Comments on: Can anyone give any advice on breakdown cover and people who try to rip you off?

By: Timbo is here

Timbo is here — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:37:09 +0000

Add to the costs of this lesson joining the AA or RAC before you go anywhere again. Only about £80 for the first year.

By: Ivan Herndon

Ivan Herndon — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:37:09 +0000

Well, the best advice I can give which unfortunately won’t help now is to never have it towed to a towing company lot. They always charge a storage fee. Always have it towed to someone’s house. If that’s not possible, then that’s what the storage fee is for, because they know you have no choice but to put it there. Yeah, it’s crummy, but that’s supply and demand.

By: BrianCMM

BrianCMM — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:37:09 +0000

In my experience, I have seen this happen before and it is legal.

You have your car towed somewhere and they have storage fees.
If you let them fix your car, they usually wave the storage fees.
If you fix your car elsewhere, they will charge you the storage fees.

Same holds true for most garages Diagnostic fees. If you agree to let them fix the car, they usually wave the Diagnostic charges. If they didn’t do this, they would lose money in the long run.

That’s the way it usually works here in CT, USA.

I would pay whatever you need to ASAP to get the car outta there. Worry about who owes you what later….because before you know it, the storage fees amount to more than the car is worth. It’s not fair, but life rarely is. Sorry for your current situation.

By: Bardic

Bardic — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:37:09 +0000

I’d agree, your first priority is to get your car back and fixed. Then sit down to write a cool, calm and collected letter to Direct Line, listing what happened and how you feel you were misled and over-charged..

Unfortunately, like most insurance-based recovery arrangements, they use sub-contractors and not all of these are as helpful as might be expected.

By: Black Panther

Black Panther — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:37:09 +0000

I have been working in the recovery business for 20 years and although
I am a time served mechanic I would never consider going on a long journey without any breakdown cover.
I would seriously consider your attitude problem as it is a very expensive business and the fee’s bloody frighten me.
Sorry but if you had full breakdown cover you would not have been facing a £400 pound recovery bill.
The storage charges cover Sunday,Monday,Tuesday and assuming you stop bleating soon enough Wednesday!
Running round the country in a banger with no cover is false economy but people with attitude problems don’t learn.
Obviously you need to be told everything and spend your life blaming others for your problems!

By: Grizz

Grizz — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:37:09 +0000

One word…..PRIORITIES

Unfortunately, if you want your car back, you’re gonna have to pay up front, or the charges are going to mount up. You can worry about filing a claim afterwards.

Get your car back, get your cousinn to fix it, and take some free legal advice from the CAB.

Very best regards

Geordie