breakdown cover news today

November 20, 2009

Continuing the Supermarket Theme

Filed under: business — admin @ 1:47 pm

“The supermarkets of yesteryear have well and truly gone, where you went to buy food in one supermarket and other goods in other types of stores. It seems that certain types of supermarkets are designed to be one stop shops from everything.

The largest retailers in the UK have also added their name to financial products, such as loans, travel insurance, car insurance and of course breakdown cover options. As a consumer it is very hard to distinguish the benefits of buying a breakdown cover policy from a supermarket rather than online direct from the supplier, with the exception that you often get store points on your store card by doing so and if in a hurry, the convenience of doing it there and then.

We have struggled to see who the AA is associated with, but it is very clear that the RAC have a deal with Asda and Green Flag with Tesco and Sainsbury’s through Esure a sister insurance company.

As we keep saying, if their are any benefits to the consumer buying from a supermarket they are not transparent and you have to ask the question why a breakdown cover provider would risk their own business, by allowing so called agents under cut themselves. The supermarkets obviously gain a commission for every policy that is sold, and with a huge amount of regular customers going through their store every week, it makes sense for the car breakdown cover providers to have access to this customer base without the marketing.”

A Busy Day

Filed under: green flag — admin @ 1:46 pm

“It is a good way to get a bit of brand awareness out by stating a few facts to keep the motorist interested in Breakdown Cover. Hey who are we to complain. But the Green Flag have done just that at the beginning of December, by announcing that the recent snap of cold weather produced the largest amount of callouts since 21st January 2007.

There is no doubt that there is a relationship between the weather and breakdown cover services, many getting caught out, because they just do not have a policy. The report comes from the Which magazine and has useful tips on winter driving and issues like that.

It seems that this once announcement from Green Flag has given content to Which and ourselves. Keep up the good promotional work, that’s what we say.”

This is an old news item, being brought back up to date

Matalan And RAC

Filed under: rac — admin @ 1:39 pm

“Even the clothes retailers seem to getting into the action nowadays when it comes to breakdown cover services. As a member of this American shopping club you can be entitled to discounts off  RAC breakdown cover services.  You can read the full description here at the Matalan RAC offers and events page.

However the promotion page is not very descriptive and not very clear whether the roadside assistance option quoted is the price with the discount taken off or prior to. If this price is with the discount, there does not seem to be any difference in price than just visiting the RAC website direct and buying online, using the normal discounts offered there.

Get this spectacular reward card offer is the message, I am still looking and wondering what is spectacular with this offer, unless when you apply you learn more of course. The decision is to look at what other supermarkets arte offering with their connection with the breakdown cover operators and write about it here within later posts.”

November 19, 2009

The RAC Blog

Filed under: rac — admin @ 11:48 am

It is just about everyines passion to have blog nowadays andof course the RAC had to have one, just as you are reading one now. We make no apologies here that the breakdown cover today blog is quiet personal and as it does not belong to any breakdown cover provider so can be honest with it’s views. Ironically the RAC blog seems to look like a non commercial blog. Take for example the blog post wheel changes. This was written by a RAC breakdown cover patrolman just stating an obvious fact to carry a spare wheel and the tools to change it. This is not rocket science, but th iontersting thing is the tone that it has been written. It clearly has been written by a RAC breakdown cover patrolman and not an editor somewhere back at head office.

The results are somethmie amatuerish for a huge organistion like the RAC, but in another way honest, transparent and what a blog was supposed to be, rather than a news machine written by profesional journalists ( just like us). I am not sure how this will get your car home after beraking down in the middle of the night, but is you take the time to read their information you may just get that motoring club feel. I think we will make time to visit some more posts in the future.

November 6, 2009

Why to purchase a Car Breakdown Cover?

Filed under: advice — admin @ 6:28 pm

Getting stranded in the middle of a busy highway or in an unknown deserted area is the worst situation you can find yourself in due to an emergency car breakdown. And not having a breakdown cover for your vehicle can further worsen things as timely assistance is the most crucial need in such situations. So if you are a car owner, purchasing a cover for your vehicle should be of utmost priority in order to ensure a safe and risk free driving experience.
The term breakdown cover refers to the wide range of roadside assistance schemes that are offered by organizations like the RAC (Royal Automobile Club) to help car owners in the case of an emergency breakdown situation on the roadside.

With a large number of companies offering breakdown cover for vehicles at highly competitive prices, there are various benefits that can be availed through these schemes some of which have been listed below:
•    Swift rescue services – One of the best befits of getting a cover for your car is that once you have placed a call to their customer services, the company will come to your rescue as early as possible by sending you a rescue team and thereby ensuring that you and your family are safe.
•    Recovery assistance – By getting a breakdown cover beforehand drivers can avail road side assistance services which include towing and lock out assistance, replacing flat tires, refuelling as well as recharging a dead battery.
•    Cost effective option – With recovery companies offering roadside assistance at very nominal rates through annual memberships, purchasing a vehicle cover is a very cost effective option in the long run.
•    Alternative transportation – Apart from standard recovery services on the roadside, there are various additional facilities offered by recovery companies which include providing its customers with alternative transportation as well as hotel accommodation.
•    Round the clock support – Most automobile clubs offering breakdown cover have a round the clock support team who can reach you throughout the day and night and bail you out of an emergency road situation.
•    Skilled patrol team – The patrol team that provide roadside assistance comprise of skilled and professionally trained staff that are efficient in diagnosing technical faults in the vehicle and fixing the problem as fast as possible.
•    Assistance in getting insurance claim – The auto clubs providing breakdown cover also coordinate with the leading insurance companies to help their customers in getting insurance claim for their damaged vehicle in the case of an accident.

