Beardy wrote:I think anyone who can afford the technology can get a relatively accurate location from a mobile simply through triangulation of the signal from the mobile masts. Even without GPS, Google Maps on my Android phone gets my location within a few metres normally. All the major breakdown agencies will use this technology.
As for AutoAid, they look good on paper but I note that it is insurance and not upfront recovery. In other words YOU cough up for the breakdown costs upfront and then claim it back off them. I would want to read the t&cs on that before committing. If you ain't got the money at the time of the breakdown then you may be left high and dry (one would assume).
Beardy, there isn't any problem with 'AutoAid' being an insurance based outfit. Most of the breakdown outfits are, even if you don't know it, and many don't use their own people. Even the AA, RAC and Green Flag don't use all their own people. All of those are insurance based but with mostly their own guys. But, I've never yet had an AA or RAC man attend me for a breakdown even when I used them for my company cars and bikes. It was always Joe blogs down the road that attended and the service wasn't that good because they didn't have a proper contractor service policy.
All of our family and relatives use AutoAid, all our neighbours and friends use them to. If you don't have any money or means to pay you just tell them when you phone the emergency number and they will send an operative who will invoice you. It tells you this on their website. My bro in law's XJR developed a puncture in the rear wheel on the A12 which brought him to an abrupt stop. Within 20 minutes of making his emergency call an operative attended and trailered the bike to the tyre place of his choice. He was fixed and on the road again within an hour. He chose to pay there and then and the money was refunded to him by AutoAid in 4 days. They pride themselves on quick repayment. My sister used them last year and also had the same experience. Very quick and the operatives are very smart and can usually fix the car by the roadside. That's why they keep scoring so high on the 'Which Magazine' undercover tests making them the number 1 in the UK. At least they were when I last looked. If you go with them you won't regret it. No one I know has had any problem with them. I've been with them for over 10 year for one vehicle or another, but I've also been with the RAC and the AA for the new cars and bikes I've had simply because thats the deal you get from the manufacturer. Cost of the AA and RAC is prohibitive on the second year if you don't rant at them. Even then it's more than AutoAid.
