Thanks for all the replies, I'm also getting a quote from the NFU as an add on from my insurer, I'll post the price later
 
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I was under the impression they have stopped using subcontractors except for transport operations, if its a breakdown it should always be an AA operative that attends.
I've had one visit from a 'genuine' AA person in uniform and liveried van, but transport has always been subcontractors. Last autumn when I had the oil in loom problem I was picked up from the hard shoulder of the M1 pretty quickly just north of Nottingham by one flatbed, and was taken to Trowell Services (just north of Nottingham) where I was unloaded and had to wait for another to take me the rest of the way back to Leicester. So it seems like the contractors have a "patch" that they work and hand you over to another for trips outside their area. On chatting to the drivers, they have all told me their firm has contracts with all the main breakdown organisations and some I've never heard of. Even so, I can't knock the service. If I had to organise it myself I'd be tearing what little remains of my hair out.
 
I've had one visit from a 'genuine' AA person in uniform and liveried van, but transport has always been subcontractors. Last autumn when I had the oil in loom problem I was picked up from the hard shoulder of the M1 pretty quickly just north of Nottingham by one flatbed, and was taken to Trowell Services (just north of Nottingham) where I was unloaded and had to wait for another to take me the rest of the way back to Leicester. So it seems like the contractors have a "patch" that they work and hand you over to another for trips outside their area. On chatting to the drivers, they have all told me their firm has contracts with all the main breakdown organisations and some I've never heard of. Even so, I can't knock the service. If I had to organise it myself I'd be tearing what little remains of my hair out.

Int that more to do with tachos then patches?
 
I'be been using the RAC for years. Always had excellent service when I've had to call them out. As others have said , make sure you know what level of cover you are buying. Mine covers the caravan as well as the car, both recovered to where I want if they can't be fixed by the roadside. Longest recovery we had was from Kent to Cardiff. It was quite late in the day by the time the RAC patrol decided that he couldn't fix so he arranged the recovery. Sub contractor gave us a courtesy car to drive ourselves home while he followed with the Disco on a flat bed , towing the caravan. We got there hours before him. He dropped the caravan off where we store it, then brought the Disco to my house and put the courtesy car on the flat bed for the return journey.
 
I was under the impression they have stopped using subcontractors except for transport operations, if its a breakdown it should always be an AA operative that attends.

They use subcontractors for breakdowns too.
 
I was under the impression they have stopped using subcontractors except for transport operations, if its a breakdown it should always be an AA operative that attends.

I've had one visit from a 'genuine' AA person in uniform and liveried van, but transport has always been subcontractors. Last autumn when I had the oil in loom problem I was picked up from the hard shoulder of the M1 pretty quickly just north of Nottingham by one flatbed, and was taken to Trowell Services (just north of Nottingham) where I was unloaded and had to wait for another to take me the rest of the way back to Leicester. So it seems like the contractors have a "patch" that they work and hand you over to another for trips outside their area. On chatting to the drivers, they have all told me their firm has contracts with all the main breakdown organisations and some I've never heard of. Even so, I can't knock the service. If I had to organise it myself I'd be tearing what little remains of my hair out.

Int that more to do with tachos then patches?

Again - it depends on where you are. They won't send a contractor if they have one of their own crews in the area...but the remote areas don't see "proper" AA patrols from one week to the next!
As a contractor, we have a defined area (patch) where we attend breakdowns or pick up recoveries. Where we take them depends. We do not usually exceed four and a half hours driving time each way in order to be able to complete our section within the tacho restrictions. With our base location, that means we can deliver to most places in Scotland, or hand over at Carlisle or Newcastle if they are going into englandshire.
Most of our deliveries, however, are within the 100km "out of scope" area :D
 
Again - it depends on where you are. They won't send a contractor if they have one of their own crews in the area...but the remote areas don't see "proper" AA patrols from one week to the next!
As a contractor, we have a defined area (patch) where we attend breakdowns or pick up recoveries. Where we take them depends. We do not usually exceed four and a half hours driving time each way in order to be able to complete our section within the tacho restrictions. With our base location, that means we can deliver to most places in Scotland, or hand over at Carlisle or Newcastle if they are going into englandshire.
Most of our deliveries, however, are within the 100km "out of scope" area :D

Ah, so it's a bit of both tachos and patches.
 
I'm with Britannia Rescue been with them for 8 years only used them once but they were top notch

And the aa and rac will sub out jobs if they are to busy or if its a rubbish job green flag don't have non of there own vehicles the ones you see driving about are sub contractors or a franchises
 
we get our breakdown cover with our bank account,used them 4 or 5 times now and they have been fantastic.tis the AA by the way.
 
One thing with the AA: watch your renewal price like a hawk. Ours crept up year on year until it was double the price we'd signed up for a few years previously, then when I called them for a good old moan they were mysteriously able to offer me half price. Mind you, they were adamant there would no paperwork confirming the better price, which I guess means they know this smells a little shady.

The year after they tried the same stunt so I cancelled and switched to RAC - RAC have "played fair" on renewal so far.
 
One thing with the AA: watch your renewal price like a hawk. Ours crept up year on year until it was double the price we'd signed up for a few years previously, then when I called them for a good old moan they were mysteriously able to offer me half price. Mind you, they were adamant there would no paperwork confirming the better price, which I guess means they know this smells a little shady.

The year after they tried the same stunt so I cancelled and switched to RAC - RAC have "played fair" on renewal so far.
Every year go online and start a new policy your get the going rate as for loyalty discounts there is no such thing online is about £90 for me a renewal is £167 work that out, Damm rip off merchants !!!ps they are all the same Rac, aol , insurance , you have to outsmart these companies only the lazy people are the one 's that get caught out .
 
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Been with the RAC 12 years, I'm paying £6.00 a year more now than when I joined..

So it doesn't always go up silly money..
 

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