Green Flag

[tonyradstone]

Got the following from Green Flag , any one know what is going on.

 

We have some important news about your future cover with Green Flag. We know you're busy, but please take a moment to read this email.

First off, don't worry. Your current cover isn't changing.

SO, WHAT IS CHANGING?

Currently, your breakdown policy is arranged, administered and underwritten by us at U K Insurance Ltd (UKI). You can now choose to have Green Flag Limited arrange and administer your next breakdown policy, with UKI just continuing to underwrite it.

"OKAY", YOU MIGHT BE THINKING. "WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO ME?"

[Rodders53]

GF Ltd is now selling / operating the policies, rather than UKI, the Insurer who underwrites them?

 

That is the material change from the information you have provided.

 

nb no need to SHOUT

[tonyradstone]

5 minutes ago, Rodders53 said:

GF Ltd is now selling / operating the policies, rather than UKI, the Insurer who underwrites them?

 

That is the material change from the information you have provided.

 

nb no need to SHOUT

Not shouting , just cut and pasting. 

[Stevan]

Funnily enough, my AA membership renewal came through a few days ago and I noticed that all the small print now refers to it as insurance rather than membership. Maybe I missed that in recent previous years.

[Wildwood]

It looks like a technical point hat is irrelevant to the users, but which the powers that be have said you have to be advised of, even if the customers do not understand it, nor are they affected by it.

 

[Fenester]

1 hour ago, tonyradstone said:

Got the following from Green Flag , any one know what is going on.

 

We have some important news about your future cover with Green Flag. We know you're busy, but please take a moment to read this email.

First off, don't worry. Your current cover isn't changing.

SO, WHAT IS CHANGING?

Currently, your breakdown policy is arranged, administered and underwritten by us at U K Insurance Ltd (UKI). You can now choose to have Green Flag Limited arrange and administer your next breakdown policy, with UKI just continuing to underwrite it.

"OKAY", YOU MIGHT BE THINKING. "WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO ME?"

It is because the regulator requires the organisation to tell you. Green flag knows it is boring too. Insurance became FSA (FCA) regulated in 2004. Hence  also the change from membership to insurers in the case of the AA and the RAC and other previously membership based business models.

[Ironeddie]

Just as an aside out of AA, RAC and Green Flag. GF are the worst one I've used. Chiefly because they don't have their own vehicles and mechanics but sub the work out. 

[Mr Plodd]

3 minutes ago, Ironeddie said:

Just as an aside out of AA, RAC and Green Flag. GF are the worst one I've used. Chiefly because they don't have their own vehicles and mechanics but sub the work out. 

 

Well I would totally disagree with that.

 

During my many years on the road as a traffic cop I stopped to help many stranded/broken down motorists and, out of all the breakdown services, over all of the years, Green Flag always turned up the quickest. Probably because they used garages local to the point of breakdown. The AA always insisted on sending one of their patrols to “assess” the breakdown. It was not at all uncommon for the  AA patrol to take 3 hours to attend 

 

Green Flag every time for me due to my 30 years of experience of breakdown services..

[Ukzero]

Another aside question.......

I have full AA coverage ( as well as a host if other things) for free through my platinum bank account (still free because I opened the account 40 years ago - which is why they keep trying to get me to ""upgrade"").

Anyhoo - when I phoned them up to enquire about my caravan they insisted it is all fully covered and rumours to the contrary are false.

So I should relax, yes......?

 

[WispMan]

Get it in writing or an email. 

[lazydaze]

45 minutes ago, Ukzero said:

Another aside question.......

I have full AA coverage ( as well as a host if other things) for free through my platinum bank account (still free because I opened the account 40 years ago - which is why they keep trying to get me to ""upgrade"").

Anyhoo - when I phoned them up to enquire about my caravan they insisted it is all fully covered and rumours to the contrary are false.

So I should relax, yes......?

 

We have AA cover through LIoyds bank Gold account been with them 56 years not sure if the AA cover has been upgraded but I would certainly check with the AA yourself , our basic roadside assist did not include the towing of the caravan  , that's why we also have Premium cover with Green Flag this does cover most breakdown situations when towing at a very reasonable cost. 

I think you can get AA cover for the caravan but I think they have weight restrictions of  3500 Kgs this is inclusive of  caravan and the towing vehicle . 

 

[Guest]

I have read so many unanswered/ambiguous queries over caravan coverage with the main breakdown providers over the years that I’ve always gone with May Day cover through the CMHC with Green Flag. Personal cover for two people is about £100 a year for us.

[Mr Plodd]

2 minutes ago, GaryB1969 said:

I have read so many unanswered/ambiguous queries over caravan coverage with the main breakdown providers over the years that I’ve always gone with May Day cover through the CMHC with Green Flag. Personal cover for two people is about £100 a year for us.

 

I have it, in writing within the policy document, that the breakdown cover that’s provided with my Nationwide bank account that my caravan most certainly IS covered.

 

Good enough me chaps.

[Ironeddie]

4 hours ago, Mr Plodd said:

 

Well I would totally disagree with that.

