SKODA Roadside Assistance now totally RAC, end of VAG specialists ?

[delta925]

My car ( Fabia 2 ) was 3 three years old back in March.

 

I had one issue at just over 12moths old requiring assistance.

 

A VAG specialist technician arrived promptly, diagnosed a failed sensor on the exhaust / DPF system and replaced it on-the-spot from stock held on the van.

 

Because of this I renewed with Skoda Assist for two years as a better deal than one year but more than I could have paid for the same ' on paper ' level of cover.

 

However I had a letter today saying that from 1st June RAC are directly responsible for the breakdown service.

 

Does this mean now the first available RAC technician will attend rather than a VAG specialist?

If so it is less likely they will even be able to diagnose the fault let alone carry parts and have specialist training to fit them so instead the car will just get recovered.

This will be disappointing as I might just have well picked up the policy I had 3 years ago.

 

Can anyone from within VAG group comment?

 

After 1st June posts from those unfortunate enough to need to call out the RAC stating the service received will guide others of what to expect.

[moley]

I had to call Skoda assist five weeks ago because I had no turbo boost and it was the RAC normal patrol van that arrived. The guy was good, he scanned for any fault codes and one came up totally unrelated to the problem. He found the fault, which was a sticking turbo actuator. Test drove the car, which was back to normal, did the paperwork and recommended the dealer checked it out as soon as possible. 

Skoda changed from the AA to the RAC a few years back and the only other time I have had to car Skoda assist about five years ago a Silver van arrived, but I thought this was also part of the RAC.

[Gwilo]

Not Skoda per se, but VW Assist, was called out to my Passat many moons ago (circa 2006).  Silver VW Transporter, but mechanic was very clear that while badged VW Assist, it was run/staffed entirely by RAC.

No doubt RAC had to pay to run it, like a franchise/concession.  Perhaps VAG as a whole have decided to monetise all those lovely customer details and flogged on the databases to the RAC, who can now mine it for their own marketing alongside the roadside assistance?

Just a thought of what I would do if armed with enough cash and a modicum of business sense.......

[patrolman]

As of the first of this month all VWG road side assistance is covered by the AA with dedicated techs in silver vans and backed up by specialist patrols in yellow vans,

all carrying VAS pc with odis online diagnostics and parts .

[Ootohere]

delta925,  

Who gave you the duff gen that it was going to be RAC,  Who did the Letter Come from?

 

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/on-the-road/roadside-assistance

[jrw]

It's totally rac. I've had letter and so has my dad with his golf.

Haven't had one for the fabia though which is in its first 3 years so maybe they're saving the proper techs for the new cars.

[delta925]

delta925,  

Who gave you the duff gen that it was going to be RAC,  Who did the Letter Come from?

 

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/on-the-road/roadside-assistance

 

No duff gen -

The letter stating that from 1st June the RAC were directly responsible for my cover and that I would receive a new membership card came in a RAC corporate envelope on RAC corporate paper. No Skoda / VAG logo or details anywhere....

 

Could the situation be that the inclusive 3 year Skoda / VAG group assist is transferring to the AA either for all vehicles under 3 years old or for those registered after 1st June but those who have already paid for cover beyond that are now lumbered with non-VAG supported RAC service.

 

If so why are the individually paid for extensions not also being transfered to the AA to still be handled by VAG specialists ???

 

Back about two years ago the VAG specialist technician who came to me in a silver van said he was employed by the RAC but part of the VAG specialist team so his priority was dealing with VAG problems and only occasionally did others if he was slack but overall a high level of people with issues.

 

My point is that while not the cheapest option for ' on paper ' the same level of cover I continued the Skoda (VAG) Assist expecting that should I have any issues a VAG specialist would attend hence more likely the issue could be diagnosed by them and if the solution was a straightforward compontent replacement the part would be on the van plus the technician know the fitting procedure including removal / refitting of other items to gain access.

