The Importance of Household and Roadside Assistance

Annoying, stressful and sometimes even dangerous: that's the best way to describe roadside emergencies. Whether it's a flat tyre or an engine misfire, being stranded on the side of the road is no one's idea of a good time. It's even worse when it's a household emergency. Imagine waking up to find that your geyser has burst or that a tree has collapsed in your driveway.

Situations like these can knock the wind out of your lungs and burn a hole in your pocket. Scrambling to find a towing service when your car is stuck costs money, as does having to look for a locksmith when you accidentally lock yourself out of the house. The last thing you want to do when you're faced with an emergency is to worry about finding a service provider. This is where household and roadside assistance come in. If you have car insurance or home insurance policy, then you should make the most of this often overlooked, but valuable benefit.

With MiHelp, Miway’s 24-hour emergency assistance call centre, you can rest assured that you'll have timely assistance if you ever encounter an emergency, whether at home or on the road. Here's why you should consider signing up for MiHelp: 

• If you have home contents or buildings insurance cover with Miway, then you automatically have home assistance. MiHelp Home Assistance can get you access to service providers such as locksmiths, plumbers or tree-fellers. Service providers are also available to repair damaged household appliances. Upon request, MiHelp can send an emergency notification to emergency services (like police, the fire brigade, etc.), as well as notify the relevant authorities if your bank card is lost. Have a read through your policy wording to check what services you are eligible for. 

• Emergencies can occur anywhere, which is why Miway's MiHelp Roadside Assistance covers vehicle emergencies all over South Africa. This includes towing, safe storage, assistance with flat batteries as well as locksmiths if you accidentally lock yourself out of your car. If your emergency takes place more than 100km* away from home, MiHelp Roadside Assistance can assist with accommodation or an alternative means of transport.

The Bottom Line

No one can anticipate an emergency. Just because nothing's gone wrong, doesn't mean nothing will go wrong. While you can't anticipate a crisis, you can certainly prepare for them. It's one thing to have comprehensive car and household insurance; it's another to have access to reputable service providers when you need them most. If your policy doesn't include services that make life a bit easier in the event of an emergency, it's time to look for a new insurer. The peace of mind that comes with knowing that your car and house are insured amplifies when you know there's a reliable service provider that can be called to assist when needs be.

* Refer to your policy wording for further details