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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:
rumbusiness · 09/05/2023 18:08

misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:03

Lol -you sound like a barrel of laughs!
we don’t feel guilty- we also weren’t irresponsible… her car was overheating (garages all shut btw as it was a weekend) so we responsibly asked the AA for assistance. They are supposed to be professional qualified mechanics- had he had any doubts she’d have had to get the train and it would have gone to a garage-but he assured us it was fine. Yes I’m angry- angry he is now lying that’s it!

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Lol -you sound like a barrel of laughs!

What a bizarre and unfounded personal attack. Sorry you didn't like me pointing out the reality of the situation.

we don’t feel guilty- we also weren’t irresponsible…

You should - you were.

My eldest daughter is a few years younger than yours. If she starts driving at 17/18, no way would I be sending her off alone on a long motorway journey in a car that had been involved in an incident and was overheating without getting it properly checked out.

(garages all shut btw as it was a weekend)

Then you wait until they reopen.

so we responsibly asked the AA for assistance. They are supposed to be professional qualified mechanics- had he had any doubts she’d have had to get the train and it would have gone to a garage-but he assured us it was fine. Yes I’m angry- angry he is now lying that’s it!

You should be angry at yourself and your husband for putting your daughter in that situation.

And without written proof of what he said, why should anyone believe your story?

Willmafrockfit · 09/05/2023 18:08

i put the heater on when the temperature goes up, it cools it down.
until i can get water in or something

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:06

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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Again… sorry the word traumatised has annoyed everyone! Obviously wrong choice of word! Really upset!? Better?!

OP posts:
Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:04

LisaVanderpump1 · 09/05/2023 17:25

I've been there. It is dangerous and not fun for sure. But traumatising is a bit of a stretch. Being robbed at gunpoint is traumatising. Assault is traumatising. Your car breaking down is really just an inconvenience. Sorry, but language is important, and it's setting your daughter up for failure to encourage her to believe that things like this in life are any more than a bit of a PITA.

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Ok maybe ‘traumatised’ was the wrong choice of word… but doesn’t change the situation.

OP posts:
Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:03

rumbusiness · 09/05/2023 17:30

In fact, I think this whole thing is you and your husband trying to shift the blame and responsibility. I'm sure he did say that - I don't doubt your story

But a responsible parent would have got it checked out anyway (or got your daughter to get it checked out). You know you should have done that, you know it was irresponsible of you to take his word for it, and now you're putting all of that anger on to the AA (who no doubt are lying through their teeth) rather than acknowledging your own responsibility and feelings of guilt.

Lol -you sound like a barrel of laughs!
we don’t feel guilty- we also weren’t irresponsible… her car was overheating (garages all shut btw as it was a weekend) so we responsibly asked the AA for assistance. They are supposed to be professional qualified mechanics- had he had any doubts she’d have had to get the train and it would have gone to a garage-but he assured us it was fine. Yes I’m angry- angry he is now lying that’s it!

OP posts:
Boujee11 · 09/05/2023 17:59

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts but they said it was fine and it wasn’t? If the AA guy had said my car didn’t have a problem and it appeared to be fixed by topping up the coolant, I wouldn’t then take it to another garage, why would I? It sounds like the next time the problem occurred it was basically too late?

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/05/2023 17:55

misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:53

They do actually- my car was making a knocking noise and I rang them as I wasn’t sure if safe to drive and they weren’t sure either so towed it to be safe!

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But that's the point PP are trying to make.

In your scenario, the AA weren't sure that your car was safe to drive, therefore they towed it to the garage to be safe. That's their job.

In your DD's case, they saw that the car was driveable so they were under no obligation to take it to the garage. That's your DD's job.

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.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:53

SofiaSoFar · 09/05/2023 16:41

The AA don't collect working cars and take them to a garage for you.

They try to fix broken down vehicles and if they can't, they recover them to your home or a garage.

They do breakdown and recovery. They're not a concierge service for drivers.

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They do actually- my car was making a knocking noise and I rang them as I wasn’t sure if safe to drive and they weren’t sure either so towed it to be safe!

OP posts:
Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:51

Honeyroar · 09/05/2023 16:10

Can I ask a question OP - I’m not sure whether it’s actually been said whether the AA man visited when the car had gone over the debris or later on at home? I once had the RAC out to my car at home because I wasn’t sure it was running right or safe to drive a long way without breaking down. They included it as one of my breakdown call outs (this was 20 years ago) but said they could only comment on what they saw on the day. Would this be what happened this time? Was the engine perhaps cold and therefore not losing water at that point - perhaps the crack/damage was bigger when the engine was warm and running, and therefore started leaking again? Just trying to get my head around what happened.

Yes, he visited at home after the debris scenario -but when it consequently started to overheat. He did get my daughter to drive it round the block -but yes maybe not ‘hot’ enough I don’t know!
Had he said it was iffy or he didn’t know what was up then I’d have asked him to tow it to the garage-obviously if he HAD said this she wouldn’t have merrily driven off down the motorway!!!

OP posts:
YaWeeFurryBastard · 09/05/2023 17:51

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

He was probably eyerolling so hard at this he gave the wrong info 😂😂

Seriously though sorry to hear this OP, probably worth seeing if you can take it any further as I agree it doesn’t sound right.

