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I have been a member of the RAC for over 20 years. My wife has AA cover with her bank account and has suggested that I give up the RAC. This year I finally gave it up yesterday. Today I went to a small local VW specialist to settle the account for new front spring and an MOT. I parked 400 yards away and when I was trying to leave the electric handbrake was jammed on. I had to call out the AA . He was not willing to help because my wife was not there.

It is the same as carrying spares in the boot of the Tr which ensures that part will not break.

Tomorrow I am joining the RAC again and hoping that they will do me a good deal.

Richard & B  

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RAC offer a membership for the individual irrespective of the car you are in. I have access to six different vehicles, and to cover each one would be astronomical so the personal cover from RAC is very cost effective.

I have used AA and Green flag in the past, and One that came with an insurance cover: with that cover, I broke down just outside Exeter, at 10:30pm I was quoted 90 minutes for the recovery to arrive. It eventually arrived at 05:30 the next morning). I immediately looked at better options and the RAC was what I chose. However none of them are perfect.

TT

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5 minutes ago, tthomson said:

. However none of them are perfect.

TT

Hi Richard,

I have had a policy of never changing an old supplier - it would probably cost me money if I did.

As mentioned by Tony, none are perferct.   few years ago I bumped into a large rock that went under my Saab95. The following day I went to Gaydon and sure enough on the way there all the dash wanring lights came on. At Gaydon I contacted the AA and they said they couldn't help as I ran over the rock so it wasn't an accident. I asked for the senior handset cleaner at the phone desk and explained howl long I had been a member and apprx how much money they had extorted out of me. The lorry turned up within 30 minutes.  I'm still with the AA - they are not perfect.

 

The only exception I have to changing was last year - I changed my electricity supplier.

They (SSE) wanted £180/month for my direct debit.  I swapped to 'Octopus' and after paying £100 for a year or so I am now paying £50 which is the annual average.

 

Roger

 

Roger

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When Daughter, alone, with infant, rubbished a tyre on the motorway, 80 miles away from us, I got there before the AA, who took her and the car and baby  to a tyre fitter, who gave her the wrong sized tyre.    Not a satisfactory response, as I told them.

My solution was to buy a spare wheel for her car - she is quite capable of changing a wheel, she's my daughter and her mother's child! - as her car had a wheel well, but no spare, just an inflation and seal kit, that doesn't work on a shredded carcass.       

But when I drove my race car to Prescott Hill Climb, and it broke a suspension part, the AA were fine about taking me all the way home!    "Non-timed" ascents so not in competition!   It's the way you tell 'em, Roger!

John

Edited by john.r.davies
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A couple of years ago I broke down in my TR3 I called out the RAC who turned up in 10 minutes, not to fix the car but to have a look at it! The chap freely admitted that he didn't have a clue what to look for but was really impressed that we were using a map.

An hour later the relay lorry arrived and transported us about 50 miles to a service station which was 10 miles from home and dumped us there with "sorry mate your house is outside my area" He didn't drive off though at he didn't have another call, so we all sat there waiting for the next relay lorry.

We recalled the RAC after a couple of hours and were told the truck is on its way (not true) after a further 4 hours we phoned my son who came over and towed us home.  

 This was the first time I have had to use a breakdown company, needless to say we found another breakdown service

George 

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I was with RAC, had been with them 30years +. I included at home covered for the whole family, any car although limited to so many call out in any year. They covered any vehicles we were in up to 3.5 ton except my long wheel base van. Green Flag covered the long wheel base Citroen Relay. I paid in total close on £400.  It took RAC from 2.30pm to 2.30am to get a member of the family from Wales to Devon.

If I am going to have to wait that long I can do that for a lot less, now I have the same cover plus they cover my Citroen Relay just me and the wife It’s true. Auto aid charge me £57.00 for upto 6 call out each, so I pay for my two daughters too, £171.00. Together we have called them out twice waited a maximum of 45mins.  Martin Lewis suggested them works for me.

