AA/RAC/Greenflag etc
Discussion
Greetings...
Last year on my way home from a bike meet i was unfortunate to have a fuel pump go pop on my little zxr400 - anyways, it was in the middle of nowhere on a dark country lane at circa 9pm.. i was covered by RAC so after a bit of investigating and realising i didnt have anything on me to get the bike apart to do ye olde fuel pipe straight onto the carb trick i called it in - explained i needed recovery not a roadside mechanic.
So two hours passed it was now 11pm and up turns a little rac mechanics van, young lad maybe 20-25 who was insistent on trying to "jump start" the bike, no avail anyway and he didnt have much of a clue about bikes either - he then said he would ring for a recovery (which i asked for in the first place).
Another two hours passed it was now 1am on a monday night, a couple of calls to the RAC to check status of how long the van would be - no idea itl be there when it can, i decided enough was enough im going to have to get recovered privately... made a few calls, managed to get someone to take me the 30 miles home he turned up about 2.15am - £180 lighter - out of hours call out fee and recovery fee.
Next morning after about 3 hours sleep - gets up goes to work, have a text off the RAC around 9.30am "your recovery is logged and will be there ASAP" - ignores it carrys on about my day, then around 10.30pm that night gets a couple of calls of a random mobile number...
"hi mate its such an such about your RAC recovery, its been passed to us (a third party) to do the recovery, we will be with you in around an hours time" - this now making the recovery 26 hours since i initially called it in, they knew i was on a motorbike they knew it was in the middle of winter in the middle of nowhere.
Laughable experience FIRST TIME using the RAC - so the point of this thread is, who do you recommend? are they all as bad as each other? are some preferable for motorbikes? who should i go with?
Last year on my way home from a bike meet i was unfortunate to have a fuel pump go pop on my little zxr400 - anyways, it was in the middle of nowhere on a dark country lane at circa 9pm.. i was covered by RAC so after a bit of investigating and realising i didnt have anything on me to get the bike apart to do ye olde fuel pipe straight onto the carb trick i called it in - explained i needed recovery not a roadside mechanic.
So two hours passed it was now 11pm and up turns a little rac mechanics van, young lad maybe 20-25 who was insistent on trying to "jump start" the bike, no avail anyway and he didnt have much of a clue about bikes either - he then said he would ring for a recovery (which i asked for in the first place).
Another two hours passed it was now 1am on a monday night, a couple of calls to the RAC to check status of how long the van would be - no idea itl be there when it can, i decided enough was enough im going to have to get recovered privately... made a few calls, managed to get someone to take me the 30 miles home he turned up about 2.15am - £180 lighter - out of hours call out fee and recovery fee.
Next morning after about 3 hours sleep - gets up goes to work, have a text off the RAC around 9.30am "your recovery is logged and will be there ASAP" - ignores it carrys on about my day, then around 10.30pm that night gets a couple of calls of a random mobile number...
"hi mate its such an such about your RAC recovery, its been passed to us (a third party) to do the recovery, we will be with you in around an hours time" - this now making the recovery 26 hours since i initially called it in, they knew i was on a motorbike they knew it was in the middle of winter in the middle of nowhere.
Laughable experience FIRST TIME using the RAC - so the point of this thread is, who do you recommend? are they all as bad as each other? are some preferable for motorbikes? who should i go with?
Lot's of people will recommend their provider only for you to find they have a 15 year old vehicle limit or similar, so check that before putting the effort in.
The "send a van" is standard otherwise every idiot would go straight on a lorry. I misdiagnosed a car once and the RAC had me on the road in 40 minutes. That doesn't excuse the long wait for the lorry when it was called, and in the spring when I used them for a car it was difficult to find out how long it'd take - 3/4 hours in the end I think.
So far I'm only certain of RAC and AA covering vehicles over 15 years old, which narrows the pool a little....and I'm hearing better things of the AA than the RAC lately....
The "send a van" is standard otherwise every idiot would go straight on a lorry. I misdiagnosed a car once and the RAC had me on the road in 40 minutes. That doesn't excuse the long wait for the lorry when it was called, and in the spring when I used them for a car it was difficult to find out how long it'd take - 3/4 hours in the end I think.
So far I'm only certain of RAC and AA covering vehicles over 15 years old, which narrows the pool a little....and I'm hearing better things of the AA than the RAC lately....
My experience of the AA (some number of years ago) was very similar. I’d call them and say it’s a motorbike with a flat tyre, I’ll need recovery. Normally at about 1 hour 59 minutes (so they made their 2 hour target), a man in a van would turn up and say “It’s a motorbike with a flat tyre, you’ll need recovery for that!”
A good number of hours later a recovery truck would turn up and recover me and the bike.
