I needed to have my car recovered last week due to putting a hole in the sump !!!! and called my breakdown service (I know that I am not allowed to name them, but they drive DELETED {So, you're not going to name them, but you still think it's ok to mention what colour vans they drive - think again. Mentioning their colour is as good as mentioning their name, hence the deletion. DD]
When the driver and tow truck arrived I was informed that due to a change in their rules they are only allowed to tow a maximium of TEN MILES to the nearest garage. Luckly I was fairly local to my main dealer, but I asked what would happen if I was in the middle nowhere in Scotland, and was told the same rules would apply
The driver told me that now that they are a PLC with profit to make fot the shareholders, the accountants have been in and looked at everything that they can cut back !!! No doubt there is cover where I can be towed anywhere, which used to be the case, but you can bet that they want even more money for that!!!
My wife had an accident last Novmeber where the car couldn't be driven. They wanted £140 to tow the car home, and wouldn't even come out unless you pay up front with a credit card. Thankfully she had her purse with her, otherwise that would have been it.
I certainly won't be renewing my policy with them, and wonder if anyone else knows of other breakdown companies with similar rules to avoid.
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In the light of the inherent reliability of modern cars I long ago gave up membership of any breakdown/rescue organisation. Their subscriptions are too high and as Carl writes above the services they provide are gradually being erroded. I've done the simple arithmetic and the cost of calling a nearby garage or dealer once in a blue moon is a lot less than annual subs. to a breakdown service. So far, touch wood it has been free for me: I'll regret writing that last sentence :)).
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as long as you do not break down in the m25 outside lane in a bank holiday crowd
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Wife's friend's husband (if you follow that) had his Espace towed home off the M1 to his house (for me to fix). About 20 miles in total, 8.30pm on a weekday evening and cost £360 from a local garage. Nice work if you can get it!
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Why not pay the extra for recovery? ISTR when I was looking round the bottom end cover of most of them had a mileage limit for the "nearest garage". The "pay and claimback" outfits seem to be good value for full distance recovery.
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DD - I'm thinking that even acknowledging the distinctive colour of the vans might be going a bit far...
However, Carl - without wanting to sound like Mark, it's in the small print. I was with the same recovery service, by the sound of it, when a throttle cable clip went on my car and left me with no acceleration at all, 40 miles from home. That was okay though, because I only had the most basic level of cover and I knew that.
Similarly, they don't usually cover accident recovery because your car insurance (fully comp. or alternatively, the other driver's if it's a non-fault accident from your perspective) will often cover that. Go third party and you're assuming the risk.
If you do want comprehensive cover for as little as possible, then I'd suggest AutoNational Rescue. They're not much more than the entry level packages from the big boys but do a fully comprehensive service, through independents, for £63 pa.
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>>without wanting to sound like Mark, it's in the small print.
I'm not sure how to take that !
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I had the misfortune to need my previous car towed to a garage twice in the space of a year. Both journeys were around 10 miles, and both cost around 50 quid. This was 4-5 years ago, in the Thames Valley. I was quite surprised that it didn't cost more.
Different companies on the two occasions, but both were specialist recovery services, not garages.
£360 was obviously a total rip-off.
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In the light of the inherent reliability of modern cars
Is that right, though? I seem to have covered many, many, miles without incident in my low-tech, low-problem Cortinas, Cambridges and Victors. Fuel, a battery, a contact--breaker and they kept going. Now what? Sorry, guv -- it's the flywheel-sensor connection I reckon. What the hell is a flywheel sensor?
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In the light of the inherent reliability of modern cars
Thats why my Dad had many cavaliers (Y reg to F reg company cars) and they never broke down.
Now in present day he has had a C5 (Broke down),
Followed my manager in his new Mercedes E class 270 D Avantgaurd on Friday on the M1. He broke down. Engine management light and no power (Mercedes assistant did pick up his car and gave him a nice S60 volvo auto as a replacment)
My 53 plate Nissan Primera broke down twice (2.2D), Electric cable was to short and put the car in limb mode and engine managment light on. To dangerous to drive as very slow. Nice man from RAC got me going though.
I have countless more account of my work colleuges who have 3 sereis BMW, a CLK Merk and they have broken down to.
Modern cars are far less reliable in my view and I would say there is a much greater need to have a good recovery service.
Kind Regards
Jlo
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<< What the hell is a flywheel sensor?
I'm always eager to learn. What IS a flywheel sensor?
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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I'm always eager to learn. What IS a flywheel sensor?
Presumably it does the same job as the crankshaft sensor - in that it monitors the flywheel speed, which just so happens to be connected to the crankshaft.
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I think I know what breakdown company you mean Carl. I used to be a patrol for one of them, but now I'm a patrol for the other. Plenty of people have left one for the other, but not many go the other way if that gives you a clue.
Sadly since neither are no longer clubs, making money is the object of the exercise just like any other company. Roadside only means you're entitled to a local tow, usually defined as 10 miles maximum, or to the nearest appropriate garage or other destination of no greater distance. You will need recovery entitlement to be towed further.
