Vehicle Recovery Claim - Breakdown Refused

Arain

Hello,

It may that there's not much I can do now, but advice would be appreciated on this.
   I broke down yesterday on a very busy road with no hard shoulder. Driving along my van began to rattle and I thought had a loss of power. I slowed to try another gear and it was worse, so I felt that I may need to pull over but was some way from the next exit.
   I took the option to pull onto a short section of pavement on a bridge, in spite of a large divot beforehand which may damage my vehicle at that speed, simply due to it appearing safest for the road I was on.
   As I did so, I also felt I lost power steering just prior and it seemed a reasonable decision.
   On exiting and getting to safety I noticed my radiator was leaking, possibly from this manoeuvre but I didn't look down the road to be sure.

I called GreenFlag who are my breakdown cover, asking for recovery to home. They instead sent somebody to try to start my vehicle. It would not start and as I had no towing eye he drove off stating he'd put in a request for a trailer to tow me.
   I later phoned up as I'd received no contact, and was informed this was now being classed as damage or an accident, and that my policy did not cover any recovery for this. They refused to accept that I had to pull over due to my vehicle losing power and steering, and any possible resulting damage was due to this first and foremost. Also, it can't be said whether my radiator was already leaking or these issues were actually caused by me pulling over (there was no visible damage).

They told me I had to call my insurance. I thought that was odd but did so, and stated that I was calling for recovery due to my breakdown cover refusal. I said I didn't believe I had breakdown cover through them, but had my wallet to many any necessary recovery payments, which they informed me was unnecessary (so I happily thought it must be on my policy).
   I now have it recorded as an accident notification claim, but I was not informed this would go down as a claim. I perhaps should have considered this, but was frustrated after being stranded for hours and simply following the advice given.
   I only wished recovery and offered payment in advance if needed. Had I known this would be classed as a claim I would have made a call to a recovery firm myself, as that's simply all I thought was happening.
   My premiums will cost more over the next few years than the recovery costs would have been. It seems almost intentional, to exploit me for more money rather than informing me and letting me pay for recovery privately, which is all I had been asking (due to my breakdown messing me about).

Would there be anything I could do to get the claim struck from my file? I feel it is wrongful, as I hadn't been seeking to make one. I wasn't trying to inform them of an accident, I had broken down and needed recovery.
   I had been given the run around a little. In the end, as I was stranded for so long, police actually came and got my vehicle privately towed (they rang my insurance, who stated they had nothing on file from my call and that I had no breakdown cover with them. Ultimately, it transpires they do.).

I've stated that it was privately towed in the end as police said it was necessary, having been told they had nothing on file.
   They say they can't remove the notification claim from my file, in spite of everything being caused by a breakdown runaround.

Apologies if this post seems long-winded, I've tried to convey things as succinctly as I could.

Any advice would be appreciated, thank you.

lisyloo

Ask your insurer what is the cost for cancelling the claim.
They should allow you to cancel it if you pay the cost.

In future when asked if you have had any incidents/losses/accidents you will have to declare this (but not as a claim if it's cancelled).
Don't even think about not declaring it (only suggesting forgetfulness) as it's now on record and having insurance cancelled because you forgot to declare something is really bad.

Arain

Hi Lisy,

Thank you. I didn't realise it was possible to do this.
   I have already rang up once asking to cancel the claim and they just stated they couldn't. However, I gave the reason that I wanted it cancelled because I'd had no accident and I ended up being recovered privately.
   I will call again to ask about this. I don't know if it's something Admiral don't offer.

I do feel my breakdown should be liable for things now. This all stemmed from them leaving me stranded.
   I feel that the fact they came without towing equipment, asking me if I had the towing eye, suggests the service could be deemed in some way not fit for purpose. They had my van details, were aware that I said it had power but didn't believe it would start. Knew that the radiator was leaking and I may not be able to drive far regardless.
   I was explicit in requesting recovery to home, as I've paid for. It seems like they reneged on the contract (I haven't read it explicitly... but what is the use if I'm not covered for something which could be caused by a stone or anything unrelated to an accident? Though primarily, it seemed to be something entirely different).

I understand that how I feel is different to what they're actually legally bound to. It just seems like I've been scammed in paying for cover, or lied to about them not covering this.

Anyway, I am going to call my insurance with your suggestion. I will file a complaint with GreenFlag afterwards.

Thank you for your advice.

lisyloo

I am with Autoaid and last time I called them they sent rescue initially.
My thermostat had failed and all my water had boiled off.
I didn't know that at the time, but I did make it clear on the phone that I needed recovery.

It seems standard these days to send out rescue first as this requires a normal van and not a recovery truck capable of lifting a car (if it can't be towed).

In my case the guy tried very hard but I could not be rescued and had to wait again for recovery. It was about 6 hours in total. 
This is annoying but I think that's fairly standard to try to rescue first.

Mildly_Miffed

Breakdown cover doesn't cover collision damage, and hasn't for MANY years. They will do it, but they'll charge - and that's then part of your insurance claim.

They also usually require you to have all of the vehicle's standard kit, where it's relevant - and the towing eye is definitely part of that.

Just because the steering assistance had stopped (as it would when the engine stopped), doesn't mean you didn't have steering - it'd just have been a bit heavier than usual. The same mechanical connection between steering wheel and front wheels is unchanged.