Saving over £200 smackers. :D

Edited by Misfit
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2 hours ago, Misfit said:

I was with RAC been with then 30years + I had at home covered the whole family, any car although limited to so many call out in any year. They  covered any vehicles I’m in up to 3.5 ton except long wheel base vehicles. I covered my long wheel base Citroen Rely by Green flag. I paid in total close on £400.  It took RAC from 2.30pm to 2.30am to get a member of the family from Wales to Devon.

If I am going to have to wait that long I can do that for a lot less, now I have the same cover plus they cover my Citroen Relay just me and the wife It’s true. Auto aid charge me £57.00 for upto 6 call out each, so I pay for my two daughters too, £171.00. Together we have called them out twice waited a maximum of 45mins.  Martin Lewis suggested them works for me.

Saving over £200 smackers. :D

Thanks for the tip on Auto Aid.

I have just given Green Flag their marching orders after they put the price up in a time when nobody was driving, saucey buggers, so am once aging trawlingling the market for cover. Since I have only claimed once in 50 plus years of driving and especially now as I have only filled the car twice since March it seems a waste of money. I suppose one must have it just incase you are involved in an accident and the car won't move

George 

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When I was 18 I drove my Hillman Imp into a flood. (Having a rear engine and an almost empty fuel tank at the front it floated several yards before it sank.)
The AA refused to recover the car because they said the flood was “An act of God”.

I pointed out that the reason the car was in the flood was nothing to do with God, it was simply “An act of my own stupidity.”

They still refused to recover the car.

Charlie.

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On 10/10/2020 at 9:16 AM, Charlie D said:

When I was 18 I drove my Hillman Imp into a flood. (Having a rear engine and an almost empty fuel tank at the front it floated several yards before it sank.)
The AA refused to recover the car because they said the flood was “An act of God”.

I pointed out that the reason the car was in the flood was nothing to do with God, it was simply “An act of my own stupidity.”

They still refused to recover the car.

Charlie.

I find this “this act of god “ get out clause  appalling . At the risk of offending religious people , how did they know God did this ?

 

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You will see that RTA ( Road Traffic Accident) doesn’t exist any more they are RTC ( Road Traffic Collisions) 

there is no such thing as an “accident” anymore.

and they tend to state that speed (not excess speed you’ll notice) is a contributory factor.

rarely do 2 stationary vehicles collide so speed must be involved. !!!

Insurance small print !!!!!!!

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On 10/8/2020 at 11:05 PM, Richardtr3a said:

I have been a member of the RAC for over 20 years. My wife has AA cover with her bank account and has suggested that I give up the RAC. This year I finally gave it up yesterday. Today I went to a small local VW specialist to settle the account for new front spring and an MOT. I parked 400 yards away and when I was trying to leave the electric handbrake was jammed on. I had to call out the AA . He was not willing to help because my wife was not there.

It is the same as carrying spares in the boot of the Tr which ensures that part will not break.

Tomorrow I am joining the RAC again and hoping that they will do me a good deal.

Richard & B  

It is in the terms the cardholder must be present simple.

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Hi All - my TR has breakdown cover through the TRR Insurance scheme, but our daily drivers are with 

startrescue.co.uk <startrescue-cs@start-mail.co.uk,   

https://www.startrescue.co.uk/breakdown-cover?gclid=CjwKCAjw_Y_8BRBiEiwA5MCBJkei4LR1dfpNsdyZBmq00Pqj_0rvPgkTj44OnlVZDesMe5cvOSPkkhoCx_0QAvD_BwE

They are a Which recommended supplier.