Every motorist needs to have breakdown cover in this day and age, as cars are much less likely to be repaired at the roadside, due to inaccessability, and unfeasability, meaning that recovery is almost inevitable. You are taking a big risk to your bank balance by not having cover, as recovery operators can charge what they like, (and it is an expensive business to be in) and take on whatever work they like, (especially out of hours) and if you're stranded with a car that can't be fixed at the roadside you're not exactly holding the trump card.
Email me if you need more information....
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Green flag through the caravan club do rescue after an accident and double journey cover it may be worth a look. Personal cover for me and the wife cost £98 which will cover any vehicle we drive or are passenger in.
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You only get the level of service that you pay for.
I joined the AA relay service many years ago so that I could always get the car home from one of my Scottish trips.
I assume that there is still not a mileage limit nowadays?
Always been very happy with AA.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Not clear what change the OP is complaining of. Wasn't the basic AA/RAC cover always 30 mins work at the roadside then a tow to nearest suitable garage?. Presumably there was always guidance as to the radius within which a suitable garage might lie, equally they won't drive you ten miles accross the highlands and then dump you in some different bit of nowhere.
If you wanted more you paid for Relay or similar upgrade. Same if you wanted cover at home.
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I have been with the RAC for a number of years, but it is only in the last year I have had to use them (4 times - Doh!!!)and I have to say that each time they have been out to the car within 40 minutes, the last time was less then 20. But having said that, if i can get the same cover cheaper I will change - But I always make sure I have homestart and relay, last time round it was just under £100 for a joint membership. If they then tried to put a cap on the distance towed then I would not use them.
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I have used the AA for years, and called them out on average about once every 18 months, either for my car or an car in which I've been travelling. The last time I called them, they were happy to trailer the Jag without me from here to Norfolk to have some free work done on it by a garage in Norwich while I stayed here. They broke the steering rack, but that's another story...They did, hoever, admit it and pay up. More to the point, they telephoned me and told me when they were coming and whether they were going to be late or not.
Despite the damage last time, I will stay with them as their service was good. Rarely do you find a company that will fairly speedily make a mistake, admit it and pay up promptly with an apology.
O
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Jaguar XJS V12 - comes with free personalised oil tanker.
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sadly that reflects the honesty of that particular employee rather than the organisation more widely i would guess
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Every motorist needs to have breakdown cover in this day and age.......
And a mobile phone. What on earth did we do before mobile phones were invented?
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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And a mobile phone. What on earth did we do before mobile phones were invented?
Walk to the nearest pay phone, which incidentally there seem to be getting less and less of these days. Seems the mobile has killed them all off.
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I know the very company your on about, and think a 10 mile mileage limit is pathetic. Someone I know, young lady, with a small baby in the car, broke down in the middle of nowhere at about 9.00PM. Clutch inoperative, so the car had to be towed.
Due to her being a female, with a child, she was made high priority, but this made little difference when the recovery personnel arrived, only to explain he can tow her only 10 miles, which would have left her stranded in an equally awkward place. The recovery man had sense however, and broke this rule, and took her all the way home.
With such stupid rules, it almost makes joining a recovery firm almost useless. Thus, for the time being, I will rely on my relatives to tow me home, wherever, and whenever I need it.
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I don't think the big 2 services are much good anymore. I've just renewed with x and having spoken with them and one of the others, my new service provider is light years ahead of the old competition in terms of cost, value and service and helpfulness on the phone - they must be raking in new business.
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Sorry HJ I disagree. Most of the breakdown services only cover recovery for breakdowns not recovery after an accident. I went through all this a year or so ago after an article in one of the motorcycle magazines.
I agree about AutoAid - I went with them last year for this reason (and price!)
RAC:-
Towing following an Accident, fire, theft or act of vandalism or other incident covered by a policy of motor insurance, if You call Us for assistance following such an incident You will be liable to pay Us for the costs of removal.
Greenflag:-
21. We can arrange to recover you following a road traffic accident
but you will be responsible for any costs involved. However,
you may be able to recover these from your motor insurer.
Britannia:- Seems better, but make your insurance pay - so NCD problems.
9. In the event of a road traffic accident we may ask you to contact your motor insurance company in the first instance to arrange recovery. If assistance is not available for whatever reason, we will provide the services as shown under your cover entitlement.
Martin
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I think this is good value, it costs £128 for two years cover.
www.volkswagen.co.uk/services/assistance/benefits
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As mentioned on previous threads take a look at the GEM's recovery offering:-
www.motoringassist.com/breakdown-cover/index.shtml
They arrived within 10 minutes when I needed them. Also very cheap and accident recovery is included.
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Who said anything about recovery being limited to 10 miles? This only applies to 'Roadside Only' which is the basic level of cover which is around £40 per year. Your vehicle can be recovered to any UK destination with recovery cover but this is around £90 per year.
You wouldn't expect to have your own car damage covered with Third party only insurance, so why should breakdown cover be any different?
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I thought the 10 mile limit was strange, given that I have the RELAY option, but the driver was adament that this was the rule!!!
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To be fair the terms and conditions do state that Relay will only be provided if your vehicle cannot be made driveable at the roadside, or if a prompt local repair in an appropriate garage cannot be arranged, which is usually defined as four hours from the first patrol arriving to the car being repaired.
However although this is the rule, it isn't often strictly enforced.
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