Edited 19 June, 2014 by delta925

[Llanigraham]

It's totally rac. I've had letter and so has my dad with his golf.

Haven't had one for the fabia though which is in its first 3 years so maybe they're saving the proper techs for the new cars.

 

From George's link:

We've chosen the AA, the UK's No1 breakdown provider* to provide the service for us, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It doesn't matter who's driving your ŠKODA, they can call if they're in trouble. So if you are one of the few unlucky ones, at least help can be on its was with one phone call.

[patrolman]

No duff gen -

The letter stating that from 1st June the RAC were directly responsible for my cover and that I would receive a new membership card came in a RAC corporate envelope on RAC corporate paper. No Skoda / VAG logo or details anywhere....

 

Could the situation be that the inclusive 3 year Skoda / VAG group assist is transferring to the AA either for all vehicles under 3 years old or for those registered after 1st June but those who have already paid for cover beyond that are now lumbered with non-VAG supported RAC service.

 

If so why are the individually paid for extensions not also being transfered to the AA to still be handled by VAG specialists ???

 

Back about two years ago the VAG specialist technician who came to me in a silver van said he was employed by the RAC but part of the VAG specialist team so his priority was dealing with VAG problems and only occasionally did others if he was slack but overall a high level of people with issues.

 

My point is that while not the cheapest option for ' on paper ' the same level of cover I continued the Skoda (VAG) Assist expecting that should I have any issues a VAG specialist would attend hence more likely the issue could be diagnosed by them and if the solution was a straightforward compontent replacement the part would be on the van plus the technician know the fitting procedure including removal / refitting of other items to gain access.

it may be that your extended cover was under written by the RAC and isn't transferred over.   

[jrw]

From George's link:

We've chosen the AA, the UK's No1 breakdown provider* to provide the service for us, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It doesn't matter who's driving your ŠKODA, they can call if they're in trouble. So if you are one of the few unlucky ones, at least help can be on its was with one phone call.

Hence me saying I haven't had a letter for the fabia yet the octavia and the golf have which are over 3 years old

I've got a rac letter, an rac card and an rac tax disc holder from them. What part of this isn't the rac?

[Robjon]

I've got a rac letter, an rac card and an rac tax disc holder from them. What part of this isn't the rac?

 

Me too!

[The Plumber]

My lad responded to a letter from 'Skoda Assist' in May, asking if he wanted retake out Skoda Assist, which he did but asked for it to start on the 1st June, as his AA roadside cover ran out then. He had let the Skoda package lapse on his current car, as he had 6months suspended AA cover left over from a previous motor.

 

Documents turned up today talking about RAC membership rather than Skoda Assist, so we rang them to be told the cover is the same level as Skoda Assist but as the RAC no longer have the Skoda Assist 'franchise' from the 1st June, they are issuing their own branded documents.

 

Think its a bit poor the RAC/Skoda Assist didn't warn him this was happening, or that they (the RAC) were sending out literature under a brand name they were loosing in the very near future.

 

Have sent an enquiry form to Skoda UK to see what they have to say, as technically we've not received the product we purchased and the letter we responded too had their name on it in the small print

 

 

TP

[@Lee]

calling them won't do you much use as SWMBO found out the other week

[slider]

As of the first of this month all VWG road side assistance is covered by the AA with dedicated techs in silver vans and backed up by specialist patrols in yellow vans,

all carrying VAS pc with odis online diagnostics and parts .

can confirm that as SWIMBO had to call them out last week - service was excellent.

 

Couldnt solve the problem at the roadside - service man had problems  getting a phone link for his diagnostic computer due to the remote location but organised a tow and offer of a courtesy car (problem turned out to be a faulty throttle pedal that caused the car to go into limp mode)

Edited 22 June, 2014 by slider

[rover220]

Why is everyone crying about this?

