Breakdown Service for driver fault

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 11:23
Breakdown Service for driver fault - Warning

A friend on her way to work, hit kerb at moderate speed. She noticed her car was making a noise and she thinks one of the wheels might have been a a little off-centre. She called the breakdown service, She was told she would have to pay for a tow truck as it was driver fault. She was not covered under the breakdown service.

Although, her breakdown company was n't the AA, but some us do remember adverts such as these:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dBOo00L1fk

Have breakdown companies reduced their cover or were driver faults never covered?

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 11:44
Breakdown Service for driver fault - RT

It depends on the cover, that's why premiums vary.

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 11:48
Breakdown Service for driver fault - Warning

She pays monthly. It is cover provided via her bank.

Edited by Warning on 15/07/2019 at 11:49

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 13:37
Breakdown Service for driver fault - Gibbo_Wirral

She pays monthly. It is cover provided via her bank.

The day I trust banks to recommend breakdown cover will be the same day I take financial advice from the AA.

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Tue 16 Jul 2019 14:02
Breakdown Service for driver fault - edlithgow

She pays monthly. It is cover provided via her bank.

The day I trust banks to recommend breakdown cover will be the same day I take financial advice from the AA.

In 2008 we might have all been better off if we'd taken financial advice from the AA.

Breakdown cover advice, maybe not so much.

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Tue 16 Jul 2019 17:17
Breakdown Service for driver fault - NARU

>> In 2008 we might have all been better off if we'd taken financial advice from the AA.

Ha, ha! Last time I looked at the AA it was valued at about £525m on the the stock market as it drags £2.7bn of debt along the road.

All part of the stupid rush to private equity allowing a bunch of get-rich-quick merchants to suck all the value out of a company and leave it limping along, ready to get wiped out by the slightest increase in costs.

Edit: The shares floated at 250p. I've just checked them now and they're 50p, making the company worth about £310m - so the last year has not been kind. They were just under 100p back in March.

Edited by NARU on 16/07/2019 at 17:24

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 11:48
Breakdown Service for driver fault - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

It depends on the cover, that's why premiums vary.

As above. My AA cover includes accident recovery.

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 12:12
Breakdown Service for driver fault - gordonbennet

The breakdown was the result of an accident, as far as i know most breakdown services will recover the vehicle but they can and will bill the insurer for the recovery.

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 13:52
Breakdown Service for driver fault - NARU

It depends on the cover, that's why premiums vary.

As above. My AA cover includes accident recovery.

Are you sure? The standard Ts&Cs say:

"If the accident is not a Non-Fault Accident or, if the accident is a Non-Fault Accident but You do not wish to use the AA Accident Response service, The AA may provide (but not pay for)
recovery following an accident. If so, You will be responsible for paying the AA’s charges for this assistance. Where an insurance claim is being made, we can look to recover these charges from Your insurer and, We reserve the right to reclaim our recovery cost provided under this policy from the insurer of a known third party driver, who was at fault in relation to the incident

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Mon 15 Jul 2019 13:41
Breakdown Service for driver fault - NARU

A friend on her way to work, hit kerb at moderate speed. ...

It's been like this since breakdown companies realised they could bill the insurer for recovery of accidents.

What happens when the person is only insured third party, I don't know.

I was very aware of it as a biker. It doesn't take much of a drop to break the gear lever. And its hard to ride a bike without it - but I doubt I'd want to put in an insurance claim - but the recovery organisation wouldn't want to recover me unless they could charge someone.

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Tue 16 Jul 2019 17:30
Breakdown Service for driver fault - sammy1

A friend on her way to work, hit kerb at moderate speed.

So what happens if you get a puncture or you feel you car is failing for some other reason. If you have breakdown cover surely you call them to get you out of the problem either by recovery or fix at the roadside. In a case like this what business is it for the Breakdown firm to be inquiring about your insurance company and claiming off such

IF you are in a major RTA than I can imagine the recovery is usually organised by the police or Highways

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Tue 16 Jul 2019 18:15
Breakdown Service for driver fault - skidpan

Surely the clue is in the name

BREAKDOWN COVER

You would need to check the small print to see if ACCIDENT RECOVERY is included.

Breakdowns and accidents are different IMHO.

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Tue 16 Jul 2019 22:20
Breakdown Service for driver fault - sammy1

OK so what happens if you hit a pot hole or debris in the road accident or what, who do you call to get you out of a jam. I suppose that like every thing else in life you only know when you need it

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Tue 16 Jul 2019 23:25
Breakdown Service for driver fault - Warning

>> You would need to check the small print to see if ACCIDENT RECOVERY is included.

I had a quick look at AA, RAC and Green Flag terms and condition. They seem to focus on breakdowns, none of them mention the situation in question. There is no option to pay extra, to get this type of cover.

Whilst they appear offer recovery following an accident, but they assume the insurance company will pick up the bill.

However, what happens if the incident is minor and it would cost more in loss of no-claims bonus and insurance excess etc...

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Wed 17 Jul 2019 00:32
Breakdown Service for driver fault - sammy1

However, what happens if the incident is minor and it would cost more in loss of no-claims bonus and insurance excess etc...

I have never heard of someone with breakdown cover which has gone on to affect their insurance. I suppose it could happen in some circumstances.
I reckon if you run out of fuel you are just has negligent has hitting the kerb but your breakdown cover will still rescue you.
Best to phone the rescue tell them you are stuck and act dumb, a back hander to the rescue driver makes the world go around!

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