 

During my many years on the road as a traffic cop I stopped to help many stranded/broken down motorists and, out of all the breakdown services, over all of the years, Green Flag always turned up the quickest. Probably because they used garages local to the point of breakdown. The AA always insisted on sending one of their patrols to “assess” the breakdown. It was not at all uncommon for the  AA patrol to take 3 hours to attend 

 

Green Flag every time for me due to my 30 years of experience of breakdown services..

They were always the longest to reach me the two times I had to use green flag. RAC have been the quickest. 

 

Worst green flag experience was when my clutch went. They still sent a mechanic despite my instance I'd need recovering. 

 

Then a wait for a tow truck which for some reason couldn't or more accurately wouldn't tow me. Ended up waiting again for a low loader to get from Tamworth over to Longbridge to recover me. 

 

At least with RAC the mechanic in his van also had the kit to tow me away. 

[Ukzero]

3 hours ago, lazydaze said:

I think you can get AA cover for the caravan but I think they have weight restrictions of  3500 Kgs this is inclusive of  caravan and the towing vehicle . 

 

That wouldn't be enough so I will double check with the AA. The Platinum account has a higher level of cover, but I will be sure to mention the weight issue.

Thanks for the input. I will report back if of use.

[Jay]

5 hours ago, Mr Plodd said:

 

I have it, in writing within the policy document, that the breakdown cover that’s provided with my Nationwide bank account that my caravan most certainly IS covered.

 

Good enough me chaps.

Friend of mine has the Nationwide cover, but also has Mayday. 
He had a wheel come loose, Rang Mayday and it was going to be 4 hours before they could send someone. 

Rang  Nationwide and was told 45 minutes. They came out and because it could not be repaired roadside drove off and had to rearrange with Mayday. 
Certainly worth double checking before you're left stuck

[Mr Plodd]

I would just point out that these are various single  experiences whereas my experience covers the best part of thirty years and involves multiple call outs,  Most people probably have at the most two or three occasions over their entire  motoring lifetime

 

No matter what “service”,  be it car breakdown, plumbers being called out, bin collections etc there will always be the odd occasion when it doesn’t go perfectly.

 

Therefore it’s necessary to take an overall picture of as many incidents as possible, which I have been able to do.

 

. I have no affiliation with any breakdown company/service/organisation just many years of practical experience witnessing how quickly they turn up. So I have posted the benefit of that experience for the information of others to help them come to an informed decision. 

 

[Ukzero]

OK.

So I have done my homework and this is what I have found (all assume you have the appropriate level of cover):

• AA The actual caravan weight limit is 3500kg (not combined weight with tow vehicle). Will attempt roadside repair, but will recover if necessary. 
• Green Flag - same as AA.
• RAC mainstream membership packages - Same again, BUT, if they cannot do a roadside repair they will not recover your caravan.
• RAC "Arrival" specialist membership - no limits on caravan weight and will recover.

Where the wording was ambiguous I phoned up and in most cases they had to check. It was worth my while because I want the peace of mind of appropriate cover.

 

So my free AA membership will be just fine for now - phew 

[Fireman Iain]

It's also worth  noting that some breakdown firms have limits on the length of trailer that will be covered. 7m, not including A frame is common.

[Woodentop]

For those that haven't noticed from early on in this thread, UK Insurance is the body that underwrites Direct Line.

[ian16527]

I use Mayday as well as the Volvo assist that comes with the car.

I do this in case the caravan has a problem rather than the car.

 

With the AA etc, I know that if the car has a fault, then they will recover the caravan as well but what if the van loses a wheel, then will the AA etc recover on a normal car breakdown policy? 

 

The AA could never find me (if they were busy) and when I broke down in Durham, parked in a car park shown in the AA handbook. We waited 4 hours in the freezing cold, watching AA vans go by. In the end they sent a local recovery, who came in 5 mins.

 

Mayday has always been in the hour when I've used them, and they came out to sort the hitch on the van once.

[Wildwood]

With policies not issued by then two clubs you do need to be very aware of any limitations as to size and weight and exactly what they cover. You may find they will take the caravan if you break down, but not if the caravan does, and you will not get the double recovery service which may be important to you. The cover may be useful but it is not always as full as you would hope.

We have Green Flag through the Caravan Club and on the two instances we have used it the service was good. All of these services do have the odd problem and you just have to live with that but Green Flag do pay out if they do not get to you in under an hour. Not a lot but at least it is a gesture.

[Supatramp]

I moved from the AA when they took hours to attend me, and I was at the junction of the M74, at the Abington services, hardly in the middle of nowhere.

In the following years, with Mayday, Green Flag, I've had to call them out twice, both times at the house, once for the caravan, and once for the car.  Both times, they've attended in just under an hour, a  big difference from the incompetents at the AA!

I notice in the current TV adverts by the AA, they claim to get you back on the road ONCE they get to you, not from the time you call them!!  A subtle, but significant difference!!

[JCCD]

On 04/12/2020 at 19:05, Mr Plodd said:

 

I have it, in writing within the policy document, that the breakdown cover that’s provided with my Nationwide bank account that my caravan most certainly IS covered.

 

Good enough me chaps.

 

But does that mean they recover you and your caravan if its your caravan that develops a fault (shredded tyre, damage etc), or do they only recover your caravan if it's your car thats developed a fault?

 

 

Edited December 20, 2020 by JCCD