Nationwide Flex Plus - Breakdown Cover - Be Aware !

[Bovisand]

Last Wed 8th June I posted that we had had an accident on a scooter in France and that our insurance didn’t cover repatriating the MH back to the UK.
Now back home I have had chance to investigate further.

Our MH accident Insurance is with Advance but because we dont have Breakdown cover also with them they understandably dont cover repatriation of the vehicle in my circumstances.
Our Breakdown cover is with Nationwide as part of having Flex Plus account.
And up to March this year cover was provided by Brittania who definately did offer repatriation of MH if the main driver was unable to continue due to accident or illness.
However on the 1st March 2022 the AA took over after winning the tender process with a new set of terms that DONT include repatriation. I only found this out yesterday and dont recall Nationwide flagging this up.
So for anyone using their Nationwide Flex Plus acc to cover Euro breakdowns etc here is a salutary lesson and something to bear in mind.

 

[PhilandMena]

My understanding is they will recover you to suitable garage for repair.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If nationwide did not notify you of the change to the contract it had with you prior to the AA taking it over ,I would be chasing then to honour the original contract that was in place and have your van brought back to the UK at thier cost.

 

[The Wino]

Thanks for posting we rely on the nationwide cover. How did you get the motorhome sorted in the end?. I might contact them to see about an extension to include vehicle repatriation.

 

[PhilandMena]

I believe quite a few will only recover inside the E.U. and not repatriate to the UK. If it can be repaired in the E.U. why would they go to all the trouble and expense of bringing it back to the UK for work that can be done in the country the vehicle has failed in.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[The Wino]

I believe quite a few will only recover inside the E.U. and not repatriate to the UK. If it can be repaired in the E.U. why would they go to all the trouble and expense of bringing it back to the UK for work that can be done in the country the vehicle has failed in.

The OPS problem was an rta on s scooter and injuries making it not possible to drive back. As you say why would a recovery to the UK be made for a repair that's available in Europe.

 

[Figaro]

Hope your injuries are healing.
Do you want to tell us what happened ?

 

[Riverbankannie]

Hope your injuries are healing.
Do you want to tell us what happened ?

accident in france

currently in an aire in Colliioure France and our worst nightmare - just had a minor accident on our scooter. So advice please. i have a broken shoulder and one rib my wife has badly damaged right hand. i can no longer drive and we will need to fly home we have plenty of insurance -...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Emmit]

I'm no expert but I would imagine that the driver not being able to continue
driving a vehicle because of injury or illness would come under the aegis of
travel Insurance, not Breakdown Insurance.

 

[gus-lopez]

I believe quite a few will only recover inside the E.U. and not repatriate to the UK. If it can be repaired in the E.U. why would they go to all the trouble and expense of bringing it back to the UK for work that can be done in the country the vehicle has failed in.

Because there is nothing wrong with the motorhome the driver & his wife were injured ridinga scooter & cannot drive the vehicle back.

The OPS problem was an rta on s scooter and injuries making it not possible to drive back. As you say why would a recovery to the UK be made for a repair that's available in Europe.

That is whay ADAC was ideal.they did, & still do for us, what you want.

** i believe the OP got the MH lifted to a storage site around France/Spain border?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[John Barrett]

I'm no expert but I would imagine that the driver not being able to continue
driving a vehicle because of injury or illness would come under the aegis of
travel Insurance, not Breakdown Insurance.

We are with NW. I can't drive so the medical side are paying for our flight home, and AA are bringing home my vehicle and caravan FOC under the breakdown insurance. The two sides did not talk to each other as I had to send a copy of the medical report to the AA.

 

[15edward]

I dropped ADAC after disastrous time with AA as their partner
went with NW flexplus
oh dear

 

[VXman]

As said above, I would have thought this was covered under travel insurance not breakdown. The nationwide flex account includes travel insurance as well as breakdown so surely they would cover this anyway..... nothing to do with the AA. ????

 

[iandsm]

We are with NW. I can't drive so the medical side are paying for our flight home, and AA are bringing home my vehicle and caravan FOC under the breakdown insurance. The two sides did not talk to each other as I had to send a copy of the medical report to the AA.

