Coach Net - Towing - extra fee for a drop at a campground - RV-Dreams Community Forum

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Coach Net - Towing - extra fee for a drop at a campground

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you used a credit card, dispute the charges Monday morning.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

That's the thing that worries me about all these membership cards. All good until you go to needing it and use it......................But now here's the FINE PRINT.

Also, yes for sure if you paid with a credit card.........Look at a Credit Card Charge Back. Done and Done.

-- Edited by TRAILERKING on Sunday 5th of April 2015 07:51:56 PM

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

Alie and Jims Carrilite wrote:
If you used a credit card, dispute the charges Monday morning.

Agreed, get the CC company involved. Sure you want them working on your truck?

Barb

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sure would worry me about some Towing Companies "Grease Monkey Garage" pokin' their greasy fingers around my rig.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yeah, I'm not thrilled with Coachnet either.

I got stuck in my brother-in-laws driveway. They would not cover pulling me out. Because it was "offroad". In a driveway is considered
"offroad" because it is not a deeded paved road. BTW, they told me if I was on a gravel road they ALSO would not cover that. "Offroad". I'll be looking elsewhere for coverage at renewal.

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack,

Please keep us posted.

It has always been my un-educated opinion that the roadside assistance companies are all pretty much the same.

Sometimes two different companies even use the same towing companies in a given area.

Would love to hear about a decent alternative.

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, after posting a positive comment on CoachNet on another thread that was based on anecdotal evidence... Jack and Dale, your experiences have caused me to question my assumptions. Since I respect your opinions on this forum, I also will await to hear what recommendations you might have in this area so I can make a more informed decision on this important area for RVers when our time comes.

Brian

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've used Coachnet three times in the 10 years we've had them. Twice was for the car, once for the rig.

I do know that several years ago there were a series of pullouts that caused most of the emergency road service companies to change the way they handle off-road, had to do with people taking rigs onto beaches in Washington state. And I also know that there was an FMCA rally in Perry, Georgia where it rained and loads of people got stuck in the mud and huge numbers had to be pulled out. Most ERS don't cover 'off-road' pullouts, or if they do, limit it to 1-2 hrs, period. A good thing to check on when looking at the terms of the policy.

Barb

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Never hurts to be super vigilant about where you park your rig or be cognizant of the weather conditions either biggrin

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ruth, I would call the wrecker company owner and discuss the pricing you got from the driver. Be pleasant and just ask if this is the correct pricing...you might be surprised.

Just a thought.

Red

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Update - the manager stopped by our RV park today to let us know that the truck issue is not something simple, therefore they are towing it to Ford since we have an extended warranty. However, Coach Net would not cover the second, nor would they cover the cost to reconnect the drive chain which had to be disconnected to tow it. Not sure I understand that rationale at all but it is what it is.

We had already decided that we wanted the truck towed to Ford after I read the Yelp and Google reviews on this company.

el Rojo and Pam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dale and Ruth, sorry you're having to go through this, but I think you'll be better off at a Ford dealer.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Red, actually now it appears the local Ford dealer is going to have us towed to a larger Ford dealer 35 miles up the way. Something is wrong that is beyond the skills of their shop. I think our extended warranty might be paying for itself at this time.

Howard · Host

I have sent an email to my contacts at Coach-Net to see if they have a response.

My benefit booklet states:

The Emergency Roadside Assistance service is designed to assist members whose vehicle becomes disabled as a result of unavoidable circumstances, which are mechanical in nature. Service is available for emergency assistance on the roadside or in a campsite up to 100 feet off a maintained road or in a commercial campground equipped for camping vehicles only and does not include convenience or shuttle tows, towing from a servicing dealership or other repair facility. Only one service call per incident is covered, unless the vehicle needs to be towed to a safe location as determined by us. It does not cover recovery of a vehicle subjected to a natural disaster, a vehicle submerged in water, or a vehicle not on a maintained road. (underline emphasis added)

Dale & Ruth, we also had to be towed on a weekend when the Ford dealership was closed, so the tow company towed us to a campground ("safe location"). Then Coach-Net paid to have the truck towed to the dealership when it opened on Monday. It sounds like your case is different in a couple of ways and Coach-Net was abiding by the letter of their contract. Still, I think they should have paid the tow company "drop" fee and the cost to re-connect the drive train (not your problem this happened on a weekend and your options were limited). Again, I'll see what I can find out from my Coach-Net contacts.

