R A C membership

Yesterday I had my renewal notice for the Arrival RAC, it was for £160 last year I paid £113, so I rang up. It turns out that the Arrival membership has had to be increased due to The Caravan and  Camping Club   removing some of the subsidies that they paid to the RAC , so much for being a so called Members club, in the end I got it down to £128.14 

The Club now charge high prices for their sites, Which I don`t go on if I can help it, the 5 van sites yes. Private sites can work out much cheaper. 
 
Went on a private sire two weeks ago, paid up front for an electric card, £20,  after the week had over £17 back, so £3 for a weeks electric. C&CC I believe charge £5 - £6  a day. this site was very up and modern,  electric posts where you put the card in. and it is linked to a computer in the office. the facilities were the best we have seen, all new , luxurious, they charge £22 per night, all year round, stayed there in the winter  , 

The site is Caister Lakes in Lincs. a 5* site, lovely surroundings, restaurant / bar. all hard standing with grass area for awnings , only problem this time, there was a women in a caravan, her husband / partner was a fisherman, he was fishing in the lake in front of their van, she had her radio on full blast all day and into the evening, all windows were open as it was in that very hot spell, the wardens had a word, turned it down, then started shouting she will have her radio up, her H/P was furious and they could be heard arguing all over the site, then wardens went over again, the next minute they were packing up and  left.  Peace reigned, not the usual sort of campers they get there.

Can recommend this site.

This annual negotiation of renewal is getting to be a pain. Last year I got it dropped to almost the same as the previous year but guaranteed for two years which if they are true to that means I won't have to go through it all again next February. I was quite ready to find a different breakdown service and still am if they hike up the price in 18 months time. 
We only use the club sites if the price compares favourably with other sites in the area we want but will always use CL's/CS's and THS's where possible.

My wife negotiations with them,as I just loose the plot ,   
Boaby

‘£17 back, so £3 for a weeks electric. C&CC I believe charge £5 - £6  a day. this site was very up and modern,  electric posts where you put the card in. and it is linked to a computer in the office’


Couldn’t agree more. All sites should be metered, especially club sites. It drives me mad to pay the same for electric as those with heaters in their awning and huge power hungry vans.

Been an RAC member since 1988. This year's membership fee was £179.98p. It is standing order so never worried before but now I find I have more time than money so I used some of it to check Green Flag and the AA. When I phoned up the RAC to cancel they managed to lower it to £112.50p for 15 months membership!

Daisy Mae - can I just check that you mean Caistor and not Caister? I'm impressed by the recommendation you gave but on googling it I got a Hoseasons site in Norfolk.

Just renewed my Green Flag membership cover for MH and car £127. This covers me from home and has remained at this price for the last three years.

Nationwide flexplus account and breakdown cover is free for any vehicle you are in as is travel insurance. I have claimed twice and both times payed out as good as gold. Just an idea worth looking at?

If you're a Tesco shopper or have a Tesco credit card, you can collect clubcard points. You can then exchange these for your RAC membership. A membership fee of say £180 would cost £60 in clubcard vouchers. I have the basic cover so my latest renewal cost me. I think, £27 in clubcard vouchers.

John.

Paulmold wrote:Daisy Mae - can I just check that you mean Caistor and not Caister? I'm impressed by the recommendation you gave but on googling it I got a Hoseasons site in Norfolk.

Hi Paul,

No it isn`t the one in Norfolk, must be Caistor, sorry I didn`t check the spelling, my Husband booked it and I thought we were going to Norfolk, as that is my favourite place, but no that site is in  Lincolnshire.

Margaret

rgermain wrote:

groundhog wrote:Nationwide flexplus account and breakdown cover is free for any vehicle you are in as is travel insurance. I have claimed twice and both times payed out as good as gold. Just an idea worth looking at?

Do they still want you to keep a large sum in your account though?

Looks like as with insurance, it pays to ask " Whats your best price"
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Richard

I have this account as well. Yes, you have to maintain a minimum £2500 in the account, but they pay 3% interest on that amount, which covers about half the monthly £13 fee.
Al.

daisy mae wrote:

Paulmold wrote:Daisy Mae - can I just check that you mean Caistor and not Caister? I'm impressed by the recommendation you gave but on googling it I got a Hoseasons site in Norfolk.

