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Post by chocaholic on Jul 15, 2008 13:04:43 GMT
ESS get my vote. I have needed their services on more than one occasion and they have been great each time. The last time was after a nasty blow out on the M62 in rush hour traffic I had a call from the service centre every 5/10 mins of the 45 min I was waiting for them just to make sure that we and the horses were ok. The guy who came out put a new trye on while I was on the hard shoulder, and we were on our way in less than an hour
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manicblonde
Junior Member
What do you mean I'm 'short backed'???
Posts: 157
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Post by manicblonde on Jul 15, 2008 21:14:48 GMT
Hya
My experience of Anthony Evans was not the best, Left on the side of a road from 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm with two ponies, daughter and baby! Eventually got us going at 12pm ish after about 20 teary calls to their call centre and got home about 3am. Then got stopped by police en roue just to top things off and they wanted me to open the back of the lorry so they could see what I was carrying despite a large sign saying HORSES on the back of the lorry, baby sleeping in car seat and 11 year old daughter and I in tears as we were exhausted!
Made a formal complaint, got told they would pass it to their complaint team 4 months ago and heard nothing since.
I have now moved to SEIB and I am beggining to wonder if I have done the right thing!!!!
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Post by uncle ben on Jul 15, 2008 21:20:21 GMT
Sounds bad but believe me SEIB are 10 times worse.
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Post by solitaire on Jul 16, 2008 10:32:07 GMT
I also use SEIB but have never had a tow situation they did have to come and look at a break down but got it sorted out and were excellent - I would refuse to allow them to tow my lorry in that situation if my ponies where on the lorry.
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Post by nutwood on Jul 16, 2008 19:34:26 GMT
Today my mechanic has come to look at the lorry following the breakdown the other day. He tells me that the prop shaft needs replacing! Allegedly the recovery people did not disconnect the prop shaft when they towed the vehicle and because the central bearing has gone - that was the reason the lorry broke down - the shaft was left to spin around and has been damaged! Seveal hundred pounds worth. However, it could be worse, it could have caused even more damage to the horsebox and because I had to sign a disclaimer, I cannot claim for the damage and new prop shaft. Disaster, and a longer delay when I am in need of the lorry to move the stallion at the weekend for a semen collection, only a few miles away!!!!!!!
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Post by Guestless on Jul 16, 2008 21:43:26 GMT
I would be inclined to get some legal advice nutwood - sometimes disclaimers are said not to be worth the paper they're written on. What on earth is the point of paying for breakdown recovery if the recovery results in additional damage to your horsebox.....I can understand the disclaimer from the point of view of them carrying ponies, but IMO the lorry is the responsibility of the recovery people.
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Post by girly on Jul 16, 2008 22:00:32 GMT
Nutwood that is exactly what ESS did to my lorry.
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sb
Newbie
Posts: 4
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Post by sb on Jul 17, 2008 12:01:38 GMT
I have used SEIB for the last 2 years and tehy have alwaus been really good. However they have never had to tow me off a motorway.
One was a flat tyre at a shoe and the oterh 2 times were starter motor problems. They were there within the hour and were really good.
Maybe they just don't do the bigger things very well?
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Post by ferret on Jul 17, 2008 12:50:27 GMT
i have been a member with ESS for years now and used them a few times with good results ...my renewal is due in Aug and because of the age of my lorry the price has gone up to £182 per annum thinking about changing to a different one thats a bit cheaper ....anyone any advise and approw prices ? my lorry is 22 yrs old .
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Post by bowditchblobs on Jul 17, 2008 14:46:03 GMT
Nfu? Iv just gone over to them
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Post by nutwood on Jul 19, 2008 12:06:34 GMT
I have now made a formal complaint to SEIB about the breakdown situation and they appeared to be supportive! The complaint has been passed to Red Star - so I will see what happens!
By the way my mechanic has found that the prop shaft is ruined and in his opinion that is because it was not discnnected before being towed - more expense!!! This is what finally made me complain.
