Mayday and Caravan Storage

Stato replied on 16/01/2019 14:57

Stato

Posted on 16/01/2019 14:57

Hi,

This is just a heads up for people who have Mayday breakdown cover and store their caravan at a storage site.

In my naivety, I always assumed that in the event of any issues with my car Mayday would pick me up, drop off my caravan at our storage site, which is about six miles from my home, and then take my car back to my home address, or a local garage. It turns out that this is not the case. Apparently they will take my car and van to my caravan storage site and then leave me there to my own devices. Alternatively, they will take me to my home address and then leave both my car and van there (not an option for me as the van won't fit on my drive}. The choice is yours, it's either one or the other.

This only came to light last year when one of our centre members had to use Mayday, and both their broken down car and caravan where deposited at their storage site. They then had to arrange for a garage to recover the car to their home address. On contacting the Caravan Club after the event they were given sympathy but told sorry, those are the conditions of Mayday membership.

I have to say I am a little disappointed with the Caravan Club and Mayday. I pay over £100 a year for their breakdown cover and it does seem a bit poor that onward recovery, especially where it is fairly local, is not provided. Does anybody know how Arrival or Britannia Rescue would deal with this situation?

Anyway, the main point of this post is just to highlight this issue for Club members who store their caravans at a storage site. Fortunately I've never had to use Mayday's services, and yes, I have been naive in not reading the small print. Apparently it's on page 6 of the policy document!

Happy caravanning.

228 replies

Surfer replied on 31/01/2019 08:52

Member

Surfer

Caravanner

Posted on 30/01/2019 21:13 by clarinetman

Thanks for the clarification but as some have said it is different to what I thought I was covered for, also the comments regarding the possibility of a gesture of goodwill may be applied is not satisfactory, I don’t pay for a service that depends on a gesture of goodwill being applied.

It reminds me of the only occasion in 10 years I needed to use Mayday and the arguments to get the car taken to a dealership 14 miles from the site, us two and our dogs back to the site, when you are 250 miles from home you don’t always know where the nearest dealership is who is prepared to do a repair under warranty so we asked to be taken back to our site so I could find a dealership to sort the car out, they recovered us to the site but then refused to take the car the next day the 14 miles to the dealership.

It was only when I said the option was to recover car and caravan 250 miles back home after our holiday that they agreed to pick the car up and take it for repair the following day

The breakdown vehicle they sent to recover us back to our site was the filthiest I have seen, inside far worse than outside and yet he refused to take our two dogs, he did agree as a “favour” to take them, I don’t want to have to rely on a favour thank you.

I am another who will re-evaluate my membership to Mayday recovery.

Posted on 31/01/2019 08:52

Most people would have a car full of gear that needs to be off loaded with the caravan. Would the operative want to wait while you are off loading? What happens if it is a weekend when the garage is closed?

replied on 31/01/2019 09:32

Posted on 31/01/2019 09:32

So what happens currently if the vehicle breaks down and is taken with caravan to caravan storage however the vehicle cannot be left at the garage as the garage is closed for the weekend or Bank holiday? Would they then take the vehicle home and collect the next day to take to the garage?

When I had a front coil spring snap and shred the tyre I was recovered home and collected and taken to my garage about 4 days later when I was able to book for the work. Recovery vehicle was booked for 8am. Admittedly it did not arrive until 10am as the vehicle was on another breakdown and I was totally happy with the service given

replied on 31/01/2019 09:50

Posted on 31/01/2019 08:52 by Surfer

Most people would have a car full of gear that needs to be off loaded with the caravan. Would the operative want to wait while you are off loading? What happens if it is a weekend when the garage is closed?

Posted on 31/01/2019 09:50

In the touring season our car is packed for touring and remains that way

Metheven replied on 31/01/2019 09:54

Member

Metheven

Caravanner

Posted on 31/01/2019 09:54

Basically I am not happy to argue the toss with the driver if I am in that situation, I would gladly pay an additional fee (small) to ensure both my vehicles are where I want them at the end of the day.

GTP replied on 31/01/2019 10:45

Member

GTP

Caravanner

Posted on 31/01/2019 08:52 by Surfer

Most people would have a car full of gear that needs to be off loaded with the caravan. Would the operative want to wait while you are off loading? What happens if it is a weekend when the garage is closed?

Posted on 31/01/2019 10:45

Ditto...and a timely reminder about the 'Pro's / Cons' of 'auto renewal' as I have just been informed by the OH that we have just 'auto' renewed our Mayday...

Fortunately the senior partner also advises me that we are covered a further three ways for vehicle breakdown/recovery with our Bank, Vehicle Insurance Policy and the Pan European cover which comes with the car..

Just noticed this has been brought up on the other club forum...asking if the RAC's Arrival scheme operate any different. I have 12 days left to cancel....

Metheven replied on 31/01/2019 10:53

Member

Metheven

Caravanner

Posted on 31/01/2019 10:53

I also have a car in warranty and breakdown is also included so short term it doesn't bother me, if the unfortunate did happen then I would use both breakdown services, caravan to storage with Mayday and car from storage to home or garage with the other.

Surfer replied on 31/01/2019 12:54

Member

Surfer

Caravanner

Posted on 31/01/2019 10:53 by Metheven

I also have a car in warranty and breakdown is also included so short term it doesn't bother me, if the unfortunate did happen then I would use both breakdown services, caravan to storage with Mayday and car from storage to home or garage with the other.

Posted on 31/01/2019 12:54

However the question still remains as to what happens if it is a Bank Holiday or a weekend when the garage is closed?

We have a service contract for which we are paying with our Jeep dealership which is approximately 60 miles from our home. There is another Jeep dealership closer, but I would not trust them with our grandchild's pedal car.

As it seems many of us have been paying extra for a service that does not exist, I wonder if we can claim a partial refund?

Stato replied on 31/01/2019 14:41

Member

Stato

Posted on 31/01/2019 10:45 by GTP

Ditto...and a timely reminder about the 'Pro's / Cons' of 'auto renewal' as I have just been informed by the OH that we have just 'auto' renewed our Mayday...

Fortunately the senior partner also advises me that we are covered a further three ways for vehicle breakdown/recovery with our Bank, Vehicle Insurance Policy and the Pan European cover which comes with the car..

Just noticed this has been brought up on the other club forum...asking if the RAC's Arrival scheme operate any different. I have 12 days left to cancel....

Posted on 31/01/2019 14:41

Thanks GTP.

I tried to have a look at their forum but it appears to be members only. Grateful if you could keep us updated with how Arrival would deal with this situation.

JVB66 replied on 31/01/2019 15:16

Member

JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire

Posted on 31/01/2019 14:41 by Stato

Thanks GTP.

I tried to have a look at their forum but it appears to be members only. Grateful if you could keep us updated with how Arrival would deal with this situation.

Posted on 31/01/2019 15:16

I have just been on line and and found a website that compares arrival mayday and as and it seems arrival does a lot more than either of the others which reading covers what the OP was concerned about and the answer from the cc

GTP replied on 31/01/2019 16:05

Member

GTP

Caravanner

Posted on 31/01/2019 10:53 by Metheven

I also have a car in warranty and breakdown is also included so short term it doesn't bother me, if the unfortunate did happen then I would use both breakdown services, caravan to storage with Mayday and car from storage to home or garage with the other.

Posted on 31/01/2019 16:05

Ditto....but I do think it is a serious error on this club's management not to check out what the policy offers in terms of recovery and onward travel....I'm not privy to the stats, but I am fairly confident that a sizeable number of members keep their caravan in storage and will need this option.

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