I moved my recovery for cars and bikes to Britannia Rescue personal cover. I’ve called them a couple of times and never had to wait more than 1 hour and they've sent the recovery vehicle first. As a satisfied customer I’m happy to recommend them.
A good number of hours later a recovery truck would turn up and recover me and the bike.
I moved my recovery for cars and bikes to Britannia Rescue personal cover. I’ve called them a couple of times and never had to wait more than 1 hour and they've sent the recovery vehicle first. As a satisfied customer I’m happy to recommend them.
f
king hell. What a nightmare!
I've only broken down once on a bike and had to be recovered. Snapped chain near Stone Henge riding from Devon to Reading. The AA sent a lorry fairly quickly and drove me home from what I can recall (was 10yrs ago). Maybe I got good service as I was a repeat customer with my Elise around that time!!
Recently sold my bike and have been trying unsuccessfully to cancel my cover with Dynamo. No one answers phone (I don't have 20min to spend on hold at least). They do have a funky online portal where you can request such things. They send a link to cancel (ever tells you how much you will get back). Then the link doesn't work. Raised a complaint on portal and they have sent me another link that doesn't work. Great stuff.
king hell. What a nightmare!I've only broken down once on a bike and had to be recovered. Snapped chain near Stone Henge riding from Devon to Reading. The AA sent a lorry fairly quickly and drove me home from what I can recall (was 10yrs ago). Maybe I got good service as I was a repeat customer with my Elise around that time!!
Recently sold my bike and have been trying unsuccessfully to cancel my cover with Dynamo. No one answers phone (I don't have 20min to spend on hold at least). They do have a funky online portal where you can request such things. They send a link to cancel (ever tells you how much you will get back). Then the link doesn't work. Raised a complaint on portal and they have sent me another link that doesn't work. Great stuff.
https://sosmotorcyclerecovery.eu/services/
i see these a lot but never used them
greenflag have been ok, appear to understand it was a puncture and needed recovery, they don't use local compianies just nationals. The recovery truck for me came from Stoke when i got a puncture in wrexham, it was a cold wait in January - i'd have been better pushing it D Tweeks and having a new tyre - id have been warmer
i see these a lot but never used them
greenflag have been ok, appear to understand it was a puncture and needed recovery, they don't use local compianies just nationals. The recovery truck for me came from Stoke when i got a puncture in wrexham, it was a cold wait in January - i'd have been better pushing it D Tweeks and having a new tyre - id have been warmer
First time I broke down, I was with MCE... had a flat tyre and they wouldn't send anyone out as "a manager" wanted to know why I wasn't using my spare tyre to fix it.
Second time, now with BeMoto and RAC:
Broke down at side of motorway, bike unable to start again.
They send a man with a van... has no idea about bikes..eh can you get the bodywork off, where is the engine he asks.
not the best of starts.. so I help out and strip the bike.. at the side of a very busy motorway.
It can't be fixed, but I have relay cover, no issues.. it'll be picked up soon (this was at 2pm)
Various texts etc come in.. we are on the way etc etc...
It's now 10pm, I've been at the side of a motorway for nearly 8 hours and had enough.. I've had to book a local hotel.. I've had a shower... and dinner... my bike is still at the side of the motorway, I go back to get helmet out of top box.
The highway recovery people/police then take the bike as it's against the law to have an abandoned vehicle on the hard shoulder.
They update RAC.. and kindly give me a lift back the hotel.
3am my phone rings as "RAC" looking for bike? maybe - I'm asleep so miss the call.. it's OK though as it's a withheld number and they leave no message, great help!
wake up at 8am the next day... RAC can't find the bike.
various calls between RAC and Highway recovery.. along the lines of "why the f**k don't the RAC know where our big recovery depot is that they are in EVERY day"... seems odd..
1pm Saturday... my hire car arrives at hotel.
I drive 600 miles home.
On the way I get a call - we have found your bike!
amazing.
it arrives home 4 days later with damage to the bodywork.
RAC claim it wasn't them. Highways agency don't care.
I'm left to foot he bill... and change the fuel relay switch..which was the original issue.
BeMoto not interested in helping out either.
I find it odd that I've never had a "how did we do" follow up that everyone seems to love these days... maybe they didn't want to hear it.
Second time, now with BeMoto and RAC:
Broke down at side of motorway, bike unable to start again.
They send a man with a van... has no idea about bikes..eh can you get the bodywork off, where is the engine he asks.
not the best of starts.. so I help out and strip the bike.. at the side of a very busy motorway.
It can't be fixed, but I have relay cover, no issues.. it'll be picked up soon (this was at 2pm)
Various texts etc come in.. we are on the way etc etc...
It's now 10pm, I've been at the side of a motorway for nearly 8 hours and had enough.. I've had to book a local hotel.. I've had a shower... and dinner... my bike is still at the side of the motorway, I go back to get helmet out of top box.
