When is Breakdown cover NOT Breakdown cover? When you are with the RAC

Rippers101

MSE

Thought I would share a loyal RAC members experience when my car experienced a tyre blow-out from hitting a pot-hole recently.

I have been a member of the RAC since 2021 and was paying £63.99 per year for basic membership and have never used the service up until that point.

Stuck in a country lane in the rain I tried to call the RAC and they referred me to the App to complete an online form - with limited signal, it took 4 attempts for the form to be completed and sent. 

The wait was a reasonable 90 mins but was then pushed back every hour - after 8 (Eight) hours the call was cancelled bythe RAC - so I was forced, miles from home, to abandon the vehicle.  The RAC came out 2 days later......but not before I was forced to pay an addtional £40 on top of my existing policy.

This £40 PER CALL OUT excess is now standard in policy despite you paying an annual membership fee - so when is Breakdown cover not Breakdown cover......when you are with the RAC.

Avoid at all costs - especially the additional 'drip' pricing costs

sheslookinhot

Did you have a spare wheel ?

Exodi

Rippers101 said:

This £40 PER CALL OUT excess is now standard in policy despite you paying an annual membership fee - so when is Breakdown cover not Breakdown cover......when you are with the RAC.

Sorry but I think by that logic you could deem house insurance, car insurance, health insurance, etc all not insurances because you have to pay an excess on top of the annual premium.

Totally agree the handling of this has been poor. Did you not have a spare wheel?

Typhoon2000

Sounds like you have the Essential policy which at one point was only offered via comparison sites ( I imagine to get a lower quote) where you have an excess to pay for every call out. 

Any policy you buy direct from the RAC is the regular membership with no call out fee ( but will likely cost you more than the £63.99 you pay now), other than possibly a for accident damage.

Flugelhorn

Typhoon2000 said:

Sounds like you have the Essential policy which at one point was only offered via comparison sites ( I imagine to get a lower quote) where you have an excess to pay for every call out. 

Any policy you buy direct from the RAC is the regular membership with no call out fee ( but will likely cost you more than the £63.99 you pay now), other than possibly a for accident damage.

sounds like that must be the case - I pay £160 for standard cover for 3 cars - no callout excess payable 

Bigphil1474

I'm not sure I'd say 3 years membership is hardly a loyal member, but I get it through my bank account and there's no call out fee.

DullGreyGuy

Essentials is their aggregator product offering which comes in at a lower price but with an excess; like many providers they offer a lower quality product to those that want to buy on price alone. Their standard product without a call out charge is also available but naturally appears much lower down the list under those with an excess. 

Calls are ultimately prioritised based on a number of factors and yes if you are unfortunate that someone with an infant on a motorway breaksdown after you you will be bumped so that they get service first. Again thats the same with all breakdown providers and is the luck of the draw. 

Sounds like you dont read what you agree to... buying cheap can end up very expensive!

Hoenir

Why didn't you contact a mobile tyre fitter to come out and replace the tyre?