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Post by bowditchblobs on Jul 19, 2008 15:39:08 GMT
Nutwood some of us have gone on to Watchdogs website and filed a complaint if your interested......the more the merrier!!! You think they would drop Red Star and use some one else, its not like its one person complaining, theres loads of us!!!!!
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Post by armada on Jul 19, 2008 16:05:08 GMT
This thread is interesting me a lot. I thought we had breakdown cover with the NFU, on the insurance, but double checking everything as we have half a dozen very long journeys to do between now and September - I read the breakdown cover is for vehicles up to 3.5t only. What the use is sending me that when we've insured a 17t lorry? I've been on both Anthony Evans and SEIB websites today and thought SEIB most competitive, but thats no good if you break down and they send some half wit if you are lucky! There would be no way I'd sign a disclaimer just to cover them in the case of incompetence, and be left to pay for an expensive repair I was'nt responsible for.
I think doing a poll of insurers and breakdown companies, with a comment on your experiences with them is a good idea.
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Post by ponymum on Jul 19, 2008 19:13:10 GMT
I called seib out about 3 weeks ago as my lorry wasnt turning over, the recovery man came promptly within an hour , got me started , topped up my oil, water , checked my tyres and fixed my skirts where i had bent them.....what can i say .... fab service
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Post by bowditchblobs on Jul 19, 2008 19:27:45 GMT
ahhhhhhhhh but didnt breakdown with a horse on board though.....and there lieth the problem.....................they dont take horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by hp on Jul 20, 2008 7:13:59 GMT
Well I have broken down with a horse on board and am covered with SEIB. Recovery firm(large local reputable company) arrived within the hour. As it happens we were only 5 miles from home but he did suspend tow the lorry home. Fine no problems (it is a safe way to transport the lorry)He did disconnect the drive shaft. Apart from the waiting times surely your complaint is with the actual recovery firm the job is contracted to. Any recovery operator should know to either take the half shaft out or disconnect the drive. It seems it is imcompetant operators rather than than the firm themselves. I would not hesitate in pursuing the operator for a damaged prop shaft. That is incompetance never mind the disclaimer. It IS their fault.
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Post by ponymum on Jul 20, 2008 7:45:49 GMT
ahhhhhhhhh but didnt breakdown with a horse on board though.....and there lieth the problem.....................they dont take horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know if this is a 2008 problem, cos ive been with seib for at least 7yrs, in jan 2007 , we broke down , called seib, told them had 2 ponies on board, they sent recovery first, then when they couldn't get us going, sent for another lorry to collect the ponies. This all happened within 90mins, the mechanic kept asking me had i put petrol in the tank!!!! obviously not....anyway..a little 3,5 lorry arrived to pig the little darling up , and then the recovery man towed me home...no problems ...no drama and no damage to my lorry... (turned out it was the fuel ...2007 spate of rubbish stuff!!)
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Post by bowditchblobs on Jul 20, 2008 8:33:15 GMT
It appears to be Red Star who are at fault, but if seib are getting so many complaints you would think they would change..........i dont know......seib have been very prompt in dealing with my complaint, iv still gone over to the NFU though, joined the RAC too! I have never been so scared in my life as i was stuck on the A1 all the lorries were whooshing past...........was cacking myself!!!!!!
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Post by girly on Jul 20, 2008 16:50:12 GMT
My problem with SEIB was not with the actual recovery firm they sent out but with the people who were supposed to be organisising them. With ESS the problem was the idiot they sent ouy but what made everything worse was that ESS refused to accept any resonsibility or offer any help.
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Post by Guestless on Jul 25, 2008 9:51:03 GMT
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Post by ponymum on Jul 27, 2008 6:30:15 GMT
Im calling them out this morning ......will keep you all updated
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Post by ponymum on Jul 27, 2008 18:04:54 GMT
No probs Arrived at 8.33 and put a booster pack on and off we went...def staying with SEIB
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Post by ferret on Jul 30, 2008 22:36:26 GMT
i broke down on sunday , they towed my lorry home and sent a transporter for my pony ( as i refused to be towed with horse on board ) ...no probs at all ESS - def think i will stick with them
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Post by Loopy Loulou on Sept 13, 2008 20:19:11 GMT
As a few people have said Auto homes through Anthony Evan insurance. The only problem is that if you need a tow hme the transporter should only take 2 people! No good with three ponies on the vack and 2 jockies and a spare mum! Luckily we had a fantastic driver who took us all and even stopped for wee and tea breaks for the kids!!
