Problem with breakdown service

[sung]

Hello all!

Quick situation explanation and advice please: (I do accept part responsibility)

I lent my car (1995 Peugeot 306 diesel sedan) to a good friend in need 4 weeks ago. The second day he had the car, it broke down on the M25. I found out later that evening that he had called a recovery service, which had collected him and taken the car + a long trailer to his destination. I had assumed he had called his recovery service.

Onto yesterday: I get a letter from my (ex) recovery service that as my policy had lapsed, I am liable to pay recovery fees. It turns out that my friend had found the details of my recovery service in the car and called that number. Five days before the breakdown, I had changed insurers (recovery service was coupled to the insurance), and, as such, was not covered. The recovery service, though, did not tell my friend that the policy had lapsed.

The total cost of the recovery is £160, which I find to be extortionate for the 17 miles from the breakdown to his destination.

Do I have a leg to stand on to dispute this bill? As they did not tell my friend that the breakdown cover was not valid, he did not have the chance to find any other options.

I am not trying to get out of paying completely, but I do find the cost to be slightly outrageous. I have phoned the company, and one of their "customer service managers" is currently being consulted.

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[sung]

I have talked to my friend about it, and he is willing to pay for the costs, but both of us find those to be outrageous. The bill is still in my name, though, as it was my car.

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[sung]

Breaking news: I got a call from the company, and they say that it is their policy not to inform the person calling the breakdown service that the cover has lapsed. They say they don't want to "create panic".

Situation still ongoing though.

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[sung]

He tried calling me, but I was at work... I agree completely that some amount needs to be paid. With the current situation, he was involuntarily agreeing to a service without being aware that it would cost him, nor how much. Do you not find that to be silly?

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[sung]

You are right, the involuntary bit is superfluous. I was trying a little bit too hard to state my point. Probably should rephrase.

"With the current situation, he was agreeing to a service without being aware that it would cost him, nor how much."

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[sung]

william- Well, I take it to be my problem too. He is a good friend, and £160 is still quite a bit of money.

Jez- It is annoying, and no, it isn't the end of the world. I simply find the business practice to be wrong, as I stand by my assertion that he was unaware that the service would cost him, and how much. There is no transparency, and in this case that works very much in the companies favour.

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[sung]

Do you currently have other breakdown cover? If not maybe see if they will drop the full charge if you pay for a years cover?

They might do this - I know if you breakdown you can join RAC from the side of the road and they will send someone straight out.

Didn't think of that: very good idea! I'll keep that in mind...

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[sung]

Yes thanks i did.....

he phoned up using an existing number, gave the plate of the car or his policy number, be that lapsed or not it doesn't really matter does it, did the original policy state what i said above?

I can't remember offhand whether it was the car or car + named driver which was covered. I suspect it was the car.

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[sung]

It really doesn't matter on what terms the previous policy was on. It had lapsed, this policy is no more! It has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-POLICY!!



er....


sorry.


It's lapsed. It is no more. It is irrelevant.

Thanks for the laugh!

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[sung]

Update, just in case anyone is interested-

The breakdown service agreed to cut the bill in half, which my friend is going to pay.

Thanks for everyone's input.

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[sung]

I used to have a policy with the company that he rang to get my car recovered. The car is registered to me, as was the policy, so the bill came to me... I probably could've had the bill directed to my friend, but it was my car that broke down on him, so I didn't mind sorting it out.

sung