Adventures in France: A Motorhome Breakdown Saga - Green Flag Saviours

[PaulandAngie]

Is your Ford roadside recovery policy worthless?

I have recently broken down in Spain in my 10 month old Bailey Adamo ( Ford Chassis). Thankfully we were on a campsite and not on the roadside. I called the Ford roadside support number in my warranty pack and got through to the AA, their contractor. The AA said they only supported vehicles...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[JaG]

There's an awful lot of ambiguity out there relating to T&Cs . I'm with Ford Assist who state that they will only pick up vehicles less than 5.1m from memory and up to 3.5 tons which excluded all the Transit vans currently manufactured! I eventually received an email from their customer service confirming that they would relay my 7.4m motorhome at 3500kg if applicable. Its printed off and in the glove box. However, their T&Cs's remain unchanged. Ford Assist is run by the AA so just to complicate things even further, and they have different T&Cs hence my original query to yourselves. Not all call handlers clearly quote the T&Cs but some on here have been refused relay as a consequence.

It seems it is like a minefield. I am not saying anything to Green Flag until renewal time, then I will confirm what I currently have. You do right to keep it in the glovebox to quote getting you back.

 

[DerryW]

I am with Green Flag directly. My motorhome is 7.4m long, 3.05m high and 4,400kg, and it is fully covered for European Multi Travel. The fact that my motorhome is on its way home confirms the cover is valid. Strange that that they have quoted restrictions to you.

JaG
I don't for one minute disbelieve what you say. Its just strange that once GF informed me that my current policy was actually with Mayday via CMHC (even though this and many previous renewals have come from GF). Should I require European cover I would need to speak to Red Pennant (who I've used on many occasions) via CMHC, as GF's own cover is limited to 7mtr and 3.5t.

Like you say must have different offers if going through GF Retail.

 

[Gringo2]

My cover is with Comfort Insurance and the European cover was all included via Call Assist. They were brilliant in every area. All repatriation and additional transport costs paid out within 12 days of breakdown. Fantastic service from comfort and their associated breakdown assist.

 

[KD]

No, direct with Green Flag. Full European Cover and I think it was £134, or there abouts. Best value for money ever.

Breakdown Cover - 24/7 Assistance & Recovery - Green Flag

Expert breakdown cover, 24/7 help, all over the country. Get roadside assistance and national recovery for your car, motorbike, or electric vehicle.

www.greenflag.com

Am I missing something - just done a quote for our MH (which is just under 7m and 3.5t) which came out at only £89.35 inc their admin fee?

Based on what you've told us, your cover includes:

• Roadside assistance
• Unlimited callouts
• Cover at home
• National recovery
• Onward travel
• European cover

This is called Europlus

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[poppycamper]

Having seen your reply and having renewed with Green Flag only yesterday at £145 for premium cover UK only thought I'd give them a call today to find out why I do not have Full European Cover. What I actually have is, Mayday breakdown cover via CMHC with Green flag the approved service provider.

The difference between Mayday cover and Green Flag is, there are no limits with Mayday in terms of vehicle length and weight, were as the Green Flag cover is restricted to 7mtrs and 3.5 tonne.

So that cleared that little misunderstanding up.

Not quite as clear cut as that..
Yes CAMC Mayday have no Size or weight restrictions, unlike Green Flag...
However Mayday cover is not valid outside UK

 

[DerryW]

Not quite as clear cut as that..
Yes CAMC Mayday have no Size or weight restrictions, unlike Green Flag...
However Mayday cover is not valid outside UK

Correct. Outside UK it’s either Red Pennant (if going through CAMC) or ANother from the many companies mentioned on this posting.

 

[Ianbenny]

Am I missing something - just done a quote for our MH (which is just under 7m and 3.5t) which came out at only £89.35 inc their admin fee?

Based on what you've told us, your cover includes:

• Roadside assistance
• Unlimited callouts
• Cover at home
• National recovery
• Onward travel
• European cover

This is called Europlus

My MH came in at £202 for Europlus as its 10 years old I suspect. I am going to use Red Pennant for our trip to France for travel and breakdown ins.

I have gone with GF direct instead of Mayday this year, and have gone for personal cover UK only based on the car. It asks you what's the main vehicle even though you are buying personal cover I assume to work out the risk. It was £90 ish but I am covered in any vehicle so the MH is covered. I checked this via the chat box and saved the text. Mayday for the MH and car was £138 Premium UK cover

If I put the MH as the main vehicle, the price went up to £160.

The only stumbling block was the width restriction of 2.55m. My van is 2.1m but with the mirrors out is 2.6m and folded in approx 2.4m so OK there. Some of the cheaper breakdown cover has a 2.3m restriction including mirrors

 

[JaG]

Latest update this morning from Ontime Automotives:
Estimated Delivery Date - 19th June. They only received the job on 29th May. Breakdown date was 18th May.

