Breakdown Assistance

[rockjock620]

Green Flag/National Breakdown by far the best.

Myself, my wife, my son all on personal cover (i.e. covered when in any vehicle), home assistance, principal (named) vehicle has full continental cover included (and can be changed at any time) for the princely sum of around £150.

They use local service/recovery agents/garages (local to your vicinity at time of breakdown) and will take crash damaged bikes home, no bother. They will bring you fuel. Recover you if you have no spare wheel (in the car). They come if you have broken the key off in the lock. Or if you have a faulty alarm/immobiliser which stops you dead. Or you lose your keys. Or you call them out thrice on the way home from the airport, after a forthnight away, because your battery is knackered and when you stopped for fuel, then again for a pee, it wouldn't start. Never ever had a problem with them and been with them now for about 20 years. Top service.

[NedLudd]

Originally Posted by Si90

I have found that via Confused companies that I am up for renewal with actually quote cheaper than going direct. I have also found that it does benefit to sometimes call the company direct after getting the quote off Confused quoting the internet quote referance. I did that with the 748 last year and saved another £24 - I quickly emphasise only sometimes. My Opinion only, Carole Nash are far too expensive and so are Ducati and Bennets.

This is purely a general comment [since I don't know who you're with], but I'm always mystified that people - esp people who have shown their discernment and preparedness to pay a bit more for quality in buying a Ducati - typically go for the very cheapest insurance quote regardless. While some quotes are inflated, sure, I think that with insurance as with much else you get what you pay for, and that the very cheapest insurance companies are cheap for the simple reason that they're absolutely useless when you need to activate the service you've paid for. One reason I've generally been with Carole Nash is that I've heard good things about their claims processing [not true of Bennetts].

[dutchduke]

tried a couple of other companies but all came back with quotes in the same bracket as CN.Must be the flooding of 2007 we're paying for

So CN you got me for a other year

[Si90]

Originally Posted by NedLudd

This is purely a general comment [since I don't know who you're with], but I'm always mystified that people - esp people who have shown their discernment and preparedness to pay a bit more for quality in buying a Ducati - typically go for the very cheapest insurance quote regardless. While some quotes are inflated, sure, I think that with insurance as with much else you get what you pay for, and that the very cheapest insurance companies are cheap for the simple reason that they're absolutely useless when you need to activate the service you've paid for. One reason I've generally been with Carole Nash is that I've heard good things about their claims processing [not true of Bennetts].

I completely agree with your sentament. I never said that I always go with the cheapest quote regardless, as I take into consideration all factors one of which is customer service for which forums like this are a great help. I also read the policy first to check I am happy with it. I too beleive that you do get what you pay for but just because it is more expensive is no guarantee that its going to be a good service and just because one person is happy in no way does that guarantee that everyone will be. eg I am with British Gas who have a dreadful reputation for customer service yet for me they have been nothing less than excellent when I have required there breakdown service. I draw the line though when I have quotes ranging from £130 to £665 for the same cover and cannot find any logical reason for it. I will be honest and say I can't comment on the claims service of any insurer specifically as I haven't had to claim for anything yet but if I do and I get crap service I will let you know and no matter how cheap they get I won't use them again.

Lots of Insurance Comapnies are part of large groups so you actually could be with anybody. I have in the past phoned one company put the phone down, called another and been told they already have a quoted for me as they are part of the same company I had just spoken too.

Take this forum for example, how many threads are there complaining about the service and cost of Authorised Ducati Dealerships when it comes to servicing your beloved steed and yet someone will always come on with a contrasting experience!.

What I perhaps should have really said which is more relevent to the initial post is that to stay with an Insurer just because they give you breakdown cover especially if they are on the expensive sidemight not be the best approach. It might be worth considering other insurers who do not offer cover but paying there premiums could save you enough to buy cover directly with who you prefer - AA, RAC etc rather than who is forced upon you by the Insurer.

[NedLudd]

Agree with all of that Si.

Originally Posted by Si90

Lots of Insurance Comapnies are part of large groups so you actually could be with anybody. I have in the past phoned one company put the phone down, called another and been told they already have a quoted for me as they are part of the same company I had just spoken too.

Yes - striking that. And sometimes even sibling companies differ for some strategic reason. For car quotes I note that Privilege, DirectLine, and Tesco are all owned by RBS and use identical site software, but one gets wildly differing quotes from them.