AIBU to think the RAC are useless

[Newlife12]

My son was driving home the other night it was a dark country road and very late. He lost all power and could not restart. He also had a flat phone battery too. Thankfully a very kind man happened to be out jogging and long shot gave him a lift home, we could not thank him enough, offered petrol money etc Gives you hope that there is still kindness out there.
Anyway my son called the RAC the next morning and they literally took 24 hours to recover. I'm just wondering is this the norm these days, are all recovery company's the same? . It's been years since I have called for a recovery but remember being a much better service then

I’m with the AA.

They prioritise call outs based on how much danger there is eg on the side of a motorway - more dangerous than off the road and safe.

they prioritise recovery of vehicles lower abd often contract it out to a local company.

Dp broke down on a tiny bridge on an A road, so nowhere to get off the road last month. In early morning traffic, so couldn't safely get out of the car. The RAC were there in 30 mins, fixed what turned out to be a fuse, gave him some spares, and followed him to his work just to make sure he was ok.

So I guess it's just luck of the draw.

Yes, this was both dangerous and blocking the road, so what you say makes sense.

Yep I had to use rac when my coil spring snapped needed to be taken to the garage. Took them two bloody weeks to come out. Absolute useless company.

They're total shit.

We broke down on the motorway.
DH had some crap freebie RAC cover which would either fix at the roadside or recover us to a RAC garage in a 10 mile radius. Crap, but we were happy to take what we were offered to get the car somewhere safe.

First the guy said he wouldn't come out as it was a Range Rover (don't judge me, it's not my choice and I was seething as I said they were notoriously unreliable) and therefore DEFINITELY UNFIXABLE , so sent us straight to be recovered.

Recovery then couldn't tell us who the RAC garages were in the vicinity. We were 150 miles from home, totally unknown area with a battery at 10% googling RAC garages near me. I'd find one and then the call handler would say 'Ohhh no, they're not on the list'. I mean. FFS RAC, this is your stupid rule, throw me a bone and maintain your own list.

Eventually.paid £500 for a private tow home to the RR garage, where it was discovered a hose had popped off. Easily fixable in 5 mins.

Complained to RAC and they pretty much said, 'Thats sad, go swivel'.

Im not a fan of the RAC or Range Rovers.

Recovery services triage like the emergency services so when I couldn’t restart my car at the services I wasn’t a priority as it was daylight and I wasn’t in danger. However when I broke down coming up to some traffic lights and was blocking the road they were there within 30 minutes.

Both cases I’ve found them brilliant. First one the starter motor had gone and they fixed it at the services and got me on my way. Second time they thought it was something to do with a clutch cylinder but I just got recovered home as all garages would have been closed for the evening and I’d already contacted the chap who services my car and he was coming out to look at it the next day. My cover was direct with RAC the first time and RAC through Aviva the second time.

Yes they're shocking.
Left me alone in work car park for hours, app said they would be with me between 17.00 & 21.10pm. At 20.30 they updated this to 00.10-02.30! Rang and advised lone female in an undesirable area, they said they would be there within the hour as a priority call.
Finally left the car in the car park at 22.10 when DH collected me.
Woke up the following day to voicemails received at 23.30 to say they could see the car but it was in a locked car park and I wasn't with it. No shit Sherlock.
The complaint is currently with them.
Needless to say we won't be renewing.

You have to play the system. Should have called them that night, say he's stranded, you give him a lift back to the car and wait until they show up.

I have three breakdown stories.AA and National Breakdown were both excellent. RAC involved a breakdown at 11pm and 'rescue' at 2pm next day. However, on that occasion we were at a service station, so not in any peril, and I think not considered priority. I imagine that would be the same if your son had managed to get home safely.

The issue is that cars are so much more reliable than they used to be. So there used to be loads more mechanics each covering a much smaller area. Now tgey are driving large distances between call outs.

That's why it is better to go for someone like green flag who use mostly local garages and tow companies instead.

Yes, an entire company is completely useless based on a single example.