 

[Fidge]

No, direct with Green Flag. Full European Cover and I think it was £134, or there abouts. Best value for money ever.

Breakdown Cover - 24/7 Assistance & Recovery - Green Flag

Expert breakdown cover, 24/7 help, all over the country. Get roadside assistance and national recovery for your car, motorbike, or electric vehicle.

www.greenflag.com

We too have green flag at home and didn't know they did European cover! Will certainly use it for our next trip, it sounds just what you need for peace of mind while abroad l.

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[JaG]

We too have green flag at home and didn't know they did European cover! Will certainly use it for our next trip, it sounds just what you need for peace of mind while abroad l.

It was perfect. Cannot fault either Uk or European Assist partners in France.
Motorhome arrived back two weeks aho on the longest transporter i have ever seen. Two on it. Professional company, Ontime Automotive.
I shall certainly be renewing especially as my motorhome is 7.4m and 4,400kg.

 

[Trappa]

Hello Guys
I'm with Comfort Insurance with full European cover which cost £82.00.
Can somebody clarify if my van breaks down in Spain or France with a major problem am I forced to get it repaired at the garage the insurance company suggest or can I insist on repatriation back to my home address at their expense.

 

[Gringo2]

Hello Guys
I'm with Comfort Insurance with full European cover which cost £82.00.
Can somebody clarify if my van breaks down in Spain or France with a major problem am I forced to get it repaired at the garage the insurance company suggest or can I insist on repatriation back to my home address at their expense.

I think it all revolves around price of repair, availability of parts, time delay for repair and the value of your MH. We were told by the Fiat dealer when our Comfortmatic threw a wobbly that the parts alone were €4000.00, labour would be another €2000.00 and the parts weren't available for at least 3 months. So repatriation it was. Home within a week and back on the road 2 weeks later. Its amazing how quick things can happen when you are in control. Think the moto here is get the repairing dealer to give you quote that is through the roof and push to get your vehicle home.

 

[Steve S@65]

Sound like green flag for us in the future

We had RAC through fiat assist in France , they were outrageous, got asked to leave 2 hotels as the bill hadn’t been paid , sent 2 taxis to pick us up but never told them where to take us (which hotel & airport) , sent 5 recovery trucks that were not capable of recovering us although they knew our size , must of phoned them 50 times as there was next to no communications , rarely phoned us back although they promised ,

They did eventually recover us , back wheels weren’t even on the truck

View attachment 902764

Did you rely on Fiat Assist subsequently or take out separate breakdown insurance?
I just bought my first new MH and considering whether to rely on Fiat Assist, which would also be included in an Extended warranty up to 5 years, or buy a separate breakdown policy.

 

[JaG]

Did you rely on Fiat Assist subsequently or take out separate breakdown insurance?
I just bought my first new MH and considering whether to rely on Fiat Assist, which would also be included in an Extended warranty up to 5 years, or buy a separate breakdown policy.

Our motorhome is 16 years old so used Green Flag

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[Scotch mist]

Did you rely on Fiat Assist subsequently or take out separate breakdown insurance?
I just bought my first new MH and considering whether to rely on Fiat Assist, which would also be included in an Extended warranty up to 5 years, or buy a separate breakdown policy.

No once the fiat’s warranty was out we never renewed with them , we took out breakdown along side our ( LV ) insurance

 

[CJK]

Due to mainly health and Insurance problems we decided to have one last trip across the water in Late April to Late May. It was our first time abroad in the motorhome, having previously done many trips with car/caravan.

After a month touring France, mostly in the rain, being towed off sites, finding several sites closed due to being waterlogged we decided to head back towards Le Shuttle five days earlier than planned. Having said that we did have nine days of sunshine on two super sites, one in Pont de l’Arche and the other at Bois Soliel, St George de Gironde.

A few days previous there was a sound of bearings starting to whine a little. Not enough to be concerned about but something to get checked out once home. It sounded like either the belt tensioner or water pump.

We were 150km from Calais on the A28 for an easy drive to Calais Eurotunnel when…the low sound whining stopped, battery light came on and within a minute the temperature started rising. As luck would have it there was an exit 2km away. At 1km the temperature gauge was hitting the ‘Hot’. We made it off the motorway and again as luck would have it, there was a pull in half way around the roundabout to a farmhouse. How lucky was that!

Lifted the bonnet, left a few minutes to cool down a bit and poured a gallon of water I carry via the expansion tank. It all instantly came out of the bottom, presumably the water pump bearings had disintegrated, As the engine has casing above and below there was no way of checking.