Really great value and will cover multiple vehicles - UK non premium rate call centre - on a few times with call outs( well a fair few!!), mostly with the kids cars, they have always been prompt and efficient - no connection other than as a satisfied customer

Cheers Rich

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8 hours ago, rcreweread said:

Hi All - my TR has breakdown cover through the TRR Insurance scheme, but our daily drivers are with 

startrescue.co.uk <startrescue-cs@start-mail.co.uk,   

https://www.startrescue.co.uk/breakdown-cover?gclid=CjwKCAjw_Y_8BRBiEiwA5MCBJkei4LR1dfpNsdyZBmq00Pqj_0rvPgkTj44OnlVZDesMe5cvOSPkkhoCx_0QAvD_BwE

Cheers Rich

 This looks good value Rich - one thing I notice though is their terms say they don't get you home IF a repair garage is nearer to your breakdown location.

Start Rescue Smallprint:

If, in the opinion of the Recovery Operator, they are unable to repair the vehicle at the roadside, we will arrange for the vehicle, you and the passengers to be recovered to a garage for repair, your home or original destination, whichever is nearer.

One thing the RAC Recovery or AA Relay allow for is you can choose to be returned home no matter where you are. (This  comes at a price of course !).
Chees, Bob

 

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I've never used my Oz NRMA breakdown service. But having joined as a brand new adult (21 in those days) I was well on the way to 'gold' membership when the 2 yr posting to Brize Norton occurred (36 yr old). Think I joined the AA in the land of the pom.

Came back and rejoined the NRMA, back to yr zero!! previous membership counted for nought. 

The gold membership cuts in at 25 yrs and brings a number of 'goodies' into play discounts on other insurance, free overseas travel insurance etc.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 10/11/2020 at 1:16 PM, Hamish said:

 

rarely do 2 stationary vehicles collide so speed must be involved. 

My former almost new Ford Focus was involved in an unusual collision a few years ago.  It was parked on a military site when it was impacted by an unmanned army ambulance.   Someone has forgotten to apply the handbrake on the ambulance and it rolled downhill, stopping with its collision into my car.   That was an interesting claim form to complete.  No drivers involved. 

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You know that there is no lomger that thing called an "RTA", a Road Traffic Accident?     Accident happen by chance, without a cause.

They are now "RTI"s, Incidents!

 

The driver involved in your incident, Paul, was the one who forgot the hand brake!

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Now we are off topic and talking about insurance claims form, how about an embarrassing story?

I used to own a Citroen CX25 and parked it facing uphill on a steep drive next to my house. One morning I opened the drivers door, threw my briefcase towards the passenger seat. It hit the handbrake lever, which released. The car started to accelerate back down the drive, I was till outside the car holding onto the drivers door which was rapidly coming towards me. I went with the car trying to get in it. The door struck a 6inch oak gatepost, which did not flinch, the door folded back into the front wing. I am still outside the car and only just fitted between the car and the gate post. The car now shot across the pavement into the usually very busy road, luckily no cars were there. About half way across the road, I managed to leap in the now fast moving car and pull on the handbrake stopping the car about a foot away from a stout stone wall on the other side of the road. A number of drivers and pedestrians watched me drive the battered car back up the driveway, were there any sniggers? I went inside where Linda looked surprised to see me and said "I thought you had gone to work". I replied "I have just written the car off". "But I did not hear it start" she says. " I never got that far". She came out to have a look and hear the story. The insurance claim form must have been passed around the office as a classic.

All true and the insurance company paid for the repairs.

Mick

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I was 18 and at that time had the use of a A30 Van, I parked it in The Main Street in Paignton. 

I  parked on yellow lines and popped into a shop, it had just had a MOT and I wanted breakfast before going to work.

When I came out I didn’t see the van just a large crowd at the bottom of the street with a policeman standing in the middle, I knew it was a policeman as his helmet stuck well above the the crowd. The hand break was on, however there was no longer a cable attached. Apparently just having a MOT is not sufficient defence,  as it is only states it’s roadworthy at that particular moment. It cost me a fine and the repair to the A30 vehicle for driving a vehicle in a unroadworthy condition. Third party liability covered the Hilman that prevented it wiping out member of the public Standing on the pavement. 

A lesson learned I now also leave my vehicle in gear or park and a small price to pay I believe.

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