Can't get through to cancel!

[Ellessdee]

Been away for work meeting. About to drive back but my car has broken down. AA can't fix it (they're unable to diagnose the issue) so need to take to local garage tomorrow. Work have put me in a hotel overnight. Have an appointment with cardiology for minor surgery at 7.45 tomorrow morning. Can't get through to hospital to cancel (just rings out) and apparently their phones open at 8. What do I do? Just not show up?

Yeah everyone who is in a dire financial situation if they don't have £100 lying around. They're rescheduling me for Monday or Tuesday but thanks for your scaremongering.

*everyone who is in a dire financial situation is naive 🙄

If you don’t have even £100 spare in a rainy day fine then you are extremely foolish and naive.

It might be argued that some people are extremely naive if they don't understand that some people can be that broke, however carefully they budget and manage their money. Be grateful you've never been in that position.

I had a similar thing OP, Smear test booked on Saturday morning in a GP practice in the next town, so not my normal Drs, on the way there I broke down and like you there was no one to call, even the surgery I was having the test at went straight to answer machine saying they're closed despite someone obviously being there! You would think there would be a system in place for emergency cancelations.

Some cardiac ablation surgery only takes 10-15 minutes of the surgeon’s time. Mine took a bit longest just over half an hour. Obviously the whole time for me was longer, but the sadtualmsuregry was short, and in a lot of cases can be even shorter.

This thread has really opened my eyes to how people view others who don't have money. Imagine turning up to a food bank and telling everyone in the queue they're foolish and naive. Bonkers.

@PurpleButterflyWings are you feeling OK? This is hysterical.

Even funnier that it's not actually heart surgery I'm having 😂

I know, it's staggering that people can be so blinkered. In the current climate some people wouldn't be able to rustle up £10, let alone £100. Why do people find it so hard to believe when someone says they have NO money.

And that we all have a friend or family member who can chuck us some cash or drive us 4.5 hours across the country tomorrow, or that the answer to our financial situation is a payday loan...

Oporto, confused. Why are AA not taking your car to a local garage to your HOMEand arranging transport for you to get there? I pay for that service- no way would I let AA take my car to random garage late in the day miles form home and leave my car. Even without hospital appointment how the hell do you get it back?
this doesn’t make sense
call AA . UPGRADE your service immediately if needed to get the onward travel option. You and car need to be taken home by AA- bloody hell they charge enough for membership.

do not agree to stay in hotel and let your car go into garage that’s not near your home.

I despair at Mumsnet at times but none more so than some of the comments on here. Honestly what is wrong with people?

OP glad you managed to get through in the end, rotten timing

Also , Op, if you’re using car for work, work should pay for the upgraded AA membership (normally allowed for in your mileage allowance claim). and you need to ensure your insurance says you are using it for business

This is an aside but I actually DON’T understand how anyone (who has been living somewhere a while) would not be able to access cash for an emergency: friends, family, sell something, payday loan etc … and if you can’t it’s pretty worrying.

I was stony broke in my younger years and hated the stress of it. I would literally eat baked beans and drink water to not be in that position and have done (well, weeks of bread & cheap jam). Even if you were using a food bank you would still be able to access some money

UPGRADE your service immediately if needed to get the onward travel option. You and car need to be taken home by AA- bloody hell they charge enough for membership.

If you haven't got a spare £100, you can't afford to upgrade to the home relay level of cover, especially not roadside when you need it.

I asked about upgrading but takes 24 hours before I can use it again. So after 4pm tomorrow. They took me to local garage who are almost certain they can fix the issue tomorrow morning first thing, as sounds like a common problem for the type of car I have. Anyway, it's all sorted with the hospital now. Will take whatever life throws at me tomorrow when I need to!

OP please ignore the vipers. I understand. Unfortunately lots of us do. I’m glad you managed to sort it. 💐 for the stress. Sounds like a real shitty day so try to put your feet up and enjoy some time in the hotel!

Where in Yorkshire and where do you need to be? I commute through Yorkshire so I can see if it’s part of my route.

I was stony broke in my younger years and hated the stress of it. I would literally eat baked beans and drink water to not be in that position and have done (well, weeks of bread & cheap jam). Even if you were using a food bank you would still be able to access some money

How?

That's so so kind but I'm sorted for now.

Glad you managed to reschedule, best of luck with the op and the car

Email

Bloody hell, OP, you've had some WIERD responses to your very normal dilemma and normal cardiology appointment! Can't tell if they're trolls or just people who have no idea of real life and live their life as one big dramatic hurdle to get through.

Anyway, glad you're sorted. It is frustrating trying to get through to any hospital department these days. I don't really understand why because any time I've had to go for an appointment there is always someone sat there at a desk in front of a phone. I've started to become suspicious that they just put the phone on silent when it gets to near the department closing time so they don't have to deal with anything. You wouldn't mind if they could at least switch the answer phone on so you could leave a message and they could screen calls while they got on with stuff, but for it to just ring out at advertised opening hours is just not how any department anyway.

Yes, if you come from a family who have money and have friends who have money, and own something worth £100 that you can guarantee you'll sell within less than 24 hours then great. You're naive if you think this is everyone's reality.

I can't believe there are so many people on here who can't understand that not everyone has a spare £100 to use in an emergency. Haven't they seen the news anytime recently. So many people struggling. There's only so many years that wage increases less than inflation can go on without people literally having nothing left spare to save. That is the reality for millions and if you don't see that open your eyes because it could happen to someone you love.