Jack, I would assume your brother-in-law's driveway is within a 100 feet of a maintained road, but perhaps not. Of course, they could argue that a driveway is not a "campsite" but that would really be splitting hairs. Now as for not towing someone off a "gravel" road, I would certainly argue that a gravel road does not necessarily mean that it is not "maintained".

I wouldn't expect any roadside assistance company to tow me out of a spot where I shouldn't be (lack of maintained road), but we recommend Coach-Net and Good Sam ERS because they are specific to RVers and should be prepared for difficult situations. I would expect both of them to cover any reasonable towing unless there is a safety reason or a clear circumstance that might subject the tow company and roadside assistance company to additional liability.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Howard, anything you can find out would be helpful, especially if Coach Net would cover any of the extra fees. From a perspective of the nearest "safe location" unless the tow truck just dropped us off in a Casino parking lot, I'm not sure there were any other locations that would have been much closer, hence my confusion on the "drop fee".

The tow service took the truck with them Saturday night and then towed it to the Ford dealer today, part of the extra fees today were the reconnecting of the drive train and the tow to the Ford Dealership.

jaynjazz · RV-Dreams Family Member

Sorry about your troubles... Good thing you are now involved with Ford as it sounds like it would work out better for you in the long run. That towing company seems crazy for that much extra for an alternate destination. I would understand $50 or something but $250+ is nuts.

best of luck!
J&J

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I was somewhat surprised at the driveway issue. But in my specific case the driveway is a long one. So it was beyond the 100' that Howard quotes. It was a simple matter for the company I called and I paid to winch me out. It was a lack of traction issue, not a serious recovery.

I SPECIFICALLY asked about the gravel road since the agent said it had to be a maintained road and read me the section that Howard posted. They stated that "maintained" meant paved. Otherwise the driveway would be qualified, since it is maintained.

As far as the driveshaft disconnect, sometimes they seem to pay for the reattachment and disconnect, and sometimes not. Usually they pay for the disconnect. Often they will not pay for the reconnect.

Much of this stuff is subject to interpretation. The specific agent and supervisor involved seem to make a difference. The same applies to what types of vehicles are covered. For YEARS there has been confusion at Coachnet on if HDTs are covered or not. Sometimes yes, sometimes no....but all of the "Corporate" people have been saying yes recently.

I've used CN before for tire work and was satisfied. However, a simple winch out of a slippery condition is something I need to have on my policy, so that means I will have to try to cover that somehow. I seriously doubt Good Sam is any different. We have used them both in the past. We left Good Sam SPECIFICALLY because of the annoying mailings from Affinity that we COULD NOT get turned off no matter what we did, including opting out. We did use Good Sam service on a number of occasions for tire issues, and were satisfied. We just could not deal with their "marketing culture".

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

Update - Received an unexpected call from Coach Net today. Turns out they feel they should have covered the second towing of the truck to the repair facility so we are emailing the receipt at their request. I also voiced our concern that the campground drop fee felt like highway robbery.

They are making a note in their file regarding this tow company so perhaps no one else will have to experience this extortion.

Howard - not sure if it was your contact to Coach Net that helped resolve this, but we are grateful if you have some influence in what at least feels like a step in the right direction!! Thank you!

Howard · Host

Dale & Ruth,

We did provide our contacts at Coach-Net information about your situation a couple weeks ago, and got an email today saying they have been in touch with you. Glad we could help and that it is a step in the right direction. smile

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Way to go, Howard and Linda!!!!

Terry

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

THANKS Howard!!!!

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

Strength in Numbers..................

That's great they're standing good for it.

NWescapee · RV-Dreams Family Member

And another GREAT update on this, we were expecting to receive a check for the cost of the second towing, that is what Coach Net had indicated they would cover.

Received the check today and they not only covered the second tow, they covered the campground drop fee!!! So, while Coach Net won't make any money on our annual subscription for their service, you can bet they have a loyal and happy customer.

Huge thanks again to Howard for his intervention!!

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

And they just got a HUGE positive advertisement for their service. I always wonder why businesses are so slow to realize that people no longer live in the vacuum and that good or bad publicity makes it way through groups on the internet VERY quickly. We've had good service from Coach Net and I always recommend them.

Barb