ADAC

anothersunrise
anothersunrise Forum Participant Posts: 264

I have looked for information in early posts but going do-dally. Can someone remind me how to get a quote from them? 

Ta

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Comments

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #2

    Look at Diane's blog 'Joys of European Travel'. I have just sent an email to ann-karin.zintl@sby.adac.de asking the same question.  An email to Amanda.moser ( the other suggestion contact) was returned undelivered.  If my email fails I will have to phone them (number in Diane's blog).

  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2017 #3

    You don't need a quote - they have a standard charge depending on which package you want.  Most people go with Partner Plus which gives breakdown cover in the UK and Europe, for yourself and your partner, in any car, or as a passenger in other cars, and will also cover nominated members of your family such as children still living at home.

    Here is the information page about ADAC breakdown costs.

    And if you decide to join then you are best emailing either emailing amanda.moser-wickles@ sby.adac.de or ann-katrin.zintl @sby.adac.de than phoning.  Give them your own number and they will ring you back, and from then on it's just a question of giving your details.  We have been with ADAC for a number of years, but have never claimed, either in this country or in Europe, but I do know that other people have - and like other breakdown services, their experiences are mixed - most positive, but some negative too.

  • anothersunrise
    anothersunrise Forum Participant Posts: 264
    edited February 2017 #4

    Thank you. 

  • anothersunrise
    anothersunrise Forum Participant Posts: 264
    edited February 2017 #5

    Thank you. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #6

    I would be reluctant to buy breakdown insurance for my car, caravan, house or belongings from an overseas company where contact can only be made through two named ladies at times when one or other of them happens to be in the office.

    So I am not tempted to buy breakdown insurance from them either, especially if a claim against them proves controversial,and leads to any sort of long range bi- lingual dispute. Cheap they may be, but I am not tempted.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #7

    I don't suppose its any different to buying insurance or any other services from a company whose call centre is in India etc..

    Obviously if you have a breakdown you would call the number supplied by the company, you wouldn't call the ladies mention above.

    Come June I will be taking up Adac then its goodnight to Green Flag and Red Pennantwink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2017 #8

    Just reading the ADAC form and it does state you have to be a resident of Germany?

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2017 #9
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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #10

    Perhaps worth pointing out that Red Pennant is likely to use ADAC in Germany as their recovery partner, at least that was the case when we had an issue some years ago. As I have illustrated a week or so ago in another post the economies of using the likes of ADAC coupled with "free" bank or building society medical insurance at our age and with our medical conditions just don't add up and Red Pennant, despite its seemingly high initial cost is as as good a value and with the advantage that its a one stop policy.

    David

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #11

    JVB66.  Where on the 'form' does it state that you have to be a resident in Germany?  There are many UK residents who are members of ADAC and I am just about to join!

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #12

    Don't forget you can get rid of Green Flag as well, it's not just about travelling abroad.  For us youngsters it make sense lol 

  • Extugger
    Extugger Forum Participant Posts: 1,293
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    edited February 2017 #13

    Have a look at www.driverguardian.co.uk 

  • Natasha2
    Natasha2 Forum Participant Posts: 306
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    edited February 2017 #14

    We are members of ADAC and had the misfortune to have to deal with them in France last summer.

    The term as much use as a chocolate teapot comes to mind.

    We were in a situation where we were blocking a road junction and literally couldn't move the caravan an inch. Stress levels were at a major peak already and the last thing we needed was a tricky phone conversation with someone who didn't understand enough English to help us.

    This year will be back to Red Pennant or the CCC equivalent.

  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
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    edited February 2017 #15

    Sorry folks not been around this weekend and till today as have had guests for 4 days.

    You do not have to live in Germany we have been Members and have just renewed for the 11th year.

    They are the two ladies to contact as they deal with the ADAC Breakdown Service at an Office designated to deal with UK Membership and have special ability to take payment by Credit/Debit Card Payments a method by which, German Subjects are not allowed to make payment by.

