Hi,

Hope someone out there can help. We purchased a Vectra in December 2005 and bought with it a RAC Warranty at an extra cost of £250. Since then we have had various repairs done on her our cost not a problem. However we have since found out that the car needs a new fuel tank due to the swirlpot being broken (I nearly said something else then) this is going to cost £437 + vat to replace. When we rang the RAC they said not their problem if it is not listed in the warranty then it is not covered. We have found that in fact the warranty is literally not worth the paper it is printed on with regards to what it covers.

My question is can we pursue the RAC more fervently because it doesn't list it in the warranty as not being covered. It lists everything else.

Regards:???:

Warranties generally aren't worth the paper they're printed on. A large company like RAC might bend if you complain strongly enough.

The warranty is probably provided by the finance company but branded or underwritten by RAC.

Do you have a link to an online version of the policy book by any chance? If so I'll have a look and see what the warranty is worth.

Is the £250 an annual premium or does it cover you for more than a year?

Was there any warranty provided by the seller? If so, how long?

OC

Hi.,

The warranty was for a 12 month period only.

It was to replace a warranty given by the garage we bought her from as they are 120 mile round trip.

There may be a copy of it on the website, I have never looked.

Thanks for your post.

I had an RAC 5 * gold warrantly, really worthless, paid £300 for it, and might as well flushed the money straight down the loo...

I had a Ball Joint develop Play (RAC said Wear and Tear) a Power Steering Rack that developed a leak (Wear and tear again) and a Rocker Cover Gasket leak (Not listed in warranty)

It was a 528 BMW, total cost of repair £1700, RAC would only eventually pay part after I threatened with court and then it was £515 as that was what they said the parts should cost!... the steering rack alone from BMW was £797 plus vat, I wanted the car back to what it was, it was a BMW rack before, then it should be one going in.

In the end gave up and took the £515 and paid the rest... hurt though...!

The warranty will be provided by Motorway Direct - see the thread here -

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-consumer-issues/37016-rac-extended-warranty.html

RAC Warranty is a trading style of the Motorway Direct PLC group of companies.

MOTORWAY DIRECT PLC

WARRANTY HOUSE

SAVILE STREET EAST

SHEFFIELD

SOUTH YORKSHIRE S4 7UQ

I have had some success in getting them to meet their obligations, but it is like getting blood from a stone. You have to knock down their objections one at a time - I think they hope you will go away. I am at the recorded letter stage in my dealing with them this time and have the support of my garage who are amazed at the treatment I am receiving.

I note that the RAC seem to have stopped using them. I have been offered a renewal under the "AA Warranty" brand. I am guessing the RAC got worried about negative publicity. They have gone downhill big time since being taken over.

Needless to say I will not be renewing. They will try all ways to wheedle out of their obligations. Each time they have made me pay the garage and reclaim, and have never reimbursed the full amount, leaving me out of pocket. If you see a document mentioning "Motorway Direct" from Sheffied - do not touch it.

I've got a court date in about 4 weeks with an after market warranty company, Warranty Direct, because they refused my fully valid claim on 3 different occasions for 3 different reasons!

The last reason was the all inclusive get out clause 'wear and tear,' but they were unaware at the time of making this excuse that the problem with the car was the same problem I had had just 7 months earlier and had all parts replaced brand new!!

This just proves, beyond doubt, that these companies use any excuse to not pay out however valid a claim is. It is just robbery.

The only good one I've heard of is the AA's which costs just £65. All the rest are just a waste of time.

I've got a court date in about 4 weeks with an after market warranty company, Warranty Direct, because they refused my fully valid claim on 3 different occasions for 3 different reasons!

 

The last reason was the all inclusive get out clause 'wear and tear,' but they were unaware at the time of making this excuse that the problem with the car was the same problem I had had just 7 months earlier and had all parts replaced brand new!!

 

This just proves, beyond doubt, that these companies use any excuse to not pay out however valid a claim is. It is just robbery.

 

The only good one I've heard of is the AA's which costs just £65. All the rest are just a waste of time.

Be careful - I have just been offered a renewal of the RAC Warranty that I am having trouble with - Provided now by (You've guessed it) Motorway Direct. The warranty was initially sold as Warranty Direct who I believe went bust.

Check whether your policy is a badged product from Motorway Direct, Warranty House. Sheffield. I'm not certain but I think it is all the same company.

