GEM Motoring Assistance.

[Old Peter]

Good morning on what I hope will be a Sunny Sunday,

 

I have had three less than satisfactory issues with my current breakdown provider, with the last one telling me that he didn't know anything about modern cars.

 

I have been looking around the various providers and came across the above.  Apparently it used to be called The Guild of Experienced Motorists and was started in 1932.

 

I was wondering if anyone has experience of this company and would like to give me an opinion.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[knightsmith]

Peter,

               I will be doing the same thing in February next year, so keep me updated please, who are you with now so I can  avoid them if you're not happy with them? I was thinking of going with the RAC.

 

I would have liked to stop with Jaguar Assistance , but they don't do it separately , only if you extend the warranty, and they want £1200 for that!, so obvioulsy i'll be looking round also.

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[knightsmith]

Peter,

 

Here is a link for the company you were on about .

 

http://www.motoringassist.com/?gclid=CPSplInGlr0CFTCWtAodJF4AGA

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[Old Peter]

Morning, Trevor,

 

I am currently with Britannia Rescue, which is now owned by LV=Frizzell, but used to be the Breakdown Service owned by the Civil Service Motoring Association  --  I had for 17 years a part time appointment with a Government Body which classified me as a Civil Servant.  They tend to used local mechanics and guarantee to be with you in an hour, which is of less importance than being able to fix the problem.  The last time I used them was when the electronic handbrake of my S Type stuck and the mechanic who came said he knew nothing about modern cars and towing an automatic would present a problem.  The problem was solved by my daughter's partner who googled it on his mobile phone.

 

GEM seems a touch cheaper than RAC, with who I also was considering joining when Britannia runs out in May --  they have a discounted offer on till the end of April, and being a Lancastrian, I always look for the best deal on both quality and cost.

 

I will let you know of any experiences I have.

 

Regards, 

 

Peter.

[knightsmith]

Peter,

                Might seem a silly question , but on the GEM site, what is the difference between their single person cover and two people cover , do they mean drivers, or would single person cover myself and the wife as it's only me that drives ?

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[Old Peter]

Hi Trevor,

 

Having read the whole GEM site and comparatives, some Breakdown services cover the car and some the driver/s.  If your wife does not do any driving then the single person would be suitable for you, unless she is an occasional driver, like my wife.

 

I have watched the video, and they cover whatever car the named driver is driving, and you do not need to register the car when you change it, are driving or indeed are a passenger in someone else's car, or driving a hire car.

 

GEM also topped the survey that one of the motoring magazines did, so seems OK to me.

 

Ideally, I never want to use a Breakdown Service, as I don't want to break down.

 

Regards,

 

Peter.

[knightsmith]

Peter,

 

 I agree, the only time I have ever broken down was in Andover in a hire car 28 years ago. The AA came out, towed us home, and the following day, the wife gave birth to my youngest .We resisted the temptation to name her " AA" but must admit we were tempted by " Andover".

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[Old Peter]

I have locked myself out of my car on three occasions.

 

The most embarrassing was when I locked myself out in that very hot summer of 1976 in Sheffield and then the following day in Leeds.  It was the same AA Patrol man who came on both occasions!

 

Peter.

[msmicksmith]

We used to be with the AA but after they 'rewarded' our loyalty after several years membership by nearly tripling ore membership fees, we jumped ship to the RAC. Having used them now twice, once as a passenger in a friends car who's battery died in a layby on the A50, and on my previous car which destroyed its turbocharger, I have to say they were exceptional on both occasions

[Old Peter]

At the moment it is between GEM and the RAC.  

 

The recent Auto Express survey and which has named GEM as the best service provider with the RAC well above the AA.

[msmicksmith]

I suppose one factor is what you need from the service. I only need roadside assist/recovery to home so I don't need pay any extra for home help etc. That saves us a bit of money and in the case of both the AA and the RAC I've no real complaints about the actual service, but it's a competitive market and if the service isn't priced competitively.............