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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to be so, so cross.......

132 replies

BlackStoneCherie · 30/06/2018 00:45

.....at the RAC?

My partner broke down in the car hours ago on his way to a special event. He called the RAC just after 5pm and was told someone would be there between 6pm - 10pm, so a maximum wait of 5 hours.

Got to 10.20pm he called again , only to be told they were now sending out a local breakdown service , which would be there imminently.

It wasn't. But no communication from the RAC to my DP to say why.

I then called them from home and got them to call him back, only for them to say it would be another 70 mins before help arrives.

He's out in the middle of the countryside, his phone charge is now low, and has been stranded for over 7 hours. He's over 120 miles from home, so even if they arrive now, it's going to be at least 3.30 - 4.00am before he get's back here.

Our renewal is due next week!

OP posts:
seventhgonickname · 30/06/2018 10:16

I no longer use the RAC.I have been stranded for hour by them over the years either as a lone woman and before that with a child.Average is 3 hrs to be attended to longest 8.It doesn't seem to be at particularly busy times and even the shorter ones if you need recovery you the have to wait for a recovery vehicle.
I found our problem the city I live near is classed as rural so very few Rac vehicles are based here.
My best one was 5 hours for a flat battery that wasn't holding a charge so jump start had failed.I was at work and the person answering the call told me that the Hospital I was at didn't exist could I describe any big buildings near me!I am also met with incredulity when in the middle if now where and there are no buildings just sheep.
I am now with green flag who seem to listen to what the problem is ,get a mechanic to talk to you and just send a local recovery truck if that seems more sensible.

Honeyroar · 30/06/2018 10:18

What a mess. They used to be so good, I've been with them for 20 yrs and had some superb service from them. I haven't broken down for years (probably shouldn't say that, I'll jinx it), so haven't any recent experiences, but I've wondered if they'd be bad now as their renewal department are absolutely hopeless and incapable of even updating a record. I keep saying I will move.

Original poster
BlackStoneCherie · 30/06/2018 10:20

Neverender I agree with what you say. However, it is so disingenuous to advertise a service that isn't then carried out correctly.
You're also correct re the invisibility of RAC vans these days. I remember they used to be parked up in various locations ready for a call out. Last night, the call out van that never turned up was, if I remember my DP telling me correctly, called from 70 miles away. 70 miles!

OP posts:
Original poster
BlackStoneCherie · 30/06/2018 10:23

Well, have just received a bland response to my RAC message of last night. Not happy, not happy at all.

Time for coffee and to wake DP as am expecting visitors pretty soon.

OP posts:
BillywilliamV · 30/06/2018 10:25

I got £50 compensation from HSBC for 3hrs by the M11 with my 12year old.I would stay off Twitter and keep it polite till you see what they offer you.

Bearfam · 30/06/2018 10:26

I'm with RAC and have some anxiety issues. If this happened to me I'd be going spare! I'd also not be much better if it was my partner. So I really feel for you! You definitely deserve an answer as to why this happened. This really makes me worry about my breakdown cover. Luckily I rarely drive anywhere rural. Hope you both get a bit of rest today x

ISnappedAndFarted · 30/06/2018 10:29

I've always been with the AA and have found them excellent... But then I'm a single female so obviously that pushes me higher up the priority.

I think everyone is always going to find a handful of horror stories with every service however it seems the RAC have form for this, the real deciding factor will be how they react - the fact they've been so hard to contact does not bode well

Petrolismygas · 30/06/2018 10:30

This doesn't only happen rurally.

I was in east London, with a new born (taking her to hospital) at 2am.

They couldn't care.

Guardsman18 · 30/06/2018 10:31

What an awful experience! I would change to AA. I have always had oldish cars and have been with the for years.

I was with Green Flag for a while but they refused to come out to me as I couldn't give them the name of the road I was on. I was able to say where I was in great detail, but no, they couldn't help. It was 11.30 pm and I had to leave the car there and taxi home!

I find the AA are brilliant - every time. Even when I was safely at home, they prioritised me because my mum wasn't well and I had to go and see her. They are also good when you want to negotiate on price too. I can't praise them enough tbh!

I know that nothing can erase the awful night you both had last night and I hope you are compensated somehow. I wouldn't give the RAC any more business if I were you though.

Talith · 30/06/2018 10:35

Go on money supermarket or the other comparison websites and you'll find much better deals. I was paying over 100 for recovery inuding at home start, with AA, now just 28 quid for the same from a smaller company and having called them out they were perfectly efficient. The big cos inch the policy up each year and it's such a rip off.

