To expect my car breakdown to be attended by the RAC and not an 'approved contractor'?

[youngfarmer]

My car broke down on Tuesday evening, fortunately in a supermarket carpark so it wasn't a hazardous situation. I phoned the RAC at 8.30pm, who informed me that they would have a patrol with me within 90 minutes. Shortly afterwards they telephoned me to say that they couldn't locate one of their own patrols to reach me in time, and they would be sending an 'approved contractor' instead. This turned out to be a company who I've had attend to previous car breakdowns when again I've phoned the RAC. The approved contractor has done their best on each occasion and this time did actually manage to fix the problem, but I know that isn't the experience of some of my friends who have been assigned different garages on occasion. Surely if I've paid the RAC my membership fee is it unreasonable to expect an actual RAC patrol to attend?

It is perfectly normal and is mentioned several times in the terms & conditions. They state RAC patrol or RAC contractor. The garages that come out to you are approved contractors for the RAC they don't just phone up a random garage to come out to you.

I've had a few, doesn't bother me as long as they can do the same job

Yip happened to me a few times as well and what also happens is if your car needs to go to a garage for repair they will take it to one that they know well and the owner compensates them for bringing the car to them

They fixed the problem. However it appears you were traumatised by the lack of orange van. I suggest you sue.

Given the choice, would you prefer an approved contractor or nobody at all?? They've fixed your vehicle, time to move on and forget about it!

I'm amazed you got anyone! I have heard a few horror stories about them and I'm a member. I hardly see their vans anymore.

Surely the only difference is the logos on their vans? Whether it says RAC on the side or Joe Bloggs recovery service, they both turn up with a van and a mechanic who can either fix your car or can't. They both perform exactly the same role.
There is no guarantee that in your friends case, where it was Joe Bloggs, the RAC would have been able to fix it either.

Depends. We broke down in the Highlands - local contractor turned up within an hour and we were on our way ASAP. God knows how long it would have taken if we’d waited for an orange RAC van. I just want someone to fix my car.

I really don’t see what the issue is? The use of approved contractors is clearly stated in the T&Cs. You were provided with the service you’d paid for, job done!

Unless you wanted to hang on another few hours until an RAC liveried van could arrive?

Dear RAC
I'm SOOO angry with you!!!!
My car broke and you fixed it.
What do you have to say for yourselves?

I assume the Daily Mail has been contacted?

Can't wait to see your sad face.

Just use AutoAid instead, they are loads cheaper than RAC for the same level of cover. They use local recovery services too but you're not paying for the brand and then not getting it.

They'll have been assessed to make sure they're working to the same standards as the rac so the only difference will be that their van's a different colour

I'm sure if you were that bothered about it you could have contacted and let them know that you'd rather wait four hours for someone with an orange van

why does it matter who fix your car as long as it gets fixed and it's covered by your RAC contract?

I agree, I've been very fortunate that on the occasions I've required breakdown service, the contractor that has come out has been very efficient and I guess to the standard one would expect from either the RAC or AA themselves. It's more the fact that the RAC don't seem to invest sufficiently in their own patrols (at least in the area where I live), and also as I said, some of my friends have had less favourable experiences with 'approved contractors'.
Just wonder how many breakdowns are actually attended by the genuine article and how many by these contractors, or does it depend on the area?

I do of course realise that in very busy periods (bank holidays, poor weather, etc) there will be more demand on the genuine patrols, but I would have thought 8pm on a Tuesday night to be a relatively quiet period?

At least someone turned up. The last time I rang the RAC I was waiting 2 half hours. In the end I drove my very noisy car to a garage. Not impressed!

I had a nightmare experience with the AA about 7 years ago. Phoned them at 9am on a bank holiday Monday, took 4 hrs for a van to arrive which then had to call for a recovery truck,. That arrived at 2pm, driver totally clueless with the route he needed to take. I had to be recovered by 3 separate vehicles because non of the drivers had enough hours left to do the whole journey (about 200 miles), finally got home at 1am. Switched to the RAC after that.

as long as they fix it and dont try to carge me i wouldn't care tbh

We were attended to by an approved contractor years ago, car was sorted. tbh there was mounds of snow everywhere and we were 291ft above sea level, we weren't particularly bothered at who managed to get through to us.

*charge

Locally if the AA or RAC are called out for tyre related issues the work is sub contracted to an excellent local tyre depot. It's an excellent arrangement and makes complete sense.

Yes, I can see why specialist services like tyre replacement might be subcontracted out.