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[Mr Skrunts]

My renewal is the 31st Dec

I have the full package with the AA

Breakdown
Home Start
Forward Travel
Plus thier Garage Cover.

Paid £211 after wrangling last year

Quote for renewal came through a week ago @ £487ish

Phone call from them today they came down to £395

They told me this was my 13th year as a Gold member but wont budge on price.

In the end they have offered to price match whatever I get back to them with - How can they price match when they know full well others dont have all the services I require (Garage cover for me)

End resesult is I get the best price for Breakdown, Home start, Relay and Recovery etc and they will match it and then add back on the Garage cover.

If I was a new customer they would be throwing discounts at me to get me as a customer.  Why cant they look after the customers that have stayed so long. 

No call outs in 18 months and that was only to them fitting cheap nasty batterys.  So I reckon I deserve a discount like we have a NCD with car insurance.

Any thought on best breakdown service or best comparison sites?

Many Thanks in Advance.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I still cant beat Autoaid, even though the price keeps creeping up. I think its now around £75 for car over 10 years old.
Dont think it covers outside UK, but Im not planning on taking my cars outside UK so it doesnt matter to me.

[TheBoy]

Reminds me, the AA promised to call back to offer a better price, but never did.

Can I be bothered to call them, as they aint gonna match last year's price of under £90 (Joint personal cover, with whatever Relay is called this year), are they

[TheBoy]

I still cant beat Autoaid, even though the price keeps creeping up. I think its now around £75 for car over 10 years old.
Dont think it covers outside UK, but Im not planning on taking my cars outside UK so it doesnt matter to me.

They dont do joint cover, so more expensive that Arseholes Anonymous.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I still cant beat Autoaid, even though the price keeps creeping up. I think its now around £75 for car over 10 years old.
Dont think it covers outside UK, but Im not planning on taking my cars outside UK so it doesnt matter to me.

They dont do joint cover, so more expensive that Arseholes Anonymous.

Im pretty sure we have joint cover, but would need to check.

[TheBoy]

I still cant beat Autoaid, even though the price keeps creeping up. I think its now around £75 for car over 10 years old.
Dont think it covers outside UK, but Im not planning on taking my cars outside UK so it doesnt matter to me.

They dont do joint cover, so more expensive that Arseholes Anonymous.

Im pretty sure we have joint cover, but would need to check.

Its a bit wishy washy. Seems to imply free legal cover to spouse on the page you pick options. Elsewhere on the site, it kinda implies your legal spouse is covered the same too. 

I'm naturally distrusting unless its clearly in black and white.

[Sir Tigger KC]

£395 for breakdown cover?   

You could buy a spare Omega for that! 

[YZ250]

Can’t remember exactly how much we pay the AA for personal cover for the two of us but in the past when the price creeps up I’ve left them and returned soon after as a new customer, with new customer lower pricing. Don’t know if that still works but worth a try.
The only time that I called them out was for the Omega crank sensor.

[TheBoy]

Can’t remember exactly how much we pay the AA for personal cover for the two of us but in the past when the price creeps up I’ve left them and returned soon after as a new customer, with new customer lower pricing. Don’t know if that still works but worth a try.
The only time that I called them out was for the Omega crank sensor.

I used to alternate between AA and RAC.  Because she is on the motorway every day, I don't want any breaks in cover.  You know it will be the law of sod!

AA new customer is quoting me about £125 .  Renewal is over £150.  This year was under £90.

Sir Tig's suggestion looks good aside from a clause that if it can be repaired locally the next working day, they will tow to local garage - not too happy about that, as that means if it broke down on a Friday, they could potentially leave us stranded until Monday night.

Alb's suggestion has a clause that needs clarification over as well.

[Mr Skrunts]

My Brother and his Girlfriend with an account for another service.  He buys the service, if the service goes up, he haggles it back down, if this idea fails and its cheaper for a "New customer" then it goes in her name,

So with a lot of OOF members like TB haveing a partner that drives and you have a shared policy, then do the sums in your partners name as a "New Customer" and see what you can waggle.

[Nick W]

I used to alternate between AA and RAC.  Because she is on the motorway every day, I don't want any breaks in cover.  You know it will be the law of sod!

AA new customer is quoting me about £125 .  Renewal is over £150.  This year was under £90.

