I’m looking at opening a Nationwide flex account to take up the travel and breakdown insurance.
I would really appreciate any views on the service delivered for the travel insurance and in particular the breakdown cover which I believe is done by Britannia .(LV)
Many thanks
We have a FlexiPlus account and have used the breakdown cover both here and abroad a few times. It is so far as I know done via Green Flag. Unlike the AA it covers our 4000kg van (the AA only covers up to 3500kg on their normal breakdown).
They have been brilliant both in the UK and abroad.
In the UK they are good and waits have not been too long both roadside and at home.
In France the van developed an electrical problem. They sent out a recovery truck to the campsite we were on, though we did have to wait just over two hours as it was lunchtime! The mechanic spoke only French but we managed to communicate the problem well enough for him to sort out the problem onsite.
When we broke down in Croatia a recovery truck took us to a garage. A new starter motor was needed which we had to wait for as it was the weekend so the insurance company gave us accommodation and, after some haggling as this was a remote agrotourist stop with no shops etc, a hire car for the weekend. We had to pay for the accommodation ourselves initially and submit a claim to Nationwide but they repaid the full amount very quickly.
Nationwide provide an English speaking contact to ring and they contact the local services and ring back to let you know what is happening.
We’ve had no call to use the travel insurance so can’t comment on how good it is. Being over 70 and both of us having long term health issues, plus the fact we are normally need cover abroad for 8 weeks or so, we do pay a hefty surcharge on top of the ‘free’ cover. However, we looked into the cost of getting similar cover from other insurers and found that, from a reputable supplier, the cost would be even more so we stuck with Nationwide.
It is worth knowing that if the account is a joint account you will get cover for 2 vehicles, we have our MH and car covered.
I have never had to use the cover but the experience of `chrisandsandra` sounds promising if ever I do.
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 30/7/2021
N/Wide Flex plus use the AA for breakdown cover.
saxo1
I’ve just checked and it’s currently provided by Britannia Rescue but is changing to the AA in 2022.
Odd that, after being a member for over 30 years, the AA would no longer cover us for breakdown as our vehicle was too heavy but it can now do as a 3rd party provider.
Cover is not limited to a number of vehicles even if it is a sole or joint account.
The following is taken from their website:
"Breakdown assistance – even if it's not your vehicle
As long as you’re with the eligible vehicle when help arrives, you’ll have UK and European breakdown cover."
We have had this for some time and have used the breakdown cover a couple of times in the UK, both whilst being a passenger in a vehicle I didn't own. Very good service and they seemed to use local breakdown vehicles rather than a branded company.
We have been with them for about 12 years and have used the breakdown cover both in the UK and France and have been very satisfied with the service provided. We had a caravan puncture in France and called them out because my husband didn’t want the hassle of trying to change it himself (at his age). We phoned them up and they said they would send someone out. We couldn’t believe it when they arrived no more than 10 minutes later. Apparently they were sent from a local garage which is why they were able to get to us so quickly.
We also used them for a similar incident in the UK. It took them quite a bit longer to get to us as we were in the wilds of Yorkshire and they ended up having to send someone from Carlisle but thankfully we had just arrived on a site when it happened so it wasn’t a problem waiting.
We have also used them 2 or 3 times for car issues in the UK and each time we have been very pleased with the service.
I have used the travel insurance with Flexplus. I took unwell in Tenerife in 2019. Went to local clinic where they found my blood pressure was dangerously high. Transferred to hospital by ambulance and spent 3 days there. Total cost €6500 which I had to pay up front. On discharge from hospital, was phoned by insurance company to check how I was. They told me to go back to hospital and they reimbursed my credit card with all fees.
On return home had to claim for cost of clinic and ambulance. This was paid within 7 working days.
While I was in hospital my wife was contacted twice a day to check on progress. Cannot recommend them highly enough.