CC Mayday or C&CC Relay Breakdown Cover?

EasyT
EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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edited October 2017 in Club Products & Services #1

I posted this in response to a poster on another forum who said that he Chose Relay over Mayday as it was cheaper because there were two drivers and 3 cars.

With Mayday I pay £134.50 for both me and OH any vehicle as driver or passenger, £100 each hotel accommodation if needed or free hire car home. homestart, rescue from mud or snow (no extras) chauffeur if I am incapacitated. My cover level is premium plus additional personal cover. 

Relay shows as £135 without homestart or car hire/hotel provision if I add homestart then Relay is £186! If I want hotel/ hire car as well then £225. Am I missing something? Do Relay really want £90 more for my level of cover. I have just joined C&CC but will definitely stick with Mayday rather than Relay 

In February I had a front coil spring snap and rip through the tyre. We were recovered home and I arranged for Mayday to collect car from home a few days later and deliver to my garage. All part of the service. I presume that Relay does the same? 

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Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #2

    I only pay £47 direct to  Green Flag for their full fat UK Recovery Plus service - including road side recovery, home start, onward travel, car hire, hotel accommodation or transport home, and all that. It strikes me that both clubs are charging inflated prices for insurance booked with them. 

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
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    edited October 2017 #3

    Mayday cover provides additional cover to Greenflag.

    For example my caravan is too long for GreenFlag but is covered by Mayday.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited October 2017 #4

    ET the C&CC cover is "Arrival" not "Relay" I used to take out Mayday but for the last three years I have used "Arrival" mainly because there is the option to extend the cover for the whole of the EU for an additional £89 per year. With my own medical insurance I find this far cheaper than using Red Penant. The cover is also for the whole year not just one trip and excluding pets, the cover is roughly the same. I have called on Mayday, RP and Arrival  for minor problems and all have provided a good service.

    peedee

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #5

    I meant Arrival PD ..... my age you know!!

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #6

    Earlier this year joining RAC Arrival included free membership of C&CC for a year. Don't know if that still applies.

    Also, the RAC are very amenable to negotiating premiums if you ring them. Are Greenflag? I actually paid less than you, Easy, for that same level of cover with Arrival.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #7

    No idea about greenflag.I was with RAC about 15 years ago and they would reduce costs to get business then.

     

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #8

    Have you never queried your renewal premium with Greenflag/Mayday, Easy?

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #9

    Our European and UK breakdown cover is FREE with our Nationwide current account. Any vehicle either of us is traveling in is covered.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #10

    Earlier this year joining RAC Arrival included free membership of C&CC for a year. Don't know if that still applies.

    No longer available TW

    Never queried the charge TW as I have always considered it reasonable. 

    I actually paid less than you, Easy, for that same level of cover with Arrival.

    I would pay less TW if I did not have a caravan to consider. 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #11

    We use RAC, have stuck with them and have negotiated reasonable rates.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2017 #12
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  • daveinsuffolk
    daveinsuffolk Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited November 2017 #13

    We also use Green Flag direct and it includes home call and European cover. I think both clubs charge too much and exclude European cover - they just want the significant extra income using Red Pennant or equivalent. Like all insurance you have to make a judgement on the cover you really want and I am afraid the extras offered by Mayday and Arrival are not required (or not cost justified) by all members.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #14

    I’ve just seen this, Easy. 

    Arrival is personal based cover, not vehicle based, and I pay the same now for two of us as I did when we towed a caravan. The number or type of vehicles has no bearing on the premium and they have never asked what vehicles we own.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2017 #15

    When I get a quote for same level of cover (basically the full package) it comes back at £225 with Arrival as my original post TW.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2017 #16
  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #17

    Guess it’s my haggling skills, Easy. laughing

  • Lew Jack
    Lew Jack Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited November 2017 #18

    Hi to all caravanners who tow with their Motability vehicle. I am a disabled driver and lease my car through Motability. As you all know, our Motability vehicles are covered for 'full' breakdown service at or away from home & recovery by the RAC. Quite correctly & reasonably, our caravans are covered at our own additional expense.

    Since January 2016 when I started towing, my caravan has been covered for breakdown as an additional & paid for 'upgrade' to the RAC Motability Cover Scheme. However, on Saturday 11/11/17, I received a letter from RAC advising that this Caravan Breakdown upgrade has been withdrawn from service and will not be renewed in January 2017. Our normal Motability breakdown cover is not affected by this change

    "All is not lost" said the letter. We can provide specialist caravan breakdown cover with ARRIVAL, exclusively for members of our partners at The Camping & Cavanning Club. The RAC website states: If you are not a member of the C & C Club you will get free membership for one year. If you are not a member, you will receive C & C Club vouchers to the value of £40.

