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AIBU?

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Original poster

AA lied! WWYD?

261 replies

misstrot · 09/05/2023 12:48

I am FUMING! Lies! OMG-please read-sorry it's long-I need advice!
DD (20) hit a small piece of debris on motorway on the way home from uni on the motorway. Car seemed ok but next time she took it out it overheated so we called AA. Patrolman said everything was fine-it just needed oil and water (he filled water but we had to go get the oil) Now DD is a bit nervy driving so she asked was he sure it was ok to drive back to uni (2 hr drive) and he assured her-yes. Then I asked him and he said he 'wouldn't send a young girl onto the motorway in the car if he didn't believe the car was perfectly safe and roadworthy' Enter DH who asks him is he sure ok-doesn't need to be checked at the garage as his DD is very precious and he wants her to be safe etc-again AA reiterates 'all safe-all roadworthy-doesn't need anything doing"- I follow him to the van to input my email/sign attendance from and he tells me no need.
You guessed it-she goes back to uni and breaks down on the M4 in bad weather (it takes 5+ hours for them to send a recovery truck and she is traumatised!)
We get the car delivered back here and ask a local garage to come and look. The garage owner states the car had a severe water leak (the AA didn't pressure test the system) which has caused car to overheat and blown the head gasket-so dead. Bearing in mind DD worked and saved up all summer and only bought the car in August- from a reputable National chain and paid £4000 (it's a little mini) she is devastated.
Ok, so we send report to AA and ask for compensation/new (2nd hand) engine for car. They send an 'Independant Assessor' (paid for by AA and does most of his work for AA so not really independent!?) who literally spends 4 mins taking photos -opens the bonnet and says the head gasket has gone and leaves. His report states that it was our fault for driving it as the head gasket had gone (for clarity it was fine before-no smoke from exhaust and only had a full service and 120 point check in August etc)
The AA then state the patrolman informed us that the car was not roadworthy and should be taken to a garage so they don't hold liability!!!!!! WTF! A complete LIE and 360 on what he said to us. Sadly too late to download Ring doorbell footage to support us -as its gone and he never sent us an emailed report stating what he did or advised-normal protocol. Help! What can I do?

OP posts:
Jonei · 09/05/2023 18:30

misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:28

A. He was a mechanic- that was the point of calling the AA to establish if safe to drive
b. Every dad thinks his daughter is precious surely?
c. The car had not repeatedly fucked up- it had started to overheat once

Show quote history

I wouldn't give the ridiculous responses oxygen op.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:31

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/05/2023 17:55

But that's the point PP are trying to make.

In your scenario, the AA weren't sure that your car was safe to drive, therefore they towed it to the garage to be safe. That's their job.

In your DD's case, they saw that the car was driveable so they were under no obligation to take it to the garage. That's your DD's job.

Show quote history

My car appeared perfectly drivable too….

OP posts:
bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg · 09/05/2023 18:32

Outerlimit · 09/05/2023 18:27

A good tip, uncomfortable in hot weather, but one that can save the day.

Show quote history

Only works if there's still some water in the cooling system.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:34

Jonei · 09/05/2023 18:30

I wouldn't give the ridiculous responses oxygen op.

Show quote history

Seriously think I will delete the whole thread- I wasn’t looking for sympathy or outrage-I simply wondered if people had any ideas on how to proceed! Like I said I’m angry at the lie more than anything!

OP posts:
anunlikelyseahorse · 09/05/2023 18:35

Male101 · 09/05/2023 13:12

Why didn't she pull over when she saw the temp rising?

I don't know about minis, but my car goes blue (cold engine) no light (running temp.) straight to (red...boiling!). I hate it and would much rather have a proper gauge so I can keep an eye on the temperature.

Tratjymp · 09/05/2023 18:35

TheShellBeach · 09/05/2023 14:42

I'm really enjoying this thread.
Great badinage.

Do cars have big ends these days? Because I always think that sounds like such a silly name for a car part.

(misses point of thread)

Yes and small ends.

AA lied! WWYD?
Willmafrockfit · 09/05/2023 18:36

is she going to replace the head gasket?

