Breakdown cover Nationwide Flex account and AA

ShiftZZ

LIFE MEMBER
Joined
Feb 19, 2008
Posts
21,457
Likes collected
88,570
Location
Dark Side of the Moon
Funster No
1,546
MH
A class
Exp
Since 2007
Our van is at SAP in Doncaster having some stuff put on, anyhow, long story short, the master cylinder spring a leak and all the fluid poured out. So it needs to be repaired.
As the van is over 7 m not many garages can handle it, so I rang Nationwide /AA recovery and advised them the van required recovery and delivery to a garage in the Midlands. She asked in the van was in a garage, I think he meant having mechanical work done, I said no, it was about to be handed over and me to drive back home, then the fault happened. She referred the case and the recovery was declined because we were not roadside.
I complained, and she said I would have to go to the complaints' dept, who said they would log the complaint and it would take up to 8 weeks . Not much help to me..

So I pointed out that if I went to a supermarket car park and broke down they may not recover me.. SO BE AWARE..

Crouch are recovering the van in the morning, £550 plus VAT..

Thank you AA and Nationwide...
 
But as I see it you haven't actually broken down.
The van is at SAP and when ready they have advised you there is a brake reservoir issue on their premises.No one locally can fix it due to the van being too big .
Have you been to SAP to pick up your van and seen the issue ?
So you want Nationwide to transport it to a garage in the Midlands ,from Doncaster that can fix it ?
 
Surely SAP must know a local garage to them that could do the work? What was the work they were doing on the van?
Its the size, Mick tried a load of companies as did Go European, none would do the work, SAP were fitting E & P, semi air suspension rear, new upgraded springs at the front, reversing camera...

We were booked to go on holiday to France, Spain and Portugal for two months.. Many garages won't handle anything over 7m.. Some were able to do the work but in late April at the earliest..
 
But as I see it you haven't actually broken down.
The van is at SAP and when ready they have advised you there is a brake reservoir issue on their premises.No one locally can fix it due to the van being too big .
Have you been to SAP to pick up your van and seen the issue ?
So you want Nationwide to transport it to a garage in the Midlands ,from Doncaster that can fix it ?
No its not the brakes, its the master cylinder inside the gearbox, the bearing and seal have failed, remember a new clutch was fitted less than 7 months ago, the van has only done less than 1,000 miles with the new clutch..

There was clutch fluid all over the floor.. No i have not been up there to examine the work, i have no doubts in Micks integrity..

Yes, the van cant be fixed up there, I struggled to find a garage here that could do it, even Fiat Professional said no..

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
In the same way that many owners replace the water pump when fitting a new timing belt it looks as if when fitting a replacement clutch it is worth replacing the slave cylinder whilst the gearbox is out.
 
Thanks for the info, I will make sure if ever in a similar position I get it towed outside.

Hope they cough up. It’s a bit ridiculous really, anything but provide the service you pay for.
 
I stopped at a motorway service station for petrol in the early hours of a horrible winter's night. As I descended the slip road to rejoin the motorway I spotted two lads pushing their car backwards up the hill. I stopped and offered some advice: "If you've got breakdown cover, they will not help you on the private area of a service station." So they rolled it back down the hill to the hard shoulder and walked up to phone for assistance. Hopefully they got it.

Gordon
 
You could try Mercedes Truck Doncaster.
 
In the same way that many owners replace the water pump when fitting a new timing belt it looks as if when fitting a replacement clutch it is worth replacing the slave cylinder whilst the gearbox is out.
Thanks, that's what they suspect had happened, someone has 'cut corners to make a few Bob.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I'm buying a new MAN TGE chosen against the same vehicle with the VW badge on the front.

There were three main reasons for choosing MAN over VW,
  1. Price - yes the same specification was cheaper than a VW Crafter
  2. Better options flexibility
  3. MAN dealers are truck specialists so open 24/7 throughout Europe and the TGE is tiny compared with some of their other models!
 
Appealed, lost, rang up to ask why? Huge argument...


NATIONWIDE Flex account stinks.. AA crock of pooh...
 

Nationwide FlexPlus Breakdown cover flawed​

2 March 2017 at 8:58PM in Budgeting & Bank Accounts
9 replies 6K views
VangirlVangirl Forumite
14 Posts

A friend told me about his experiences of the UK and Europe breakdown cover provided by the Nationwide FlexPlus account. He has a self-built camper van, which it turns out is not covered by the breakdown policy - he found this out after he was left stranded by them in Europe! There is nothing in the policy wording to suggest self-built campers are excluded. I eventually got out of them that "the reason self built camper vans are not covered is because they would not be maintained within the manufactures guidelines. This is covered in section 3. B. If the van had been professionally modified and receipts could be provided they could then cover you in the event of a breakdown. " Do you think this means that any vehicle where the owner has done their own oil changes etc is not covered?

I have tried to investigate this, and have been told that even a van with a mattress in the back will count as a self-built camper van, so will not be covered. The bed in my van is a simple wooden structure, so I asked if my van broke down and I removed the bed if I would be covered, apparently I would be! I thought this was totally ridiculous! At what point does a wooden structure in the back of a van turn from a piece of wood that I am carrying around, to a bed which invalidates the policy? I asked if the self built camper had to be registered as a camper with the DVLA, apparently this is not the case.

I wondered if this rule was widely known and if I am late to this party, or if no-one else has come across this, in which case is there a way we can get it on the main website, to warn others of this exclusion? I imagine a lot of people who want a camper, but also like to save money, will have built their own camper van and then got a bargain packaged bank account from Nationwide, not knowing that they are not covered for breakdown cover!

Any thoughts anyone?
 
as if when fitting a replacement clutch it is worth replacing the slave cylinder whilst the gearbox is out.
The concentric slave cylinder inside the bell housing incorporates the release bearing. It comes as part of the clutch kit.
Thanks, that's what they suspect had happened, someone has 'cut corners to make a few Bob.
No garage in there right mind would renew a clutch without changing the bearing.
 
We raised this with Nationwide when we were in the local branch last week. They advise to complain to head office if the is an issue as the AA has to meet certain standards or may lose the contract. The more people that lodge a complaint the more likley the AA may improve.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I'd like to thank ShiftZZ for bringing this incident to my attention. Probably, like him, my default position in circumstances would be to be like him.
 
Appealed, lost, rang up to ask why? Huge argument...


NATIONWIDE Flex account stinks.. AA crock of pooh...
But you didn't actually breakdown.
The garage that was doing the suspension for you advised that there was a clutch problem.Whilst it was in their premises They didn't drive it out and had a malfunction. The malfunction occurred on thier premises.
I cannot see how you can then hold Nationwide/ AA responsible to
a. Fix the vehicle or
b. Tow it half way across the country to a garage that can repair the vehicle just in time for you to go away in it .
I am sure that if you had been half way through France and broke down because of this clutch issue ,then they would have arranged a to tow it to the nearest garage to fix it and if not fixable to repatriate your vehicle back to the UK.
That's how I see it .
 
But you didn't actually breakdown.
The garage that was doing the suspension for you advised that there was a clutch problem.Whilst it was in their premises They didn't drive it out and had a malfunction. The malfunction occurred on thier premises.
I cannot see how you can then hold Nationwide/ AA responsible to
a. Fix the vehicle or
b. Tow it half way across the country to a garage that can repair the vehicle just in time for you to go away in it .
I am sure that if you had been half way through France and broke down because of this clutch issue ,then they would have arranged a to tow it to the nearest garage to fix it and if not fixable to repatriate your vehicle back to the UK.
That's how I see it .
Quite right, they said it was not covered as it was being repaired, FALSE.

On the basis that it was not roadside, that suggests that if you breakdown whilst shopping you would not be covered.

It sucks..

They also suggest that if the cost of the recovery is greater or equal to the value of the van you aint covered. Plus if you dont have a record of the service history, you may not be covered.

I'm about to have a pop at Nationwide. My old work mate was head of insurance, about to nudge him..
 
If they covered vehicles already in a workshop what's to stop anyone booking a vehicle in at one garage and when the likely bill becomes apparent asking the AA to take it somewhere else a few hundred miles away? I wouldn't call that sort of cover breakdown insurance I'd call it vehicle transport insurance. I do wonder in this case if its the request to take it a long distance to a preferred repairer that's caused the initial negative response.
 
If they covered vehicles already in a workshop what's to stop anyone booking a vehicle in at one garage and when the likely bill becomes apparent asking the AA to take it somewhere else a few hundred miles away? I wouldn't call that sort of cover breakdown insurance I'd call it vehicle transport insurance. I do wonder in this case if its the request to take it a long distance to a preferred repairer that's caused the initial negative response.
Not preferred repair at all, I tried to get it fixed in Doncaster, failed.

