Red Pennant

[Chrisbee]

I don't know if I should post this here or in the Overseas section.

I have just tried to buy Red Pennant insurance for my trip to Austria in July using the online purchasing facility of the Caravan Club web site. All was fine until I got to the "Caravan Length" section where I gave the shipping length only to be told the van is too long and I was given a number to ring. Fine, until the recorded message tells you that the office is now closed 'till Monday. That's the way to sell insurance, It is Saturday afternoon after all!!!!!!

My Pageant is 7.34m long, the policy says 7.32 is the maximum.

That puts 4 out of 7 Pageant series 6 models as too long.

I had a small gripe about the CC in another topic during the week. Perhaps I should take Angus's advice and vote with my feet.

 

[VIP640]

Take a deep breath and relax! give them a call on Monday morning and they will sort you out...

 

[Cockovan]

Hi,

I seem to think that Austria has a length limit on caravans (Italy is 6.5m on a single axle) could this be what CC are referring to.

And do you work on a Saturday afternoon?

 

[Chrisbee]

No, I don't work on Saturday afternoon, but I'm not in the business of selling insurance. When I used to do call out I did however work at all hours of the day and night as required by the customers my company was selling a service to. Unfortunately the nature of my job makes it difficult to make phone calls during normal office hours, especially if I need information to hand.

I think the maximum caravan length in Austria does not apply to visitors, or at least I hope so. What I find strange is that what is now considered as a pretty normal size van is outside the CC parameters, perhaps they need to look at the criteria again. I will try to phone them on Monday and no doubt spend a couple of pounds on the phone whilst they take all the details they need.

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

I think you will find that in the busy season (January till March), you can phone on Saturday Mornings.

My van is 7.5 mtrs long & I have insured with Red Pennant.

I was working from 0800 till 1800 hours Saturday & Sunday. 1800 till 0800 hours this Monday & Tuesday coming

 

[Chrisbee]

I have just spoken to a very nice lady at the CC who arranged cover over the phone. She had no idea why they put a length restriction on the on line booking system. So, all is well with the world apart from the cost of the mobile phone call. My wife calls me "Frugal", can't imagine why!

 

[George_374300440]

Ihad the same problem tonight as well, tried to take out red pennent cover for europe online but rejected due to length,although mayday states no restrictions on length or width in their conditions.No other breakdown insurer will cover vans over 7.25meters in length and 2.25 in width incl. green flag,churchill,tesco ect.I estimate within 3 years that will rule out 85% of caravans on width,most current vans are now 2.3meters width.

 

[SMS]

Hi all

Greenflag do cover any size of van if you buy through the CC Mayday service.

A lot of other breakdown insurers will quote for the extra length.

CC length restriction applies to motorhomes....the online booking needs sorting out to accomodate this.

 

[Tim2]

With regard to breakdown cover in the UK I was once told by a Greenflag recovery driver that the reason that Mayday cover longer 'vans is that it covered by Greenflag through their commercial breakdown service. I don't know if this is true.

Britannia Rescue were happy to cover my former 'van 7.24 metres in both UK and on the Continent. I would NOT, however, recommend them for the Continent.

When I had a major breakdown in 2006 their service was VERY POOR. Their Continental agents were dangerously slow in responding to our, 2, motorway breakdowns, inefficient and uncommunicative.

The car and caravan repatriation was a shambles. It took over 6 weeks with frequent changes of delivery date. The caravan was returned to us hanging off the back of a decrepid car transporter. The whinch cable on the lorry was frayed and jammed necessitating my wife having to phone round for friends to come and manhandle 'van off the vehicle. It took a WHOLE MORNING just to get it off. In addition