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RAC Trackstar - Is it really neccessary

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Old 15 May 2010, 10:49 AM
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Lee247
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Question RAC Trackstar - Is it really neccessary

Just got my renewal notice today. £144 for the year.
My WR1 is coming up to 6years old now and am wondering if I really still need this for insurance purposes.
They say I do, not spoke to the insurance company yet.
I got a bit annoyed as RAC are now dictating how to pay. They will only accept D/D. Cheeky buggars I am not amused

Sorry if this is in the wrong place!
Old 15 May 2010, 10:58 AM
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Milamber
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Speak to Moley about insurance.

I haven't bothered renewing the Tracker subscription and it hasn't made any difference to the premium at all.
Old 15 May 2010, 11:04 AM
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Lee247
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Originally Posted by Milamber
Speak to Moley about insurance.

I haven't bothered renewing the Tracker subscription and it hasn't made any difference to the premium at all.
Thanks

During the 7 years I have owned Scoobies, I have never heard from them at all. Now that might be a good thing, but seems like a lot of money for nowt
Old 15 May 2010, 12:16 PM
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Snazy
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I used to have Safe Speed and the emergency button on my Trackstar, loved it lol
Old 15 May 2010, 01:01 PM
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Scooby Soon!
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As these can be disabled for £30 by buying something off ebay , I can not really see the point in them?
Old 15 May 2010, 01:04 PM
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If your car got stolen would you really want it back? i wouldn't. Would your insurance go up by more than £144 without the tracker active. Also if the worst was to happen and it was to get taken and you did get it back, you could end up with bills to engine repairs due to being totally caned and redlined everywhere that perhaps wouldn't be apparent until later on.

just my opinion mind.

Aaron

Last edited by Aaron1978; 15 May 2010 at 01:05 PM. Reason: didn't read the OP's post properly
Old 15 May 2010, 01:26 PM
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borderlinechris
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if you`ve got a tracker at least they(the police) have a chance to catch the scum in it... whether or not you`d want it back thou i couldnt say.
Old 15 May 2010, 02:17 PM
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Someone once advised not to pay the annual premium as if your car gets nicked the Fuzz will ask the tracker co to turn on the tracker anyway to help them find it! If you have one fitted, just don't pay the premium.

When you reach a certain age it makes little diff to the premium anyway.

TX.
Old 15 May 2010, 02:18 PM
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SPEN555
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Easily overridden.

Easily found.

Signal not always there to track

battery on the thing can go flat.

waste of money and will never buy one again.

Also, as above never heard from RAC, but were quick to take my money.
Old 15 May 2010, 02:18 PM
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Easily overridden.

Easily found.

Signal not always there to track

battery on the thing can go flat.

waste of money and will never buy one again.

Also, as above never heard from RAC, but were quick to take my money.
Old 15 May 2010, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Terminator X
Someone once advised not to pay the annual premium as if your car gets nicked the Fuzz will ask the tracker co to turn on the tracker anyway to help them find it! If you have one fitted, just don't pay the premium.

When you reach a certain age it makes little diff to the premium anyway.

TX.
Thats incorrect mate, Tracker can activate the devices anytime they want but if your not subscribed they will refuse to do it, even for the Police. They argue that if they did that then no one would ever bother paying a subscription, same as trying to subscribe after the car is stolen, they won't do that either.
Old 15 May 2010, 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Jamescsti
Thats incorrect mate, Tracker can activate the devices anytime they want but if your not subscribed they will refuse to do it, even for the Police. They argue that if they did that then no one would ever bother paying a subscription, same as trying to subscribe after the car is stolen, they won't do that either.
he's right.
Old 15 May 2010, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Jamescsti
Thats incorrect mate, Tracker can activate the devices anytime they want but if your not subscribed they will refuse to do it, even for the Police. They argue that if they did that then no one would ever bother paying a subscription, same as trying to subscribe after the car is stolen, they won't do that either.
They can't activate it if the battery on it is flat which I think is just a fookin joke cos you never know if it is flat or not
Old 15 May 2010, 06:03 PM
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Interesting read, I have a smartnav in my spec D and the signal is all over the place so not sure if it woks or not. I think i will contact my insurance man to see how much it will go up by if I cancel my tracker
Old 15 May 2010, 06:32 PM
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I'm with Tesco and they insist on the Tracker being activated or they won't cover the car against theft.
Old 15 May 2010, 06:46 PM
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Just change insurance company to one who does not want you to have a tracker. You'll save money shopping around, and not have to pay for a tracker.
Old 15 May 2010, 06:50 PM
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Er, what do you think happens to people that refuse to do what the Police say ...

TX.

Originally Posted by Jamescsti
Thats incorrect mate, Tracker can activate the devices anytime they want but if your not subscribed they will refuse to do it, even for the Police. They argue that if they did that then no one would ever bother paying a subscription, same as trying to subscribe after the car is stolen, they won't do that either.
Old 15 May 2010, 06:56 PM
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Lee247
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Thanks, all

Just been onto Money Supermarket and there are loads of Insurance companies who are prepared to cover me without the Tracker. And, adding the £144 to my current insurance, lots of them are cheaper. It's not like I do many miles, only about 5k per year.
Not spoke to my Insurance yet, but it looks like it is bye bye RAC Trackstar.

I doubt I would have got the hump if they had not dictated D/D. To me, how I pay my dues is entirely up to me. They haven't done me any favours over the years, and has already been stated, how do I know the damn thing is even working
Old 15 May 2010, 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Terminator X
Er, what do you think happens to people that refuse to do what the Police say ...

TX.
Why would the RAC provide a service that you haven't paid for because the police said so

Your wrong on this TX
Old 15 May 2010, 07:04 PM
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Cos it makes their job easier & will help track down a stolen car

TX.
Old 15 May 2010, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Lee247
... how do I know the damn thing is even working
When I had a tracker fitted I did get a call(s) when the car was moved on a trailor (was always going wrong ) ie they let me know it was moving without the ignition being turned on.

TX.
Old 15 May 2010, 07:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Terminator X
Cos it makes their job easier & will help track down a stolen car

TX.
Of course it would but........ What benefit is that to the RAC? when a service they are charging for is being forced to be given for free thus sending them out of buisness very quickly. It really doesn't matter to the police if the car is found only the criminal caught. I can imagine in extreme cases that they will indeed activate it.

Aaron
Old 15 May 2010, 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Terminator X
When I had a tracker fitted I did get a call(s) when the car was moved on a trailor (was always going wrong ) ie they let me know it was moving without the ignition being turned on.

TX.
This also happened to my boss on his Impreza.
Old 15 May 2010, 07:15 PM
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Don't forget Quidco on insurances, I got 70 quid back from RAC last week. Also got breakdown cover at 28, but with 20 quid back making it 8 quid for the year
Old 15 May 2010, 07:21 PM
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Lee247
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Originally Posted by corradoboy
Don't forget Quidco on insurances, I got 70 quid back from RAC last week. Also got breakdown cover at 28, but with 20 quid back making it 8 quid for the year

Quidco ?????? Tell me more, please. Never heard of it
Old 15 May 2010, 07:22 PM
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Dave dropped a £1 coin the other day - and it hit him on the back of the head as he bent down to pick it up.
Old 15 May 2010, 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Terminator X
When I had a tracker fitted I did get a call(s) when the car was moved on a trailor (was always going wrong ) ie they let me know it was moving without the ignition being turned on.

TX.
I've never heard a thing from them. 3 years with the UK300 and coming up to 4 years with the WR1.
I reckon I have given them, not a kick in the *** off £900 in that time, possibly more. I could have had some serious shopping time with that money
Old 15 May 2010, 07:24 PM
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Originally Posted by GC8
Dave dropped a £1 coin the other day - and it hit him on the back of the head as he bent down to pick it up.
Old 15 May 2010, 07:41 PM
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dont get this thread at all .. when i had mine fitted it was £350.00 plus £350 lifetime subscription saved me £200 1st year on insurance , never bothered to work it out every year since , but they phoned me once when i was towed . and i have rang them several times to do a test , they will allow 4 tests per year , an will tell you there and then on the phone where your car is . i allways thought i wasnt bad . and didnt know you could get insured for sensible money without one
Old 15 May 2010, 08:04 PM
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Lee247
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Originally Posted by madscoob
dont get this thread at all .. when i had mine fitted it was £350.00 plus £350 lifetime subscription saved me £200 1st year on insurance , never bothered to work it out every year since , but they phoned me once when i was towed . and i have rang them several times to do a test , they will allow 4 tests per year , an will tell you there and then on the phone where your car is . i allways thought i wasnt bad . and didnt know you could get insured for sensible money without one
I had one fitted to the UK300 and took the lifetime subscription. I only kept the car for 3 years, so was not really worth it. That was £395 at the time. The lifetime subscription only applies to the car, not the person. Change cars and you have to start again.
When I bought the WR1, the tracker was already fitted. Hence, paying yearly.
I just don't think it is worth the money, tbh.

Last edited by Lee247; 15 May 2010 at 08:05 PM.


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