Pressed the RESCUE ME button on the Green Flag app on the phone. They answered within 30 seconds and said their French Counterpart would ring me, which they did in five minutes. Perfect English was spoken and I was assured a Recovery Vehicle would be with us within 45 minutes. In fact, it was there in under 20 minutes. Naturally the driver spoke no English and loaded the motorhome on the lorry within a few minutes. Now, here was a challenge…getting Jean and Benji the dog up into the high cab with four steps. Jean now refers to the lorry as her new Climbing Frame, lol. He also had his two Terrier dogs with him, which Benji decided to bare his teeth at them. They just sat there looking at him, having taken notice of his warning.

We were driven down several miles of narrow country lanes in the middle of rural France to the recovery vehicle’s yard, unloaded and parked up in a quiet location amongst all the wrecked cars. I say quiet location…it was all quiet as it was a Saturday, Bank Holiday weekend and not a soul about. The recovery vehicle disappeared and we had no idea what was happening next.

About thirty minutes later the French Green Flag Counterpart rang to say there was nothing they could do to get us home until Tuesday as everything was shut down in France until then. Looking on the map the nearest shop was five miles. We were just surrounded by Hamlets. Green Flag France gave us the option of being picked up and taken to a local French Hotel for the weekend. As we had Benji and spoke no French we decided to stay with the motorhome. After all, we had a safe location, food, drink, bed, heating, etc. It was a no brainer. The only disturbance we had was the occasional pony passing through and recovery vehicles bringing in damaged vehicles.

Green Flag France rang us each day to make sure we were OK and discuss options that suited us. We decided there was not a lot of options. Jean had another five days of medications, Benji’s AHC ran out on Wednesday as he had had his worming pill on the Friday and, our Le Shuttle was a non starter for the Sunday. Le Shuttle were brilliant, refunding all of our £268 paid for our return.

We had a pleasant Bank Holiday weekend, the Sun shone, the wine and beer was chilled. On the Monday we made a special booking as foot passengers with DFDS. Special because it is the only European Port that will take Walk On Passengers with a Dog. It has to be done by phone and we had to wait until Monday as they are closed on the weekend.

Once the booking was confirmed we phoned Green Flag, France and they organised a brand new Mercedes Taxi for the Tuesday morning at 0800hrs to take us the 40km to Dieppe Ferry Port for the 1200hrs crossing. Green Flag UK also organised a Hire Car to be waiting at Newhaven when we docked for us to get home via Enterprise Car Rental. We only had to return it to our local Enterprise Car Rental two miles away from home. Green Flag UK said they would refund the Ferry Crossing.

DFDS were brilliant too. They escorted Jean in her wheelchair to Deck 3 while I took Benji to Deck 4 to put him in the cage supplied. Certainly not an ideal situation by any means as Benji was left on the deck between the cars, all alone for five hours. There was no choice and we are still helping him get over the ‘being left alone’ at home. When we docked at Newhaven the whole ship was put on hold until Jean had been taken off down the ramp. Unfortunately, it took 45 minutes to get her off because a porter put her in a lift and left her. She was going up and down all the levels and the staff we chasing up and down trying to find her. So funny at the time. All ended well though.

Our journey from Newhaven to home took six hours, travelling the M25 at tea time and the horrendous weather conditions. Who cares, we all got home safe, in four days from breaking down, all thanks to Green Flag.

The repatriation process has begun and our motorhome is expected back at our local garage in the next week or so. Even that is a professional company, ONTIME AUTOMOTIVES who specialize in vehicle repatriation in closed vehicles. I think by the time it returns the dirty washing will be walking out on its own, the left over food will have left and all of our clothes will be in the wrong season.

So in our book GREEN FLAG deserves a terrific pat on the back for their superb service to us. Thank You Green Flag. We will be eternally grateful to you.

Extraordinary story and, despite the difficulties, very reassuring. Glad you’re all home safe.

 

[Hymerboy]

Just read Green Flag European cover, no one seems to mention that they only cover vans up to 10 years old.

 

[GeoffnDee]

Hymerboy , That is Strange as JaG said his Motorhome is 16 years old ?

 

[JaG]

Hymerboy , That is Strange as JaG said his Motorhome is 16 years old ?

That is correct. Obviously they do cover over 10 years old. As you say, mine is 16 years old.
Having said that I was lucky as I did not realise they only cover up to 3.5 ton, 3m high and 7m. Mine is over all these but they honoured the cover and did bring me home.
At renewal two weeks later they changed me over to Mayday, which is owned by Green Flag at only £10 for UK cover more with no restrictions on weight, length or height, though they do not cover Europe. Nit a problem as we don't intend to go again but if we did, we would cover via our Comfort insurance.

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[GAVLAD]

Glad they looked after you.
I'm with Green Flag (Premium via CAMC - covers all vehicles in household) but only problem is they don't cover European trips unless you buy the Red Pennant cover based on your trip - it's not included within the annual fee or there's no supplement to add it for an annual cover.
This makes it expensive to have to buy for your trip.
I therefore pay the supplement on my motorhome insurance for european breakdown as it works out cheaper - although probably getting UK cover twice.