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Original poster

AA lied! WWYD?

261 replies

misstrot · 09/05/2023 12:48

I am FUMING! Lies! OMG-please read-sorry it's long-I need advice!
DD (20) hit a small piece of debris on motorway on the way home from uni on the motorway. Car seemed ok but next time she took it out it overheated so we called AA. Patrolman said everything was fine-it just needed oil and water (he filled water but we had to go get the oil) Now DD is a bit nervy driving so she asked was he sure it was ok to drive back to uni (2 hr drive) and he assured her-yes. Then I asked him and he said he 'wouldn't send a young girl onto the motorway in the car if he didn't believe the car was perfectly safe and roadworthy' Enter DH who asks him is he sure ok-doesn't need to be checked at the garage as his DD is very precious and he wants her to be safe etc-again AA reiterates 'all safe-all roadworthy-doesn't need anything doing"- I follow him to the van to input my email/sign attendance from and he tells me no need.
You guessed it-she goes back to uni and breaks down on the M4 in bad weather (it takes 5+ hours for them to send a recovery truck and she is traumatised!)
We get the car delivered back here and ask a local garage to come and look. The garage owner states the car had a severe water leak (the AA didn't pressure test the system) which has caused car to overheat and blown the head gasket-so dead. Bearing in mind DD worked and saved up all summer and only bought the car in August- from a reputable National chain and paid £4000 (it's a little mini) she is devastated.
Ok, so we send report to AA and ask for compensation/new (2nd hand) engine for car. They send an 'Independant Assessor' (paid for by AA and does most of his work for AA so not really independent!?) who literally spends 4 mins taking photos -opens the bonnet and says the head gasket has gone and leaves. His report states that it was our fault for driving it as the head gasket had gone (for clarity it was fine before-no smoke from exhaust and only had a full service and 120 point check in August etc)
The AA then state the patrolman informed us that the car was not roadworthy and should be taken to a garage so they don't hold liability!!!!!! WTF! A complete LIE and 360 on what he said to us. Sadly too late to download Ring doorbell footage to support us -as its gone and he never sent us an emailed report stating what he did or advised-normal protocol. Help! What can I do?

OP posts:
ChrisPPancake · 09/05/2023 19:19

SofiaSoFar · 09/05/2023 19:18

If you can't look at the instruments you shouldn't be driving.

You are clearly a danger to everyone.

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The temp guage doesn't actually show all the time on the display in my car 🤷

SofiaSoFar · 09/05/2023 19:18

Soapyspuds · 09/05/2023 19:16

Why didn't she pull over when she saw the temp rising

Perhaps she was spending more time looking at the road.

Most drivers are not going to notice temperature rising. What an arrogant comment.

If you can't look at the instruments you shouldn't be driving.

You are clearly a danger to everyone.

ChairFloorWall · 09/05/2023 19:17

LisaVanderpump1 · 09/05/2023 17:34

I'm sure she might be, but why? Either 1) daughter is "traumatised" in which case she needs to get a bit of a grip or 2) OP is being hyperbolic to create drama and she needs to get a grip. Why create a mountain out a molehill?

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Don’t you think your OTT reaction to the word is creating a mountain out of molehill?

ChrisPPancake · 09/05/2023 19:17

@misstrot can I just ask how many times her vehicle has done a long journey? And if it had done long journeys before she got it? Because we had similar (about a thousand years ago when I was a similar age to your dd) - car had only been driven locally, looked in good nick, full servicing record and low mileage. First time we went on a long trip it overheated. Head gasket went on that too. Garage (different place to where we bought it) said low mileage isn't always a good thing, you need to know how the car is used.

Sucks that he lied though. Go through AA complaints procedure and escalate to Ombudsman if no joy (telling them you're going to do that may mean they take action?). Or as a pp has said, might be worth talking to her insurance about the initial mishap.

Soapyspuds · 09/05/2023 19:16

Why didn't she pull over when she saw the temp rising

Perhaps she was spending more time looking at the road.

