Hi, I am a bit frustrated at the cost for recovery on my Abbey Aventura 330. As a member of the C&CC I got a quote from RAC. They want best part of £160 for national recovery, which is really silly considerring to cover the just the car with an equivalent policy is less than £50. Considering you are only allowed 2 breakdowns per year, I think they are making a juicy profit out of us shed draggers! Has anyone found a more realistic/competitive quote, perhaps a normal car cover that also includes a decent size caravan? I'm tempted at the moment to risk it without the cover considering my usage.
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Breakdown recovery - what a rip off!
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hi Guy
there have been a few threads previously on this subject it is well worth a look at them some of the comments are a real eye opener, breakdown recovery is like insurance you only find out how good it is when you need it.
I was in the AA for over 20years and had the top level of cover year on year the cost increased but as I was happy with the service and kept paying it, then last year after a thread on this very subject highlighted problems with van recovery if it was a van fault I read very closely all the small print in the renewal pack and soon realised certain short commings that were not widely known.
armed with this info I rang the AA and asked specific questions about my cover the answers I got confirmed that there was indeed some problems so I cancalled my membership.
I am now with green flag mayday via the exclusive CC policy (includes double journey cover available nowhere else) at a cost that even including club subscriptions is
there have been a few threads previously on this subject it is well worth a look at them some of the comments are a real eye opener, breakdown recovery is like insurance you only find out how good it is when you need it.
I was in the AA for over 20years and had the top level of cover year on year the cost increased but as I was happy with the service and kept paying it, then last year after a thread on this very subject highlighted problems with van recovery if it was a van fault I read very closely all the small print in the renewal pack and soon realised certain short commings that were not widely known.
armed with this info I rang the AA and asked specific questions about my cover the answers I got confirmed that there was indeed some problems so I cancalled my membership.
I am now with green flag mayday via the exclusive CC policy (includes double journey cover available nowhere else) at a cost that even including club subscriptions is
Guy , you have to remember that any form of Roadside assistance cover is Insurance.
But unlike Car insurance you dont have to have it , you have to personally decide it its worth the cost based on what you think you may use it for and what it will provide you.
Like any insurance its expensive till you have to make a claim.
I work in the recovery inductry and cheap is not neccessarily good , nor is expensive.
Consider this , Greenflag dont have any employed roadside staff they are all contractors. I wont bore you the facts but a significant number of such independant contracts are going bust every week. Greenflag no doubt have a relentless task of ensuring they have sufficient contractor coverage across the country in thetough economic times.
RAC and AA have employed Patrols and the backing of huge parent companys , AA being owned by Saga and RAC by Aviva - the worlds 5th largest Insurance provider. So you can see whilst AA and RAC may be a bit more expensive , their not likely to go under any time soon and will pretty much be able to service their customers with one of there patrols across most of the UK.
With other providers your may be at risk of them not being able to provide a service or that service taking unacceptable time to arrive , you have to make that call.
I'll stick with the No1 provider knowing they have a good product , have been voted by paying customers the No1 for the last 3 years , and , have massive resource and backing in their parent company.
But unlike Car insurance you dont have to have it , you have to personally decide it its worth the cost based on what you think you may use it for and what it will provide you.
Like any insurance its expensive till you have to make a claim.
I work in the recovery inductry and cheap is not neccessarily good , nor is expensive.
Consider this , Greenflag dont have any employed roadside staff they are all contractors. I wont bore you the facts but a significant number of such independant contracts are going bust every week. Greenflag no doubt have a relentless task of ensuring they have sufficient contractor coverage across the country in thetough economic times.
RAC and AA have employed Patrols and the backing of huge parent companys , AA being owned by Saga and RAC by Aviva - the worlds 5th largest Insurance provider. So you can see whilst AA and RAC may be a bit more expensive , their not likely to go under any time soon and will pretty much be able to service their customers with one of there patrols across most of the UK.
With other providers your may be at risk of them not being able to provide a service or that service taking unacceptable time to arrive , you have to make that call.
I'll stick with the No1 provider knowing they have a good product , have been voted by paying customers the No1 for the last 3 years , and , have massive resource and backing in their parent company.
I have been a member of Green Flag now for about 16 years. In all that time I have only had to call them out twice. Each time the service was excellent. One of the times I had to be brought home on top of a low loader with the caravan towed behind. I have my van stored about 6 miles away but it was no bother for the driver to deliver my van to storage and then take my car home. I can't praise Green Flag high enough. Excellent service and reasonably cheap.
Ken
Ken
As has been said, you pay your money and take your choice. After having a major breakdown in the south of France this year, i was glad I was in the RAC arrival scheme through the C &CC. Brilliant service, full recovery, no quibblles or extra cost, just first class service. As I have already said, worth every penny and no body could have done the job better, may be cheaper, I don't know, but I will stick with what I know & trust.
Steve W
Steve W
G
Guest
I think there are 2 separate issues here. There is the UK recovery Schemes run by many organisations, and there is also separate EU cover which most of us take when travelling on the Continent. The Continental cover is usually very good, but expensive if you charge it on a daily basis. Nobody would take out such cover on a 365 day basis. The UK set up is much cheaper, but may not offer all the 'bells and whistles', the choice is yours.
rogerP
it does not follow that bigger is better or a the higher prices paid to them gaurantee a better service if it did I would still be with the AA. the truth is they are more expensive with less cover because they have greater overheads, yes they offer a good service up to a point for the everyday commuter and weekend solo tourist but when you require that bit extra it is not in the script.
we as caravanners require more than the every day normal motorist these are easily catered for and can be speedily dealt with it is only when some dificulty is experienced the process gets complicated read the small print on your renewal as I did and it becomes glaringly obvious somethings are not allright.