Spookysnake · 09/05/2023 18:36

misstrot · 09/05/2023 12:48

I am FUMING! Lies! OMG-please read-sorry it's long-I need advice!
DD (20) hit a small piece of debris on motorway on the way home from uni on the motorway. Car seemed ok but next time she took it out it overheated so we called AA. Patrolman said everything was fine-it just needed oil and water (he filled water but we had to go get the oil) Now DD is a bit nervy driving so she asked was he sure it was ok to drive back to uni (2 hr drive) and he assured her-yes. Then I asked him and he said he 'wouldn't send a young girl onto the motorway in the car if he didn't believe the car was perfectly safe and roadworthy' Enter DH who asks him is he sure ok-doesn't need to be checked at the garage as his DD is very precious and he wants her to be safe etc-again AA reiterates 'all safe-all roadworthy-doesn't need anything doing"- I follow him to the van to input my email/sign attendance from and he tells me no need.
You guessed it-she goes back to uni and breaks down on the M4 in bad weather (it takes 5+ hours for them to send a recovery truck and she is traumatised!)
We get the car delivered back here and ask a local garage to come and look. The garage owner states the car had a severe water leak (the AA didn't pressure test the system) which has caused car to overheat and blown the head gasket-so dead. Bearing in mind DD worked and saved up all summer and only bought the car in August- from a reputable National chain and paid £4000 (it's a little mini) she is devastated.
Ok, so we send report to AA and ask for compensation/new (2nd hand) engine for car. They send an 'Independant Assessor' (paid for by AA and does most of his work for AA so not really independent!?) who literally spends 4 mins taking photos -opens the bonnet and says the head gasket has gone and leaves. His report states that it was our fault for driving it as the head gasket had gone (for clarity it was fine before-no smoke from exhaust and only had a full service and 120 point check in August etc)
The AA then state the patrolman informed us that the car was not roadworthy and should be taken to a garage so they don't hold liability!!!!!! WTF! A complete LIE and 360 on what he said to us. Sadly too late to download Ring doorbell footage to support us -as its gone and he never sent us an emailed report stating what he did or advised-normal protocol. Help! What can I do?

"Very precious" 😅. Can you prove he lied? Do you have any evidence or is it your word against his? If so, his employers will most likely back him. Lesson learned - get the paperwork next time.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:36

YaWeeFurryBastard · 09/05/2023 17:51

Enter DH who asks him is he sure ok-doesn't need to be checked at the garage as his DD is very precious and he wants her to be safe

He was probably eyerolling so hard at this he gave the wrong info 😂😂

Seriously though sorry to hear this OP, probably worth seeing if you can take it any further as I agree it doesn’t sound right.

Lol yes he probably was eye rolling! DH is chronically ill so he’d prised himself off the bed to go check all was ok- he feels guilty he can’t ‘help’ so it probably made him feel like he’d done something!!

OP posts:
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 09/05/2023 18:38

misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:31

My car appeared perfectly drivable too….

Show quote history

You said that the mechanic wasn't sure it was safe to drive - which is why he took it to the garage.

But in your DD's scenario, he thought it was safe to drive - which is why he didn't take it to the garage.

A car that overheats needs to be taken straight to the garage - you don't drive it home then call the AA to come and fix it because all the garages are shut. That's not what the AA are for.

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 09/05/2023 18:39

i think you’re being unnecessarily harsh to @rumbusiness which is interesting because you laughed off everyone else but took exception here.. why do you think that is?

I’m sorry your DD had a crappy time, they should prioritise lone females and this would be one of the points I’d make in an email.
id be asking for the report, and asking and asking. If there isn’t a report then they will need to explain that. This is what I would focus on.

I think a proper diagnostic investigation would have been a better intervention than the AA, and if garages are shut then you have to wait unfortunately. But you know for next time!

How is your DD now? She must be feelin* pretty miserable with her much loved (I’m guessing) mode of transport gone on top of everything else. Could you send her a surprise little package? Doesn’t have to be a fancy hamper, a pack of biscuits and some good quality hot chocolate or something? If her anxiety increases can she access support through university?

2bazookas · 09/05/2023 18:42

Do you have legal protection veia your home insurance policy? If so, now is when to use it.

If not, I would contact police and pake a formal fraud and deception complaint about the named patrolman who endangered your daughter and lied to his employers.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:43

Boujee11 · 09/05/2023 17:53

I’m not sure why you are getting such a hard time, the AA isn’t just always for breakdowns these days, if you have the cover they will come to your home for repairs as well. I just had a new battery fitted by them, it was cheaper and more convenient than going to a garage. Before they changed it they did diagnostics on the old battery to ensure that was the problem. I would have been very annoyed if they had told me the battery wasn’t the issue then it turned out that it was especially if it then caused extensive damage to my car!

Also breaking down on the motorway is unnerving, especially in the dark and bad weather and with no phone battery? I drive a lot and have broken down before in the dark, felt very vulnerable, it is a stressful situation. Why did the AA take so long to reach her? They usually prioritise female drivers and on motorways even more so.

The point I would be pushing with the AA is the lack of signed report. I would call again to ensure they have a record of coming to your home, then follow up asking for this. I’m not sure if you’ve said if you signed anything? You should have signed their device to say you were satisfied and this would be emailed to you. Keep asking them if you don’t have this.

Thanks for your reply- yes- the AA do do repairs-over the years I’ve had flat tyres, flat batteries, odd noises (one recently was a stone behind the wheel cover!) etc- and in fairness I’ve used them over 25 years and always been very happy. This is the first time I’ve been unhappy and I’m not even that upset with the poor diagnosis as we’re all human and make mistakes (even though it was crappy for DD) but it’s the lie that’s got me riled! I’m going to try and take it further- the lack of report which I should have received is really bugging me-I rang and asked for it and they said there wasn’t one and then that he’d written one retrospectively but that we couldn’t have a copy? Wtf?