Good luck with the case. I'll be interested to hear how it goes. They tried the "Wear and Tear" thing with me until I pointed out it was replaced 15000 miles ago with the manufacturers own parts so couldn't be "wear and tear".

Be careful - I have just been offered a renewal of the RAC Warranty that I am having trouble with - Provided now by (You've guessed it) Motorway Direct. The warranty was initially sold as Warranty Direct who I believe went bust.

 

Check whether your policy is a badged product from Motorway Direct, Warranty House. Sheffield. I'm not certain but I think it is all the same company.

 

Good luck with the case. I'll be interested to hear how it goes. They tried the "Wear and Tear" thing with me until I pointed out it was replaced 15000 miles ago with the manufacturers own parts so couldn't be "wear and tear".

Thanks for that.

Warranty Direct are based in Reading but I'm sueing the underwriters.

I'll post up the result of the hearing in a month or so.

It amazed me when they used the wear and tear clause when the parts were almost brand new! Bunch of clowns.

But it is true what everybody says-they will try anything to not pay but I've caught them red handed.

I’ve just tried to contact RAC Warranty using the tel numbers from the letter confirming my cover March 08. Not one of the numbers are live, claims line, customer service, H/O all dead numbers – Not to be beaten went on line and guess what? ‘page not found’

And, last week the cheeky sods tried to get me to renew, there and then, with fairly high pressure tactics – the sales guy couldn’t confirm if a the local Jag dealer or a local specialist were on his approved list if I needed to make a claim – when I asked him to go off and check he got shirty and asked ME to call RAC customer services and ask. When I told him where to go on that one, he agreed to go and find out himself and call me back – he didn’t.

Waste of money in my opinion!

Hi,

We purchased a Vectra in December 2005 and bought with it a RAC Warranty at an extra cost of £250.

The warranty was for a 12 month period only.

Forgive me if I am mistaken, but surely the warranty would have expired by now?

 

MOTORWAY DIRECT PLC

WARRANTY HOUSE

SAVILE STREET EAST

SHEFFIELD

SOUTH YORKSHIRE S4 7UQ

 

I note that the RAC seem to have stopped using them. I have been offered a renewal under the "AA Warranty" brand. I am guessing the RAC got worried about negative publicity. They have gone downhill big time since being taken over.

Actually, my understanding is that it was the other way round - when theywere awarded the AA Warranty franchise a couple of years ago. The name RAC Warranty is now licenced to a separate company called The Warranty Group.

no the car was still in warranty when the original post was made! This is from June 2006. A very old post

no the car was still in warranty when the original post was made! This is from June 2006. A very old post

Lol.............OK.........DOH!!

I got the major hard sell for the RAC warranty in 'thecarshop' when i bought a used car. The hard sell made me suspicious and they sprang it on me at the end - if it was any good they'd give youtime to think about it.

Sounds like I did right not to go for it

It is very interesting reading all the comments about the RAC Warranties and the complaints that have been made. All these complaints about unpaid claims go back prior to December 2007. Which was when the RAC changed suppliers of warranty services and underwriting.

Approximately 12 months prior to this date RAC and Motorway Direct who was the Administrator and underwriter parted company. The RAC were without a Warranty supplier for approximately 12 months.

All the complaints that we are reading about here are from warranties supplied by Motorway Direct.

Weird Al Yankovic states the only one worth having is the AA! Guess what!! who do you think supplies the AA! Correct! Motorway Direct.

Furthermore has any one noticed that there has not been any complaints about the current RAC Warranty Administrator/Underwriter The Warranty Group?

The only one is that the Car shop tried to sell them an RAC Warranty, well that is their job, although pressure selling is not a good thing you should be allowed to think about it!

Hi,

Hope someone out there can help. We purchased a Vectra in December 2005 and bought with it a RAC Warranty at an extra cost of £250. Since then we have had various repairs done on her our cost not a problem. However we have since found out that the car needs a new fuel tank due to the swirlpot being broken (I nearly said something else then) this is going to cost £437 + vat to replace. When we rang the RAC they said not their problem if it is not listed in the warranty then it is not covered. We have found that in fact the warranty is literally not worth the paper it is printed on with regards to what it covers.

My question is can we pursue the RAC more fervently because it doesn't list it in the warranty as not being covered. It lists everything else.

