Normal procedure re car breakdown? (angry)

[MT2017]

So I am a member of a major car breakdown recovery company. Had a tyre completely blow out and shred so totally unfixable.

Called breakdown company. Conversation as follows (after basic info given):

Customer Services person: So what we will do is try and fix the tyre, then if we can't we try and source a premium, mid-range or budget tyre for you.

Me: Tyre is definitely not fixable, do you know how much that will cost?

CS: No, we will try and source it for you.

Me: Do you know an approximate cost?

CS: No, we will see what we can find for you.

Me: Can you send a recovery truck to pick us up (me and DS) and we can sort it tomorrow?

CS: No, we wouldn't do that, we will try and fix the tyre and if not, source one for you.

Me: Can you give me an idea of how long you will be?

CS: No, you need to agree to the previous financial question before we will tell you that.

Me:

Fuckers. Have been with them over ten years so not new.

Are all the breakdown companies like this?!

My car has slightly unusual sizes so it's a case of what tyres fit it, my normal tyre place offers budget mid range and premium but my size is usually only available in budget (in stock). I do have a spare though, I passed over several models of car because they didn't have one

I’m surprised they can take a tyre off a rim on the road side and balance it properly. But then again I’ve never had it done. Perhaps it is.

I think they have the machine to fit and balance the tyre in the back of their van glue.

That's bizarre! I've shredded more than a few tyres (the roads around here are terrible) and I've always been trailered home once they see the tyre can't be salvaged by a can of gunk. I only use budget breakdown cover too.

I have no option for a spare tyre.

Your breakdown people should be able to either take you where you want to go or back home where you can do the repair yourself. Find a new breakdown company.

RAC are a nightmare. Have the cover through my bank account. I had a red engine warning light come on when I was on the motorway. Came off at the next junction and called them. Asked if there was any other damage to my car and said that there was a small crack in the windscreen, which had happened earlier in the journey, caused by a stone chip coming off the back of a wagon which had been carrying gravel.

Was told that unless I could supply the other driver's details so that they could claim back costs from them, that I would have to pay for the call-out. No difference made by trying to reason with them that the warning light and windscreen were nothing to do with each other.

Fortunately I remembered that when I got the car there had been AA breakdown cover included in the lease. Got DH to text me my paperwork details. They were there 30 minutes later, the guy plugged in his laptop, found no fault and said it was likely it had overheated due to aircon being up high (last summer when it was really hot), reset it and all was fine. After he's had a good chuckle at the story of RAC insisting that the windscreen crack had caused the warning light.

As they couldn't / wouldn't tell me how much the tyre was, I left the car safely and will sort tomorrow. I can't just agree to a price, it could have been loads - if I had been given an amount of course it would have been different.

I think you did the right think. When my tyre was destroyed by a pothole I needed a mobile tyre fitter so rang round a few. I have mid range tyres that cost £110 from my usual tyre place (but they don't do mobile fitting). First place I called said they could do the IDENTICAL tyre for £200 plus £75 to fit it! Second place said it would be £200 all in but a five day wait for the tyre. Then got a guy who said the tyre would cost £110 (spot on) and he would fit for £15! He was there in less than an hour did the job...perfect.

There are a lot of rip off merchants out there.

I'm surprised that they wouldn't just tow you to your preferred destination
When we had a tyre shred we got towed 100 miles and then dealt with the tyre the following day

This, absolutely, was my understanding before I made the phone call.

@controversialferret it wasn't the RAC.

@buggeroffandgooddaytoyou agreed!

I thought it was illegal to not have a spare tyre.

Most modern cars don’t have them so presumably not.

Bit late in the day for OP but the last new car I bought didn’t come with a spare but I asked the dealer to throw one in as part of the deal and they did. It’s always worth asking. If they say no, you can buy one rather than be left by the roadside with just a can of foam.