OP posts:
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 09/05/2023 18:44

Lol yes he probably was eye rolling! DH is chronically ill so he’d prised himself off the bed to go check all was ok- he feels guilty he can’t ‘help’ so it probably made him feel like he’d done something!!
OP

and there we are.

Op, we’ve all made decisions which in hindsight we’re not the right one. Your DD wa s, ok, she wasn’t in a terrible accident, yes the pain of buses and the cost will be extremely disheartening but she’s ok. DH needs to probably give himself a break from the guilt as it can’t be doing him any good, chronic illness of any sort brings a whole host of challenges for the patient and the family. Hopefully this will become a funny story sooner rather than later, that’s what I’d be doing anyway. Try to find the humour.

Tratjymp · 09/05/2023 18:44

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 09/05/2023 14:45

Please don't misuse the word traumatised

When people do that it triggers my Strabismus syndrome.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:46

Thereislightattheendofthetunnel · 09/05/2023 18:22

I am not sure if this has been mentioned yet. I think you should put a formal complaint through the motor ombudsman, perhaps you might have a bit of hope there but you will have to submit some evidence of some sort.
Good luck OP

Oh that’s a great suggestion-I didn’t know they existed-thanks for your help

OP posts:
Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:47

Jonei · 09/05/2023 18:23

Do you have legal cover with your insurance op? I had a similar thing where the AA basically destroyed my car. It took a long while but I did finally manage to get the money out of them to replace it.

Oh great idea! Thanks for your help x

OP posts:
Maighnuad · 09/05/2023 18:50

So how I read this AA said it was ok to drive the car but did not provide a report.
So is there a report ? And if so can you get a copy ?
Also get clarification of expectations when AA is called ?

I Think your DD was doing exactly what I would do, she was told the car was fine and was attempting to reach her destination. This actually happened to me and I noticed the temperature high light when it was too late. Maybe I need the Mumsnet temperature goggles to ensure no future misses.

Personally, I would try for the report and see whether it was expected for you to sign receipt of it and then go down the small claims court.
And as for the use of the word trauma, I am unsure how many of 18 year olds would handle a break down on a motorway. It is scary at anytime breaking down on the motorway, well for me. The unknown time to be provided assistance and the lack of control adds to the anxiety. You know your DD and you know whether this was a trauma or otherwise.

I hope you get this resolved.

Spookysnake · 09/05/2023 18:50

Tratjymp · 09/05/2023 18:44

When people do that it triggers my Strabismus syndrome.

Show quote history

Don't be so STUPID, it's called Stravinskij syndrome.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:50

Willmafrockfit · 09/05/2023 18:28

i understood if the head gasket is going the oil looks gungy, surely they would have checked that

Yes he did check it-it was fine- he said it just need topping up.
Also white smoke from the exhaust and oil in the coolant are strong indications-neither of which were present when he checked it!

OP posts:
JudgeRudy · 09/05/2023 18:53

littleripper · 09/05/2023 14:27

There are 2 things here:

  1. AA let her down and gave poor advice but are unlikely to be legally negligent
  2. if she is so lacking in resilience that 5 hours on the hard shoulder traumatises her she should not be driving/going out alone and needs therapy

I agree.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:54

2bazookas · 09/05/2023 18:42

Do you have legal protection veia your home insurance policy? If so, now is when to use it.

If not, I would contact police and pake a formal fraud and deception complaint about the named patrolman who endangered your daughter and lied to his employers.

Interesting-thanks!

OP posts:
Spookysnake · 09/05/2023 19:03

2bazookas · 09/05/2023 18:42

Do you have legal protection veia your home insurance policy? If so, now is when to use it.

If not, I would contact police and pake a formal fraud and deception complaint about the named patrolman who endangered your daughter and lied to his employers.

Fuck's sake, I bet you're one of the idiots who called the police when KFC ran out of chicken. This is manifestly not a police matter and OP would make a t*t of herself.

Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 19:03

misstrot · 09/05/2023 18:50

Yes he did check it-it was fine- he said it just need topping up.
Also white smoke from the exhaust and oil in the coolant are strong indications-neither of which were present when he checked it!

Show quote history

So he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that there would be a problem then. I can see the headline now - AA sued because patrol man wasn’t clairvoyant.

Original poster
misstrot · 09/05/2023 19:04

Blossomtoes · 09/05/2023 19:03

So he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that there would be a problem then. I can see the headline now - AA sued because patrol man wasn’t clairvoyant.

Show quote history

But he is now saying he told us it was unsafe to drive as the head gasket was going-completely opposite to what he told us! That’s what I’m upset about not his poor diagnosis- he is human!

OP posts: