|
Left lights on rushing for an appt. 2 hrs later a flat battery so called Autoaid -the whole process was laborious IMHO.
30 mins after call I was called - they would be with me in 30-45 mins - flagged down a taxi - he had jump leads & I got it started - gave him a £5.00 for his trouble - we were frozen & another 30/40 minutes would have been long & cold.
Renewed with GreenFlag @ £52 (IIRC) which is a bit more but might be a better service / maybe not BUT I was not impressed by Autoaid on the only occasion I used them in 4/5 years.
Bought a set of L o n g Jump leads (£10 for 4 metre seemed good value) as an insurance against another flat battery.
|
|
I've used them once about three years ago.
Managed to break my diff. They arranged for a flat bed to collect me and take us home. Had to wait around half-an-hour on a Sunday afternoon.
|
|
My Aviva Rescue is up for renewal next week. £60 and its covers both me and the Mrs for any car we drive and any car we are passenger in. Used tham last in 2013. Car imovable with broken spring Friday teatime. RAC truck arrived in less than 1 hour and took me and car strait to local BMW specialist.
|
|
I think that, with breakdown companies, it's very much a case of you get what you pay for. This is why I continue with the AA in spite of the fact I could get similar membership from another organisation cheaper.
The devil's in the detail. Read the online reviews and you will probably find, as I myself did, that some of the smaller organisations are fine and give good service most of the time. However, the testing times for them are times like bank holidays, when things are likely to be busy. It often looks as if they can barely cope, reading some of the comments about how long people are having to wait.
The AA and, no doubt, the RAC, have a greater number of vehicles, plus, they have the back-up of other independent operators should things get extra busy.
|
|
Galaxy, I know you said the devil is in the detail. Has the AA changed from using the relay service?
The only time i used it was around 30 years ago, when the relay was literally that, it took you on a relay of vehicles. We must have changed trucks around five times to do 200 miles. Would be interested to know if it's still the same?
|
Galaxy, I know you said the devil is in the detail. Has the AA changed from using the relay service?
The only time i used it was around 30 years ago, when the relay was literally that, it took you on a relay of vehicles. We must have changed trucks around five times to do 200 miles. Would be interested to know if it's still the same?
I really don't know, I'm afraid. I have only ever used relay once during my many years of AA membership and, like yourself, Oli, that was about 30 years ago. I used it to get a friend's long-wheelbase Transit van back to London after it broke down in Manchester (engine siezed). I was a passenger in the van at the time and, as I had personal membership, I was permitted to use my AA membership to get them to come out to assist us.
From memory, I think the van was carried on about 3 different vehicles but, to be perfectly honest, we weren't bothered. We were just really so very grateful to be able to get the van back to London free of charge. I have to say, in spite of the number of different vehicles used for the recovery, they were very efficient.
Edited by Galaxy on 18/01/2017 at 18:17
|
|
|
|
|
Do you mean this compay?
https://www.startrescue.co.uk/breakdown-cover/quick-quote
|
|
Got to be honest, this is a regular question ... here and in lots of other places. Understandably so though because it is cheap considering what it would cost to get towed off a motorway. And, to be equally honest again, whilst I've been with Autoaid since 1984 (that's 32 yrs!) I've only called them out twice in all that time... and the last time was over twenty yrs ago. It has to be said the only time I speak to them is at renewal and their Admin was still efficient recently despite their having been taken over recently. (It used to be Equity Red Star and now it's Right Choice Insurance Brokers in Romford.)
In truth it's more convenient and straightforward just to belong to one of the main AA/RAC type organizations and get it at the best price you can (i.e. use your Tesco points to buy RAC cover - or any one of a million other schemes run by banks and insurance companies etc) ... but as I don't run old bangers and my mileage is low then the safeguard of having someone to call if I was in trouble is easily worth £42 especially as it cover both my cars plus my wife in either car.
