"co10" <co10 (AT) hotmail (DOT) co.uk> wrote

There is reason behind that paranoia.
The AA and RAC try to minimise costs as much as they can, so that's why the
patrols carry parts to fix known issues, and recovery is the last resort.
Where as it's in private companies best interest just to recover the vehicle
(they get more money that way).
From what we see at work, if a contractor is sent to a vehicle, they'll just
lift it and shift it, whereas the AA will attempt to repair it if possible,
and if needed, escort it back to the workshop. If the vehicle comes in being
towed by an AA van or on a AA recovery vehicle, then we know it's not going
to be a five minute fix.

"Simon Finnigan" <SimonFinnigan (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

I find with car insurance, as it's just companies searching brokers these
days and taking a cut, it's often hard to beat a lowest quote after you
phone ten or so places. I found confused.com okay, and CSMA's quote was
ridiculously high, which surprised me.

I've not joined the breakdown recovery service as of yet, as I've now got a
life in which I don't get too bothered if a breakdown occurs, although I've
never had one in many years of driving. I think 90 quid or more/less is
quite a lot for a service I'll likely never use. This 'home-start' thing
also seems a bit like a con, it would be much better for the general public
if the driving test some sort of incorporated mechanical understanding of
the vehicle, providing learners with some deeper knowledge.

Who knows, maybe teenagers would then stop trying to show off in cars after
shoving stickers all over their vehicle...

"gm" <g@m.com> wrote


Just be aware that once you`ve broken down, most companies either won`t be
interested in you joining up, or will charge a LOT extra for a limited
service - i.e. they`d take you up to 10 miles from the point of breakdown.
You can easily be looking at a bill for a few hundred quid for a fairly
short recovery. Or if you are unlucky you can end up paying over £100 for a
quarter of a mile on the back of a recovery truck (yes this can happens, and
yes I`ve seen it happen).

--
Items on ebay:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZscousesifinQQhtZ-1

On Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:57:33 +0100, Andy Cap <Andy_Cap (AT) nosuch (DOT) co.uk>
wrote:

As far as my experience goes, they work exactly the same as the AA or
RAC without having to pay for their grandiose marketing and political
activities. See my post from the last time it came up (assuming you
haven't already seen it <g> !) -
<URL:http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.legal/msg/8622faae483452af?hl=en&>

As far as paying goes, you don't even need cash as most breakdown
trucks have a credit/debit card terminal. If they don't I'm quite sure
that Autoaid will sub you.

Daytona

On 6 Apr, 10:43, "co10" <c... (AT) hotmail (DOT) co.uk> wrote:
I wonder what other motorcyclists experiences with the AA/RAC are? I
ride a scooter and occasionally a motorbike. I am a member of the RAC
but with my bike insurance I get free breakdown cover (Carole Nash). I
think if I were to break down I'd more likely phone the Carole Nash
breakdown people than the AA - just because i don't know how well
equipped the AA etc are for dealing with bikes.

I had an experience once (a few years ago) when my old Suzuki CS125
scooter broke down. The RAC guy came out didn't have a clue, so he
sent for a trailer. Unfortunately the scooters wheels were too small
and fell through the gap meant for a motorcycle wheels!! Then I had to
wait even longer and eventually a massive flat-bed truck came out to
take the little scooter away!!

On Wed, 11 Apr 2007 09:16:52 +0100, Daytona <me (AT) privacy (DOT) net> wrote:

Cheers and thanks for the link.
I'll be changing when my policy comes up in May.

Andy