Disgraceful & dangerous

Drive 24/7 Breakdown Cover
★★★★☆
4.4
92.0% of users recommend this
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Scousewil's review of Drive 24/7 Breakdown Cover

“Disgraceful and dangerous”

★☆☆☆☆

written by Scousewil on 04/03/2015

Took this insurance out and broke down on my way to get a refurbished engine fitted by a specialist for a trip around Europe. No issues with the original engine whatsoever - had driven a few thousand miles previous with no issues.

On the way one of the engine hoses perished and water began pumping onto the hot engine causing massive amounts of steam to bellow out the engine compartment and the back lights went out.

After spending about half an hour trying to find the breakdown contact number on the website on my phone I eventually found it and spoke to a man who sounded like he was in a spare bedroom or something. He said he would send somebody and I received a phonecall from somebody else ten minutes later asking if I wanted 'a fix or a tow?'. As I was booked in at a garage to have an engine fitted the following morning I said that obviously I would rather a fix but failing that I'd need a tow.

40 minutes later a young man came out in a small white van. He clearly had no idea what he was doing and I would be very suprised if he has any mechanic credentials whatsoever - he even asked me where the engine is located (it's under the front seats in a Bedford Rascal). I asked him about the lights and he said all the bulbs must have gone. Totally ridiculous. I asked about the steam and he said it seemed that i had topped her up with too much water prior to setting off and it had come out of an overflow pipe. Then he suggested I stay in the back overnight and go in the morning instead - afterall I wouldn't need the lights during the day he said!

I asked for a tow and he laughed - the tow driver was out on the town that night - sorry mate. Oh and i need to go to the next job now. So i reluctantly got back in to attempt to drive home. He was behind me in the van when the same thing happened - steam bellowing from the engine and the temp gauge at maximum. He saw me and just drove past when i pulled over.

I rang 24-7 back and he told me that because I had asked for a 'tech van' (fix) and not a tow that was what I had received. Now I was ringing about the same problem again and so I would have to pay for the tow! When I tried to explain what had happened he accused me of trying to have one over on them - I must have had an underlying engine problem if I was going for a refurbished engine. I told him if that was the case I wouldn't have told them where I was going but it fell on deaf ears and I had to pay about £100 for a tow home, having been refused the onward travel i'd paid for.

This company is a disgrace. Truly disgusting. I can still hardly believe what happened. You get what you pay for tho. Don't expect any sort of service if you do breakdown - they will try and find any reason whatsoever to get out of giving you a tow or onward travel. They left me stranded on a cold night in a place I did not know.

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