Author Topic: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle  (Read 26040 times)

guest5079

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #30 on: September 28, 2017, 08:51:39 AM »
In my letter to the AA, I brought up the very point re usage. In my case the call out was the result of misinformation. ie Honda dealer stating the battery was in good order and the little indicator telling me all was well. I never thought the interior light being on for an hour would flatten the battery.
Yes it was a call out but I have plenty of evidence of cars breaking down through lack of maintenance.I also pointed out the Honda reliability resulting in less breakdowns and my mileag of about 5500 miles per annum, why should I pay the same as the bloke who does 30000 per annum. Bloke opposite does an 70 mile round trip every day and I have never seen him lift the bonnet on his Ford. As a village policeman before mobile phones, I was very frequently coming across cars broken down and being asked to call the AA/RAC. Being a tad up to speed with cars, in most cases when you lifted the bonnet all you saw was a complete and utter mess.  Now days engines don't leak as much as they used too but even now I am surprised at people who don't bother to keep under the bonnet at least a semblance of clean and tidy. I am really ticked with the attitude of these so called motor assist firms, all they are is another insurance company trying to fleece the motorist. I know not all do but the AA after my quote does point to this. Unlimited call outs produces laziness and at about £30 for roadside assistance is a lot cheaper than looking after the car properly if it is fixed infinitely. I believe the RAC covers that one by quite rightly refusing if the fault isn't fixed.
As to Gem, when I looked up the site, it appears they have two charges one as normal, car fixed and they pay up to a certain amount and the second where you pay and they reimburse. The fact that it is a 'Club' and not a great big insurance company is a plus. Lastly, when I looked at the AA blurb I was amazed at 'so and so' covers this 'charley harry' covers that etc. after all they all want their little dib at the kitty. Bitter NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

   

Jocko

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #31 on: September 28, 2017, 09:37:02 AM »
GEM state in their policy document "The policy is underwritten by DAS Legal Expenses Insurance Company Limited." so it is just another insurance company. Mind you, now that the UK doesn't manufacture stuff these days, we have to depend of insurance underwriting to keep the country solvent!

guest5079

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #32 on: September 29, 2017, 09:55:29 AM »
As you say Jocko, underwritten by an Insurance company, fair enough not many people want to take on the risks involved especially where accidents are concerned. What I cannot understand is why they have to be involved with so many just for one subject(.Breakdown insurance) Every one of any company involved wants their slice of the cake which in turn adds their percentage to the final bill.
As to AA how come Honda care gets its cover from them without paying the exorbitant amount they are asking me for. After all there are plenty of posts where Honda recovery is thrown in with the servicing charge?Is it because Honda have such an excellent reputation for reliability? They know my car is a Jazz, I have told them the mileage and annual mileage and that I object to paying the sum they want when high mileage and poorly maintained vehicles are permitted unlimited call outs. Moany old git strikes again.

Jocko

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #33 on: September 29, 2017, 10:17:50 AM »
I think it is more a case of the amount of business Honda Care brings them, rather than the reliability. If you are bringing 100,000 customers to a business they can take a tiny profit margin and still make a mint. That, and the fact all the other breakdown companies are fighting tooth and nail for the same business. A penny profit is better than no profit at all. If you decide to take your business elsewhere, it is no great loss to them. If Honda did, heads would roll.

sparky Paul

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #34 on: September 29, 2017, 04:54:33 PM »
Can anyone remember when Sainsbury's used to offer free breakdown cover in their car parks. I had to use that once, and that was to open a car I had locked the keys in.

In fact it's the only time I have ever been unlucky enough to use breakdown cover... all that servicing stuff does actually pay off. All I ever really want from a breakdown cover is recovery to my choice of destination, most other things I can cope with myself.

Problem with most breakdown providers now is that they have to accommodate customers who buy breakdown cover instead of servicing their car. It may surprise you how many people now only pay to get a car through MOT, and nothing else.

As said earlier, GEM offer pay & claim, or full cover - your choice. Don't overlook AutoAid either, the price is very low, but there's nothing wrong with the cover.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2017, 04:57:29 PM by sparky Paul »

Jocko

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #35 on: September 29, 2017, 05:23:34 PM »
I have only had to get recovered home once. My car (Vauxhall Carlton), had suddenly developed a rattle and blue smoke under load. I was in Greenock, so phoned my son-in-law in Fife, and he said sounds like a broken ring, bring it home and I'll strip it down.
I also noticed the auto transmission slipping, so checked the fluid and it needed topped up! I thought it was two separate problems. On the M80, half way home, and the automatic transmission gave up the ghost. And that is when the RAC came to my rescue. Once again the gearbox was dry!
Before doing any work on engine I decided to phone a transmission specialist. Depending on his diagnosis depended on whether the scrappy got it or my son-in-law. When I told him the oil had disappeared and there was no leak his reply was, "and the engine rattles and blows blue smoke".
It was the modulator valve. The diaphragm was leaking and the carb was sucking the oil out of the gearbox. £50 replaced the valve, filter and fluid and I never had anymore problems.
I was so grateful for the recovery wagon and the RAC's assistance. Like any insurance, it seems expensive until you need to use it.

guest4871

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #36 on: October 01, 2017, 01:41:02 PM »
As a contribution to the discussion:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/car-insurance/breakdown-cover#BBtwo