The highway recovery people/police then take the bike as it's against the law to have an abandoned vehicle on the hard shoulder.
They update RAC.. and kindly give me a lift back the hotel.
3am my phone rings as "RAC" looking for bike? maybe - I'm asleep so miss the call.. it's OK though as it's a withheld number and they leave no message, great help!
wake up at 8am the next day... RAC can't find the bike.
various calls between RAC and Highway recovery.. along the lines of "why the f**k don't the RAC know where our big recovery depot is that they are in EVERY day"... seems odd..
1pm Saturday... my hire car arrives at hotel.
I drive 600 miles home.
On the way I get a call - we have found your bike!
amazing.
it arrives home 4 days later with damage to the bodywork.
RAC claim it wasn't them. Highways agency don't care.
I'm left to foot he bill... and change the fuel relay switch..which was the original issue.
BeMoto not interested in helping out either.
I find it odd that I've never had a "how did we do" follow up that everyone seems to love these days... maybe they didn't want to hear it.
I've had a less positive experience with the big players twice. Once I was left by the side of an unlit dual carriageway in winter for many hours after my stator packed up before the first attendance. Thankfully the guy took pity and took me part way home, and the connecting recovery didn't leave me waiting too long.
Another time I was coming back from a track day at Snetterton and my trailer failed. Again took hours for the first guy to arrive, and many more hours for the recovery truck. Thankfully he informed me that he was taking my trailer with my bike on it to some motorway services where it would be left for 12 hours before being collected by a second truck. I called the operator and said that as they were dumping it there I assume it is covered by their insurance. She said no, it would have to be mine. As my insurance wouldn't cover that I was apparently welcome to follow it and then sit with it for the 12 hours until the second leg of recovery. After some escalation they saw reason and it was delivered directly to my house.
It's not always been bad though - I picked up a puncture once and the AA attended in under 30 minutes, put a plug in it and then followed me home to make sure I was safe.
I've also had a positive experience with Start Rescue when I suffered a snapped chain. They sent SOS Motorcycle Rescue who were with me in a reasonable amount of time and took me home at a decent pace
I think I prefer straightforward recovery these days to the ignore request, send a man, send recovery approach.
Another time I was coming back from a track day at Snetterton and my trailer failed. Again took hours for the first guy to arrive, and many more hours for the recovery truck. Thankfully he informed me that he was taking my trailer with my bike on it to some motorway services where it would be left for 12 hours before being collected by a second truck. I called the operator and said that as they were dumping it there I assume it is covered by their insurance. She said no, it would have to be mine. As my insurance wouldn't cover that I was apparently welcome to follow it and then sit with it for the 12 hours until the second leg of recovery. After some escalation they saw reason and it was delivered directly to my house.
It's not always been bad though - I picked up a puncture once and the AA attended in under 30 minutes, put a plug in it and then followed me home to make sure I was safe.
I've also had a positive experience with Start Rescue when I suffered a snapped chain. They sent SOS Motorcycle Rescue who were with me in a reasonable amount of time and took me home at a decent pace
I think I prefer straightforward recovery these days to the ignore request, send a man, send recovery approach.
Edited by SBDJ on Wednesday 31st August 14:50
Seems like im not the only one to experience an absolute NIGHTMARE service from the RAC or a couple of the other services.
Has anybody gone with greenflag, do they cover anything over 15 years? SOS do they?
How fecking difficult can it be to get a good recovery service going in this day and age, with the world of feedback that we live in - its a shocking state of affairs!
Has anybody gone with greenflag, do they cover anything over 15 years? SOS do they?
How fecking difficult can it be to get a good recovery service going in this day and age, with the world of feedback that we live in - its a shocking state of affairs!
the cueball said:
First time I broke down, I was with MCE... had a flat tyre and they wouldn't send anyone out as "a manager" wanted to know why I wasn't using my spare tyre to fix it.
Second time, now with BeMoto and RAC:
Broke down at side of motorway, bike unable to start again.
They send a man with a van... has no idea about bikes..eh can you get the bodywork off, where is the engine he asks.
not the best of starts.. so I help out and strip the bike.. at the side of a very busy motorway.
It can't be fixed, but I have relay cover, no issues.. it'll be picked up soon (this was at 2pm)
Various texts etc come in.. we are on the way etc etc...
It's now 10pm, I've been at the side of a motorway for nearly 8 hours and had enough.. I've had to book a local hotel.. I've had a shower... and dinner... my bike is still at the side of the motorway, I go back to get helmet out of top box.
The highway recovery people/police then take the bike as it's against the law to have an abandoned vehicle on the hard shoulder.
They update RAC.. and kindly give me a lift back the hotel.