I went momma bear when my 18yr old newly passed, had her 14yr old sister in the car when she felt something "off" so pulled over and car wouldnt restart. 4 hours!!! Just outside a major city at 10pm. Lone or female drivers used to get priority.

My dad could have got to her within 30mins but was told if she abandoned the car shed have a £300 uplift fee.

It depends on how much you have paid to be covered for. Or are willing to join/pay up for there and then. And urgency.

I was with the RAC until they were utterly shit responding to a burst tyre in the middle of nowhere in a heatwave. I had 2 small kids with me and they were going to be at least 3 hours (and warned me they might well be longer). Luckily I had a friend staying in the area and they drove out and put on the spare wheel for me so that we could at least get back to our accommodation.

They really are shit and that was the last straw. I moved to Britannia Rescue who use local firms (as you mention). They are MUCH cheaper, as well. Yes, you pay a bit extra if you do need to call someone out, but it's still worked out much cheaper and they turn up much more quickly.

RAC are a rip-off who are coasting off their famous name and past reputation.

Mine broke down at work one evening. They got there within the hour so much better than Green Flag a few years ago who left me and DD waiting on the hard shoulder of a busy stretch of the M5 for 4 bloody hours. It took a strongly worded phone call from the police officer who had stopped to ensure we were ok that finally made them get their arse in gear.

I was with them for years, since I had my first car about 40 years ago. The few times I called them out they were very good, but the last time was probably about 15 years ago. I have old, but very reliable cars! I read countless awful accounts on a forum of how useless they were in what should have been priority situations, with lone women. The (lack of) service was shocking!

I switched to Start Rescue who I haven't needed to call out, but they get much better reviews and cost a fraction of what RAC do. I think it's about £70 a year for a decent level of cover, compared with the over £20 a month I was paying the RAC towards the end, more fool me. Utter rip off, especially considering how bad they now are!

I'd suggest everyone looks into changing to a cheaper, far more efficient company, just do your homework. The RAC have had a change in ownership in recent years, since which they've gone totally down the pan and don't deserve the custom.

They do get priority. Others will end up waiting much longer than that. These days the nearest RAC driver could be 3 hours away.

AA recently were utterly appalling. Weren’t stuck on a motorway - managed to get to a place of safety off the motorway but took hours to get to us, contractor (separate company) couldn’t fix it, couldn’t uplift us, had to wait for someone else to do that. Reported the problem at 5pm, eventually moved at midnight. Have never been told so many incorrect statements about how long it would be before someone arrived, how long before someone else would be there etc. in my whole life.

lodged a complaint - apparently it takes 8 weeks to consider & reply to a complaint too!

Have concluded may as well pay for a cheap as chips one given paying ££ for a well known name gets you the right old runaround and utterly crap service

I've had 2 very good experiences with RAC in the last year.

I wonder if they de-prioritised him because he himself was not stuck at the roadside?

One one of mine I was on the motorway and they came quickly.

The other, I was stuck in a car park not far from home late evening. When they said how long the truck would be I said I would get the bus home and come back. At which point it was later the next day - but they did come at exactly the time they said. And gave me a lift back home after my car was towed to the garage.

Some interesting stories. I do get why they need to prioritise but saying that some pretty awful stories on here. Don't think I will signing with the RAC

He wasn't with the car, he wasn't in danger. I would imagine they prioritise more urgent calls over a straight recovery, especially as it's summer holidays and they are probably very busy. On the 3 occasions I have had to call the RAC they have been utterly brilliant, keeping me safe and either doing a get-you-home repair or recovering the vehicle.

3 family members have had cover with them in the past and now all switched to other providers. I’ve had to use them twice in my lifetime and they were appalling both times. All 3 family members have had nothing but bad experiences with them too. I’d never bother with them again as I literally haven’t heard one good experience from anyone I know. Green Flag seem to be able to be a LOT more competent at a much lower price, easy decision.

I always thought that lone women were prioritised, however when I had a blowout (and no spare) it took them six hours to come and rescue me - turned up at 3am!