Scroll down for best buys.

guest5079

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #37 on: October 01, 2017, 03:40:53 PM »
I do not know where they get their figures, as I  posted, over £250 quoted by the AA is quite a bit more  than what they are quoting.
I have asked the RAC for a sensible quote, be surprised if I even get a reply and a letter has gone to the AA. I am seriously looking at GEM.
My problem is I cannot use a phone due to deafness etc. This IS a disability and I will use it if need be. I do get fed up with this attitude of EVERYONE has a mobile phone. Sorry you people that have one but a phone is NO good to me.
The AA reckoned that if I paid the £250 plus I would get several free gifts ALL dependent on a mobile phone, which in my letter I told them was useless to me
We shall see.

guest4871

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #38 on: October 01, 2017, 11:08:11 PM »
You are best buying online.

https://www.topcashback.co.uk/category/breakdown-cover/

If you are presently with AA switch to RAC (or another) for one year as a NEW customer then switch the next year again as a NEW customer to AA or another. (Never renew with AA or RAC unless you get a very good quote (which you will not unless you want to haggle with them on the phone - which you don't want to).

If you plan to use topcashback, delete your cookies before you go to topcashback. If you have visited sites eg AA, RAC, Gem previously they will have placed cookies on your computer. These record your previous visits to their site and they will not pay cashback. Delete the cookies and they should.

AUTOAID review very well.

https://www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk/

GEM

https://www.motoringassist.com/

Topcashback covers the market very well.

https://www.topcashback.co.uk/category/breakdown-cover/

GREEN FLAG are good value and straight forward. It is very easy to buy online and you get a modest no claim discount on renewal.

https://www.greenflag.com/

I know all this sounds bonkers (and it is!) but that's the way you have to do it these days - don't ask why! And you have to check the market each year!

The AA and RAC rely on people renewing at hugely inflated renewal values such as you have been quoted. Loyalty is abused - it's called inertia marketing. The insurance industry is terrible at it. It should be banned.

I suspect GEM or GREEN FLAG will answer your needs most easily.

Beaver

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #39 on: October 03, 2017, 08:48:01 AM »
My plan for 2018 is to switch from the AA to the RAC, and then probably change back to the AA in 2019.

I get fed up with having to argue with call centre reps on the phone each year and then pretend that I'm grateful that they've "managed to persuade their supervisor" to lower the price for me.   Now the RAC are offering personal membership, rather than just covering one car, it's pretty much on a par with the AA in my book.

guest5079

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #40 on: October 04, 2017, 11:54:49 AM »
My letter to the AA has produced an Email response telling me that they allow 8 weeks to answer a complaint. The RAC have come back to my Email asking for a sensible quote, well they have it is very sensible compared to the AA BUT I will have to get someone to do it by phone,
Incidentally, I often mention I cannot use a telephone. In desperation I looked up disabilities and deafness is a disability and also if discriminated against is also an human rights issue as well.
So look out these firms that insist on a telephone call for a special offer I would suggest they are on very dodgy grounds if a person like me cannot use a phone.
Forgive my french but it's no bloody joke not being able to follow the plot on the TV or when people speak to you in the street. The hearing aid does NOT discriminate between the 40 ton diesel and the person speaking it just blots the lot out. My Wife is fed up trying to get me to respond when I am not in sight. Still off to hospital for the chance of new aids, I am not going to be blackmailed into finding (or trying to find) some £1800/2000 for aids that MIGHT help. Sorry guys it's piggin lonely being deaf. I still think my Jazz ROCKS

guest4871

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #41 on: October 04, 2017, 12:40:10 PM »
Do try Green Flag ONLINE (no hearing problems!). They are part of Direct Line (and used to be owned by Norwich Union).

I JUST got a quote for my 2014 EX for everything (Recovery Plus ie except Europe) for £44.80 per year or £4.11 per month by Direct Debit.

It took much less than two minutes.

They are certainly as good as AA or RAC if not better.

Forget AA and RAC.

No point in making life more difficult for yourself.

Give Green Flag a try online.

PS I think you should try for "registered deaf" status.
PPS You should be able to get subtitles on the TV. Radio might be more difficult.......

sparky Paul

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #42 on: October 04, 2017, 04:42:24 PM »
I have asked the RAC for a sensible quote, be surprised if I even get a reply and a letter has gone to the AA. I am seriously looking at GEM.
I know GEM offer a text service for breakdown recovery, and also have a phone app.

guest4871

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #43 on: October 04, 2017, 05:56:36 PM »
I have asked the RAC for a sensible quote, be surprised if I even get a reply and a letter has gone to the AA. I am seriously looking at GEM.
I know GEM offer a text service for breakdown recovery, and also have a phone app.

GEM seems to be Single £83.13 for the first year and £99.75 for following years.

In my examples, I suspect the difference with Green Flag is that Green Flag quote taking account of the car and your location but GEM have one price for all.

Both sound excellent to me.


123Drive!

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Re: AA Breakdown Cover - worth a haggle
« Reply #44 on: October 04, 2017, 11:26:23 PM »
I have been with GEM for 6 yrs and each year I called and they always drop the price. Plus I refer friends to them so that's £20 M&S voucher each. So it works out some thing like £60!

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