Sir Tig's suggestion looks good aside from a clause that if it can be repaired locally the next working day, they will tow to local garage - not too happy about that, as that means if it broke down on a Friday, they could potentially leave us stranded until Monday night.

Alb's suggestion has a clause that needs clarification over as well.

What they mean is it will take them a working day to make a decision about your 'recovery'. And then you'll find the joke really is on you, because that decision was always going to be 'NO'. You would be better off putting the membership(a lie just like football 'clubs') fee in an envelope in the glovebox, to use as a bribe to persuade the person who felt sorry enough to pick you up as a hitch-hiker to actually take you home.


You should also consider that anything that might go wrong with your car can be repaired. That doesn't mean you actually would.....

[TheBoy]

Probably one for Nick W - if I wanted a tow for, say, 200 miles, how easy is that to arrange from the side of the road, and what sort of cost? Couple of quid per mile? £5 per mile?

[Nick W]

Probably one for Nick W - if I wanted a tow for, say, 200 miles, how easy is that to arrange from the side of the road, and what sort of cost? Couple of quid per mile? £5 per mile?

Seven years ago, we were charging £1.50 a mile. Roundtrip, on top of the call out charge. Plus VAT. And any special equipment required to load the car. Trailers are extra.


You're asking for a 400mile job which isn't possible legally, so it wouldn't happen. Add in the practicalities of knowing who to call, and the better known providers are still a good deal even if their prices are getting closer to what they should have been twenty years ago.

[Doctor Gollum]

It cost me the thick end of £800 for recovery from Preston to Sussex. Breakdown wouldn't cover the coolant leak because it was caused by impacting the back of a lorry rather than mechanical failure. But that's an idea of last minute cost.

With planning, the hire of a vehicle with a tow bar and a suitable trailer would be less.

[ronnyd]

When i finally killed off my Desmond, my breakdown cover covered it being brought back to my home. Then the scrappie picked it up from here. 

[STEMO]

When i finally killed off my Desmond, my breakdown cover covered it being brought back to my home. Then the scrappie picked it up from here. 

That would be quite funny. Onward travel, we will take you and your car anywhere in the UK. Where would you like to go? The scrapyard, please 

[Nick W]

When i finally killed off my Desmond, my breakdown cover covered it being brought back to my home. Then the scrappie picked it up from here. 

That would be quite funny. Onward travel, we will take you and your car anywhere in the UK. Where would you like to go? The scrapyard, please 

I've done that - it was reported as an underbonnet fire, but was a total burnout by the time I got it. I dropped the owner in Sittingbourne, and the car went to Ridham Dock. A nice £150 tip

[Mr Skrunts]

Getting interesting.

AA have phoned me back 4 times so far and I seem to have missed all the calls.

I like thier garage cover, so as the 1st call there was no soloution on price they offed to match the same price and add the garage cover on.

So still looking at alternatives  (and there are many to choose from)

For covering myself rather than the car that starts at £39.99 with Nova Direct and about £7 if its the car cover option, (Compare the market)


   Nationwide Cover
   Onward Travel
   Home Start
   Misfuelling Cover
   Out of Fuel Cover
   Max Callouts (Unlimited)

Guessing Onward Travel not the same as Relay

Did a quote (With Relay) with AA £258  and £200 without. (National Recovery

Garage cover adds £130/140

If we can’t find a fix at the roadside we’ll take you, your passengers and vehicle to any UK mainland destination.)

Autonational.co.uk
   
National Recovery
Onward Travel
Home Start
Loss of keys cover
Misfuelling covet
Personal cover
Callouts (Unlimiteed)

£78.54 All the above.

£68.54 no personal cover

£60.69 no homestart / no personal cover.

Be  interesting to see how the AA compare when they ring back.

[Mr Skrunts]

Roadside Assistance
Included as standard

24/7 help by the roadside (over 1/4 mile from home). If we can’t fix the vehicle we’ll tow you to a nearby garage.
Need added peace of mind?

I want to be covered if I break down at home
At Home

Our standard cover begins when you’re 1/4 mile from home. If you need breakdown cover at your doorstep, don’t forget to add this.

I want recovery to anywhere in the UK
National Recovery

If we can’t find a fix at the roadside we’ll take you, your passengers and vehicle to any UK mainland destination.

I want help with my journey if my vehicle can’t be fixed right away
Onward Travel

We’ll arrange car hire, overnight accommodation or costs towards public transport for you and your passengers up to 3 times a year.

