Car World Club emergency service - Is it still worth it?

[Arkady]

I joined Car World Club (CWC) soon after it started when it advertised a lot on radio and was generally well known and recommended by Thais. I used it a few times in the early years and was very impressed with their service.  They had skilled mechanics who came on motor bikes in less than an hour in Bangkok and had enough mechanical knowledge and skills to do temporary repairs to get the car moving again, once getting under my car in the dark to spend an hour fixing a damaged drive shaft. 

 

I have renewed my subscription annually, when they called, without thinking much about it but hadn’t needed their service for years until yesterday when my car broke down.  The guy at the call centre immediately decided my car would need to be picked up and sent to a garage of my choice for repair.  When the truck arrived it was a subcontractor’s truck.  They got the job done quickly and efficiently but it seems they don’t have any mechanics of their own anymore and now just use subcontractors to pick up or tow the customers’ cars to be fixed at the customers’ expense.  In the past they could often fix up the car well enough that you could continue going about your business for a day or two before taking it for longer lasting repairs.

 

Now I look at their website and find it is just a static page.  I would guess that the original owners must have cashed out and sold it years ago to someone who was unable to make anything of the business and cut back to minimum costs to just milk the old customer base while it lasts.  Can anyone recommend any alternatives that either provide the full service that CWC used to provide or that provide the emergency pick-up service CWC provides today for less? In Bangkok I guess it should be quite easy to get a tow truck without paying an annual subscription but upcountry I am not so sure.  On the other hand I don’t know what CWC's service would be like upcountry these days either.

[richard_smith237]

My Citibank credit card offers the 'Recovery' service for free (2x per year)... 

 

I suspect that many such deals exist  and have pushed these companies out of business. 

 

 

I've used the Citibank recovery service twice when faced with breakdown issues.

1) Fanbelt broke - car was over heating: Car was towed from outside of Bangkok to a Garage in Bangkok (about 50km - on a Flatbed truck).

2) Brand New Car (that day !) - Catastrophic breakdown on the Express way in Bangkok: Car towed off expressway by Expressway Police - then towed on to Dealership Garage by Citibank (about 10 km - 4WD car, rear wheels on a 'dolly').

 

 

[Ace of Pop]

NO.


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[Kwasaki]

Good answer Ace. 

Most cars today being so reliable between service interviews and ones fitted with get home safe modes have killed off car club recovery outfits. 

If you have an old car and your not DIY capable or like me don't wanna get messy.

I guess if your prepared to pay for a membership for a phone call away assistance it's OK.

Most of your local dealers manufacturers of cars in Thailand have telephone numbers and help lines you can use and pay up as you go.

Some insurances you insure a vehicle with have recovery cover.

Up country as you say 500 baht offer to most will get you help. 

 

[Arkady]

Thanks for all these good responses. I guess CWC were in luck that I didn't need their service for a long time and didn't realise it's not the same as it was until yesterday.  I have a Citibank Visa select card, so I guess I can use their service free and cut CWC at the next renewal date.