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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What should I do? How should I get back from Barnsley to Hampshire after car prang

30 replies

User63847439572 · 29/10/2023 15:24

Sorry posting in this topic for traffic

came to visit friends for weekend (myself and 3dc) set off this morning and has minor accident going into back of someone v soon after setting off. That was at 11am.
car is undriveable as coolant has all leaked out,
called RAC and insurance.
RAC are sending a recovery truck and said we can travel with it. Drive is about 4 hours.
they initially said 1pm, now it’s 4.-4.30pm hopefully.

recovery company have said they won’t take us the whole way, only to Watford Gap where they’ll be asking RAC to arrange another recovery truck from. There might be a wait there.

insurance company say we’re not covered for help getting home and even if we were would just be reimbursed.

uber is coming up at about £360 but doubt anyone would pick it up anyway.

train doesn’t look feasible.

Potentially could ask someone to collect us from Watford gap (2.5 hrs from home) but it’s a lot to ask.

what would you do?
go with truck and risk a long wait at services?
think of another way to get home? Kids are 8-15yrs

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/10/2023 15:29

I don't think I get it. The RAC are going to take you the whole way. You just have change trucks at Watford Gap.

i’d do the long wait. Services will be warm and dry with facilities. With an 8 year old you’ll be resonably high priority. They need to tow the car back to Hants anyway.

Createausername1970 · 29/10/2023 15:39

I get that time is getting on and you are unlikely to get home before midnight, but the RAC WILL get you home at no extra cost (assuming that is what you pay for).

I think I would go with the RAC and take advantage of the wait at Watford Gap to have a wee, get some hot food for the kids and some snacks for the onward journey.

Otherwise it's a taxi or a lift. But I would not want to ask anyone to come out in this weather to pick me up, and on balance I think I would feel safer in this weather in a large breakdown truck.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 29/10/2023 15:57

It may be a long evening but makes sense to just ride it out with RAC. Otherwise it will be expensive plus your car still needs towing.

Crap for you all though.

Original poster
User63847439572 · 29/10/2023 16:13

thank you
yes that’s what we’ll do then. Will go as far as Watford gap and hopefully we’ll be priority and not have tooo much of a wait there.
still waiting for the truck here to even get going 🙄
weather here in Yorkshire is gorgeous and has been all day!

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 29/10/2023 16:14

Yep, RAC. A long wait at Watford Gap would be a pain, but think of it as an adventure & an opportunity to eat, drink etc.
When I was a child in the 70s we once did Manchester to London with AA Relay. We seemed to swap trailers every few miles & it took forever, but I still remember it as an exciting adventure (I doubt our parents did!). It was great fun sitting in the cab of the trailer.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/10/2023 16:21

I'm fractionally north of Barnsley and the weather has been gorgeous here today..

We once were bounced by the AA twice on our way from London to Norfolk when we broke down on the M11. We still talk about our Christmas Eve in Cambridge Services.

SiobhanSharpe · 29/10/2023 16:26

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads i feel for you, we once spent 10 days at the hotel there waiting for our delayed house purchase to complete.
We got very fed up with the limited food on offer at the food court there.

Elclr · 29/10/2023 16:30

Watford Gap. You'll have access to McDonald's, Costa and it's warm and safe. It'll be a wait yes, but better than almost £400 on a service you've already paid for.

trulyunruly01 · 29/10/2023 16:30

Had to do this once from Newquay in Cornwall home to south London. One truck got me to Exeter, then a wait for another to get us to Reading, then a final truck home. Two adults, one dog, two dc and one in a wheelchair.
It's a pain but once you are all home and the car outside ready to go to your own garage, you'll pay yourself on the back for having that membership.
If the best option was £360 for Uber then it's already paid for itself two fold at least.

Nevermind31 · 29/10/2023 16:33

Rental car.

SiobhanSharpe · 29/10/2023 16:33

We were also abandoned by our breakdown service (Audi Assist!) at 'Baldock services' - the breakdown truck wouldn't go any further, as it was out of his area(?) unloaded the car and left us in a virtually closed service area while we waited for a taxi to take us on the final leg of the journey home.
Broke down in Harrow about 9pm, arrived home in Cambridge at 4.30 am.

sleepyscientist · 29/10/2023 16:33

If you can I would get someone to collect the kids at Watford. If any of our friends was in a similar situation I would already be in the car to grab the kids. You will likely have to stay with the car. Other option is to ask insurance to arrange your hire car now and recovery of your car.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/10/2023 16:53

SiobhanSharpe · 29/10/2023 16:26

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads i feel for you, we once spent 10 days at the hotel there waiting for our delayed house purchase to complete.
We got very fed up with the limited food on offer at the food court there.

It was a fun Christmas. Me, DM, DSis - we were in our early - mid 20s - and a Kiwi guy, eating all day breakfasts and watching Cliffhanger!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/10/2023 16:53

I hope you get home quickly @User63847439572 and dc.

margotrose · 29/10/2023 17:01

The RAC will get you home. At least if you're at a service station you'll be warm and dry with access to food and the toilet, plus you can make sure phones etc. are charged easily.

Original poster
User63847439572 · 29/10/2023 17:59

Ah sadly we are on our way to Watford gap but RAC have said they cannot get us home tonight - the next link truck they’ve found will get the car then store it and deliver it back tomorrow. So now I am looking at STBX doing the 5hr round trip in a tiny car to get us or organising a taxi. If anyone knows any companies near Watford gap that might do it that would be helpful.

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 29/10/2023 18:10

That's rubbish! Oh no.
So are the RAC going to deliver your car home, but tomorrow?

May it's time to do the Uber plan?

Doyouthinktheyknow · 29/10/2023 18:14

That’s really crap of RAC! Will they cover your costs of getting yourself home? I am doubting it as I write it but they really should, or cover accommodation costs!

Original poster
User63847439572 · 29/10/2023 18:19

No unfortunately it’s not in my cover
I’ve just got the standard taxi home max 20 miles.
cautionary tale for others perhaps!

Ex has said he will come and get us. Will be a bit of a wait for him but at least we’ll know he’s on his way

OP posts:
BorgQueen · 29/10/2023 18:19

There is a Days inn motel at W Gap, why not stay there for the night?

Cascais · 29/10/2023 18:26

Train from Watford

RaininSummer · 29/10/2023 18:50

RAC isn't what it was. I always remember my Dad saying RAc better than AA as they take you all the way without the relay delays. Not any more it seems.

BlondeFool · 29/10/2023 18:55

Train?

Original poster
User63847439572 · 29/10/2023 19:03

Did look at train initially but replacement buses down our way at the moment and would have to cross london, and then has really got too late for that.

it’s all ok we will get there but I wish they’d been clearer at the outset they might not be able to get us home as would’ve been easier to sort an alternative out earlier in the day

OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 31/10/2023 08:41

Did you manage to get home on Sunday night @User63847439572 ?

I hope this all feels like a band dream now and it hadn't put you off visiting sunny South Yorkshire again. 😀

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