The AA error was assuming it was being repaired, and it wasn't.

Did you know they can refuse to re over your pet if the van breaks down.
Some companies will not cover you for more than 30 days in Europe, a number won't cover vans over a certain age. Height. Weight, length.

It's a complex process, some won't cover you directly, but, go through a club they will.

It's a legal minefield, but I'm on to it, I'll pull in as many favours as I can.

You could argue that you may not be recovered if you were at a funster meet. Is that something that's been considered!!@

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Nationwide FlexPlus Breakdown cover flawed​

2 March 2017 at 8:58PM in Budgeting & Bank Accounts
9 replies 6K views
VangirlVangirl Forumite
14 Posts

A friend told me about his experiences of the UK and Europe breakdown cover provided by the Nationwide FlexPlus account. He has a self-built camper van, which it turns out is not covered by the breakdown policy - he found this out after he was left stranded by them in Europe! There is nothing in the policy wording to suggest self-built campers are excluded. I eventually got out of them that "the reason self built camper vans are not covered is because they would not be maintained within the manufactures guidelines. This is covered in section 3. B. If the van had been professionally modified and receipts could be provided they could then cover you in the event of a breakdown. " Do you think this means that any vehicle where the owner has done their own oil changes etc is not covered?

I have tried to investigate this, and have been told that even a van with a mattress in the back will count as a self-built camper van, so will not be covered. The bed in my van is a simple wooden structure, so I asked if my van broke down and I removed the bed if I would be covered, apparently I would be! I thought this was totally ridiculous! At what point does a wooden structure in the back of a van turn from a piece of wood that I am carrying around, to a bed which invalidates the policy? I asked if the self built camper had to be registered as a camper with the DVLA, apparently this is not the case.

I wondered if this rule was widely known and if I am late to this party, or if no-one else has come across this, in which case is there a way we can get it on the main website, to warn others of this exclusion? I imagine a lot of people who want a camper, but also like to save money, will have built their own camper van and then got a bargain packaged bank account from Nationwide, not knowing that they are not covered for breakdown cover!

Any thoughts anyone?
I'd like to see that confirmed!

I would happily take them to small claims if they refused a breakdown recovery due to any camper changes - of course, as long as they are not related to the breakdown. Thats no different to any permanent installed shelf/box/floor in a commercial van.

I guess devil is in the detail and the above is all 3rd hand, but I've seen nothing in the exclusions to say self converted vans are excluded
 
If it is any good giving you this info but the Fiat proffessional in Hull (Jordans) are very good if not a bit pricey. also there is Auto Advance also very good (and a bit cheaper) just one street behind . both capable of doing large vehicles
 
If it is any good giving you this info but the Fiat proffessional in Hull (Jordans) are very good if not a bit pricey. also there is Auto Advance also very good (and a bit cheaper) just one street behind . both capable of doing large vehicles

I can’t really see him going to Hull the way he speaks of it on here, I think he thinks it’s like hell on earth and poor Minxy has to bear the brunt of it😆😆
 
I can see your logic after suffering a similar event, not I hasten to add with Nationwide or the AA but BMW *Assist* We were on a BMW GT1300 motorcycle heading for Portsmouth for a ferry to France and on to pre booked accommodation when the front wheel bearing and Hassock fork joint collapsed. I contacted BMW assist and they asked for my location and on checking the satnav told them I was on the outskirts of Alton, Hampshire. * There is a BMW dealer there called Barnstormers, we will take you there* * Hang on, I checked my satnav and was literally 1/4 mile away, no problem, I can get there its just arounds the corner* *Ok that's fine are you sure you don't need assistance? * No we can see it ok* We got there albeit very slowly only to be told that they did not have the parts but could express them through for tomorrow, The motorcycle was less than six months old, They organised a taxi for us and after five attempts we found a hotel ( £250 a night!) We contacted the ferry company thinking we could get on the next days sailing only to be told they were full to capacity for the next five days, So holiday lost , ferry lost and out of pocket. Bike was repaired asap so no complaint there and we went home. Put a claim in for the loss via BMW Assist for our out of pocket expense only to be told that as we had not waited for a mechanic to attend and got to the dealership on our own we were not covered! Needless to say we have never had another BMW after 40 years of various BMW motorcycle ownership.
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top