a lesson learnt?

Does  you breakdown cover have home start? If not is it the cost to come to your home?

Jumblebumble

born_again said:

Jim8085 said:

Hi, recently I’ve received a bill from my insurer for ~£100 due to a call out a few months ago. (Call out wasn’t covered on my insurance).

I called the AA as my car wasn’t starting they arranged to turn up on the Monday between 6 and 8am. At 8am no one had turned up, I called the AA and they had no record of someone coming out to see me. At that point I had to get to work (key worker). After work they had a left a note on my car to say they were here between 8.15 to 8.40 (at this point I’d gone to work – there was no call from them at all). I friend helped me jump start the car later and I completely forgot about the call out.

Do I have any recourse on this? Or am I going to have to pay the £100 and chalk this up as a lesson learnt?

Does  you breakdown cover have home start? If not is it the cost to come to your home?

But they did not come at the time they were supposed to so why on earth would the OP be expected to pay this.
The OP has not claimed that if they had provided  the agreed service that he would not pay.
Anyone who disagrees with me can make an appointment for me to paint their Lounge
I will come at a different time and if they are not there I will  then send them a bill for callout and then see if they will pay

born_again

Jumblebumble said:

born_again said:

Jim8085 said:

Hi, recently I’ve received a bill from my insurer for ~£100 due to a call out a few months ago. (Call out wasn’t covered on my insurance).

I called the AA as my car wasn’t starting they arranged to turn up on the Monday between 6 and 8am. At 8am no one had turned up, I called the AA and they had no record of someone coming out to see me. At that point I had to get to work (key worker). After work they had a left a note on my car to say they were here between 8.15 to 8.40 (at this point I’d gone to work – there was no call from them at all). I friend helped me jump start the car later and I completely forgot about the call out.

Do I have any recourse on this? Or am I going to have to pay the £100 and chalk this up as a lesson learnt?

Does  you breakdown cover have home start? If not is it the cost to come to your home?

But they did not come at the time they were supposed to so why on earth would the OP be expected to pay this.
The OP has not claimed that if they had provided  the agreed service that he would not pay.
Anyone who disagrees with me can make an appointment for me to paint their Lounge
I will come at a different time and if they are not there I will  then send them a bill for callout and then see if they will pay

Well Op has not confirmed if they had home callout cover, so we have no idea if that maybe the cause of the charge.
Since when has ANY breakdown company given you a guaranteed time of arrival?
They turned up, a bit late. If the OP had left for work, then that's their fault. Given clearly they did not need the car to get to work, they could have waited till they got home to get it fixed.

Dr_Crypto

They didn’t turn up when they were meant to. Surely the OP can’t be expected to wait all day for them to bother doing so.
I wouldn’t be paying any fee after they wasted my time.