BonnieLisbon · 09/05/2023 17:49

The RAC used to come quite quickly if you were a woman on your own. Definitely didn't take 5 hours. Don't know if that's still the case as I've not called them out for ages. Bad they lied like that

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/05/2023 17:49

misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:43

Yes-so I see now!
I was hoping someone would have some advice on how to take the Aa to task over the lying-but they are all hung up on ‘did she stop in time’ and ‘the AA are only for breakdowns’

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You won't get anywhere complaining to the AA because it's your word against theirs. You have zero proof of what the technician did or didn't say to you.

Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 17:48

Wheresthebeach · 09/05/2023 17:24

I would have thought the lack of a report signed by the customer should raise alarm bells.

I'd write, calmly, stating the events. Highlighting that you were told no report was necessary, and surely if the care wasn't fit to drive that they would have had you sign a report saying so.
They have been negligent and incompetent. Start with customer services, then ask for their legal department.

Good luck with that.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:46

Rummikub · 09/05/2023 16:41

Yes?

From their website:

Will the AA come to my house?If you add At Home to your policy, we'll come to you if your car breaks down at home.
When you need us, we'll usually get to you in under an hour, or at a time that suits you.
We fix 9 out of 10 breakdowns at home, and if we can't fix your vehicle, we'll sort out the recovery of your vehicle as usual.

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Yes they should! In December my car was making an odd noise so I didn’t know if safe to drive-called the AA -he wasn’t sure either so towed it to the garage for me-turned out to be the gearbox. And he sent me report to say what he’d done/advised.

OP posts:
Outerlimit · 09/05/2023 17:45

TheShellBeach · 09/05/2023 14:42

I'm really enjoying this thread.
Great badinage.

Do cars have big ends these days? Because I always think that sounds like such a silly name for a car part.

(misses point of thread)

Phew, our extensive knowledge is still relevant.

AA lied! WWYD?
bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 09/05/2023 17:45

Outerlimit · 09/05/2023 17:37

The temperature gauge shows how hot the water that the sensor is sitting in is. When a catastrophic failure occurs, the sensor is sitting in nothing so the gauge shows zero.

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Can confirm. When my dad's Volvo 340 dropped the contents of the cooling system onto the tarmac at the traffic lights, complete with comedy film style steam rising from the bonnet, the gauge gave no warning of this.

We kids thought it was hilarious. Him, not so much.

Whatthediddlyfeck · 09/05/2023 17:44

Ok I’m going to be the bitch and put it out there that perhaps OP’s daughter isn’t telling the whole truth…it wouldn’t be the first time someone has thought they’ve known better than the pro who has potentially said ‘this’ll get you home but get it checked’, ignored the advice, which has bitten them in the arse, then they say ‘but he SAID it would be ok’

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:43

SchoolTripDrama · 09/05/2023 16:07

OP, it's a total waste of time asking for advice on here, you just get cross examined

Yes-so I see now!
I was hoping someone would have some advice on how to take the Aa to task over the lying-but they are all hung up on ‘did she stop in time’ and ‘the AA are only for breakdowns’

OP posts:
bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 09/05/2023 17:41

SomethingWycked · 09/05/2023 17:40

Ask for a copy of the signed report from the first call out. Surely if the car was unsafe to drive, they would tow it to the garage as part of the service - challenge them on this point.

Two good points there.

SomethingWycked · 09/05/2023 17:40

Ask for a copy of the signed report from the first call out. Surely if the car was unsafe to drive, they would tow it to the garage as part of the service - challenge them on this point.

backof · 09/05/2023 17:40

I think you're right to be annoyed OP- you specifically asked if he was sure, in his professional opinion, your DD would be fine to continue the journey and he said yes, he could easily have said 'I am not able/qualified to advise you'

I am not sure why this has turned into a pile on, you pay for a service that has let you/ your DD down and you are within your rights to complain.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:40

PegasusReturns · 09/05/2023 15:50

OP I’m sorry you’re getting such shitty responses from people.

It sounds like the AA were useless, possibly to point of negligence, so first step ask for a copy of the paperwork re your case and a copy of the protocol for these situations.

re you’re DD I hope she’s ok. I have older teens one of whom would be be distressed in this scenario. Many people underestimate the continued impact of covid and lock down on young adults who transitioned to adulthood in that period - they lost crucial months/years and many are understandably less mature and experienced than they ought to be.

All you can do is reinforce that shit happens and help her be better prepared should a similar scenario arise in future

Thanks so much for your kind words… she’s absolutely fine now and actually pretty resilient in most scenarios- it’s just nearing dissertation/ exam time and had just split up with her boyfriend -so this was the last straw at the time! Plus she’d worked hard to buy her car and now she’s back on the bus/train!

OP posts:
bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 09/05/2023 17:39

You are not unreasonable to be angry. I don't think a complaint to AA will get you any money, but make it anyway. I doubt your DD is the first victim of this technician's bullshitting.

The PPs criticising your DD for being frightened by the experience can fuck off. If a van had pulled up, men had got out and forced your DD into the back, and driven off, the drivers of the vehicles passing at 60-80mph would have done what exactly? There's a reason why recovery services are supposed to prioritise lone women: we are at risk of abduction from the hard shoulder. Five hours without a toilet won't have been pleasant either.

The lesson to learn here is for you and your DD to be more mechanically savvy. Get the Haynes book for your vehicle, read online at Honest John and similar places about common faults for that model of car, and be more willing to challenge mechanics. It's hard when you're female because they often talk to you like you're stupid, but it's worth persisting.

Outerlimit · 09/05/2023 17:37

Male101 · 09/05/2023 13:12

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

The temperature gauge shows how hot the water that the sensor is sitting in is. When a catastrophic failure occurs, the sensor is sitting in nothing so the gauge shows zero.

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