that is why the recovery options are better when gained through the caravan and camping clubs because these options are tailor made to a specific use and contracted out.
just try and get the RAC to cover privately all the options they offer through the C&CC "no chance" and you have not a hope in hell of getting the AA to do a double journey recovery if your van wheel bearing goes while on your way to a holiday destination.
just think about it and then tell me your better off.
colin.
it does not follow that bigger is better or a the higher prices paid to them gaurantee a better service if it did I would still be with the AA. the truth is they are more expensive with less cover because they have greater overheads, yes they offer a good service up to a point for the everyday commuter and weekend solo tourist but when you require that bit extra it is not in the script.
we as caravanners require more than the every day normal motorist these are easily catered for and can be speedily dealt with it is only when some dificulty is experienced the process gets complicated read the small print on your renewal as I did and it becomes glaringly obvious somethings are not allright.
that is why the recovery options are better when gained through the caravan and camping clubs because these options are tailor made to a specific use and contracted out.
just try and get the RAC to cover privately all the options they offer through the C&CC "no chance" and you have not a hope in hell of getting the AA to do a double journey recovery if your van wheel bearing goes while on your way to a holiday destination.
just think about it and then tell me your better off.
colin.
Colin , you're very right cost is not a guarentee cheap can be good , expensive can be bad.
For info the reason RAC cant offer a direct product other than with the C&CC is they are contracted to the C&CC to only offer through them.
Its a trading agreement and part of the contract they have with C&CC , rightly or wrongly.
European cover is a different prospect to UK and none of the main UK providers actually service you abroad its usually a partner company and their business model can be alot different to what we in the UK have and therefore possible better.
Take ADAC in Germany , they have helicopters and paramedics on the payroll to attend autobahn related incidents but they are still a Motoring Oranisation primarily offering roadside assistance. They just happen to have the contract for Autobahn rescue as well(bit like our Highways Agency).
So next time you're stuck on a AutoBahn and a paramedic turns up he/she may just also have a few spanners in their medivac bags as well. (light hearted joke that!!)
12:50 PM i actually work part time in breakdown (independant)
What i will say is that the prices quoted for the RAC cover are high i would not recommend going outside the big 4, from a personal experiance i have always seen the best customer service from both CC/Green flag and RAC
For example: in the summer i picked up a renault espace (hatefull cars) and a large bailey, the owner was on his way to france with his family he had both his breakdown and his travel insurance with CC, i put the car on the bed and towed the van down to a site nr portsmouth that the CC had temp booked for this family (at 2am i am sure that gave the moaners something to talk about) the following day the car was collected and dropped off at the dealer, i believe the car was repaired and the CC rebooked the ferry tickets a few days later
Thats real customer service!
One other thing to bare in mind when getting your cover for abroad, nearly all the companies won't repatriate you car/van if over 10 years old
What i will say is that the prices quoted for the RAC cover are high i would not recommend going outside the big 4, from a personal experiance i have always seen the best customer service from both CC/Green flag and RAC
For example: in the summer i picked up a renault espace (hatefull cars) and a large bailey, the owner was on his way to france with his family he had both his breakdown and his travel insurance with CC, i put the car on the bed and towed the van down to a site nr portsmouth that the CC had temp booked for this family (at 2am i am sure that gave the moaners something to talk about) the following day the car was collected and dropped off at the dealer, i believe the car was repaired and the CC rebooked the ferry tickets a few days later
Thats real customer service!
One other thing to bare in mind when getting your cover for abroad, nearly all the companies won't repatriate you car/van if over 10 years old
The woman was quoting for arrival and stated categorically that no vans could be over 26' shipping length, when I questioned this she was quite rude and said I could go on line and put in a complaint but that was the rule. In addition she was unsure why my car was not on the system either and told me that it must be an import, which it isn't. I certainly won't try them again or recommend them
I've just had a bad experience with Green Flag.
Last week I broke down in the work's car park, I live 20 miles away. Smoke coming from engine so obviously car had to be towed to a garage which is 3 miles away from my home. I asked the lady on the phone if they would take me home and take the car to the garage. Green Flag stated there would be ONE recovery only - so me & the car home, or car to the garage only and we pay the PREMIUM cover for
Last week I broke down in the work's car park, I live 20 miles away. Smoke coming from engine so obviously car had to be towed to a garage which is 3 miles away from my home. I asked the lady on the phone if they would take me home and take the car to the garage. Green Flag stated there would be ONE recovery only - so me & the car home, or car to the garage only and we pay the PREMIUM cover for
Chelsea,
If that had happened to my wife, I would have been livid.
I can understand the argument that they are a breakdown recovery service and not a taxi service, but I would have thought they would have also taken you home, out of common courtesy....maybe you should change your name to Arsenal,
best regards, Martin
If that had happened to my wife, I would have been livid.
I can understand the argument that they are a breakdown recovery service and not a taxi service, but I would have thought they would have also taken you home, out of common courtesy....maybe you should change your name to Arsenal,
best regards, Martin
Hi chelsea,
Sorry to read about your plight with the breakdown service.
I would just like to say that i haven't had any problems with my breakdown service RAC,the engine management light came on, on our nissan xtrail,rang the dealership they told me to ring RAC to get the car towed in.
Half hour later the guy was with me & towed my car to the dealership & waited until i had booked the car in & then took me home.
Our annual cover costs arround
i have premium cover with greenflag,would they take my van to storage and me to a garage or home if i broke down,would they change a wheel on my van if it went,sorry about these questions as just got the van only my second time towing it across the a66 to the lakes next weekend very frightening
11 Oct 2009 08:51 PM i have premium cover with greenflag,would they take my van to storage and me to a garage or home if i broke down,would they change a wheel on my van if it went,sorry about these questions as just got the van only my second time towing it across the a66 to the lakes next weekend very frightening
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