Pay and Claim breakdown cover, do any still exist?

[Lankytim]

Just about to renew my breakdown cover, I was with AutoAid as they were an inexpensive "pay and claim" service. This worked out well as the cover was excellent for the price, if I broke down and needed recovery i'd just find a local garage, pay them and be reimbursed by AutoAid. 

 

Autoaid no are no longer a pay and claim service and have hiked their prices. Does anyone know of any other pay and claim providers I can use?

[forddeliveryboy]

I was a dutiful customer of Autoaid for years and on the lonely occasions their services were required, a friendly Essex voice sorted things with the speed and conviction the RAC must pay millions to studiously avoid, even if I didn't have the exact coordinates or postcode of the mishap. 

Earlier this year, a combination of a tiny air leak in the lines, a newly soft battery and aging SM caught me out so I gave them a call.  It sounded a different company altogether,  a very hectoring voice in I struggled to decipher rabbited on and on, links demanding money arrived on my phone.  I called them back to say I didn't have any means of payment on me (true) and was told there wouldn't be any recovery set in place.

A request for a jump start from a fat guy stood in front of his house watering the plants for a jump start (I had found some jump leads in the spare wheel well) was met with condescension for anyone in an older car and the retort he'd once done a mechanics course and he wouldn't dare risk his beautiful Hyundai, so I set off into nearby York to meet up with friends and work out how to proceed. 

Of course the car started first time on returning, so plans reverted to driving home in the normal manner.  Various texts rattled in which were studiously ignored (health and safety) but on returning home later, it appeared Autoaid had after all called out their car taxi and why on earth had I driven away?  Half the rest of the evening was spent on the phone trying to speak to someone with some sense, eventually they were found, apologies made and threats of financial recovery actions cancelled. 

Not wishing to be put through to another incomprehensible telephone operator - I'd pay hundreds to the RAC if this was my aim -  and feeling they're preying on the vulnerable in asking for an excess both on joining as well as when requiring their services if your car is much out of its manufacturer's warranty, I've invested in a different recovery bunch this year, "RescueMyCar dotcom" - we'll see how it goes if they're called on.  Isn't 01423 Harrogate?

[Zelandeth]

I've called AutoAid twice in the last year or so.

First was when the fuel pump on the P6 died for the second (I think) time, leaving me stuck in a bus stop.  Was only a couple of miles from home, and they advised a recovery was probably an hour or two out.  I told them I'd let them know if I was able to get the car going in the meantime.

Recovery turned up about 30 minutes later - about 90 seconds after we'd managed to cobble things together to get the car running.  Both the recovery driver and operators were spot on.

Next one was in May when the Trabant decided to ingest component parts of its engine.

Payment for the £25 "it's over ten years old" surcharge was taken from the card they had on file over the phone, and recovery turned up within an hour or two, with them having checked in that I was okay and updating me every 15 minutes or so.

Couldn't really fault anything save for the fact the recovery wagon was seemingly totally devoid of any suspension, and that my attempt to complete the journey later in the day via public transport turned to complete hell.  That wasn't AutoAid's fault though.

I think it's hugely down to luck of the draw if you get through to a decent operator on any given day irrespective of who you're with.

Unless it's the RAC.  They just seem to have been universally useless at least as far back as 2003.

[Lankytim]

Thanks for the replies! I’m still with AutoAid as they seemed to be the cheapest for the same coverage. Perhaps I should get AA membership via my insurance next time as it’s only about £50 extra or so (I think)

Ive used AutoAid more recently and found them pretty good. About 4 years ago the fuel pump packed up on myV70 leaving me in lane 1 of a smart motorway (that’s a tale of absolute horror on its own- don’t ever break down on a smart motorway!).  AutoAid were excellent, ringing me every 15 mins to make sure I was OK. They couldn’t arrange recovery until I was out of the live lane and in a lay-by or similar but despite being contacted multiple times the highways agency didn’t even close the lane for 45 minutes and finally towed me to a slip road 50 hair raising minutes later. The AutoAid recovery agent was on site within 20 mins and got me home. This was before the £25 “old shitheap” charge they now levy on anything older than 10 years old. 

[cort1977]

I had to use AutoAid the other day after being a member for a few years.

First issue was the car I had bought and taxed that morning wasn't showing as taxed so they wouldn't come out. I had to fire up my work laptop on the hard shoulder, find the tax confirmation email and forward it to them before they would do anything. Annoying but I can sort of see why they won't move unroadworthy cars.

Tow truck turned up about half an hour after that but then wouldn't hook up without Highways Agency or Police closing lane 1. A new one on me but we waited for two hours before another tow truck could provide cover. Finally got to the services where the first lot shrugged their shoulders about what was wrong with it and departed.

Decided to get car taken to nearby garage for diagnosis, second truck turned up after a couple of hours and delivered car.

In fairness, they were quite good at checking in regularly, answered the phone fairly promptly and didn't just say anything like the RAC. I was a bit annoyed about the tax thing although I can see the justification - I suppose I hoped they would just look at my account, see I'd been a member for years and given me the benefit of the doubt.

 

[DSdriver]

Do Guild of Experienced Motorists (GEM) still do pay and claim?

[barefoot]

When the fair wife broke down earlier this year they told her it would be twenty five quid which she agreed to pay. The next day they rang me and I paid.

[comfortablynumb]

I'm with brittania rescue through the CSMA.

They don't seem to give a stuff how old the car is, the lead vehicle on my policy is my 1986 escort cabrio, and they've cheerfully recovered my six wheel range rover classic a couple of times.

No extra charges for older vehicles, and since I've got personal Cover they'll come to anything I'm involved with, driver or no 

Will be renewing at the end of the month.

Also just send a truck, no vans, so I can just get stuff brought home where I can fix it properly 👍

[bangernomics]

I’m with nationwide at £13 pm bundled include golden balls breakdown and every year they have bunged £100 payback so net is £57 which is peanuts for full unrestricted euro coverage.

Let me refer you and we both get a year for nothing!


Gzongenflatch
In memory of Phil.

[DSdriver]

On 09/08/2024 at 23:13, bangernomics said:

I’m with nationwide at £13 pm bundled include golden balls breakdown and every year they have bunged £100 payback so net is £57 which is peanuts for full unrestricted euro coverage.

Let me refer you and we both get a year for nothing!


Gzongenflatch
In memory of Phil.

pm sent

[HillmanImp]

I'm with Start rescue again as Autoaid was too pricey taking into consideration all the extra caveats for old cars etc. Start rescue is more but no extra payments or anything if I break down. 

Used them once a few years back and they were really good. Hopefully won't need to this year but will see if they still are.