Regards:???:

I actually administrate the RAC warranties, and by the sounds of it, you didnt pick the highest level of cover, you perhaps have a Gold or lesser cover, with gold or lesser policies, you are only covered for what ever is listed in the policy booklet, if its in black and white, its covered, if not, the unfortunatly its not covered.

People always say its not worth the paper its written on...course it is, it just so happens you dont have the full level of cover due to either the age/mileage of the vehicle or the level of cover you have chosen yourself.

I actually administrate the RAC warranties, and by the sounds of it, you didnt pick the highest level of cover, you perhaps have a Gold or lesser cover, with gold or lesser policies, you are only covered for what ever is listed in the policy booklet, if its in black and white, its covered, if not, the unfortunatly its not covered.

 

People always say its not worth the paper its written on...course it is, it just so happens you dont have the full level of cover due to either the age/mileage of the vehicle or the level of cover you have chosen yourself.

Then it sounds to me like people are being 'mis-sold' RAC Warranties.

I actually administrate the RAC warranties, and by the sounds of it, you didnt pick the highest level of cover, you perhaps have a Gold or lesser cover, with gold or lesser policies, you are only covered for what ever is listed in the policy booklet, if its in black and white, its covered, if not, the unfortunatly its not covered.

 

People always say its not worth the paper its written on...course it is, it just so happens you dont have the full level of cover due to either the age/mileage of the vehicle or the level of cover you have chosen yourself.

So why is it that at lease 50% of claims are dismissed as wear and tear, and I'm not talking about brake pads and exhaust, but broken bearings etc; on low mileage cars?

They are a cheap and generally useless get out for dealers who 'sell' them knowing the buyers will forget about the soga.

So why is it that at lease 50% of claims are dismissed as wear and tear, and I'm not talking about brake pads and exhaust, but broken bearings etc; on low mileage cars?

 

They are a cheap and generally useless get out for dealers who 'sell' them knowing the buyers will forget about the soga.

Cuz if you're in the know.. a noisy bearing isnt a failed bearing, its actually worn, it doesnt matter on the mileage, if its noisy, singing, howling...its worn, wear and tear isnt covered by the warranty.

If the bearing suddenly collapsed (sudden and unforseen failure is what your warrantry protects you against) it would be covered.

You obviously havent read the t+c's

People always think that cuz they have a warranty, its covered. Dont forget it depends on the level of cover you have.

We get feedback once a month, and we actually pay out 80% of claims, so im guessing the 50% of wear and tear is 50% of the 20% of claims that are rejected. If its a valid claim we will pay, if not, we wont...simple;)

Then it sounds to me like people are being 'mis-sold' RAC Warranties.

If the policy has been mis-sold, you need to speak to the dealership that "mis-sold" the policy, its not really an issue with the RAC warranty is it.

Furthermore has any one noticed that there has not been any complaints about the current RAC Warranty Administrator/Underwriter The Warranty Group?

 

..

Cuz if you're in the know.. a noisy bearing isnt a failed bearing, its actually worn, it doesnt matter on the mileage, if its noisy, singing, howling...its worn, wear and tear isnt covered by the warranty.

 

If the bearing suddenly collapsed (sudden and unforseen failure is what your warrantry protects you against) it would be covered.

 

You obviously havent read the t+c's

 

People always think that cuz they have a warranty, its covered. Dont forget it depends on the level of cover you have.

 

We get feedback once a month, and we actually pay out 80% of claims, so im guessing the 50% of wear and tear is 50% of the 20% of claims that are rejected. If its a valid claim we will pay, if not, we wont...simple;)

Is a degree in Mechanical engineering and 40 years in the business enough in the 'know' ???

This isn't just about insurance issued with an RAC badge on it, it is about all these so called warranties.

I have personally challenged the 'so-called' inspectors that turn up on a number of occasions when they have put down 'wear and tear', and all of my challenges were successfull, which I put down to the letters after my name and them not being able to fob me off.

As you brought up bearings (and mileage does count), have a read of this post and the warranty companies denial of liability.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/garage-services/187794-gearbox-bearing-failure-warranty.html

...

Sorry, you are wrong. A bearing that is grumbling at 10k is not worn, it has suffered 'premature failure'.

If it is a taper roller then there might be some adjustment otherwise it has failed and should be replaced under warranty.

yeh...ok:rolleyes: