Tesco Instant Breakdown Cover

I have been happy with the service from Tesco I've received to date but unfortunately not on Saturday. I had a puncture travelling down the M6 to Somerset, around 3.45pm, just after Jnct 19. It must have been a slow puncture as I didn't feel anything, I was alerted by another motorist. I pulled over and my son and I got out of the vehicle and went up the nearby embankment and called Tesco Breakdown Service. I gave details to a male service agent who said he'd call me back, but he didn't.

I called back 30 mins later and spoke to a female who said that the first call had not been logged and took the details again and said that someone would be with me within 30 minutes, probably sooner as I was on the motorway. 45 mins later a transporter arrived and carted us off to Keele Services where we waited...for 4 hours. The driver said to have a coffee and that a patrol van would be with me as soon as poss. After an hour I called Tesco up and was told that we had been passed over to a contractor as the RAC were busy. Friday night, rush hour, fair enough!

It was 9pm before someone eventually got to us and it was again a transporter, with instructions to take us to an ATS depot in Crewe. The driver was pretty sure that the ATS place was not 24 hours and I had not been advised that we would be going anywhere so called up to find out what was happening. After some investigating, the Tesco agent called back to say that those were the instructions given for when the car had been picked up on the M6 earlier in the day and that yes, the ATS depot in Crewe was not 24 hours. I was appalled that, if the transporter driver had not known the place he was taking me to would be closed, we could have been deposited there at 10pm at night waiting for help that was not going to arrive.

The operator wasn’t quite sure what to do with me after that so I asked whether I could be transported home but, as it was a puncture rather than a mechanical fault, I was only entitled to be taken to a safe place within 10 miles of breakdown and that yes, they could transport me home but it would be £85 alone, to go over the 10 mile radius, and £2 a mile after that. I came down from Huddersfield so that would have been a couple of hundred pounds that I didn’t have. In the end, the agent rang around and found a tyre service that was willing to open up and fit a tyre for me – Sandbach Tyre Service – at a cost of £165. £90 call out, £45 tyre and good old VAT! Fitter was very quick and efficient by the way!

So, I am wiser and poorer for the learning experience. Always check your spare tyre before travelling further than you’re prepared to walk home. But I am very disappointed in Tesco Breakdown Service for not taking me to Crewe ATS when you first picked me up (open until 5.30pm) and for not keeping me advised of your intentions and for not updating your contractor and for almost deserting us in Crewe late at night.

I will not be renewing my car insurance with you.

Due to an internal administrative foul-up Tesco breakdown refused service and recovery to my elderly mother alone after dark in winter. Said her name didn't appear on the system. But she had paid in full months before. Had to take a taxi home. She cancelled the policy immediately. Be warned people!

Tesco Gold service.

I have been with them for over 2 years and have used them three times, all have been at home. 2 of which were fixed quickly. But the last 1 well quick to come out YES. Found a fault ( or so he said yes). Fuel pump!! well when my son in-law came to have a look. Now he is not a mechanic, he found a fuse for the ignition coil had blow, and that the battery was very weak and needed to be changed. New battery fitted new fuse fitted car started first time, job done. really think the breakdown man didn't know his job, probably just does recoveries, not fixing cars. Sometimes its not the service that lets you down but the person whom is sent.

I've been with Tesco breakdown for 2 years now and they have never let me down. i've broken down three times (got an old golf) once got stuck on the M25 in summer in BAD congestion and they were incredibly busy but managed to get to me within 2 hours. they even call you back to check everything is ok!!!

I've only got the cheapest cover but they will tell you up front what you have to pay for if you need to be towed anywhere.

Pretty good for basic cover

I had to call Tesco breakdown service 4 times in a space of as many months each time the operator was very polite and understanding and I was rescued each time in the time she told me the wait would be, therefore I was prepared. One driver took me to buy what I required to fix my car and then took me back to my car and promptly repaired it. Another mchanic repaired my car on my drive with parts he had on his lorry. Each mechanisc who came to my rescue was very kind, helpful and very understanding of my dilemma. I cannot praise them enough.

Load of s##t. Broke down at work, which is 15 miles away from swindon, they took about 1 hour and a half to come out. And then said they would have to charge me £50 odd quid to take my car to my chosen garage or they would have to drop me and my car off at the next junction (16). In the end i said dont bother, i'll tow it home myself. £ 25 spent on nothing, i know it was the basic one and maybe i should of read the small print abit better, but it still takes the p##s.

Tesco Instant Breakdown Cover - very good service waited half an hour fixed the problem there and then and vey polite staying with the service

A really great service for the price of the cover.