Breakdown/Recovery for £28 a year

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Sun 18 May 2003 09:35
Breakdown/Recovery for £28 a year - KB.
Given Marcos's current thread about breaking down without cover, I post this for information of others.

I have had Brkdn/Rcvy for self/spouse for about £80 a year with CSMA. I've never used the service so can't comment on efficiency.

I have a new Toyota and an old Maestro which never travels far afield so isn't a great breakdown problem for me, but it's good to have cover just in case (ie. Marcos!).

I used to use 'Auto Aid' years ago for £11 a year and it provided a full service insofar as you arranged your own recovery and claimed the costs back. I used it then and it worked OK but then decided to arrange a more conventional form of cover mainly for the convenience of my Mrs.

I've just gone back to them at £28 a year because you now either arrange your own recovery OR ring a 24 hour number and they send someone out, you pay them and then claim it back. Full cover equal to the CSMA or any of the others for me, my wife in any vehicle ie. either of our cars. They cover motorcycles equally well too.

If anyone's interested I'll give details.
KB.
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Sun 18 May 2003 15:03
Breakdown/Recovery for £28 a year - Alf
Sounds good KB, what are the contact details please?

Regards,

Alf
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Sun 18 May 2003 16:31
Breakdown/Recovery for £28 a year - KB.
The cover is called Auto Aid and it's run by the Equity Red Star insurance people (who are also known by their association with the Boncaster group). They're the people who run the VAG Insurance scheme for Volkswagen, amongst others.

The Phone No. is 01277 235 820 and they're in Library House, New Road, Brentwood. They also do the Autonational breakdown service ( see www.autonational.co.uk/home.htm )

The cost is £28 PA and you either choose your own contractor to repair at the roadside or recover you to a chosen destination, or ring the control room and they send someone out to you as they would with the Autonational service. You then pay the contractor direct with a card/cheque/cash and fill in the claim form which comes with your papers. I've claimed 3 times and had no problems. They do only recover you to one destination though - probably as per the AA etc. There's also overnight accommodation as per other firms.

Because it's a cheap no frills scheme, spread only by word of mouth, they won't send you "free details" through the post.They explain it over the phone and you can join up as and when, and the booklet and certificate come through the post thereafter.

If you're half sensible and not given to breaking down on a monthly basis it's great for peace of mind on motorways etc. but won't suit everyone due to the need to claim your dosh back and the need to have some means of paying for the repair/recovery ( which in my case was quite expensive).

Hope this helps.
KB.
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Tue 20 May 2003 09:31
Breakdown/Recovery for £28 a year - Alf
Thanks for the gen KB

regards,

Alf
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