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Original poster

Car broke down - handhold needed

93 replies

Scaredycatlady · 07/08/2023 22:35

Is anyone around for a handhold please? My car broke down 2 hours ago and the estimated time of arrival for the recovery truck is 4am! I’m stuck on the side of a motorway in the pitch black darkness and absolutely terrified.

OP posts:
stayathomegardener · 07/08/2023 22:59

Ignore that, glad your DH is on his way over.

Original poster
Scaredycatlady · 07/08/2023 23:00

Thanks for all the supportive comments. Apologies for not replying individually but my fingers are numb with the cold so just typing as quickly as I can to get them back under the blanket.

Apparently the RAC are so busy tonight that it’s a very long wait even though I’ve been classed as a priority.

OP posts:
Clymene · 07/08/2023 23:04

RAC are absolutely shit. Please don't renew with them again. They cost a huge amount and have so few staff nowadays that they leave people enormously vulnerable. 5 hours next to a motorway? Totally unacceptable.

Glad your husband can come and get you

QuestionableMouse · 07/08/2023 23:06

@Scaredycatlady please give 101 a ring. I've seen a few people brought to the services where I work - either just them or with their cars. At least you'd be safer and somewhere warm!

Hopingforagreatescape · 07/08/2023 23:07

That's a disgrace - a lone woman sitting on the side of the motorway until 4am? Disgusting. Completely unacceptable.

RuthTopp · 07/08/2023 23:07

Last year we broke down on the A1 around 5 pm a few hours before help arrived , they couldn't get us going again ( car kept cutting out ) but followed us to the nearest service station . We then waited until after midnight for the recovery truck who would only take us a certain distance . We then waited another couple of hours for another recovery truck to get us home . Journey of about 100 / 130 miles was 11 hours from breakdown to home . RAC .
I had dh with me , so felt safe . Hope your dh gets to you soon.

MixedTocopherols · 07/08/2023 23:10

It seems really wrong and alarming that a woman can be in this position, having paid for cover, and there’s still no better solution than freezing her arse off in darkness beside the road. I hate the idea of it!

I’d feel so helpless if it was my dd and I couldn’t get to her.

ludicrousmode · 07/08/2023 23:11

I'm so sorry op and that is disgusting - what are people paying for RAC service that they can't provide? I don't believe there are zero mechanics in the area that would come out immediately for a high enough price.

I had RAC before and won't go back to it after reading so many stories like this.

PutKettleOn · 07/08/2023 23:11

Please call the Police (non emergency). They may send Highways Agency Traffic Officer to wait with you/ protect your vehicle or move you to somewhere safer.

loopychick · 07/08/2023 23:11

PutKettleOn · 07/08/2023 23:11

Please call the Police (non emergency). They may send Highways Agency Traffic Officer to wait with you/ protect your vehicle or move you to somewhere safer.

This 100%

fullbloom87 · 07/08/2023 23:13

That's ridiculous. RAC are not a charity. You pay for their service. If they can't provide it adequately then they shouldn't be advertising their services. Mind you AA aren't much better. They took 5 hours to get to me on a busy roundabout and eve then it wasn't AA it was an outsourced local mechanic who insisted my car was safe to drive smoking with no coolant hose!
Offered no help whatsoever and it cost me £158!!

wonderstuff · 07/08/2023 23:19

I had a similarly long wait but not on a motorway, police arrived, sat behind me with blues on and eventually when RAC wait time slipped they arranged pick up with their breakdown contractors and RAC agreed to reimburse me for it, think it cost £150 and they were there within the hour, RAC paid me back within a week. Please call 101. I’d also be tempted to call another recovery company.

Farahpascalmoges · 07/08/2023 23:25

Please stay away from the car if it's parked on the hard shoulder. Your husband will be with you very shortly.

Original poster
Scaredycatlady · 07/08/2023 23:26

I’ve rang the RAC back to check if I can leave the car unattended once DH arrives and I can’t. Thank you to everyone who suggested phoning 101. I’ve done that and they are reporting to the highways agency and will get back to me. DH is pulling up now so hopefully he has a warm coat and a hug for me.

OP posts:
fullbloom87 · 07/08/2023 23:29

Bless you OP so glad your husband is now with you. Lots of hugs needed!

StarDolphins · 07/08/2023 23:35

How times have changed. I used to work for the RAC & a lone female was like a critical emergency. Within the hour, max! Also, motorway calls were also big priority. Also, don’t sit in your car.

I would ring them & tell them you’re terrified.

StarDolphins · 07/08/2023 23:36

Sorry, read your update! So glad your husband is there.

catherinewales · 07/08/2023 23:38

Oh nothing more scary then breaking down on the motorway (other then breaking down over night on your own) sending warm hugs your way xx

SloraceHughorn · 07/08/2023 23:41

I'm glad your DH has arrived OP.

We left the RAC several years ago after breaking down during a very cold snap and being told we'd have an 11 hour wait for recovery.

A highways agency truck pulled up behind us and the friendly highways guys organised a local company to recover us back to the nearest town, and charged it to the RAC.

We've been with GEM motoring assist ever since but (touch wood) haven't had to use them yet.

I hope you're able to get warm.

Corianderparsley · 07/08/2023 23:46

So glad DH is with you. I've recently left the RAC after they left me and my three kids on the side of the motorway for six hours.

The recovery driver who finally came was retiring straight after that shift and he said don't ever renew with them, go with green flag.

Clymene · 07/08/2023 23:54

They told me it would be 5 hours until they could get to me on a roundabout at rush hour. I was causing a massive traffic jam and people were really angry which made everything 10 times worse.

After about 30 mins, a really lovely bloke got out of his van and pushed us off the roundabout into a parking area and we got a taxi home. I had been an RAC member for years but I switched after that. I had children and a dog with me and they didn't give a shit. You

Original poster
Scaredycatlady · 07/08/2023 23:56

A lovely lady from the highways agency rang me back. She has been in touch with RAC who told her they will be with me by 12.15am. She also sent a patrol car to check on me. They will check back with me at 12.20am to make sure there has been some progress.
RAC then text me to say ETA is now 5am! Who knows what time they will actually arrive.
DH is amazing and as predicted has brought a warm coat and a very lovely hug which made me cry.

OP posts:
CornishTiger · 07/08/2023 23:59

I’m due to buy breakdown cover. It will not be with the RAC after reading this!

pepino · 07/08/2023 23:59

Scaredycatlady · 07/08/2023 23:56

A lovely lady from the highways agency rang me back. She has been in touch with RAC who told her they will be with me by 12.15am. She also sent a patrol car to check on me. They will check back with me at 12.20am to make sure there has been some progress.
RAC then text me to say ETA is now 5am! Who knows what time they will actually arrive.
DH is amazing and as predicted has brought a warm coat and a very lovely hug which made me cry.

WTAF?!? 5am is ridiculous!

Do you have twitter? Maybe tweet something about it- might get them to pull their fingers out!

HironsBirons · 07/08/2023 23:59

Breaking down on the motorway is utterly terrifying. Please be aware though that no one can pull on to the hard shoulder unless it’s an emergency, so your husband needs to move. I got a bollocking from a RAC recovery person because a friend came to assist me when I broke down and couldn’t be recovered for 5 hours during the June heatwave