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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:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/05/2023 17:37

misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:29

Yes the car was on the drive and yes it was working. We have Home Start and the car doesn’t need to be non-working to call the AA they will assist with flat tyres etc.

Why did you call the AA if the car was driveable - that's what I don't understand?

The AA come to your house if your car is non-driveable - ie. it won't start or has a flat tyre - it's not their job to diagnose issues and take it to the garage when it can be driven there by the owner.

LisaVanderpump1 · 09/05/2023 17:34

ChairFloorWall · 09/05/2023 17:27

Have you considered OP might have just been a bit hyperbolic like most of the posters on MN?

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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?

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:34

Lonecatwithkitten · 09/05/2023 15:36

If all of this was the result of hitting debris have you approached her insurance to cover the repair.
My DD debris on the M4 shattered the floor tray and destroyed the sump the insurance covered all the costs including the hire car.

No -I haven’t been in touch with the insurance-fair point-might be worth a phone call- we didn’t bother originally as the AA bloke said it had done no damage- but as he keeps changing his story might be worth a go!

OP posts:
Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:32

starfishmummy · 09/05/2023 15:40

It's OK. I have my big girl pants on. And we are not the twats here!

I mean, the AA person may well have lied but he wasn't the one who continued to drive a malfunctioning car.

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He told us it was functioning perfectly-that’s the point! And now he’s lying -that’s what I can’t get my head round-the blatant lies!

OP posts:
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.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:29

Yes the car was on the drive and yes it was working. We have Home Start and the car doesn’t need to be non-working to call the AA they will assist with flat tyres etc.

OP posts:
rumbusiness · 09/05/2023 17:28

I don't understand why you took his word for it. I don't drive (fucking hate cars) but even I would have taken it to a garage to get it checked over, rather than taking the word of an AA man whose job is simply to get it started and/or tow you and your car to somewhere you can get it fixed.

Particularly with you and your husband going on about how precious your daughter is and how scary it would be for her to breakdown alone, etc etc.

Surely it's really basic that you would get an actual mechanic/garage to give it a once-over before sending your nervous 18-year-old daughter out on a long motorway drive in a car that had repeatedly fucked up?

ChairFloorWall · 09/05/2023 17:27

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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Have you considered OP might have just been a bit hyperbolic like most of the posters on MN?

LisaVanderpump1 · 09/05/2023 17:25

misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:02

Have you ever stood on the side of a motorway? It’s actually pretty terrifying and dangerous and throw on cold rainy weather and darkness and no way to charge your phone-very unpleasant!

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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.

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.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:24

Heronatemygoldfish · 09/05/2023 14:57

Hah. I (many, many, years ago) had the literal opposite of this happen, also thanks to phoning the AA. I was on the M1, car temp shot up, so I pulled over, waited 4-5h for the AA who never showed but they sent a local garage tow truck. Driver peered under bonnet, said it's probably the head gasket love, don't drive it (with no checking anything else) and then charged me £150 (cash on spot) to tow me to my folks. That was terrifying as I didn't know this guy and I had to sit in the truck for 50 miles with him.

I called the nearest main dealer garage the following day. They turned up, peered under the bonnet, removed the roll of masking tape from the fan that the service folk back home had left there 2 days previously, laughed and then drove it off for checks. Cost me a fortune that as a postgrad student I didn't have. Could barely afford the car.

I wrote a very stiff letter to the AA noting that if their so-called partner engineer had checked properly, I'd not be out £150 and that I expected better etc. and I wanted my money back. They refused to take any liability and offered me a free year's membership, which was at the time £38. I think I may have told them to stuff it.

I've been with the RAC ever since.

Good luck with your complaint, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

Omg -you couldn’t write it!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:24

SpeckledlyHen · 09/05/2023 15:29

Yes, but the car was not broken down. It had previously overheated. The AA are not a maintenance service, they would not have all had all of the equipment or the skill to do a full health check/service to determine categorically whether the car was roadworthy or not. The OP should have got it checked over by a garage if at all concerned about the car. This does not fall on the responsibility of the AA.

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He failed to pressure test the system to discover the water leak (which is why it originally overheated -he just topped up the water)
if he had had any doubts or wasn’t sure we would have taken it to a garage but he declared it 100% roadworthy. Then lied- that’s what I’m upset about!

OP posts:
ChairFloorWall · 09/05/2023 17:23

Why is everyone being so cruel about OPs daughter? Why would anyone want to be stuck on the side of the motorway! She handled it well, OP, ignore the negative comments! They’re probably worse drivers than your DD!

bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 09/05/2023 17:23

Male101 · 09/05/2023 15:27

Who said I was male?

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Have you seen your own username?

flutterbyebaby · 09/05/2023 17:22

You and your dh seem to treat her as a child, maybe teach her some resilience

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:20

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 09/05/2023 17:12

Ignore me. I’ve re-read for the 5th time and now I get it.

  1. daughter hits debris but makes it home
  2. goes out in car again - overheats. AA called to home
  3. AA man says ‘all good - oil & water needed’
  4. daughter drives. Car overheats again & gasket goes
  5. AA man says ‘told you to get it checked out’
  6. OP v. cross

Lol- correct!
im upset about the lie more than anything- but also the poor advice! Would have taken to the garage if he thought at all iffy!

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 09/05/2023 17:17

Why didn’t you and your husband go to where she broke down and one of you could have stayed with the car and she could have been taken back to uni by the other parent . That’s what my husband and I would have done if it were our daughter

bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 09/05/2023 17:16

Male101 · 09/05/2023 13:12

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

A lot of cars don't have a temperature gauge. Mine doesn't.

Rummikub · 09/05/2023 17:15

Whatthediddlyfeck · 09/05/2023 17:09

Usually when they don’t heed the advice to get out of the vehicle

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I don’t the barrier would stop a truck or ploughing through.

I don’t think I understood how scary it was to breakdown and wait on hard shoulder. I did that last year and it was frightening. For context I’m a confident driver and regularly do 90 miles/day for my inter city commute.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 17:13

Amispringy · 09/05/2023 15:12

Traumatised
Nervy driver
Mummy and daddy getting involved

I hope OP's DD isn't driving the same roads as me.

So once they hit 18 you’re supposed to stop looking out for them?! Glad I’m not your child!! Most new drivers are a little nervous of motorway driving alone…..

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 17:12

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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It hadn’t broken down.

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 09/05/2023 17:12

Ignore me. I’ve re-read for the 5th time and now I get it.

  1. daughter hits debris but makes it home
  2. goes out in car again - overheats. AA called to home
  3. AA man says ‘all good - oil & water needed’
  4. daughter drives. Car overheats again & gasket goes
  5. AA man says ‘told you to get it checked out’
  6. OP v. cross
ChairFloorWall · 09/05/2023 17:11

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 09/05/2023 13:37

Lol! Will there be a third comment? A hat-trick of uselessness?

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And your comments are helpful how?

Whatthediddlyfeck · 09/05/2023 17:09

Doppe · 09/05/2023 15:51

I’m surprised how many people are belittling the danger of being stuck on a hard shoulder! I’m not surprised the OP’s daughter was frightened. I would have been. People are killed and injured every year from accidents involving vehicles stopped on hard shoulders.

Usually when they don’t heed the advice to get out of the vehicle

YellowAndGreenToBeSeen · 09/05/2023 17:09

How did she break down by the side of the road (the first time) & get checked / her oil topped up by the 1st AA man but you ‘followed’ him to sign the email etc?

I’m pretty good at comprehension but this one’s got me confused.