RAC Breakdown Cover 'Special Offers'

derekelsmithage65

Hi,
Just thought I would offer this money saving tip!
When I went to renew my RAC annual breakdown subscription their website for some reason would not accept my email address. So I phoned to renew. I was put through to a very nice lady who pointed out I had been with the RAC for "quite some while" and was eligible for a special offer choice of either a vehicle on loan or something else which I've already forgotten. Anyway, I was paying £19.75p pm for my cover (£237.00 py). Including my "gift" my new rate would be £22.50 pm (£269.99 py). Whilst she was telling me this I was looking on their website and the same offer (all but one day on the free car hire) on line was only £8.00 pm or £96.00 py.! When I told her this she said that the offer on line was for new customers only and wasn't applicable to a multi-year loyal customer like me !. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after 25 minutes on the phone and her calling her boss and her boss's boss I received the £96.00 py confirmation of cover. Sadly, I didn't get the one extra day free car hire cover ( which would have cost me £173.99p had I not queried the cost in the first place)
It seems very sad that a regular customer would be expected to pay almost 3 times more for basically the same cover and particularly gauling that had I not had a stroke of luck in my emaill address not working on their site I would have just allowed an automatic renewall of the existing standing order.
To be honest, I still feel a bit let down by The Royal Automobile Club.
And the money saving tip ? Don't assume a loyalty discount or gift saves you money. It probably won't.
All the best for a better 2021
Derek Smith, 

Car_54

They get away with this because customers like you renew at the negotiated rate. If we all went elsewhere rather than encourage this despicable practice they would soon stop.

BTW RAC hasn't been The Royal Automobile Club since 1978!

knightstyle

have a look at redeeming Tesco points for RAC personal breakdown insurance.

born_again

@derekelsmithage65

You need to get MSE savvy. Never renew with the same breakdown company... Always switch between them for new customer deals & use the cashback sites for extra £££ for even more savings.

poppasmurf_bewdley

Car_54 said:

They get away with this because customers like you renew at the negotiated rate. If we all went elsewhere rather than encourage this despicable practice they would soon stop.

BTW RAC hasn't been The Royal Automobile Club since 1978!

Correct.  Is the Royal Automobile Club still on The Mall?  I once had dinner there with a friend of mine who was a full member, not an associate member which is what those who took the breakdown policy were. 

Car_54

poppasmurf_bewdley said:

Car_54 said:

They get away with this because customers like you renew at the negotiated rate. If we all went elsewhere rather than encourage this despicable practice they would soon stop.

BTW RAC hasn't been The Royal Automobile Club since 1978!

Correct.  Is the Royal Automobile Club still on The Mall?  I once had dinner there with a friend of mine who was a full member, not an associate member which is what those who took the breakdown policy were. 

Not The Mall, Pall Mall. Yes, still there.

oldagetraveller1

knightstyle said:

have a look at redeeming Tesco points for RAC personal breakdown insurance.

I do this every year. £48 ish in Clubcard vouchers for annual full personal cover (At Home, Roadside and Recovery).

Of course, only useful if shopping at Tesco!

Scot22

The problems come when to reduce prices service standards are cut.  Whilst never wanting to pay excessive costs they have to be realistic.
One callout could well be equal to membership fee in garage costs, e.G lengthy tow.

berries

You have just reminded me that I need to call them up too with the same problem...email.  

My car insurance is due at the end of march and rac came out the cheapest.  My current insurance didnt even come up. 

recmorris

Hello. This is my first post on this forum. I am still annoyed following a conversation and a subsequent e-mail with the AA
who have charged me £119 for breakdown cover this year (it was £90 in 2019) despite me being an AA Gold Member for
30 years. Can anyone suggest what further action I can take or what I should do when the Membership comes up for
renewal in December this year. Many thanks. This was a 32% increase, quite unfair in my opinion.

poppasmurf_bewdley

If you're still within your 14 days of renewal, cancel and go elsewhere!