Thats interesting John, sorry to hear of you accident and hope recovery is swift and pain free. This thread made me look up the T&C and it quite clearly says under "whats not covered"

1. Recovery costs for your vehicle if nobody in your party is fit to drive.
2. Repatriation costs for you or your party if nobody in your party is fit to drive.

So I'm left thinking that if I broke my ankle for example in France and couldn't drive the AA would bring my vehicle back as in your case , or according to the T&C they wouldn't.

Thats making me wonder id the AA have agreed to repatriate but you medical/travel insurance are picking up the costs. Can you, (or anyone else wearing this) clear the matter up please.

 

[The Wino]

Just thinking about this if they cover repatriation of the person but not the vehicle do they cover storage costs and a flight out to fetch it once healthy?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bovisand]

As said above, I would have thought this was covered under travel insurance not breakdown. The nationwide flex account includes travel insurance as well as breakdown so surely they would cover this anyway..... nothing to do with the AA. ????

Trust me it isn't covered. Fine on the medical side getting us home - but the MH isn't covered unless been in an accident.

 

[Bovisand]

Anyone looking at Nationwides term & conditions needs to ensure they are the latest - March 2022.

Attached is a grab from the previous terms (2018) when Brittania covered the breakdowns and as you can see repatriation is included. This is no longer offered under by the current provider - trust me I know.

I will be chasing NW on this having read correspondence from other sites where NW stated there was no degridation in cover by switching to AA. Clearly there was.

 

[Bovisand]

We are with NW. I can't drive so the medical side are paying for our flight home, and AA are bringing home my vehicle and caravan FOC under the breakdown insurance. The two sides did not talk to each other as I had to send a copy of the medical report to the AA.

John, really interested to hear this, but this was definitely not the case with us. No prob with the medical side, flight home, taxis etc, but absolutely not interested in the MH.

 

[Bovisand]

We are with NW. I can't drive so the medical side are paying for our flight home, and AA are bringing home my vehicle and caravan FOC under the breakdown insurance. The two sides did not talk to each other as I had to send a copy of the medical report to the AA.

I would be interested with any AA contacts you may have. AA Europe absolutely didn't want to know when I contacted them.

 

[John Barrett]

John, really interested to hear this, but this was definitely not the case with us. No prob with the medical side, flight home, taxis etc, but absolutely not interested in the MH.

The difference is probably due to the fact the AA can put my car on a flatbed and tow the caravan behind. Can't do that with a 6m motorhome?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pelican]

The difference is probably due to the fact the AA can put my car on a flatbed and tow the caravan behind. Can't do that with a 6m motorhome?

Please kindly explain why M/Y could not go on flatbed.

 

[John Barrett]

Please kindly explain why M/Y could not go on flatbed.

Height?

 

[Bovisand]

The difference is probably due to the fact the AA can put my car on a flatbed and tow the caravan behind. Can't do that with a 6m motorhome?

My understanding is your recovery was not covered under current terms. Repatriation of any vehicle just isn't covered - I was told, if driver can no longer continue. Again I would love to investigate if you have a contact name and number.

 

[iandsm]

I have written to Nationwide to seek a definitive answer as follows.

Dear Mt Broome,

I have had the Nationwide Flex Plus bank account for some years now having decided it was the account for me because of the travel and breakdown insurance benefits. These were particularly attractive to me as I travel in my motorhome with my wife, who does not drive, throughout the UK and Europe and as I am the only driver I was comforted to know that should I be incapacitated through illness or injury my motorhome could be returned to my home address through the Nationwide policies.

Since the AA has become the provider of these services the provision for recovery of the vehicle in those circumstances have been removed from the Nationwide document and replaced by rather different wording, as below, which appears to state that should an unfortunate illness or injury occur which means I cannot drive I would be at the mercy of a call handler who may or may not decide to arrange assistance with recovery off my motorhome at their absolute discretion.

This is very important provision for myself and my fellow motorhomers and I would ask that you make clear exactly what assistance as regards recovery in the above circumstances is offered. Naturally I and those I have discussed this with would prefer to keep our Nationwide Flex Plus accounts open, however we may have to review this depending on you reply.