    Comeyras in your first post you had Karin in the address but it is in fact ann-katrin.zintl@sby.adac.de  Amanda Moser is at present on a months special leave. The Telephone number for the office in Regensburg is. 00-49-94-15-23-44. It is a large very busy Office/Shop so sometimes difficult to get through to by phone that is the reason it is better to email.

    I have had the occasion to have to call ADAC for help on 4 occasions from Germany, France, Austria and here in the UK twice for the caravan twice for different cars.  Never had a problem of them not speaking excellent English.  When the phone is answered to you firstly ask if the speak English, If that person does not speak it they will put you straight away through to someone who does.

    Eurotraveller there are many people work in that Office but just those two ladies deal with UK Membership and the Breakdown Service.  There is always one or two of them in the Office.  ADAC is the second largest Breakdown Organisation in the World second to AAA of the USA. It had a Membership of 18 million in 2012 and has obviously increased since then.

    I have no business connection with ADAC we are just very satisfied Members and I helped by requesting an easy way for Brits to join. 

    DianneT

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #16

    Dianne, I do business regularly with a European company - Brittany Ferries. They are French but have a website which is accessible to UK customers who can book and pay in on- line, in sterling. In addition that  company has a U.K. office staffed by UK staff without British customers needing to make international calls. And of course it sends out its documentation in the English language. 

    As you are a friend of ADAC, with personal contacts at that company, you might suggest to them that if they want to attract business from people like me they might do those things. At the moment they don't.

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Club Member Posts: 2,401 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #17

    We considered ADAC 12 months ago and ValDa kindly sent me an English language version of their brochure.

    I spent a considerable amount of time looking onto the options, including phoning several providers,and, at that time, the only two providers that stated they would recover a car and caravan when the caravan was not attached were RP and Safeguard.

    A member posted on CT that he was refused recovery of his caravan which was onsite next to his car that was being recovered. Several posters thought it would be OK with ADAC but that was no reassurance so went with Safeguard.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2017 #18

    In fairness I suspect that the ADAC is not really interested in offering their services to members resident outside Germany as it's probably more trouble than it's worth to them, but they do so in order to comply with EU-wide anti-discrimination requirements. That's why they keep a relatively low profile abroad.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,867 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #19

    Lutz

    I am not quite sure how that fits into anti discrimination law. As a German service offered to German citizens there surely would not be anything wrong with them restricting their services to German citizens or people living within Germany? Is it the same for all countries of the EU? I don't think the AA or the RAC offer their services to people living outside the UK. I have some sympathy with Eurotraveller's view that if the service is available to all it should be properly organised so that non-German speaking people can access the service seamlessly in their own language. There was a rumour going around a year or two ago that they were going to restrict their service to people living in Germany but how that arose or why it wasn't implemented I don't know. 

    David

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,394 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #20

    Is it not the case that only the plus service is available outside of Germany. I looked into their servive sometime ago and partialy for the same reasons outlined by ET I rejected it. The other reason I disliked their service was lack of clarity of cover for larger vehicles. My motorhome appeared over sized.

    peedee

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2017 #21

    It is my understanding that insurance companies operating within the EU must offer EU-wide coverage to all who live in the EU although they may not wish to publicise that.

  • Fysherman
    Fysherman Forum Participant Posts: 1,570
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    edited February 2017 #22

    Interesting opinions here.

    I have looked seriously at ADAC but a serious accident or breakdown abroad would be a hugely stressful time and relying upon specific ladies in the office to be available or a need to e-mail for help is a total no no in my eyes. You need help and fast, immediate in fact and sods law will ensure that major prang will be at 04.00 on a Sunday morning.

    Having looked at as many options as I could without dying of utter boredom and I have concluded that only the CC and the C&CC offer what I am looking for without silly hidden clauses such as sizes, car breakdown/accident whilst the caravan is on site 100 miles away and both need recovering to different places etc etc.

    Neither are cheap but when you really need these services you just don't need any additional difficulties.

