The insurance company is the only entity that has not taken part in the dialogue opened between the National Roadside Assistance Alliance and insurers, motoring clubs and assistance platforms.
On 1 September the National Roadside Assistance Alliance denounced that Allianz has still not joined the meetings launched by this organisation, which brings together the roadside assistance sector. Last July a schedule of meetings was held between the two sides: insurers, motoring clubs and travel assistance platforms on the one hand, and roadside assistance companies on the other.
In this respect, Xavier Martí, the Alliance's spokesperson, pointed out that Allianz has shown no willingness to take part and, therefore, no willingness to engage in the dialogue opened across the whole sector. Martí stated that, of all the entities invited to a new round of talks – scheduled for this month – "only Allianz has responded with silence".
Poor pay for tow trucks on urban jobs
The organisation representing tow-truck companies denounces that Allianz – one of the leading travel assistance insurers in Spain – is not applying Royal Decree-Law 3/22, passed by the Government last March. This regulatory change requires transport prices to be increased as a result of the rise in fuel costs. For the sector, more expensive fuel means a loss of turnover of between 3.8 % and 12.7 %, depending on the type of vehicle used for the job.
Another issue the Alliance is raising is the poor pay for tow trucks on urban jobs, specifically in the case of Allianz. This company pays from 29 euros per job, clearly insufficient to cover the costs of sending out a tow truck with its operator, as well as the associated tasks, bearing in mind the time spent and kilometres covered.
According to sector sources, this situation is already leading to companies pulling out. In the case of jobs for Allianz, there are also occasional delays of more than ten days in taking vehicles to the garage. Nevertheless, the National Alliance reiterates its invitation to Allianz to join the dialogue opened with the other companies. Talks are expected to resume now, in September.
Possible legal action over non-compliance with the decree-law
The National Roadside Assistance Alliance's message in this respect is clear: roadside assistance service providers must comply with the law if the service is not to deteriorate even further, jeopardising the viability of tow-truck companies. As was already denounced at the end of August, this summer has been particularly difficult for the sector. It is estimated that 19 % of jobs requested more than 60 kilometres from assistance companies' operating bases were not carried out, basically due to the shortage of tow-truck drivers and the high costs of making them available for journeys of this kind. More than 120,000 assistance jobs are thought to have gone unattended over the summer period, according to the Alliance's calculations.
These shortcomings in service are the direct responsibility of the aforementioned insurers and intermediaries, which have not yet generally revised their rate tables in line with fuel price increases. The case of Allianz is particularly stubborn, they point out.
According to its spokesperson, the Alliance's legal department is considering taking legal action to force Allianz Compañía de Seguros to comply with the Royal Decree-Law. Even so, the other insurers and intermediaries are being called on to act responsibly and comply with current law, with the aim of avoiding an escalation of conflict in the sector.
The National Roadside Assistance Alliance is made up of the following regional and national associations and business organisations: ABEAC (Balearic Islands), ABEAC (Basque Country), ASCA (Catalonia), AMEAC (Madrid), ANESAV (National), ASCALEAC, (Castile and León), ASEDA (Andalusia), ASEGA (Galicia), AGRUAXA (Salamanca), ASEXTEAC (Extremadura), GRUPO CARTER (National), CEPAS (National), FEGRUAL (National Federation) AGREGA-GRÚAS and REAC (National Group).