MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: Degudodger on May 22, 2014, 07:24:43 pm

Title: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Degudodger on May 22, 2014, 07:24:43 pm
As its that time of year again where my RAC breakdown covert needs renewing i thought i would see who others use and why.

Currently have Home start and roadside recovery with RAC, have been with them for 6 years and been happy with their service but the price each seems to increase by 20-30% year on year.
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Viking on May 22, 2014, 07:40:34 pm
Four times I've had to use Roadside assistance, and all have been RAC.

First time the Bora failed to start (under warranty/VW roadside assistance) and RAC came out. They were excellent, and it was just a corroded battery terminal (on a new car?).

Second time the doors wouldn't lock (again under warranty/VW roadside assistance) and VW came out. Diagnosed a faulty interior light blowing a fuse, booked it into VW through their priority service, and effected a temporary fix.

Third time the wipers failed on the Altea. RAC came out in the pouring rain at the Metro Centre, sat in the car with his soaking overalls on and soaked the seat, used the car mat to kneel on while he checked the fuses, claimed he couldn't find the problem so it must be something he wouldn't be able to fix, sprayed the windscreen with rain repellant spray and told my wife to drive fast enough and the rain would sheet off. Got in the van and left, despite being asked by my wife if he would recover us home.

Fourth time, wife slipped the clutch constantly in traffic and overheated it ( :stupid: ), and couldn't get any gears. RAC came out again, tried to get her to learn how to change gear without the clutch, told her to take it steady and just stick in one gear all the way home and she'd be fine. Again,  40 miles from home in Newcastle.

So, for roadside assistance, I would say anyone but the RAC.


Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: bacillus on May 22, 2014, 07:46:03 pm
In case you didn't know, you can purchase RAC breakdown membership using Tesco club card points.
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: DDM on May 22, 2014, 08:01:55 pm
As its that time of year again where my RAC breakdown covert needs renewing i thought i would see who others use and why.

Currently have Home start and roadside recovery with RAC, have been with them for 6 years and been happy with their service but the price each seems to increase by 20-30% year on year.
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How much do you pay at the minute, never had it before but starting to think it's a good idea .
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: sootpig on May 22, 2014, 08:14:30 pm
Barclays premier (?) account RAC  for the last 4/5 years obviously never needed unless a passenger in a lesser vehicle :signLOL:
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: stealthwolf on May 22, 2014, 08:22:47 pm
Am with RAC with max cover short of European cover. Only had to call them once when the ED30 broke down. They recovered me to the local Vw garage, dropped me and the fam home, and got me a free hire car (though I had to travel to europcar because the max hire is 3 days).
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Degudodger on May 22, 2014, 08:35:14 pm
How much do you pay at the minute, never had it before but starting to think it's a good idea .

For roadside recovery and home start my renewal is £60 which is £18 more than last year. Quidco are doing some pretty good cash back deals at the moment so if I do stay with RAC I'm thinking about cancelling the policy and taking out a new one to get the cash back.
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: DDM on May 22, 2014, 09:54:04 pm
How much do you pay at the minute, never had it before but starting to think it's a good idea .

For roadside recovery and home start my renewal is £60 which is £18 more than last year. Quidco are doing some pretty good cash back deals at the moment so if I do stay with RAC I'm thinking about cancelling the policy and taking out a new one to get the cash back.

Cheers bud.
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: richtung on May 22, 2014, 10:15:52 pm
Top cashback are doing £72 cashback on AA breakdown policies over £151.

I have the full breakdown cover and repair cover which comes to under £100 (IIRC) when the cashback is factored in.

Hope this helps!

Rich

Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: ConeKiller on May 23, 2014, 09:32:20 am
I have Green Flag as I get it free through work.

Have had to use it twice, once when I had a flat battery (DSG so couldn't bump and miles from anywhere!) and second when the DSG decided to stop selecting a gear!

Both times they were with me within 30 mins, first time jumped the car and left, second recovered the car to a garage.

Couldn't fault them.
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: 182_blue on May 23, 2014, 12:14:59 pm
I was with the AA but got pi@@@ed of with them ringing all the time trying to sell me stuff then come renew time they tried to charge me £65 when i could get similar cover for less that £30 online from same company !!
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: phil1975 on May 23, 2014, 02:22:32 pm
Greenflag covered my golf for £50 (all services except Europe) then i got £35 back through topcashback!!
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Tamiyoman on May 23, 2014, 03:23:18 pm
Full Cover provided as part of Lloyds bank account, mohbile insurance, worldwide travel insurance and mobile phone insurance (handy as I dropped my Experia Z three months ago and was replaced with a new one for the £50 Excess)  :happy2:
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Golfgirl on May 23, 2014, 04:24:29 pm
I have Volkswagen assistance, which is in partnership with the RAC at the moment, but they're moving to the AA on June 1st. I pay £89 for everything - roadside, recovery, home assistance and European cover.

I've called them out twice in the last few months and can't fault them.  The first time an RAC van came, didn't have the part required so ordered one and came back the next day with it.

I needed some assistance last weekend too and this time I got a VW Assistance van and he disgnosed the problem, followed me to VW to get the parts required, then followed me home and fixed it on my drive.

I understand that VW Assistance don't work any later than 8/9pm so out of those hours the RAC turn up.  If they can't fix it they put the job onto VW Assistance for the next morning.  In hours VW Assistance will come out.  The differenc ebeing they carry more of the commonly failing parts and have VW diagnostics.

When they move to the AA in a couple of weeks I'll just be a normal RAC customer until my next renewal.  I'll then consider moving to the AA just to keep the VW roadside assistance.

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/assistance
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Frodo-anni on May 25, 2014, 06:31:30 pm
I have RAC cover through my Barclays acc, have used a few times on family cars, as it covers you not the car with the RAC.

Had my mk4 recovered when it went swimming in the floods a few years back, been happy with the service.

Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Rporteo on May 26, 2014, 07:09:55 pm
Most bank premium bank accounts will give you it for free, £5 per month for a halifax account and we get full breakdown inc home start, mobile phone cover and world wide family travel insurance. There are a few more bits you get bit I can't remember those :smiley:
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Viking on May 26, 2014, 08:23:39 pm
My daughter had a bank account which cost her a monthly sum to get free stuff (like, it's not free if you have to pay to get it for free...). She had breakdown cover and needed it one day so phoned the number, only to be told that she wasn't covered for breakdowns unless she was 50 miles from home. On checking the rest of the free stuff, most of it was worthless as well.
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Degudodger on May 27, 2014, 11:26:18 pm
Thanks guys. Thinking i might stay with RAC this year - hopefully i will not need to call them out but you never know.  :laugh:
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: !tf on May 29, 2014, 05:13:31 pm
Thanks guys. Thinking i might stay with RAC this year - hopefully i will not need to call them out but you never know.  :laugh:

Have they offered you a no claims discount? I got the whole shabang for something mental like 5-6quid a month because i never called them.....until i bought a VW :P
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: Degudodger on May 30, 2014, 12:34:13 pm
Tried that as i've not called them out for 12 months but they just will not budge on the renewal price. It was recomended by the rather helpful chap i stop with to cancel my policy and take a new one. This is what i have done  :smiley:
Title: Re: Breakdown recovery = RAC/AA/Green Flag
Post by: !tf on May 30, 2014, 01:09:20 pm
Tried that as i've not called them out for 12 months but they just will not budge on the renewal price. It was recomended by the rather helpful chap i stop with to cancel my policy and take a new one. This is what i have done  :smiley:

They must like me or something. I didn't even ring them they just offered it me.