As has been said... you pays yer money and takes yer choice... but I can confirm they're not a bunch of cowboys.
|
|
My experience is that breakdown companies are as good as their operatives.
Because the Mrs got discounted Green Flag through her job, we've used them until recently, now got Company car, wifes is newish car under manufacturers warranty.
My experiences of Green Flag have been variable:
1. Daughter's Clio wouldn't start. GF agent said immboliser, so recovered to friends garage 60 miles away. Diagnosis was failing battery, however, agent attending did not test battery with discharge tester, so in theory could have resolved on site. Had a separate issue with same agent, same car on another occasion re overheating that he did not resolve to satisfaction at roadside.
2. MX5 wouldnt start. GF man, claimed to have worked at Mazda Northampton, diagnosed fuel pump failure. In fact it was a crankshaft positioning sensor. He got no codes on the OBD2, my mechanic did. GF man even mistook component in engine comp't for fuel filter.....
3. Mondeo cut out at junction. Struggled to start. GF man diagnosed fuel lifter pump. Local garage disagreed as vehicle did not have lifter pump. Chance convo following week with man who worked at Ford Tech School, who asked colleagues, pointed to camshaft positioning sensor. Voltage on early ones too low to trigger in ECU, so it cuts out. Replaced myself, sorted. LOts of forum traffic on this type of failure, some had new HP fuel pump at £1k, and still had fault.
4. Mondeo battery failing - rang GF, said I'd got a new battery, needed fitting (supplier could not fit and retain radio code). GF man turns up with screwdriver, pliers and adjustable spanner. With my guidance and jump leads to keep power to car, battery was swapped in a heath robinsonish way, but not without much head scratching by recovery man.
A friend also had an issue with a GF man attending aux belt failure on a Mondeo, and he bodged repair. Next day, car emitted black smoke from new belt, owner marooned, extra hotel bill. GF coughed up after mega complaint.
So are these recovery agents any good and how well trained are they?
As someone said, you pays your money.......
|
|
Very true, I used to arrange it through an insurance broker who offered Green Flag who I was with for many years, then they offered a couple of other breakdown companies.
Been with ResQ for a few years, only used them once in 2013, he thought it was dirty spark plugs, I took it to a garage who fitted a new coil which sorted the misfiring problem out.
So yes it does depend on which mechanic is sent out on the day and his knowledge or lack of.
|
|
|
3. Mondeo cut out at junction. Struggled to start. GF man diagnosed fuel lifter pump. Local garage disagreed as vehicle did not have lifter pump. Chance convo following week with man who worked at Ford Tech School, who asked colleagues, pointed to camshaft positioning sensor. Voltage on early ones too low to trigger in ECU, so it cuts out. Replaced myself, sorted. LOts of forum traffic on this type of failure, some had new HP fuel pump at £1k, and still had fault.
Just for information (if anyone is interested), the ECU only interrogates the camshaft sensor when the vehicle starts-up. Once the engine is running, it could be unplugged and it would make no difference whatsoever to the further running of the vehicle, (until you needed to start it again)!
|
|
We advertised for a security person/driver at work and one of the applications came from an ex AA patrol man who had left due to ill health. He fitted the bill perfectly and since his health issues had cleared up we set him on. We instantly formulated a plan to add to his role in the short term by adding the fleet checks and weekly maintenance with a view to perhaps expand his role even further later.
Well what a useless creature. He had no idea about vehicles whatsoever but he had definitely worked as an AA patrol man. Bet they were glad when he had to leave. We soon got rid, went off on long term sick almost immediately and then went to work as a driver for a well known celebrity who had lost his license in a well publiced case. We gave him a glowing reference, the celebrity deserved all he got.
|
We gave him a glowing reference, the celebrity deserved all he got.
Great! I understand this also happens in the world of CEO's. They take some company to the wall only to get another job somewhere else on even more money.
And people wonder why joe public is hacked-off.
