Poll for the best roadside assistance/recovery

[TUFFTEE]

I have just cancelled my RAC Membership as i can now get AA free with my bank account if i wish?
Or
I can sign onto Greenflag?
Whats the Best and economical?

[TimM]

I use the breakdown cover that comes with my insurance, and on the few times (sits back and waits for sudden disaster!) they have come out is has usually been Greenflag.

My Dad is some bigwig in the R.A.C. (the motorsport event not the breakdown!), and he always used to use the R.A.C. for breakdown cover, he didn't really like them for roadside assistance, but they did offer recovery from the middle of forests when he was on events - this made them the only one worth considering, BUT...... they stopped doing that.

Since then he has given up on them and switched to the AA, he never did like the RAC.

[dazzawhipple]

I have got to say Green flag always come out when thay say, I never let them fix it I just ask for to be recovered to home,

I was a AA member for years but I broke down on the M1 on a weekday night 1am in the morning it took them nearly 2 hours to get to me (4 aa vans drove past me)so I dint renew

I was a member of the Caravan Club which gets me a reduced rate for green flag funny thing is to join the CC for one year dont renew but Green flag allow you to continue the membership with them at the reduced rate.

I will add that there are good and bad with every company and its down to personal choice

[TUFFTEE]

Well What has miffed me against RAC is that a couple of years ago! Whilst towing my trailer!
The Axle gave way due to the weight that was on the trailer! :lol:  :shock:  Anyway i called my (What i thought was Trusty RAC And they told me Tuff S****)
So it ended up that i had to call a Mate out with his Car Transporter To get me Home?
And that is another reason for Ditching the RAC!
PS:

The Trailer had an Isuzu 2.8 tdi and gearbox on it? :oops:
Which was for the said Mate Anyway! :lol:

[the loon]

voted for the AA.
Couple of times I've had to call them out and they have always been there in under 20 minutes and had me back on the road in another 20 maximum.
The only complaint I've had was once when was in a car that broke down and they wouldnt come out unless I could give EXACT location info - they wanted road name/number (road was unclassified) and didnt have a map handy at the time to give info.
Apart from that though cant fault them for service

Dont know if anyone elese has had this problem or heard about it but have been told that relay companies seem to be reluctant to go onto greenlanes as they class them as "off road"even though they are roads
would be intresting to see above companies policies on this.
will they recover a vechicle if broken down on a greenlane  :?:

[hobbit]

You should put another option on the list there, DIY or rely on friends, at least they wont give a load of b/s just because it looks to difficult to help

[TUFFTEE]

There Was Another Option which was Titled "Other" But it would'nt have it? :?

[ian_s]

the only time i've ever needed to call someone out, i wasnt actually covered.   :( ended up costing me £100 to be recovered  :shock:
i'm with greenflag at now, cos they were the cheapest to cover two cars

[gords]

Been a member of the RAC for years and generally found them to be very good.

Think I prefer over the AA (assuming it's still the same) is the RAC will take you home in one go, from anywhere in the country ... and I've used that service a few times during my membership  :lol:

[G4RY]

Im with green flag because of the caravan & the weight of the 110, not all breakdown firm's will recover the van & some don't cover car's as heavey as the 110 when you look at the small print.

[Henry Webster]

Been a member of the RAC for years and generally found them to be very good.

Me too.  I started with them when they did a discount for MSA (Motor Sports Association) licence holders and have stayed ever since.

They still have the best policy regarding recovery from motorsport events.  If the event is taking place on the public road then they will recover you (with the others you generally have to hide the maps and take the numbers off the car first!)

I have also had brilliant 'right first time' service.  When I have told them not to bother to send a patrol, just a truck to get me home, that's exactly what they do.  I have done this a number of times!

H

[Priglet]

I'm with GEM motoring assist

http://www.motoringassist.com/breakdown-cover/index.shtml

I've never had to use the service but it was recommended by a friend who's a mechanic. If you want to save a few quid you can have breakdown insurance so you pay the garage and then claim back the costs.

[JD LWB]

I'm with Green Flag and haven't yet (touch wood) had to use it.

Nathan (phoenixmad) was with the AA and when his 90 broke down on the way to Peterborough this year, they were a complete waste of time.  The guy came out pretty quickly, but couldn't fix the problem and said prety much that we were on our own.  We needed to get it running there as Nathan didn't have 'Get Me Home' cover (he has now by the way).  It ended up with me getting it running (electrical problem) after getting advice from my uncle (a farmer).

