AA and RAC roadside only cover - 10 year old rule

[PandaSelecta]

Just heard of a Reliant owner who had called out the AA for a breakdown and was told that as his cover is roadside only (basic cover), there is a 10 year old rule and they wouldn't fix it.

If however you have any cover higher than Recovery only, then you are covered for all ages of vehicle.

So my message to the RRers - check what cover you have, and upgrade if needed

[Battles]

I've had the dubious fortune of testing the cover I had with no problems.
I know a few people, old cars and modern toss, who've called them out a couple of times then had a letter directing them to clause such-and-such in the Ts&Cs that say they're only allowed four call outs for the same car or whatever.

It's just an insurance policy, regardless of the way we see it as a recovery or repair service, so just as every insurance policy has it's limitations so does RAC/AA cover.

[markgenesis]

Last time i called out the AA the guy was great, though he didn't fix the problem we managed to get the car running again (though rough), he followed me home and gave me a hand to push the car into the drive (didn't have the power to make it up the incline) as far as i know i only have basic cover.

[Ryannn]

I've called them out twice to change the fan belt on the same car in the past. It was lashing it down both times and I didn't fancy doing it when the cover is there!

First guy did it with no issues, second time, guy was like "do you think I just drive round with loads of fan belts mate?". "No one breaks fan belts anymore". He did it anyway but still, two different people and two different levels of service.

[hardtop]

auto aid lots cheaper then the AA/RAC, which I've had in the past, always had the next level up IE: recover to where you want, but when my ute broke down on the way to its first mot, the AA refused to come out as it hadn't been issued with a number plate, and that's where I parted company with them, and will never return

auto aid, if and when i need them will require me to pay for recovery then claim it back within 14 days, that's why its cheaper

[markgenesis]

Mar 14, 2015 16:00:07 GMT Ryannn said:

two different people and two different levels of service.

I think that's exactly it, depends on who turns up on the day, some love old cars some have no time for them.

Like the time i broke down on a busy roundabout, Traffic cops turned up, spent ages helping me to try and get the car started (i didn't have breakdown cover at the time), two of the nicest blokes i've met, chatting to them one had a Triumph Vitesse and the other an XJS and were regulars at car shows.

Didn't get it started though, in the end they had to call out their own recovery company.

[colnerov]

Hi, I have roadside and recovery. I only wanted recovery because I can either temporary repair it myself at the side of the road or I want it taken home where I can do it myself if its more involved. You can't have recovery without roadside I think they carry a supplied basic kit of spares plus the driver can carry his own stock of whatever extra he thinks he will need. I was told they can get as involved as little or as much as they want. Apparently if you say it's brakes or steering they won't even attempt repair, they will just recover.

Colin

[DWDarkWheels]

I've been with the RAC for years, luckily I've not had to use them much. Any time I have, the guys have been sound-as-a-pound, genuinely keen to do what they can for you.

No bother recovering our Quantum kitcar home when the gearbox blew a hole out of the casing!!, but it's mostly been for motorcycle punctures. Why is there so much debris on roads? >8[

[kram]

You said they wont fix it probably because the AA bloke cant fix it , the diagnosis of most of the AA blokes are unreal and as most only need the cars recovered home were most get fixed in very little time .......hopefully will loose the AA customers which means they will look into it .....

[penski]

With GEM but not used it yet... Hope I don't have to.

It has full cover, as driver and passenger.

*n

[EmDee]

Last time I called the RAC, they said my car was too low to get on their ramps they have in the back of the van. Apparently if you modify it in any way the policy is completely void. He started quoting all sorts of terms and conditions.

After saying to him that it had never been a problem in the past, I then resorted to showing him a pic on my phone of my same car in the same state on the same RAC A-frame thingy that he said it wouldn't go on.

Did he acknowledge that the picture was a factual piece of evidence that proved me right? Did he then admit that it would go on there fine and that in fact he was just being a giant fanny?

No.

He went right back to the same Ts & Cs.