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Post by splashofcolour on Sept 18, 2008 20:20:44 GMT
ANTHONY EVANS HAVE BEEN BRILLIANT, WE HAVE BEEN TOWED HOME, LUCKILY NO HORSE ON BOARD, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN FIXED AT A SHOW BY SOME BILLIANT MECHANICS SO E DIDNT HAVE TO BE TOWED HOME. I TTHINK ITS POT LUCK ON TH TYPE OF SERVICE YOU RECEIVE AS ITS WHO IS REGISTERED WITH ANTHONY REYNOLDS IN THE ARE WHERE YOU BREAKDOWN, THEY MAY BE REALLY HELPFULL OR THE KIND THAT JUST WANT YOU HOME OT THE WAY
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Post by wobbles on Sept 20, 2008 9:19:27 GMT
Has anyone broken down with a trailer on, are you covered with ordinary breakdown cover or would we have to take out a separate policy, any advice gratefully received
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Post by marymary on Sept 20, 2008 21:12:18 GMT
We are with SEIB and have used them 3 x times over 6 years when lorry stuck with horses on board. The first instance a wheel bearing went just as we pulled off the M6 on the way to Midland Cos..luckily there was a lay by quite close to where we came off and we limped into there. Garage were there in 30 mins and obvoiusly it couldnt be fixed at roadside. They arranged for a transporter to come and collect my horse - who was superb and took me and Horse homa and then the garage took our lorry back to our own garage a 4 hour drive. Another time at the M40 services with a novice on board ...lorry wouldnt start after stopping for OH to get a KFC they promised someone with us within an hour , and we were called regularly to see if we and the pony were ok. Luckily problem was minor and was fixed at services. Last Xmas clutch went - and lorry was recovered back to our garage only an hours drive this time. We were offered a transporter to offload ponies onto to take them home as lorry was going straight to the garage but as the wagon had broken down 50 metres from my parents I declined and left them there for a couple of days while our garage put in a new clutch. Also called them out to Shrop and West when my indicators had failed - we asked if someone could come after my classes and they did bang on time..obviously this was fixable. If everybody had such problems with them they must have gone downhill as they have always been super when we had to use them My friends had horrofic time with A evans - I rescued their ponies this year as they had been waiting over 4 hours and had been quoted a further 2 hrs before garage showed up. There old lorry got totally wrecked when it was towed by a garage A Evans sent 2 years ago and had to be scrapped. Our horses, house and yard all reg with NFU so will speak to them when my insurance is due
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Post by Guestless on Sept 30, 2008 14:07:01 GMT
Has anyone broken down with a trailer on, are you covered with ordinary breakdown cover or would we have to take out a separate policy, any advice gratefully received My understanding (but please double-check) is that standard breakdown covers you for a trailer when it is attached to your vehicle, but you need a separate policy to cover the horses that are being carried.
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Post by armada on Sept 30, 2008 18:16:13 GMT
Cant praise the NFU service we received in August enough. They kept in touch throughout, the horse transport people they employ rang us every 30 minutes, the highways agency rang us every 30 minutes, and although the blow-out was utterly horrendous in the fact it ripped half the wheel arch off and took all our air lines out, the tyre fitter and grease monkeys who came to our rescue were efficient and helpful. When I rang NFU just before Malvern to check everything was in order, the guy also said, we paid £100 odd a year for the R/R on top of the policy, and I was very surprised as the whole lot is only £350 or so - fully comprehensive!! I also expected to receive a bill for the cost of the new tyre they had to fit, but so far nothing has arrived, and all the ancillary damage after the blow-out including repairs to the fairing and lockers is now being covered on the insurance policy with no quibbles from NFU. We are really pleased with how the whole thing was dealt with.
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Post by wobbles on Sept 30, 2008 18:59:55 GMT
Thankyou Guestless
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