Now that you are aware of the important benefits if purchasing a breakdown cover, go ahead and get a suitable scheme and ensure a stress free and secure driving experience for you and your family.

Summary – Purchasing a breakdown cover should be a top priority for car owners. Several important benefits of buying a roadside assistance scheme beforehand includes swift rescue services, recovery assistance, cost effectiveness, alternative transportation, round the clock support, skilled patrol team and assistance in getting insurance claim.

By guest blogger Atul

Welcome to Green Flag

Filed under: green flag — admin @ 1:47 am

Originally set up as a network of breakdown recovery agents, Green Flag has become a huge consideration within the breakdown cover market. Owned by Royal Bank Of Scotland (Recent government take over considerations not included here) that ownws many insurance giants like Direct Line Churchill and more, it normally can deliver very competitive pricing compared to the other big 2 operators, the AA and the RAC.

Here is an older advert, claiming a price of around £29 for the basic policy, however at the time of writing this short article, Green Flag Breakdown are advertising their cheapest policies from £20.

Unlike other breakdown cover service providers, their online application form is a bit more complicated and will ask questions like the yearly milage and age of the car to give you a quote, so you may not get the cheap breakdown cover price advertised, if they feel their is a greater risk value to your vehicle.

Rapid Breakdown Cover

The word rapid is being used in the currect interent campaigns, as Green Flag claim to have a very fast service, why not add your comment

November 5, 2009

Emergency Services

Filed under: general — admin @ 2:53 pm

The best way to describe what breakdown cover is, could be to be to call it an emergency service for your car, for you and your passengers for those times when you have a mechanical failure, in better words when your car will not go anywhere. Wikipedia descibes the services as emergency road services, although that may be related more to the USA market, as the UK use the term breakdown cover more widely.

There are some main players in offereing this service throughout the whole of the UK, although local garages will do a breakdown recovery service, should you know their number. the main players are The AA, Green Flag and the RAC, which we will write about in more detail in further posts.

Their aim is to attend an emergency road call out, establish the cause of the fault, decide if they can fix it their and then and then finaly either fix the car or tow you to a garage that can. There are more advanced policies that will transport your vehicle back home, no matter where you liv eon the UK mainland and although the names for this service alter a bit, if you call these breakdown recovery services, you will be near the mark

You are in fact buying an insurance policy, so it is regulted by the Financial Services Authority, it is not surprising that the breakdown cover providers tend to owned by insurance organisations to add value to their exsisting car insurance policy base. More information on this subject in future posts

November 4, 2009

Why Should You Get Breakdown Cover For Your Car?

Filed under: general — admin @ 11:25 pm

Breakdown cover is becoming increasingly popular all over the world, as anyone who drives, knows that at some point of time they will encounter a breakdown situation. You cannot predict when you will face such a situation; it could be while travelling from your home to workplace or while on a road trip. If you don’t find a garage nearby, then at that moment you will feel stuck and wish you had a breakdown cover that will save you from all the hassles and difficulties that you will face in a breakdown situation.

One should carefully ascertain their requirements while buying breakdown cover insurance. For instance, if you travel to other countries frequently, then it is advisable to buy international breakdown cover insurance which will help you in a breakdown situation, even if it occurs beyond the borders of your home country. Many companies offer these services and while buying a car, you can buy it from the manufacturer itself. They have tie-ups with various service stations and ensure round the clock assistance to the insured.

It is advisable to get a breakdown cover as it offers the following benefits:
1.    It provides relief from the hassles attached with a sudden breakdown and you will not feel stranded and helpless in such a situation.
2.    Services like on road minor repairs, replacement of flat tyre, towing service, jump start and lockout assistance are provided to the insured.
3.    If an accident occurs, the insurance company may even provide for legal assistance and ambulance. This is policy specific, so see carefully if it is covered in your policy.
4.    If you travel frequently to other countries, then you should buy an international insurance which provides assistance in other countries as well.
5.    It is economical and can be procured at really low rates. In the United Kingdom, it usually starts from 25 pounds.

Getting a breakdown cover is indeed a very wise decision which every car owner must buy, but it does not mean that you do not need to be careful about preventing a breakdown situation. You must take care that your car is in a good working order and should get it serviced regularly. Also, you should keep the breakdown service phone number handy in your car as well as stored in your mobile phone.

The demand to avail such kind of services is increasing among the car owners, as in present day world people value their time and comfort more than the money and are willing to spend on something as valuable as a breakdown cover which will get them out of a breakdown situation without going through any trouble.

Summary- Getting a breakdown cover is recommended for every car owner as you never know when a breakdown situation may arise. It can be bought at prices as low as 25 pounds and provides various benefits like relief from hassles attached with a sudden breakdown, services like legal assistance and ambulance, assistance in foreign countries, on road minor repairs, replacement of flat tyre, towing service, jump start and lockout assistance.

Written by guest blogger Atul

November 1, 2009

The Theme Of Breakdown Cover News

Filed under: the aa — admin @ 11:25 am

Continuing the theme of bringing breakdown cover news or information to you, the AA wins hands down on this front. The AA press release page on their official site is by far the best from the top 3 breakdown cover providers. Of course the news goes beyond breakdown cover and focusses on just about everything teh AA does from insurance to raod safety and even news information aimed at cyclists or any road user, but just about everyday some news item is added to keep the press and possibly us here at breakdown cover today filled with news.

Last week we had stories on motoring authorities being sympathetic to the postal strike, new AA publications and the AA credit cards release, which has nothing to do with AA breakdown cover granted, but at lease it is news as it happens, rather than a half hearted attempt at publishing something. Other weeks the news could be totally dedicated to breakdown cover, so it is swings and rounabouts. Anyway, for us it is a shame the other 2 top guys don’t do it a s well.

Powered by WordPress