Mar 14, 2015 16:00:07 GMT Ryannn said:

two different people and two different levels of service.

^ Precisely this.

[Dez]

ive always found the AA a bit better than the RAC, less jobsworth.

i once had one guy slide my old megalerw split van onto a tilt-slide flatbed with the front bumper on the bed and the rear on the floor to the point where all 4 wheels were off the floor. he said as long as i signed the disclaimer about damage when loading he'd do it!

[slammage]

I'm with AA, think I have a premium one only 8 quid a month I think ? I dunno, used them and been sound as a pound- flat battery on my St in the summer time- came out to me in Essex and gave it a boost and general check over- 2nd time was when my exhaust decided to part ways on my mk2 fiesta, completely hanging down scraping everywhere- guy came and helped me fix it although he was running late and I fixed with cable ties he did eventually come and re done it with metal ties and escorted me to the garage which replaced the comlete system (far too lazy and hacked off I farmed the job out, bad .. I know )

[Ryannn]

Mar 14, 2015 21:07:25 GMT EmDee said:

Last time I called the RAC, they said my car was too low to get on their ramps they have in the back of the van. Apparently if you modify it in any way the policy is completely void. He started quoting all sorts of terms and conditions.

After saying to him that it had never been a problem in the past, I then resorted to showing him a pic on my phone of my same car in the same state on the same RAC A-frame thingy that he said it wouldn't go on.

Did he acknowledge that the picture was a factual piece of evidence that proved me right? Did he then admit that it would go on there fine and that in fact he was just being a giant fanny?

No.

He went right back to the same Ts & Cs.

Mar 14, 2015 16:00:07 GMT Ryannn said:

two different people and two different levels of service.

^ Precisely this.

I've read/seen quite a few examples where people have had the "modified car clause" thrown at them. Luckily I've only used it for standard dailys so far.

[cobblers]

RAC did the same to me with my Lupo years back. Left me stranded in the central reservation of a busy dual carriageway unless I paid £150 for a "specialist tow" because the car was lowered. Threatened to report me to the police if I didn't pay, and then I would have to pay the polices towing charge (which in hindsight was probably cheaper)
I had removed the front bumper in the 2 hours waiting for them to come, so it would go on any truck. They wouldn't listen to reason and I was stuck really so paid the £150 to get dragged 40 feet onto a side road.

The AA seem somewhat better, obviously it depends on the patrolman you get. That said they rang me every day for a fortnight trying to get me to add my partner as second member, and I told them that if they ring one more time I'm going to cancel my membership, which seems to have worked.

[usedabused]

Well I have the works with the RAC and on the few occasions I have needed help the service has been 50 50.

If I get a proppa RAC man they are fantastic really helpful enthusiastic and positive.

If I get a contractor they are nothing short of a shower of poo.

We are seriously looking at alternatives because the last time the RAC failed big time 5 hours in minus 6 with no heating then told as the car was 4x4 they needed a truck which would be another 40 mins.

I ended up phoning a mate to come pick us up and I returned the next day fixed the alt and drove home...

RAC customer complaints dept have an extremely poor attitude also,Its like ah well that's a shame don't know don't give a damn attitude..

[Ryannn]

The only time I've ever had a refusal of service was when my dad put my mini into the back of another car. But my mate had a refusal when his lowered mx5 got stuck on a kerb and he had to resort to a passing friendly 4x4 lol

[PandaSelecta]

Got to agree about the contractors, as when the panda broke down, they sent out an automatic "specialist". Five seconds of looking under the bonnet, and he said the Torque convertor had gone, which led to.......

Ten minutes of me saying it doesn't have a torque convertor, and him being adamant it did

[chairchild]

I've had one fella say my torque convertor had gone... even though it still ran beautifully in reverse :lol:

[hkr91]

I've been with Britannia Rescue for yonks. They use local garages to respond to you quicker - had to wait 7 minutes from phone call to having a bloke out in Peterborough.

Also check with your classic car policy (if you're on one) as places like footman and Peter James include them in the policy