After this, Nathan had a problem with his brakes leaking fluid.  He called the AA out and the guy fixed it (he said) (all he did was fill the resevoir up and bleed the brakes).  He said that the best way for Nathan to test it was to find a gentle hill and try the brakes going down it. Needless to say, Nathan ignored him (after phoning me) and took it to his local garage the next day (literally around the corner).  It turned out that he had a dead seal in one of his brake cylinders.  If the problem had been something worse and he took the AA man's advice, he could have killed someone!

Sorry to rant, but after this, I would never use the AA.

[muddyweb]

I'm with Green Flag through the Caravan Club.

I've been with the RAC (through the MSA scheme) and they finally lost my business after a string of fouls ups, the last of which involved leaving us by the side of the road in minus 2 temperatures for 4 hours because they "were very busy today"

The AA I won't use on principle due to their anti-greenlaning stance


With the Mayday policy, Green Flag are used to dealing with caravans and trailers, and that includes car transporters, our big caravan and even our exhibition unit !

They also have a 2-way policy which means that if you are going on holiday and you break down.. they will recover you to the destination and then take you home again afterwards if you can't get the vehicle sorted whilst you are away.

I've had to use them a couple of times and they are always superb.  They will send just a recovery if that is what you need, or they will send a mechanic from a local garage if that is appropriate.

[the loon]

The AA I won't use on principle due to their anti-greenlaning stance

Tim whats this about an "anti greenlane policy"  :?:  
I take it this is what I mentioned about not going on to green lanes as they would class this as "off road driving"

 :?

[muddyweb]

No, I'm talking about them coming out and supporting the Ramblers Association saying that vehicles had no place on the UK byways.

This was slightly ironic, given that their promo brochure at the time had a picture of a 110 splashing through a ford on the front.

[the loon]

No, I'm talking about them coming out and supporting the Ramblers Association saying that vehicles had no place on the UK byways.
This was slightly ironic, given that their promo brochure at the time had a picture of a 110 splashing through a ford on the front.

Never knew about that
looks like I'm not renewing AA cover then.Just hope that when it comes around to time to cancel they will ask why
Have to keep an eye on this thread myself.

[woody]

sorry not voted as i dont have a favourite
we should run a poll on the worst for service though
i dumped the RAC  after calling them out twice in 5 months and feeling their service was very poor
first off i was left waiting for a jump start for well over an hour, in a carpark, in January with a 4 week old baby
second in May the the timing belt snapped on my car while on hols in Scarborough, phoned them (at 2:15) to tell them the fault and i needed recovery to Blackpool at 5:30 got a call from a patrol to tell me he was only a couple of miles away and wanted to know what the fault was.
turns out he was only a patrol vehicle and had no way of getting me (wife and baby) home
luckily he had some sense and organised recovery while he was traveling to the breakdown (revovery garage was only 10 mins down the road)
still it was well after 10pm when we get home
now with Direct Line
and the timing belt snapped because the water pump siezed

[Dirty Gertie]

I was in the AA several years ago, for several years, had cause to use them a few times, and the service was always very good, particularly, once, as a lone female I was given priority; they arrived in about 20 minutes.
When I changed my insurance, I got free Green Flag cover, again used them a couple of times, and couldn't fault them. Now have RAC, again with insurance cover and (touch wood) have yet to test them!

[TUFFTEE]

Well so far it looks like GreenFlag are Winning Hands Down!

[Digsit]

Im with Green Flag via the Caravan Club. They were fantastic when Charity threw her timing belt at Towcester this year. No messing about, they LISTENED to me when I said not to bother with a patrol and just sent a recovery truck. They got us and the caravan back home faster than I could have driven

[Karen696]

Bob and I are covered by joint personal cover with Brittania rescue, we have been for the past 14 years, they've helped us with the motorbikes, cars and the landies on occasion.  

We are even covered if we are travelling in somebody else's vehicle!

Never any complaints and a good price for the cover.  Can't knock 'em.

[Bob696]

stop talking about recovery and get back to work

[hobbit]

stop talking about recovery and get back to work

You mean tempting fate on breakdowns dont you  :)