In the unfortunate event of a breakdown does it really matter who turns up? If its not fixed at the roadside you get recovered to a destination of your choice

[Mr Ree]

3  year cover on my new Superb is with the RAC.

 

Not that bothered only for the fact that the AA covered me in any car that I was driving or travelling in in the past, whereas now, it's for this car only....car cover, not personal.

Extra cost to cover the fleet now then.

Edited 22 June, 2014 by Mr Ree

[MattHunt]

Not sure if this helps but I've just called the RAC and they have taken over the purchased cover for the Octavia.

 

The AA has the complementary cover which came with the Fabia

 

(This is a bit odd since I seem to have ended up with the 'purchased cover' for free but I've no idea how. However, until it lapses in March '15 I'll not worry if it is free!)

 

Matt

[slider]

Suspect RAC are up to some slightly disingenuous marketing.

[The Plumber]

Got a call back from SUK and they simply said cancel the RAC and retake out Skoda Assist with the new agent (the AA). However on contacting the new Skoda Assist we found they wanted £45 more than the RAC had charged us and there was no budging on this figure, so we've decided to keep the RAC package.

 

 

TP

[chr1staylor]

Why is everyone crying about this?

In the unfortunate event of a breakdown does it really matter who turns up? If its not fixed at the roadside you get recovered to a destination of your choice

I'm slightly concerned/annoyed - despite having also received a letter from RAC supposedly reassuring me that my level of cover would be identical to that of Skoda Assist - as I had to call them out after a warning light popped up on my dash last week and all that showed up was a bloke with a car transporter from a local company who didn't appear to have any of the extensive sort of equipment a proper RAC van might.

 

As it happens, my issue resolved itself, but if it hadn't and he'd had to transport me to my nearest dealer for something that could potentially have been resolved at the side of the road with the right equipment I'd have been mightily p1ssed off.

[delta925]

Why is everyone crying about this?

In the unfortunate event of a breakdown does it really matter who turns up? If its not fixed at the roadside you get recovered to a destination of your choice

 

It matters because a VAG group dedicated technician is more likely to be able to resolve the problem at the roadside than a general technician be they AA, RAC, Green Flag etc.

 

See post 7 detailing my experience of a faulty sensor replaced ' on the spot ' because a replacement was held on the van and the technician knew the fitting procedure plus had replaced the same sensor before.

 

While a general technician could probably also be able to interrogate the car to find the fault would

a - the part be on the van

b - the technician have ever actually fitted one even in a workshop environment

 

hence likely outcome would be the car recovered to a dealer to fix instead so far more hassle and delay.

[delta925]

I'm slightly concerned/annoyed - despite having also received a letter from RAC supposedly reassuring me that my level of cover would be identical to that of Skoda Assist - as I had to call them out after a warning light popped up on my dash last week and all that showed up was a bloke with a car transporter from a local company who didn't appear to have any of the extensive sort of equipment a proper RAC van might.

 

As it happens, my issue resolved itself, but if it hadn't and he'd had to transport me to my nearest dealer for something that could potentially have been resolved at the side of the road with the right equipment I'd have been mightily p1ssed off.

 

This is appaling, a technician be they RAC or sub-contract who could at least interrogate the car and even temporarily reset the electronics should have been sent.

If this was say 7pm on a Saturday a long way from home you and your car could have ended up miles apart plus no prospect of a courtest car until sometime Monday.

[mellyboy]

Rang a Skoda assist renewal number to set up a paid membership and the call was answered by a AA person who said SA was now the AA. The problem I have is that they will not change a caravan wheel in the event of a puncture as the RAC will , they do not provide caravan cover as add on as the RAC does, which I need when I travel abroad . We have a bank account which includes RAC breakdown down cover which we have never used as we have until now had free SA, it would seem it is the same as SA including foreign travel so its goodbye SA . If you are a caravan owner ( Boo hiss from some of you I know ) and have caravan cover and have cover with SA I would check it out to see what is happening with your cover.