Most drivers are not going to notice temperature rising. What an arrogant comment.

widowtwankywashroom · 09/05/2023 19:12

Your daughter is dramatic and so are you

TheFluffiestHobo · 09/05/2023 19:12

I had a similar situation with the RAC. We were on the m25 and heard something break under the car. Got off at the next exit and called RAC out and assumed it was a wheel bearing that had gone. An absolute knob showed up and jumped in the car, sped off, and then did a doughnut right in front of us. Said the car was perfect and it was probably just a rock hitting the bottom of the car. I took our 2 dc home on the coach (200 miles away) as I didn't trust him. Ex dp tried to continue on in the car and the ENTIRE wheel came off and rolled away down a slip road joining the m25. It then took the RAC 2 days to tow ex dp and the car home.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/05/2023 19:08

misstrot · 09/05/2023 19:04

But he is now saying he told us it was unsafe to drive as the head gasket was going-completely opposite to what he told us! That’s what I’m upset about not his poor diagnosis- he is human!

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Ultimately you have no proof either way, so I think you really need to just let this go now. I understand you're frustrated and upset but you won't get anywhere trying to fight this - it's just a waste of time.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/05/2023 19:07

misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:50

Yes he did check it-it was fine- he said it just need topping up.
Also white smoke from the exhaust and oil in the coolant are strong indications-neither of which were present when he checked it!

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So he checked the car was safe to drive and it was. So there was no reason for him to repair it or take it to a garage.

It's not his fault it went on to fail when your DD next drove it.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 09/05/2023 19:05

Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 19:03

So he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that there would be a problem then. I can see the headline now - AA sued because patrol man wasn’t clairvoyant.

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This is a very good point.

Spookysnake · 09/05/2023 19:05

Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 19:03

So he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that there would be a problem then. I can see the headline now - AA sued because patrol man wasn’t clairvoyant.

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Not AA sued; patrolman arrested and sent away for lyfe! He tried to k*ll OP's daughter!

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 19:04

Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 19:03

So he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that there would be a problem then. I can see the headline now - AA sued because patrol man wasn’t clairvoyant.

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But he is now saying he told us it was unsafe to drive as the head gasket was going-completely opposite to what he told us! That’s what I’m upset about not his poor diagnosis- he is human!

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 19:03

misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:50

Yes he did check it-it was fine- he said it just need topping up.
Also white smoke from the exhaust and oil in the coolant are strong indications-neither of which were present when he checked it!

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So he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that there would be a problem then. I can see the headline now - AA sued because patrol man wasn’t clairvoyant.

Spookysnake · 09/05/2023 19:03

2bazookas · 09/05/2023 18:42

Do you have legal protection veia your home insurance policy? If so, now is when to use it.

If not, I would contact police and pake a formal fraud and deception complaint about the named patrolman who endangered your daughter and lied to his employers.

Fuck's sake, I bet you're one of the idiots who called the police when KFC ran out of chicken. This is manifestly not a police matter and OP would make a t*t of herself.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:54

2bazookas · 09/05/2023 18:42

Do you have legal protection veia your home insurance policy? If so, now is when to use it.

If not, I would contact police and pake a formal fraud and deception complaint about the named patrolman who endangered your daughter and lied to his employers.

Interesting-thanks!

OP posts:
JudgeRudy · 09/05/2023 18:53

littleripper · 09/05/2023 14:27

There are 2 things here:

  1. AA let her down and gave poor advice but are unlikely to be legally negligent
  2. if she is so lacking in resilience that 5 hours on the hard shoulder traumatises her she should not be driving/going out alone and needs therapy

I agree.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:50

Willmafrockfit · 09/05/2023 18:28

i understood if the head gasket is going the oil looks gungy, surely they would have checked that

Yes he did check it-it was fine- he said it just need topping up.
Also white smoke from the exhaust and oil in the coolant are strong indications-neither of which were present when he checked it!

OP posts:
Spookysnake · 09/05/2023 18:50

Tratjymp · 09/05/2023 18:44

When people do that it triggers my Strabismus syndrome.

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Don't be so STUPID, it's called Stravinskij syndrome.

Maighnuad · 09/05/2023 18:50

So how I read this AA said it was ok to drive the car but did not provide a report.
So is there a report ? And if so can you get a copy ?
Also get clarification of expectations when AA is called ?

I Think your DD was doing exactly what I would do, she was told the car was fine and was attempting to reach her destination. This actually happened to me and I noticed the temperature high light when it was too late. Maybe I need the Mumsnet temperature goggles to ensure no future misses.

Personally, I would try for the report and see whether it was expected for you to sign receipt of it and then go down the small claims court.
And as for the use of the word trauma, I am unsure how many of 18 year olds would handle a break down on a motorway. It is scary at anytime breaking down on the motorway, well for me. The unknown time to be provided assistance and the lack of control adds to the anxiety. You know your DD and you know whether this was a trauma or otherwise.

I hope you get this resolved.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:47

Jonei · 09/05/2023 18:23

Do you have legal cover with your insurance op? I had a similar thing where the AA basically destroyed my car. It took a long while but I did finally manage to get the money out of them to replace it.

Oh great idea! Thanks for your help x

OP posts:
Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:46

Thereislightattheendofthetunnel · 09/05/2023 18:22

I am not sure if this has been mentioned yet. I think you should put a formal complaint through the motor ombudsman, perhaps you might have a bit of hope there but you will have to submit some evidence of some sort.
Good luck OP

Oh that’s a great suggestion-I didn’t know they existed-thanks for your help

OP posts:
Tratjymp · 09/05/2023 18:44

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 09/05/2023 14:45

Please don't misuse the word traumatised

When people do that it triggers my Strabismus syndrome.

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 09/05/2023 18:44

Lol yes he probably was eye rolling! DH is chronically ill so he’d prised himself off the bed to go check all was ok- he feels guilty he can’t ‘help’ so it probably made him feel like he’d done something!!
OP

and there we are.

Op, we’ve all made decisions which in hindsight we’re not the right one. Your DD wa s, ok, she wasn’t in a terrible accident, yes the pain of buses and the cost will be extremely disheartening but she’s ok. DH needs to probably give himself a break from the guilt as it can’t be doing him any good, chronic illness of any sort brings a whole host of challenges for the patient and the family. Hopefully this will become a funny story sooner rather than later, that’s what I’d be doing anyway. Try to find the humour.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:43

Boujee11 · 09/05/2023 17:53

I’m not sure why you are getting such a hard time, the AA isn’t just always for breakdowns these days, if you have the cover they will come to your home for repairs as well. I just had a new battery fitted by them, it was cheaper and more convenient than going to a garage. Before they changed it they did diagnostics on the old battery to ensure that was the problem. I would have been very annoyed if they had told me the battery wasn’t the issue then it turned out that it was especially if it then caused extensive damage to my car!

Also breaking down on the motorway is unnerving, especially in the dark and bad weather and with no phone battery? I drive a lot and have broken down before in the dark, felt very vulnerable, it is a stressful situation. Why did the AA take so long to reach her? They usually prioritise female drivers and on motorways even more so.

The point I would be pushing with the AA is the lack of signed report. I would call again to ensure they have a record of coming to your home, then follow up asking for this. I’m not sure if you’ve said if you signed anything? You should have signed their device to say you were satisfied and this would be emailed to you. Keep asking them if you don’t have this.

Thanks for your reply- yes- the AA do do repairs-over the years I’ve had flat tyres, flat batteries, odd noises (one recently was a stone behind the wheel cover!) etc- and in fairness I’ve used them over 25 years and always been very happy. This is the first time I’ve been unhappy and I’m not even that upset with the poor diagnosis as we’re all human and make mistakes (even though it was crappy for DD) but it’s the lie that’s got me riled! I’m going to try and take it further- the lack of report which I should have received is really bugging me-I rang and asked for it and they said there wasn’t one and then that he’d written one retrospectively but that we couldn’t have a copy? Wtf?

OP posts:
2bazookas · 09/05/2023 18:42

Do you have legal protection veia your home insurance policy? If so, now is when to use it.

If not, I would contact police and pake a formal fraud and deception complaint about the named patrolman who endangered your daughter and lied to his employers.

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