A cautionary tale for anyone motoring in Europe:
A couple of months ago I took out a single trip European Breakdown cover which was provided by Green Flag and underwritten by Aegeas Insurance company. (The vehicle was a 3500kgs car transporter but it is a cautionary tale for anyone using these people!)
The policy document specifically stated that:
The vehicle covered must not exceed 8m in length
The vehicle must not exceed 3500kgs
The vehicle can be hired provided that the vehicle is abroad with the hirer's permission
The vehicle broke down and this is where the "fun" started with Green flag and latterly the insurance company trying to wriggle out of their responsibilities:
Green flag stated that the vehicle was too long i.e. over 7m they recanted when the max 8m condition was pointed out.
Then
The vehicle was not covered because it was hired again they recanted when the hire vehicle paragraph was pointed out to them
Then
They said that the vehicle was not covered because it wass bein used for "hire and reward" i.e. the driver was being paid to undertake work on bahalf of a third party. When we pointed out that the vehicle wasbeing used to pick up a car we had bought in France tfor our own restoration project not for re-sale the response was that:because the car was probably bought cheaper in France this would mean that on paper a profit woul be made.
Then
they said this was not the type of vehicle envisaged to be covered by the policy (the truck loaded is well with the specification of the policy parameters).
Then
Green Flag agreed to repatriate driver and passenger and have nothing to do with the vehicle.
Then
Green Flag refused to speak to us again at all about the issues. Much the same was the response of the insurance company.
We had the truck repatriated at our own expense (£2800). Finally,in the face of a threatened complaint to the FSA the insurance company out of the goodness of their heart made an ex-gratia payment to cover the repatriation costs.
The reason for making public this tale of woe is that this policy is STILL being sold. There is no way of knowing whether Green Flag will arbitrarily decide to walk away from you when you are broken down in Europe.
One final word about European recovery cover:
If your vehicle cannot be repaired immediately or the cost is extreme under most breakdown covers the breakdown company can, in effect write off your vehicle. If the vehicle is worth less than the recovery costs and they can pay you that money instead of recovering/ repatriating your vehicle.
The recovery costs in Europe can be very high. Our vehicle was around 500 miles from Calais and cost us £2800 to repatriate. Imagine the costs if yo are a long way into Europe, even a fairly recent vehicle could be deemed to be "not worth repatriating".
A couple of months ago I took out a single trip European Breakdown cover which was provided by Green Flag and underwritten by Aegeas Insurance company. (The vehicle was a 3500kgs car transporter but it is a cautionary tale for anyone using these people!)
The policy document specifically stated that:
The vehicle covered must not exceed 8m in length
The vehicle must not exceed 3500kgs
The vehicle can be hired provided that the vehicle is abroad with the hirer's permission
The vehicle broke down and this is where the "fun" started with Green flag and latterly the insurance company trying to wriggle out of their responsibilities:
Green flag stated that the vehicle was too long i.e. over 7m they recanted when the max 8m condition was pointed out.
Then
The vehicle was not covered because it was hired again they recanted when the hire vehicle paragraph was pointed out to them
Then
They said that the vehicle was not covered because it wass bein used for "hire and reward" i.e. the driver was being paid to undertake work on bahalf of a third party. When we pointed out that the vehicle wasbeing used to pick up a car we had bought in France tfor our own restoration project not for re-sale the response was that:because the car was probably bought cheaper in France this would mean that on paper a profit woul be made.
Then
they said this was not the type of vehicle envisaged to be covered by the policy (the truck loaded is well with the specification of the policy parameters).
Then
Green Flag agreed to repatriate driver and passenger and have nothing to do with the vehicle.
Then
Green Flag refused to speak to us again at all about the issues. Much the same was the response of the insurance company.
We had the truck repatriated at our own expense (£2800). Finally,in the face of a threatened complaint to the FSA the insurance company out of the goodness of their heart made an ex-gratia payment to cover the repatriation costs.
The reason for making public this tale of woe is that this policy is STILL being sold. There is no way of knowing whether Green Flag will arbitrarily decide to walk away from you when you are broken down in Europe.
One final word about European recovery cover:
If your vehicle cannot be repaired immediately or the cost is extreme under most breakdown covers the breakdown company can, in effect write off your vehicle. If the vehicle is worth less than the recovery costs and they can pay you that money instead of recovering/ repatriating your vehicle.
The recovery costs in Europe can be very high. Our vehicle was around 500 miles from Calais and cost us £2800 to repatriate. Imagine the costs if yo are a long way into Europe, even a fairly recent vehicle could be deemed to be "not worth repatriating".
and I for one appreciate the story and knowledge gained from it :thumb:
