Green Flag Service !!!

[Harlow A Class]

Hi All,

I just wanted to relate this.

My father In Law, who is in his early 70's, was in a supermarket car park the other week before driving the 20 motroway miles home. On the way out his suspension collapsed (It is an old Merc BTW). He phones Green Flag as a member and explains what has happened. Remember this is a fault he can see and tells this to Green Flag exactly what the problem is. Several hours later he is still waiting. He can't leave the car as he can't tell when they are going to turn up. After hours have passed a guy turns up and said he needs a skate. Obvious I would have thought given the explanation they had. He leave as he doesn't have one. Even more hours later a Green Flag turns up and moves him out of the car park and says he will recover the car the following day. He also charges him £270 for "specialist equipment use". My Father In Law stays around his sons so he can be with the car when it is eventually recovered. Overall it took around 7 hours to be "rescued" and 24 hours to be recovered. He is also is £270 lighter in his wallet.

If you are looking for a recovery provider or are a Green Flag member, be aware!

 

[mlc]

Hi All,

I just wanted to relate this.

My father In Law, who is in his early 70's, was in a supermarket car park the other week before driving the 20 motroway miles home. On the way out his suspension collapsed (It is an old Merc BTW). He phones Green Flag as a member and explains what has happened. Remember this is a fault he can see and tells this to Green Flag exactly what the problem is. Several hours later he is still waiting. He can't leave the car as he can't tell when they are going to turn up. After hours have passed a guy turns up and said he needs a skate. Obvious I would have thought given the explanation they had. He leave as he doesn't have one. Even more hours later a Green Flag turns up and moves him out of the car park and says he will recover the car the following day. He also charges him £270 for "specialist equipment use". My Father In Law stays around his sons so he can be with the car when it is eventually recovered. Overall it took around 7 hours to be "rescued" and 24 hours to be recovered. He is also is £270 lighter in his wallet.

If you are looking for a recovery provider or are a Green Flag member, be aware!

A very sad tale, and one I used to hear too often when I worked for the AA. I assume that your Dad only has roadside assistance and therefore was not covered for the recovery home. If that is not the case then why would they charge him?

The lesson here is that lots of people offer breakdown cover but only two companies offer a worthwhile service - the AA and RAC. Some will disagree but I wouldnt trust my family to anyone else.

Mark.

 

[niva441]

The lesson here is that lots of people offer breakdown cover but only two companies offer a worthwhile service - the AA and RAC. Some will disagree but I wouldnt trust my family to anyone else.

Mark.

I've been very impressed with the service GEM have provided (for the non mercs I use). Recovering a dead Range Rover only took an extra 30 mins and they quite happily took it to my local garage.

 

[bwh]

I use a company that is the cheapest I have found anywhere. It costs £32/yr the only catch is you have to pay for the recovery by credit card or cash when they come out and then claim the money back, which you get within 2 weeks. And yes they do cough up, I got the cheque 10 days after sending the receipts in. Oh yes and the car was collected and sent the 100 miles to my prefered garage within the hr.

look at www.autoaidbreakdown.co.uk

 

[Harlow A Class]

Hi all,

MLC - he did have recovery and we can't get to the bottom of why he was charged. Green Flag will not talk due to "Data protection" which I understand to some degree. I also agree the the major two players are the only ones to go for. I wonder what would have happened if he could not pay?

Scares me a little as I have recently changed jobs and my 15 miles a day to work and back is now 120 miles per day. Most on the M25 (the biggest car park in the world) and I don't have any roadside or recovery.

 

[turnipsock]

and I don't have any roadside or recovery.

me neither, I would be subsidising women that run out of petrol and people that can't change a tyre.

I try and look after my cars and am aware of anything strange going on. Even if I do break down, there is a fair chance I can do something to get me home...so why should I pay for other peoples incompentance?

 

[Harlow A Class]

Ouch!!

I am more than handy with a spanner but only if I can get to it. On an A Class the biggest thing seems to be the Windscreen washer bottle. I changed a parking light bulb today. It took half an hour. Love the car to bits though.

 

[BarryG]

Hi all,

MLC - he did have recovery and we can't get to the bottom of why he was charged. Green Flag will not talk due to "Data protection" which I understand to some degree. I also agree the the major two players are the only ones to go for. I wonder what would have happened if he could not pay?

Scares me a little as I have recently changed jobs and my 15 miles a day to work and back is now 120 miles per day. Most on the M25 (the biggest car park in the world) and I don't have any roadside or recovery.

Thread scaring me. I have checked through my comprehensive SAGA Breakdown assistance which is supplied by Green Flag.
Only clause I can see that they may get you on is No 6 in General Exceptions.

"Any costs and expenses if the insured vehicle was not fit to drive at the start of the journey or trip, or had not been regularly serviced in line with the manufacturers recommendations. We may ask for proof that the insured vehicle was fit to drive (Including an MOT certificate if applicable.)"

Now that worries me does that mean I AM NOT COVERED unless I get the MB service done? The only reason I wanted this cover is if something major goes wrong!