I thank you in anticipation and will pass on you reply to those concerned.

Yours Sincerely,

Ian Johnson

'From the P400 Nationwide PDF ....
Section G: National Recovery (Relay) Provided by Automobile Association Developments Limited (trading as AA Breakdown Services)
"The AA may be prepared to make National Recovery available if you are, or the driver of your vehicle is, unexpectedly taken ill during a journey and no other passenger can drive your vehicle to complete your intended journey. Any compassionate National Recovery assistance is given at the AA’s absolute discretion."

 

[gus-lopez]

Trust me it isn't covered. Fine on the medical side getting us home - but the MH isn't covered unless been in an accident.

They are lying. In the event of an accident they wouldn't be interested as that comes under your vehicle insurance.
So in reality you are paying to just be recovered yo a local garage ,nothing else.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Derek’soldvan]

As another NW flex customer, watching this with interest

 

[ShiftZZ]

I thought the ceo of Nationwide was.

Nationwide Building Society​	<Broken link removed>​
Mr Joe Garner	Chief Executive
Email	joe.garner@nationwide.co.uk

We could all write to him voicing our displea and suggesting we may close our Flex account ..

Just a thought..


Or.

Prepare a motion to be debated at the AGM?

 

[ShiftZZ]

Board of Directors​

• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>

---

<Broken link removed>

Joe Garner​

Appointment​

Chief Executive Officer since 5 April 2016.

Skills and experience:​

Joe has spent his working life in consumer-focused businesses, starting his career with consumer product companies Procter & Gamble and Dixons Carphone. He later took on leadership roles, first as Head of HSBC’s UK retail and commercial businesses and then as CEO at Openreach. Joe was also previously a non-executive director of the Financial Ombudsman Service. Throughout his career, Joe has championed the interests of colleagues and customers, believing that looking after both is not only the right thing to do, but the key to commercial success. Since joining Nationwide, Joe’s mission has been to inspire colleagues to remain true to the Society’s social purpose, using the power of the collective to improve people’s lives. Joe is passionate about Nationwide’s core purpose of ‘building society, nationwide’.

Current external positions:​

• Director, UK Finance
• Member, Financial Conduct Authority Practitioner Panel
• Patron, British Triathlon
• Member, Economic Crime Strategy Board
• Co-chair, Inclusive Economy Partnership Financial Capability and Inclusion Steering Committee.

 

[ShiftZZ]

Board of Directors​

• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>
• <Broken link removed>

---

<Broken link removed>

Joe Garner​

Appointment​

Chief Executive Officer since 5 April 2016.

Skills and experience:​

Joe has spent his working life in consumer-focused businesses, starting his career with consumer product companies Procter & Gamble and Dixons Carphone. He later took on leadership roles, first as Head of HSBC’s UK retail and commercial businesses and then as CEO at Openreach. Joe was also previously a non-executive director of the Financial Ombudsman Service. Throughout his career, Joe has championed the interests of colleagues and customers, believing that looking after both is not only the right thing to do, but the key to commercial success. Since joining Nationwide, Joe’s mission has been to inspire colleagues to remain true to the Society’s social purpose, using the power of the collective to improve people’s lives. Joe is passionate about Nationwide’s core purpose of ‘building society, nationwide’.

Current external positions:​

• Director, UK Finance
• Member, Financial Conduct Authority Practitioner Panel
• Patron, British Triathlon
• Member, Economic Crime Strategy Board
• Co-chair, Inclusive Economy Partnership Financial Capability and Inclusion Steering Committee.

If I get time i'll dig out the email addresses of all if the above. Massive email campaign..

 

[Rogerwyn]

At the end of the day you pay your money and takes your chances, having used a my bank insurance many years ago and breaking down when tugging, the insurance company would not repatriate the car and insisted that it be fixed locally even though the garage could not get the part for 10days which would make me a week late back to work, having had chat with the garage we bogged the repair so I could get back very stressful 400mile drive, a few years later when the gear box failed using red pennant (expensive) they had a replacement 4x4 within 3 days to continue the holiday and car was repatriated home. You have to look carefully at the t+c and make sure they serve your purpose,

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}