Hi Paul,

No it isn`t the one in Norfolk, must be Caistor, sorry I didn`t check the spelling, my Husband booked it and I thought we were going to Norfolk, as that is my favourite place, but no that site is in  Lincolnshire.

Margaret

Thanks Margaret, I didn't fancy a Hoseasons site but do really fancy Caistor Lakes for a bit of fishing.

bikeralw wrote:

rgermain wrote:

groundhog wrote:Nationwide flexplus account and breakdown cover is free for any vehicle you are in as is travel insurance. I have claimed twice and both times payed out as good as gold. Just an idea worth looking at?

Do they still want you to keep a large sum in your account though?

Looks like as with insurance, it pays to ask " Whats your best price"
----------
Richard

I have this account as well. Yes, you have to maintain a minimum £2500 in the account, but they pay 3% interest on that amount, which covers about half the monthly £13 fee.
Al.

From November the 3% interest goes, presumably with the requirement to keep a minimum balance of £2,500. It's a bit of a dilemma for me because I still couldn't get Breakdown, Travel and Mobile Phone cover for £156.

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rgermain wrote:That's what I thought was coming, saw it in the press.

I did enquire but all cover is very basic and I think you would be best to upgrade at a cost.
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Richard

The travel insurance is actually quite good. I've not had occasion to use it but my son has. He reported no problems with the claim at all.
However it is limited to the usual EU countries. I have to pay extra for cover travelling to NZ.
Even without the interest payment, it still seems a bargain for breakdown, travel and mobile insurance.
Al.

harrysp wrote:‘£17 back, so £3 for a weeks electric. C&CC I believe charge £5 - £6  a day. this site was very up and modern,  electric posts where you put the card in. and it is linked to a computer in the office’


Couldn’t agree more. All sites should be metered, especially club sites. It drives me mad to pay the same for electric as those with heaters in their awning and huge power hungry vans.

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that it is illegal to (re)sell electricity on a metered basis (unless you are registered as a supplier) which is why most campsites charge a fixed fee for hookup?

You can resell electricity (whether by meter or not) but not at a profit. If a rent (including a site pitch) includes electric and water then the amount of electricity has to be estimated and built into the price. The clubs don't actually charge for electricity, they charge for a service pitch which may include electric, water, waste drain and/or Hardstanding. That's how they get away with it.

As Paul said, they’re allowed to charge a fee for use of the hookup bollard but need a Secondary Supplier Agreement to resell actual electricity which must be at no more than the price paid by the site.

groundhog wrote:Nationwide flexplus account and breakdown cover is free for any vehicle you are in as is travel insurance. I have claimed twice and both times payed out as good as gold. Just an idea worth looking at?

I have got that, at £13 a month that's (13x12) a year whatever it is, it is now Sunday morning and I've temporarily forgotten my 13 times table. Ah but I remember my 12 times table so I'll use that instead. £156. That insures quite a few other things as well, such as mobile phones. You get a half decent interest on the account as well, up to £2500 I think. Not much good if you have £70k in the account though. If you do of course, you should go and spend it on a new motorhome.

Well if Nationwide are removing the 3% interest, I'll take my £70,000 elsewhere.
Oops, that might be a typo. I'll take my £700 elsewhere. I haven't had any communication from them, I guess they are not telling anyone until the week before to minimise the withdrawals.
Our next year's travel insurance will be interesting. Mrs Accountant had a heart attack about 3 years ago and the cheapest worldwide insurance we could get was about £900. That did include USA though, and we have no desire to go there again. I believe Nationwide will insure previous medical conditions for a small extra premium which I think will still be a lot cheaper than other sources.

Paulmold wrote:This annual negotiation of renewal is getting to be a pain. Last year I got it dropped to almost the same as the previous year but guaranteed for two years which if they are true to that means I won't have to go through it all again next February. I was quite ready to find a different breakdown service and still am if they hike up the price in 18 months time. 
We only use the club sites if the price compares favourably with other sites in the area we want but will always use CL's/CS's and THS's where possible.

Well the guarantee to hold the price for two years was ignored and the renewal received today hiked up last year's price by nearly £50. Straight on the phone and after getting authority from his manager, I got it back down , in fact after applying the necessary percentage discount I got it for 53p cheaper. I'll try not to spend it all at once. I had hoped not to have to go through all this again but obviously they pay no attention to previous promises.