Barry

 

[Harlow A Class]

Throw the dice!

I worked for a warranty company for a while and if things seemed OK then all was OK.

What does "fit to drive" mean? Checked over by a MB Teckie before any journey!! Normally if it is insured, MOT'ed and taxed that is good enough.

Mind you a portable die detector test (or CSI) would prove you would be recovered.

 

[Ultymate]

I retired a year ago as an AA patrol having done that job for 20yrs and been an auto technician before that and anyone who thinks they can "always" get going at roadside is deluding themselves. Once you're stuck at roadside the cost of your "assistance" pales into insignificance. I'm lucky I've got free AA with my pension, I don't wish to start a brand war on breakdown cover but my advice is don't leave home without it.

P.S. you may be subsidising others but that is true of any insurance scheme

 

[G MAN]

Timely warning for many at this time of year we're all vunerable when the unexpected happens & mention of family elderly etc etc made me look at a few options
Brittania initially looks good to me ( free ROI cover too) anyone got any tales / advice with these ?
Although I've had Mobilo out in the past I wouldn't rely on them in an emrgency They just seem concerned with the admin side of their involvement

 

[Blobcat]

I've not had a problem with Mobilo the two times I've called them, but then again I do tend to get a lot of servicing done due to the miles I'm driving, so no admin issues.
If I didn't have mobilo then AA/RAC would be what I would go back to. I've seen the service provided by 'free' insurance breakdown and was disgusted.

 

[Myros]

I'm with Britannia

had to use them twice on the Beemer, both time after fuel system repairs by BMW and an indie ( sound familiar) . First class service , less than 45 minute wait both times.
All 3 of ours are now on their top of the line plan, as I can't be stranded with two toddlers and a worried wife.

 

[mlc]

me neither, I would be subsidising women that run out of petrol and people that can't change a tyre.

I try and look after my cars and am aware of anything strange going on. Even if I do break down, there is a fair chance I can do something to get me home...so why should I pay for other peoples incompentance?

How can I tell a moderator that hes lost the plot, but unless you posted this as a joke you have.

I ensure that all our cars are in good shape and well looked after, which means that silly breakdowns are less likely. All that really means is that if you have a problem you are more unlikely to be able to manage a fix. Also what happens when the driver is one of the family are they all experts as well?

Please join the real world, we no longer measure points gap at the roadside with a cigarette paper or replace a fan belt with a stocking.

Mark

 

[mlc]

I retired a year ago as an AA patrol having done that job for 20yrs and been an auto technician before that and anyone who thinks they can "always" get going at roadside is deluding themselves. Once you're stuck at roadside the cost of your "assistance" pales into insignificance. I'm lucky I've got free AA with my pension, I don't wish to start a brand war on breakdown cover but my advice is don't leave home without it.

P.S. you may be subsidising others but that is true of any insurance scheme

I agree completley.

One way of reducing costs is to join through a scheme. Both the RAC and the AA offer schemes to clubs, unions etc. My AA membership is - 25% due to my IAM membership.

Mark

 

[Stircrazy]

Please join the real world, we no longer measure points gap at the roadside with a cigarette paper or replace a fan belt with a stocking.

Mark

Well Mark actually the fag paper was not to measure the points gap at all.

At fag paper width the gap would of course be much too wee.

The fag packet was around 25 thou and would gap most Fords accuratly but the fag paper was to set the timing with.

You stuck the fag paper in between the closed points and turned over the engine by hand to TDC when the fag paper would fall out as the points started to open! :razz:

 

[Rory]

Brittania initially looks good to me ( free ROI cover too) anyone got any tales / advice with these ?

I've just gone with them for our Jazz as the warranty (and therefore Honda Assist) ceased. I get a discount (but I don't think it's much) as I qualify for CSMA membership by dint of my wife being a Civil Servant.

I thought the coverage seemed pretty good (breakdown, home start and national recovery) and I wanted vehicle, not personal cover.

Never used them (and hope not to) but seen various reports saying good thing. They use local contractors, but then so do AA/RAC in some cases.


Edited to add: I just checked the premium with and without CSMA membership and the discount is quite large!

 

[mlc]

Well Mark actually the fag paper was not to measure the points gap at all.

At fag paper width the gap would of course be much too wee.

The fag packet was around 25 thou and would gap most Fords accuratly but the fag paper was to set the timing with.

You stuck the fag paper in between the closed points and turned over the engine by hand to TDC when the fag paper would fall out as the points started to open! :razz:

Interesting,

As a none smoker I never actually tried this, it was one of those "what we used to do" tales told to me by Father. He may well have tried to use the silver paper bacause DIY of any sort but especially Cars was not his specialist subject.

Mark

 

[Stircrazy]

No. the silver paper was to wrap up your dope in!

The fag papers were to check the timing.

The fag packet cardboard was to gap the points.

If the vehicle still would not go you could smoke a joint!

 

[Silver Arrow]

My RAC membership used to have a motorsport discount mentioned on the card. The annotation seems to have dissapeared.
George.