Edited by nick62 on 19/01/2017 at 10:52
|
Like many other Nationwide Bank customers with their cover for breakdown including caravans and commercial vehicles with long wheelbase, covered by Brittania rescue which do really well in Which, and World wide Travel insurance and Mobile phone insurance all for £10 a month reduced to £6 if up you have £2500 in credit the choice is a no brainier.
The difference with Nationwide cover is that they pay out with no quibble.
But non Nationwide account holders should opt fotr Start which have overtaken all the other recovery companies in Which and charge £39 a year.
They even hired a taxi for a friend whose elderly mother could not climb into the recovery vehicle for a 50 mile journey.
|
Like many other Nationwide Bank customers with their cover for breakdown including caravans and commercial vehicles with long wheelbase, covered by Brittania rescue which do really well in Which, and World wide Travel insurance and Mobile phone insurance all for £10 a month reduced to £6 if up you have £2500 in credit the choice is a no brainier.
I have a Nationwide accound and looked at this last year but there is a catch. Unlike Aviva rescue they do not cover specialist cars so no good for my Caterham.
Always read the small print.
|
|
|
. But non Nationwide account holders should opt fotr Start which have overtaken all the other recovery companies in Which and charge £39 a year. They even hired a taxi for a friend whose elderly mother could not climb into the recovery vehicle for a 50 mile journey.
Do you mean this company?
https://www.startrescue.co.uk/
When I input my registration I can only get it for £55 including home start.
The £29 does not include home start for my Reg.
If I input a different registration the price varies.
Maybe because my car is a 2003 tohe cost is higher.
|
|
Indeed, I had a look at Start Rescue... two cars with myself and the Mrs driving each others cars. With Homestart included it looked like £116. 41p for two people and I sincerely trust that covered two cars... I couldn't bothered to check when I got as far as £116!
No, I shall stick with AutoAid. For what it covers and for the cost of it I think it's very fair.
Edited by KB. on 19/01/2017 at 23:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have been with Autoaid for about 6-7 years. I have used them once in that time, a failed diesel pump modul. Got taken home about 4-miles or so on breakdown truck. Paid next day over the phone. Invoice came following day. Sent to Autoaid, received cheque in 3-days. From first phone call to home in
less than 1-hour. I think that's good service for £42.
Also son-in -law used them on new years eve late afternoon. Front puncture on A3 Audi. Tried to mend it with foam and compressor but didn't work. No tyre places open at that time. Brought home 40miles in about 2 hrs. Again not bad for a new years eve. Would recommend. Also covers spouse and it's personal and not tied to a particular car.
|
|
I've just read that Autoaid is no longer Pay and Claim and operates like the other operators with no fees payable at the time of the incident..
Didn't know that - and no mention of it on their website ... however the website still says it's owned by Equity Red Star, whereas in reality they were taken over by ERS Syndicate Services on 6th May 2016 - so maybe the website needs tidying up.
|
Didn't know that - and no mention of it on their website .
It's definately in the terms when you get your cover paperwork issued, a nice move in theory but as i said in the other thread, when there's no paying out to do some people could be more, shall we say, flippant with using the service, especially for long distance full recovery or sorting a dead battery out themselves.
I wonder if it's been left off the website deliberately in order not to tempt the chancers out there, and I'd like them to reverse it and go back to pay and claim, because if their costs increase so will the premiums for the majority of us who try to keep our cars in good nick.
|
|
Autoaid is brilliant, had them for years, made three claims in 10 years I think. Recommended.
|
|
After unsatisfactory service from AA and not much better from RAC we joined Britannia Rescue over 30 years ago. They would cover wife and I for less than AA/RAC, we also have cover as passengers in other cars.
We have called them maybe six times and usually waited less than 30 minutes (they use local agents,as do Green Flag, hence rapid response).
Roadside fixes four times, recovery twice, each time on one vehicle all the way. You will not see peak time TV commercials for them either, which I see as showing prudent use of members' subscription revenue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