I want help with repair bills if my vehicle breaks down
Parts and Garage Cover

We’ll cover up to 5 claims a year – each worth up to £535 with a £35 excess per claim.
We cannot cover pre-existing faults or any claims made within the first 14 days of your cover.


£258 (Garage cover not added)
For 1 year
Cover for you
At Home
Onward Travel
National Recovery

The price includes fees for arranging and administering your cover.1

[Nick W]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

[TheBoy]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

But even the nastiest company is preferable than the bloody RAC

[Nick W]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

But even the nastiest company is preferable than the bloody RAC

No, that's just a mild taster of what you can expect.

[TheBoy]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

But even the nastiest company is preferable than the bloody RAC

No, that's just a mild taster of what you can expect.

Methinks you are unaware of how bad the RAC has got.  They were crap before, but since being taken over, they are now pointless.

[Mr Skrunts]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

I totally agree, the reasoning is to get the AA to drop renewal costs, they will favour a new customer price wise rather than respect people who have stayed with them for years.

All companies are the same, Broaband, Sky etc

[Nick W]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

But even the nastiest company is preferable than the bloody RAC

No, that's just a mild taster of what you can expect.

Methinks you are unaware of how bad the RAC has got.  They were crap before, but since being taken over, they are now pointless.

Methinks you're not taking into account the several hundred jobs I've done for the RAC. They're a long way from being the worst provider, whether you're a customer or working for them. They are very bad for sitting on their own jobs for so long that they have to farm them out when their own drivers go off shift.

[TheBoy]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

But even the nastiest company is preferable than the bloody RAC

No, that's just a mild taster of what you can expect.

Methinks you are unaware of how bad the RAC has got.  They were crap before, but since being taken over, they are now pointless.

Methinks you're not taking into account the several hundred jobs I've done for the RAC. They're a long way from being the worst provider, whether you're a customer or working for them. They are very bad for sitting on their own jobs for so long that they have to farm them out when their own drivers go off shift.

18 hours.  18 bloody hours.

I think even the bad ones can beat that.

[Nick W]

You need to see their small print before you buy, because many of them have a very different idea of what constitutes a breakdown, recovery, potential repair, nearby garage or even just answering your phone call than you do. The less you pay p/a, the bigger that difference is. You can get an example of the actual service provided by the cheaper firms by smashing your head against the roughest brick wall you can find until you can't feel the pain.

But even the nastiest company is preferable than the bloody RAC

No, that's just a mild taster of what you can expect.

Methinks you are unaware of how bad the RAC has got.  They were crap before, but since being taken over, they are now pointless.

Methinks you're not taking into account the several hundred jobs I've done for the RAC. They're a long way from being the worst provider, whether you're a customer or working for them. They are very bad for sitting on their own jobs for so long that they have to farm them out when their own drivers go off shift.

18 hours.  18 bloody hours.

I think even the bad ones can beat that.

Compared to the bigger companies, they are consistently worse for every job. Of course there are always outliers. I'm shocked that you managed to be one. Shocked

[TheBoy]

Compared to the bigger companies, they are consistently worse for every job. Of course there are always outliers. I'm shocked that you managed to be one. Shocked

Well, the previous breakdown the RAC seemed to make a right bloody hash of it as well, though not 18hrs....

Phone them right now and the recorded message will apologise that they are busier than normal, and that this will cause delays blah blah.  That message has been permanently on there for year what I know about.  So define "normal".

[omega2018]

Car not person, national recovery:
Start Rescue wanted £46 renewal
RAC £38.25 (after £25 topcashback)
AA £48 after cashback
Also got cheap quotes for Emergency Assist (£27.39) and Rescue My Car (£24.85) but on checking their small print their 'national recovery' is a joke - its their decision whether to do it or give you a contribution to accomodation.  Rescue My Car wouldn't recover you to your home if your destination was nearer!  Those clauses are new and disappointing, Rescue My Car used to be a good breakdown company.

If you want personal cover rather than car cover it was £5 or so more.

See https://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=150647.msg2034360#msg2034360

[Mr Skrunts]

Watch this space. on phone with the AA

[Mr Skrunts]

So

They honoured their challange.

As in earlier posts they said they would price match and add the Garage Cover.

I just paid £39.99 + £130 for the next 12 Months

So all the same cover as last year just £40+ cheaper++Merry Christmas.