    I joined The Caravan & Motorhome Club last year out of choice and based on considerable research and advise from readers like you and from caravanning friends. My choice was well made if the sites I have visited throughout the Spring & Summer were anything to go by.

    My problem now is what to do? Green Flag through the CAMC are the least expensive by a long way but if, whilst towing, my car breaks down, I must comply with Motability Scheme rules and call out RAC. If a repair cannot be affected roadside, RAC will tow my vehicle & caravan (up to a max length 7.0m) to a destination of my choice. As my caravan (Bailey Unicorn 3 Cadiz) is 7.37m long, I will need to pay for this service.

    Unless any fellow disabled Motability users know of any alternative, I fear I have no choice but to additionally join The C & C Club in order to be adequately covered for breakdown. My apologies in advance for this lengthy post - but brevity would not have permitted a detailed explanation. Additionally, it may answer questions that I know many of you may want answering. Regards.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #19

    It would be a no brainer for me. Take up the Arrival plan and have a free year with C&CC. Then next year when RAC send through the renewal, ring them, moan about the cost and negotiate a better deal.

    Even if your haggling fails, what price peace of mind and ease of recovery if you need it?

  • PATMAU
    PATMAU Forum Participant Posts: 250
    edited November 2017 #20

    We have the RAC Arrival through the C&CC because it is the only recovery service that reunite you with your caravan should you breakdown with away from your site and the car cannot be fixed locally.  So they will recover your car, take you back to the site to recover the caravan and relay you home. 

    If anyone know of any other service that does this, let me know, 'cos it is expensive.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #21

    Do you ring them and haggle a new price when your renewal notice comes through, Patmau? If not, give it a try.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2017 #22

    I presume you read the original post Patmau? 

  • PhilHeller
    PhilHeller Forum Participant Posts: 267
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    edited November 2017 #23

    Having been very happy with my Mayday cover for the last umpteen years and the price not having risen overly much I have not compared it with other cover for a long time. When I first took it out, RAC, AA etc would only recover your car but not your van, I presume Arrival is their extension to cover caravans at extra cost?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2017 #24

    Arrival is for C&CC members. My findings are that it is considerably dearer than Mayday - as laid out in OP. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #25

    As we have already said, Easy, I get Arrival for slightly less than you pay Mayday.

    For, Lewisjack, I think Arrival is the sensible way to go.

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2017 #26

    Aye but we did put it down to your haggling Skills I thought and not their advertised price. Also depends if C&CC member. 

    It sounds as if for LewisJack it is the only real option

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited November 2017 #27
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  • Lew Jack
    Lew Jack Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited November 2017 #28

    Thank you for your comments guys. They have been useful. Just one more point for clarification: RAC Arrival are saying my caravan length of 7.37m is in excess of their length for recovery under their policy. Their policy states 7.0m max. Green Flag state 7.0m max (not including hitch & tow ball). Mayday state No maximum. Any final comments would be useful. Sorry for being a pest. Regards

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited November 2017 #29

    From C&CC Website LJ smile

     

    Arrival provides Club members with all the benefits of standard RAC breakdown cover plus specialist cover for your towed vehicle.  So, whether you're driving every day or on your holiday, you'll have all the breakdown protection you need for your car, caravan or trailer.


    Special Offer - join today and you'll receive a FREE £15 Club Voucher^ that you can spend on a range of Club products, such as UK Club Sites, Club membership or the Club's Travel Service.


    Special benefits for caravans, trailer tents and trailers include:

     

    Caravan breakdown recovery on any UK campsite.
    Cover for large units over 7.6 metres (25ft) in length or 2.3 metres (7 ft 6 in) in width.
    If your caravan cannot be towed and requires recovery on a flatbed truck, RAC will recover it at no additional charge*.
    Arrival Return so if you suffer a car or caravan breakdown on the way to a campsite and RAC can’t repair you at the roadside or at a local garage within a reasonable amount of time, they will take you, your car and caravan to the site and back home again*
    Follow on Recovery, so we can take your caravan to a second location of your choice (within a 75-mile radius)*
    A Re-Unite service so if you are away from your campsite when your car breaks down, RAC will take you back to the site within a 75-mile radius to collect your caravan before getting you home*.
    Optional European caravan breakdown cover with no supplements (for cars or caravans)
    Personal breakdown cover, so you will be covered as a driver or passenger in any vehicle, whether you are towing or not.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2017 #30

    Agreed. Arrival has no size or weight restriction.

    They carried a previous MH of ours that was over 25ft long and weighed 4.25t. However, not all their patrolmen are aware of Arrival and may have to take advice from their control centre.

    I suspect the shorter length quoted by RAC is the max under their ordinary cover. Arrival is more or less a commercial recovery scheme.

  • PATMAU
    PATMAU Forum Participant Posts: 250
    edited November 2017 #31

    It renewed in September, but will do next year certainly.