STUDY OF BREAKDOWN PROVIDERS PUTS GREEN FLAG AHEAD ON VALUE FOR MONEY

Motoring assistance provider Green Flag has emerged ahead of its main rivals as the best value for money provider of breakdown and recovery services, according to a new survey undertaken by MORI.

Some 93 per cent of motorists responding to the independent study described Green Flag Motoring Assistance as providing excellent or good value for money.

Motorists who had experienced the service from their breakdown provider in the past six months gave Green Flag a rating of 93 per cent for the performance of the telephone operator dealing with the incident.

High levels of loyalty were also revealed by figures showing that 96 per cent of Green Flag customers surveyed would be likely to recommend the service to a friend. Some 83 per cent said they would remain with Green Flag when invited to renew their policy.

The survey also revealed that speed of response to roadside incidents continued to be a major issue for motoring assistance customers, and here Green Flag out-performed its main competitors with 88 per cent of arrivals by recovery agents taking place within the hour.

Spokesperson, Nigel Charlesworth said: We are encouraged by the results of the survey that puts us on top in areas such as customer loyalty and the professional manner in which calls from often stressed customers are handled.

Speed of response to incidents is key to our customers. Our model of using local independent agents means we have the capability to respond to calls for assistance quickly, and crucially, with the right equipment for the job."

The motoring assistance expert recently added SMS text messaging to its services for customers. Stranded motorists using a mobile phone to call for help are now given the option of receiving text messages, offering reassurance that help is on schedule and its way. Customers with hearing impairment are also given the option of using text phone services to signal that they are in need of assistance.

Green Flag Motoring Assistance provides UK and European rescue and recovery to more than 5m customers. Many join the company through unique arrangements with some of the countrys largest businesses and membership organisations. Green Flag is currently sponsor of the British Touring Car Championship and was a former sponsor of the England football team.

Ends

Notes to editors

· *MORI Telephone Surveys undertook research with more than 1,000 roadside assistance customers (divided equally between Green Flag, the AA and the RAC). The April 2003 survey asked respondents to rate the key considerations in a vehicle breakdown situation and measured levels of satisfaction with the performance of the companies involved.

· Green Flag's centre in Leeds handles 1m incidents each year.

· Customers have access to 6,000 UK independent recovery agents and 15,000 in Europe.

· Green Flag Motoring Assistance is a brand of UKI Partnerships, a leading business-to-business provider of general insurance and motoring assistance.

· UKI Partnerships insurance products are underwritten by UK Insurance Ltd, a member of the General Insurance Standards Council.

Press calls

For further information contact Nigel Charlesworth or Melanie Denny on 0113 399 1427/1387 (out of hours 07711 964 615).

E-mail: public-relations@greenflag.com

Website: www.greenflag.com