Nationwide Flex Plus is changing its Breakdown provider to The AA from March. The info states caravans up to 7m will be covered. This seems to be 7m total/ shipping length.
Bad news for me and many others whose vans are over 7m.
I have already paid £150 supplement for Health Insurance cover( pre existing conditions)
When I read this post last week I was really disappointed as we have the Flexplus account specifically for the European breakdown. Last week the policy booklet online definitely stated 7m as maximum caravan length but when I looked at it again today, there is no length restriction mentioned at all for UK breakdown and 8m for European breakdown so it looks like Nationwide must have changed the policy wording over the last few days.
Quote: Originally posted by Pixie_Hez on 17/1/2022
When I read this post last week I was really disappointed as we have the Flexplus account specifically for the European breakdown. Last week the policy booklet online definitely stated 7m as maximum caravan length but when I looked at it again today, there is no length restriction mentioned at all for UK breakdown and 8m for European breakdown so it looks like Nationwide must have changed the policy wording over the last few days.
Has anyone else noticed this?
Our UK built caravan is 8.16m shipping length which is legal as body length is 7m. I wonder if they will quibble over 16cm. Problem is that the breakdown cover will not cover the caravan if the caravan is on a site and you breakdown while out and about and car needs to be towed home. We have Mayday for peace of mind.
Well just reading my booklet,Vehicles must be less than 7.0 metres in length, 2.3 metres wide. 3 metres high and weigh less than 3500kg.
Caravans and trailers should be not more than 8 metres including A frame
new policy from March this year states
The trailer, caravan
and its load must also comply with the size and weight restrictions below, or unfortunately the AA
will be unable to recover your property.
• Maximum vehicle weight: 3.5 tonnes (3500kgs) gross vehicle laden weight
• Maximum Vehicle Weight for Motorhomes ONLY: 7.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight
• Maximum vehicle length: 8m (26.2ft)*
• Maximum vehicle width: 2.55m (8ft 3in)*
So my 7.53 metre caravan should be covered
------------- 74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
Yes Pixie, good news.
I had a call from NW today, following my complaint. She apologised and said there had been an error, the uk length is 8m and Europe unlimited i think.
I am Caravan Club Member and got a quote for Mayday and Red pennant.Annual multi trip cover was over £400. over £500 if personal insurance included.
It’s great news and one less thing to worry about. The NW FlexPlus has always been great for us as it covers both our cars for European breakdown as well as giving me travel insurance (OH gets a separate travel policy if needed due to his age) and mobile phone insurance for both phones. This is great value at £13 a month.
I was dreading the job of looking for a new provider and as our caravan in 7.53m it looks like we are still covered!
Looks like an improvement. We can use the AA app which from March 1st will allow Flex Plus users to create a login. The app with location set allows AA man to find you if broke down.
Slight confusion with phone numbers. The email from Nationwide said UK & abroad breakdown phone numbers staying the same but new t&c’s state use AA numbers & it is indeed the AA numbers you ring.
Does the Nationwide breakdown do onward cover or if your caravan is at a campsite and the broken down vehicle needs to be taken home, will they also collect the caravan once you have finished your holiday? I assume that they will attend to punctures on the caravan?
We have Mayday cover however as Nationwide customers we have looked at the Flex Plus account, but the breakdown cover was not comprehensive enough for us. For overseas we use Red Pennant who are brilliant.
I have just queried the weight limits and what vehicles they apply to on the new policy.
The policy states that it covers cars, light van, campervan, motor caravan, minibus, trailer, motorhomes, vans, minibuses or motorcycles. However it goes on to say that vehicles up to Maximum Vehicle Weight of 3.5tonnes will be covered with the exception of Motorhomes ONLY which will be covered up to 7.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight.
Nowhere does it state the definition of a 'Motorhome' over a 'Campervan'(and as we all no such a definition exists).
Because of this, and knowing that the AA has refused to come out to our broken down campervan weighing 4.0 tonnes (Fiat Ducato 35 3.0 160) in the past as it was too heavy, I asked Nationwide for clarification.
After some toing and froing on chat they said they didn't know and advised me to ring the AA. I will have to leave doing this until tomorrow but will report on what they say as this may affect some others on here as well.
Quote: Originally posted by chrisandsandra on 20/1/2022
After some toing and froing on chat they said they didn't know and advised me to ring the AA. I will have to leave doing this until tomorrow but will report on what they say as this may affect some others on here as well.
The new "chat" thing instead of message is a total waste of time as 90% of the time they cannot resolve your query.
Quote: Originally posted by chrisandsandra on 20/1/2022
After some toing and froing on chat they said they didn't know and advised me to ring the AA. I will have to leave doing this until tomorrow but will report on what they say as this may affect some others on here as well.
The new "chat" thing instead of message is a total waste of time as 90% of the time they cannot resolve your query.
I agree Ian. I’ve raised a complaint about it with Nationwide. I don’t see why I should be doing the legwork re a service I’ve paid for.
Quote: Originally posted by chrisandsandra on 21/1/2022
I agree Ian. I’ve raised a complaint about it with Nationwide. I don’t see why I should be doing the legwork re a service I’ve paid for.
We also raise a complaint about the chat system. Annoying when they ask the same question that was asked in an earlier post and you then need to scroll to try and find how you answered etc. Not happy!
Quote: Originally posted by Pixie_Hez on 19/1/2022
and mobile phone insurance for both phones.
The mobile phone insurance is useless. My husband lost his at the end of last year so we tried to claim. It was pointless as they wanted an upfront contribution to the 'new' (terms said it could be one reconditioned) phone for as much as we could buy a replacement!
We had already jumped through lots of hoops before they even told us that!
*These dimensions will be calculated taking into account anything attached to your vehicle and any
trailer or caravan, including but not limited to towing equipment, any carriers or racks (e.g. bike or
luggage), or anything else attached to the vehicle or the carriers/racks.
Which seems to say that the COMBINED length of towing vehicle and trailer/caravan must be under 8m. Which would rule out just about anything! Any thoughts, anyone?
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Topic: NW Flex Breakdown Changes.
via mobile 12/1/2022 at 1:20pm