Flexoset · 30/06/2018 10:39

I left the RAC after I got a flat and they were going to take 3 hours or more to come out. Totally unacceptable.

Kind lady from a nearby house helped me change to the spare wheel and I went home and got breakdown cover from a different company.

The RAC are coasting on their previous good reputation and big name in spite of their current shit service. It can't last.

P.S. Arranging your car insurance through them is a rip off as well - use a proper price comparison site. Makes a very big difference.

fascicle · 30/06/2018 10:46

Sorry for your partner's awful experience with the RAC. I would expect them to refund his premium since they have failed to perform their contractual obligations. He would have been better off without their 'assistance'.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 30/06/2018 10:47

I fell out with them when I was pregnant with twins and said that I had come home but my husband was going to wait with the car. They said that we couldn’t do that as it had to be me at the car. We got very cross saying that it was disgusting that they were expecting this and I think common sense did actually make an appearance😡 it did make me cancel though!

TheMadGardener · 30/06/2018 10:48

We used to be RAC but now with Toyota Assistance. Only used them once so far but super impressed. Broke down in fairly remote part of the Tamar Valley. Rang Toyota and they said they would ring me back. They rang back within 10 minutes and said that they'd arranged with a local breakdown firm to come out who should be with us in 30 mins. Just as they said that...the local breakdown van pulled up next to us!!! I said "um, they're here now!" He couldn't fix car on spot so towed us home and then took car to the Toyota garage, where it was fixed next day.

Tomselleckhaskindeyes · 30/06/2018 10:50

We are with AA now through Hyundai. We broke down at home. It took them 10 minutes to get to us.

Papergirl1968 · 30/06/2018 10:58

Autonational Rescue are excellent. And a lot cheaper, I think.
They send out a local rescue service. Have only used them a couple of times but even on Boxing Day when the battery was flat they weren’t long.

sunshinesupermum · 30/06/2018 11:05

This is not the first time I've heard this about RAC.

Hope your DP is home safe and sound now?

Popchyk · 30/06/2018 11:06

That is just awful service. And yes, he'd have been better off without their "assistance".

You'd think they'd never dealt with a car breaking down before.

I agree that it is the not knowing that is the worst.

I cancelled the AA because they made me wait four hours for a breakdown. And then didn't show up at all. Local garage helped me out eventually. Pain in the arse. I'd have preferred the AA to say at the outset "Piss off, you'll have to sort something out yourself". At least then I wouldn't have been waiting four hours.

When I cancelled they had the gall to say "Well, you did call us out last week" and I said "Exactly. And I'm still waiting for someone to show up". Cheeky feckers.

ScipioAfricanus · 30/06/2018 11:07

It is right that they prioritise - I appreciate that might feel bad at 2 in the morning but a lone woman or someone with young children should be attended to sooner. What’s unacceptable is that you have to wait for such a long time - priority should mean you’re seen soon, and non priority soon after that, not seven hours later.

TittyGolightly · 30/06/2018 11:08

Neighbours don't have tow bars, so couldn't help.

All cars are fitted with towing loops. Just for future reference.

Unicorndiva · 30/06/2018 11:11

Rac left me strandard last night with a one year old.. I had little food little water and battery dying as well ... I phoned them at just after 5.15 - I am still waiting !! Promised a taxi that never turned up ... luckily I was able to get a friend to help me in the end .... left the car where it broke as it was a garage Nissan courtesy car anyway just been and dropped their key off with car location and told them to sort it ... now just need to wait for my car to get fixed! The attitude of their staff last night was horrific never had service like that ever!
Glad your hubby is home safe now tho

worridmum · 30/06/2018 11:16

Its disgusting that woman have the proity yet men have to pay the exact same price for a crappier service. So if they have 5 trucks serving a area and your a bloke alone you have to pray that females dont brake down because you will be consistently be bumped to the back of the que.....

TittyGolightly · 30/06/2018 11:19

Our Peugeot 505 broke down in the middle of nowhere

Off topic, but we had two of those when I was growing up. Fond, fond memories. Smile

BoreOfWhabylon · 30/06/2018 11:21

Perhaps someone could tweet this thread to the RAC?

TittyGolightly · 30/06/2018 11:21

Any idea what caused the breakdown, OP?

Lots of people don’t bother doing any basic checks on their car, and not having coolant topped up in this weather can see cars overheat very easily. Lots of it about.