VW assist

[Meoncoast]

Can I ask what members are doing re "breakdown cover" once AA assist runs out. What is VW offering I understand it is now via AA, how does it match to full AA membership in cost.
(I guess the advantage is the dedicated VW tec's have a better understanding of the Cali)

 

[Bramco]

Whatever you do don't pay full price. Always go through a cash back site, e.g. topcashback.

They currently have £43 cash back on any RAC breakdown cover between £50 and £100. When our van was delivered in November I rearranged the cover on the other vehicles and made over £50 cash back. Likewise with insurance. £21 cash back on LV. Which for a Beach was the best deal around.

You have to wait a while for it to get paid out but when it is it's another great excuse for a night out!

 

[teeboy]

I am with Bramco. My van is still under VW warranty and therefore VW assist, but on my other car I just alternate between RAC and AA on an annual basis, using Quidco to get a few quid back each time.

I think the VW assist cover is equivalent to a high level of AA cover as it includes home start, relay and European cover, but they are the sort of packages that get loads of cashback on Quidco.

Last time I cancelled RAC and converted to AA, I spoke to the RAC call centre to cancel and pretty much convinced them to use AA with Quidco - I think I got a years basic cover for less than £10 after cashback.

T

 

[Meoncoast]

Thanks for that, I was hoping for some info on the year 3 + on what VW assist cost and offered compaired to AA RAC or green flag. Anyone extended their AA assist, did they contsct you at the end of your 3 year free cover?

 

[teeboy]

If VW commercial work like VW cars then at the end of the warranty you will get attacked on two fronts.

VW/AA will try to extend your breakdown cover - this will be VW branded AA cover which is a pretty good package and includes European breakdown. They will talk about specialist VW experts, but I believe this is marketing hogwash - if you breakdown then you will get the nearest AA man deployed to you. I guess the AA men will all get VW training, but they will also get Ford, BMW.... training. So get that price and then compare with the best AA price via AA direct and I believe you will get the same cover level.

At the same time you will also get encouraged to extend your VW warranty (this will also include the AA cover described above) - generally this is considered to be expensive and not as comprehensive as the original 3 year warranty. From memory I think people have been quoted £1000 per year - do a search on warranty it has been discussed in some length on here.

T

 

[HistoryBob]

I always reassured when the RAC guy arrives in the same basic vehicle as mine. If there's one vehicle he will know inside out it will be his own. Of course I have yet to call on the AA.

 

[teeboy]

I always reassured when the RAC guy arrives in the same basic vehicle as mine. If there's one vehicle he will know inside out it will be his own. Of course I have yet to call on the AA.

Not sure how often they see 180 engines. I called the RAC when I came back from France when I first got the van. He fixed it dead quick (in fact I could have fixed it if I had bothered to look under the bonnet!), but he then spent the next 30 mins looking around the engine looking for the EGR valve, Turbos and certain sensors.

Nice bloke - I just think that RAC/AA people are just good general mechanics, who these days can also use a computer to read codes.

 

[SimonB]

Just reopening this thread from 2015 as I couldn't find a newer one. My Cali is coming up to 3 years old and I had a card from VW Assist asking if I wanted to renew my subscription. I tried to do it on line, but a notification came up to say that this type of vehicle has to be processed on the phone.
I was then offered an extension of 1 year manually renewed each year for £155 each year or 2 years automatically renewed for £165 for the 2 years.
VW Assist but operated by the AA with VW trained staff. I have only had to use them once in the last 3 years and was impressed how the issue was resolved.
I asked if there is notification sent out at the end of each contract period and was told there was, I think it was 4 weeks for the manually extended contract and I think 2 weeks notice for the end of the 2 year contract. Cover is all of the UK & Europe and stays with the vehicle if you sell it.

 

[Meoncoast]

I concur @SimonB We renewed for 2 years on the 3rd birthday of our van. On a positive note, VW Assist also gets priority bookings at dealers if you have a breakdown. Often a lot quicker than if you phone up yourself and get the answer we can not fit you in for 3 weeks VW assist can come in really helpful.

 

[SimonB]

I concur @SimonB We renewed for 2 years on the 3rd birthday of our van. On a positive note, VW Assist also gets priority bookings at dealers if you have a breakdown. Often a lot quicker than if you phone up yourself and get the answer we can not fit you in for 3 weeks VW assist can come in really helpful.

When I had my "Cali problem" it was oil leaking into the cooling system which was pretty uncommon and on New Years Eve when there were less staff on duty. The first AA mechanic diagnosed it and got onto a WhatsApp group of the AA team on duty to see if it was a known issue and found a few of them on duty were aware of this issue on the T6. I was impressed how they all worked together and how social media made the rapid sharing of knowledge easier. They took my Cali in on the 2nd of Jan and it went straight to the front of the queue and was ready for collection by mid day on the 3rd.
For £82 a year (£165 for 2 years) the cover seems good value, especially compared to the £155 for one year option.

 

[Moakesy]

I have AA 'gold' cover, which covers me, the wife and our two (adult) kids. I subsequently found out I still had VW Assist on the Cali as well.

I broke down in France on New Years Day this year. I called the AA number first, only to be told that although I was Gold member, it didn't cover Europe!! I complained mightily, as I paid over £400 for the cover, and they said they would cover me as a gesture of goodwill. It would be recovery to a garage only, no onward travel etc etc.

As I sat and waited, I went to the manual and found the VW Assist note. Worth a shot I thought, so called the number. Believe it or not, the exact same woman answered the phone, after explaining the situation, it turns out VW Assist offered the full recovery, overnight stay etc etc cover. She swapped my call on the VW Assist cover there and then. I was very impressed with her.

As it turns out, the issue was fixed at the roadside in less than an hour anyway. However, I learned a few things....

1) After the first year, the AA are robbing little so and so's. I paid top dollar believing me and the family were covered for every eventuality. When (as I did) you go from top end personal cover to family cover, they remove European cover plus some other stuff. At no point is this made clear to you.
2) VW Assist is actually very good cover.
3) The same company deals with you regardless, so go by price / level of service

I'm not going to renew the AA membership this year. It's far too expensive. I've been having a look at AutoAid instead. Seems to represent much better value and is recommended on the MoneySavingExpert website.

 

[SimonB]

@Moakesy - when I spoke to VW Assist I got the impression that it would continue on after 5 years if I wanted it to. I didn't enquire further as I'm still in the end of my first 3 years cover and have paid for the next 2 years in advance.
The cover seems more comprehensive than the RAC cover that I have on the family car and cheaper too. Might be worth giving VW Assist a call and seeing what they can offer.

Simon

 

[Moakesy]

@Moakesy -
The cover seems more comprehensive than the RAC cover that I have on the family car and cheaper too. Might be worth giving VW Assist a call and seeing what they can offer.

Simon

Good point....I'll do that. Thanks

When I brake down I don't want to find that I'm not covered for this or that. Saving £50 or whatever seems nothing when you are standing on the side of the motorway with cars wizzing past.

Given that VW Assist seems like it covers everything, it's definitely worth a call. I think it runs out in November, so I'll call them then.

 

[SimonB]

@Moakesy - Here is a copy of the reminder card they sent me and also what the Policy covers and also what it doesn't.
Hope this helps Simon