    I will keep an open mind for the future but at the moment it's one of the major clubs schemes and take the hit with the prices.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2017 #23

    It is my understanding that the two ladies in the office only handle membership matters and that calls for roadside assistance are addressed through the normal channels (Tel.: 0049 89222222) which are manned around the clock.

  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
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    edited February 2017 #24

    Of course the Office in Regensburg is only for joining, re newing Membership or any enquiries.  Lutz is right with the number to ring which is stated on the ADAC Handbook and on your Membership Card.

    The ADAC Plus or Partner Plus are the two levels of Cover to choose from if not resident in Germany.

    When we changed from a single axle caravan to a longer twin 11 years ago we had our breakdown insurance with Green Flag as soon as I contacted them re the 8 metre van they said they could not insure it as it was too long to fit in a Container.  But it is strange that if you take cover with CC or C&CC, who both use Green Flag, they can cover you for what I was quoted for over £350 for 2 months in Europe.  We found it a no brainier being covered for Breakdown inc full repatriation if necessary for Car and a Caravan up to 10 metres for what was then €90 Euros per Year including cover for all of Europe and the UK now €115.

    If you have to call ADAC when abroad first say Sprechen Sie  English and if the person answering the phone does not speak English they will hand you on to someone who does.

    There is a lot of extra cover provided not just car and caravan included in the Plus Membership such as Illness and much more AA RAC and Green Flag do not cover.

    There are many criticise ADAC without knowing the facts of their cover.  They do cover the caravan if not attached to car, we have used it, 

    You cannot compare a Breakdown Organisation with a Ferry Business they are offering a different service.  

    Dianne

     

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2017 #25
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  • DianneT
    DianneT Forum Participant Posts: 521
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    edited February 2017 #26

    Green Flag is the Organisation that Caravan Club use for RP.  That is the quote I got from Red Pennant in 2007 for two months. David. A no brainier for us. We pay €115 for Partner Plus for 12 months Europe inc UK and some Worldwide Cover included too. Have used them in Germany, Austria, France and the UK for Two different cars and Caravan.  Also includes for any car we are passengers in. Ours or anyone else's Reatives or Friends.

    Dianne 

  • Unknown
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    edited February 2017 #27
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  • ValDa
    ValDa Forum Participant Posts: 3,004
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    edited February 2017 #28

    As Diane says, ADAC cover is more comprehensive because it covers you for this country as well as in the whole of Europe for 365 days and also covers you as a passenger in any car . With Red Pennant you have to take out an extra policy to cover you for breakdown in this country.

    Obviously it's not the sort of cover for those who want everything covered with one phone call, but for many of us it offers cover we want, at a price we can afford and most of us who use ADAC will realise that we need to be able to at least introduce ourselves and ask if anyone speaks English.  If you break down on a French autoroute it's always best to have enough French to be able to ask if anyone speaks English because you have to use the autoroute phones to call for breakdown assistance rather than your mobile to your insurer.  To me this is not much different from calling a breakdown service which is quite used to speaking to non-German speakers in the event of a non-autoroute breakdown.  

    We used to be with Red Pennant years ago, but now we store our caravan in France it's no longer an option for us, so for us ADAC provides exactly what we want, and we'll deal with any perceived difficulties as and when they arrive.

     

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited February 2017 #29
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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #30

    Bearing in mind our ages and infirmities today's quote from Staysure just for for personal/medical cover for the two of us for 31 days in France is £177. Breakdown/recovery with another insurer would be extra. 

    The Red Pennant price for 31 days in France is £168 - and that includes breakdown/ recovery for car and caravan as well as personal/ medical cover. 

     For us Red Pennant is cheap.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #31

    It will be interesting to see if ADAC wish to continue with UK citizens after Brexit completed as their EU obligation won't apply.

    We found ADAC effecient and friendly but have found no further need for them as we now have enough cover through Nationwide account.

    Please remember that if wishing to leave ADAC you must comply with their T&C of giving 3 months written notice.