breakdown cover?

how does it work?

i know you pay the annual fee, but does it cost anything to call them out, and the do you get a bill for fixing your bike.

It works like this:
1 You pay an annual fee
2 You never use it for years and waste the money, but always check your wallet when you go out for your card
3 If you do break down you give them a call
4 They put you on hold until either your credit or your battery run out on your mobile
5 You walk for an hour to find a phone box/shop
6 You finally get through and they log your call and promise to send somebody to help you
7 You sit by the side of the road for anything up 5 HOURS
8 Somebody comes and can't fix it
9 They radio for a lift/tow truck
10 (see 7)
11 You finally get home swearing an oath to cancel your membership and call in the morning to ask about their complaints procedure
12 You call in the morning
13 (see 4)
14 (see 1)

Least that is my experience both times I've used the AA

I've been returned home by the AA twice when vehicles have broken down, (both rear shocks on an astra van, and head gasket failure on transit/vw camper hybrid), seemed ok, taking only about 40 mins on both occassions to turn up. And they were quite long journeys too.

Also had an alternator bush temporarily repaired by the side of the road, allowing me to get home, again pretty impressed as the guy drilled out the mounting points to mount it closer to allow contact. With the fixing it depends on who you get, an ex garage guy could be pretty goood, but if it's just a general wagon driver he's not going to be so good, a lot gets sub contracted out.

Tends to depend on your level of cover as to where they will transport you and your vehicle and how much it will cost.

In reality they will in most cases only recover the bike unless its something easy. So no, you get recovered to either home or a bike garage and then you sort things out. Note some have a maximum number of call outs, eg Carole NAsh's inclusive cover.

Worth it though if something blows up/ slides down the road in the middle of nowhere.....

[rictus01]

Only ever use it three times in all the years I've had cover, but in each case it wasn't a "roadside" fix, and made sure they knew that, so recovery was sent straight out, between 45-60 minutes wait, but not bad considering, always used NCI, but this year changed as I need the full monty as I can't move a bike at all with this knee if the engine isn't working (although I can normally fix anything they can at the roadside, so don't use that bit.

Funnily enough got it with my insurance this year and it was a third of the total I paid

Cheers Mark.

[Viney]

Ive been with the AA for over 14 years! They have good times and bad, like ALL recovery companies. However the bike section is handled by SOS bike recovery usualy, and to belong to them is darnsite cheaper than the AA. When Verna an i move in, we are going to go with just one company. RAC or the AA. I might change to green flag

Originally Posted by skidmarx

It works like this:
1 You pay an annual fee
2 You never use it for years and waste the money, but always check your wallet when you go out for your card
3 If you do break down you give them a call
4 They put you on hold until either your credit or your battery run out on your mobile
5 You walk for an hour to find a phone box/shop
6 You finally get through and they log your call and promise to send somebody to help you
7 You sit by the side of the road for anything up 5 HOURS
8 Somebody comes and can't fix it
9 They radio for a lift/tow truck
10 (see 7)
11 You finally get home swearing an oath to cancel your membership and call in the morning to ask about their complaints procedure
12 You call in the morning
13 (see 4)
14 (see 1)

Least that is my experience both times I've used the AA

Yep, this is my experience with the AA, although you forgot to mention the step I had,

"I'm afraid we can't pinpoint you, we'll need a postcode".

"What do you mean postcode, I'm on the main A road between Cirencencester and Stroud, nearer the stroud end, about 2 miles from the edge of the town. I'm at the bottom of the steepest hill in the area and there's a gliding club at the top of the hill. You can't find it from that info? Don't you have a map?"

"Sorry sir, computer says no, etc."

I end up trogging off to a house to ask the bemused occupant for their postcode.

They then didn't bother to contact me to tell me they had been delayed for 3 hours longer than originally said, etc. etc.

When they finally show up, it's a local (car) garage. Chap (aside from being massively professional, first thing he says with a sneer is, "so your bike's ****ed, eh?") doesn't have the adequate tools (with which I could have happily fixed the bike myself with), he is also local and knew where I was from the description I gave to the AA callcentre (without the need to go and get a postcode).

I've also had them take so long that I cancelled it that day, chained the bike up, got a lift home and came back the following morning.

Long and short of it is, I look upon them as a recovery service that will get there within 12 hours, nothing more.

I've just signed up with The AA and here's why;

Had 1 year free on the bike (since I got it from new) which expired so no cover.

The car has still got a year (again through main dealer) but it only covers THIS car and nothing else.

Have used them twice on the bike, both times was because of my fault as I drained the battery while messing about with the electrics They came home started up the bike and happily transferred it to the dealers as I asked. All within 30mins of my call.

A friend is with RAC and when we broke down in his BMW they came in 40mins as they promised. Couldn't fix it so they towed it to the dealers as requested.

End of the day you will always hear horror stories for everything. Not much you can do though, if you break down you need somehow to get back so unless you know someone who can help you these comps are your only choice.

The way it works is you choose a package and pay an annual fee. I went for THE AAs 300 and cost me £68 a year.

but once you pay the fee, does it cost to fix your bike?