3am my phone rings as "RAC" looking for bike? maybe - I'm asleep so miss the call.. it's OK though as it's a withheld number and they leave no message, great help!
wake up at 8am the next day... RAC can't find the bike.
various calls between RAC and Highway recovery.. along the lines of "why the f**k don't the RAC know where our big recovery depot is that they are in EVERY day"... seems odd..
1pm Saturday... my hire car arrives at hotel.
I drive 600 miles home.
On the way I get a call - we have found your bike!
amazing.
it arrives home 4 days later with damage to the bodywork.
RAC claim it wasn't them. Highways agency don't care.
I'm left to foot he bill... and change the fuel relay switch..which was the original issue.
BeMoto not interested in helping out either.
I find it odd that I've never had a "how did we do" follow up that everyone seems to love these days... maybe they didn't want to hear it.
What an absolute nightmare, yeah i didnt get a "how did we do" follow up either... funny that! Second time, now with BeMoto and RAC:
Broke down at side of motorway, bike unable to start again.
They send a man with a van... has no idea about bikes..eh can you get the bodywork off, where is the engine he asks.
not the best of starts.. so I help out and strip the bike.. at the side of a very busy motorway.
It can't be fixed, but I have relay cover, no issues.. it'll be picked up soon (this was at 2pm)
Various texts etc come in.. we are on the way etc etc...
It's now 10pm, I've been at the side of a motorway for nearly 8 hours and had enough.. I've had to book a local hotel.. I've had a shower... and dinner... my bike is still at the side of the motorway, I go back to get helmet out of top box.
The highway recovery people/police then take the bike as it's against the law to have an abandoned vehicle on the hard shoulder.
They update RAC.. and kindly give me a lift back the hotel.
3am my phone rings as "RAC" looking for bike? maybe - I'm asleep so miss the call.. it's OK though as it's a withheld number and they leave no message, great help!
wake up at 8am the next day... RAC can't find the bike.
various calls between RAC and Highway recovery.. along the lines of "why the f**k don't the RAC know where our big recovery depot is that they are in EVERY day"... seems odd..
1pm Saturday... my hire car arrives at hotel.
I drive 600 miles home.
On the way I get a call - we have found your bike!
amazing.
it arrives home 4 days later with damage to the bodywork.
RAC claim it wasn't them. Highways agency don't care.
I'm left to foot he bill... and change the fuel relay switch..which was the original issue.
BeMoto not interested in helping out either.
I find it odd that I've never had a "how did we do" follow up that everyone seems to love these days... maybe they didn't want to hear it.
I have had a spate of breakdowns in the last few years with the RAC, due to test riding a large number of different bikes
Longest I have had to wait is 2 hours, I have told them I'm a mechanic and that it needs recovery and they have sent a truck straight away, both with cars and bikes
In fairness the AA was equally as capable but I moved because the RAC would cover my van and trailer and my fifth wheel caravan which the AA wouldn't
Longest I have had to wait is 2 hours, I have told them I'm a mechanic and that it needs recovery and they have sent a truck straight away, both with cars and bikes
In fairness the AA was equally as capable but I moved because the RAC would cover my van and trailer and my fifth wheel caravan which the AA wouldn't
A good bit of advice that applies to any breakdown company is to show them you know what you’re talking about - that way they’re more likely to believe you when you say ‘this needs recovering’.
If they have any doubt they’ll try and save money by sending a patrol to confirm first.
My last three have been:
Ford Focus cambelt snapped - offered to send pictures of the bits of belt everywhere as I’d removed the cover for a look
MG ZS with failed waterpump - same as above (waterpump cambelt driven)
Rover 75 with snapped front suspension spring (this didn’t take much explanation!)
All three recovered no bother with the AA within 4 hours.
I know they’re cars and it’s not quite the same, but persuade the control room operative you’re not a numpty and you’re much more likely to get recovery on the first go.
If they have any doubt they’ll try and save money by sending a patrol to confirm first.
My last three have been:
Ford Focus cambelt snapped - offered to send pictures of the bits of belt everywhere as I’d removed the cover for a look
MG ZS with failed waterpump - same as above (waterpump cambelt driven)
Rover 75 with snapped front suspension spring (this didn’t take much explanation!)
All three recovered no bother with the AA within 4 hours.
I know they’re cars and it’s not quite the same, but persuade the control room operative you’re not a numpty and you’re much more likely to get recovery on the first go.
I had a good experience with RAC (or AA can’t remember).
Clutch went on my bike. In a safe location (lay-by across the road from a pub). Easter Sunday about seven miles from home.
Phone them, explain it’s the clutch and not the cable. Get a phone call about ten minutes later from the driver confirming it’s the clutch and not the cable. Says he can’t fix it and he’ll get a truck to recover me. He’s not sure how long it will be.
No worries I start to make arrangements for someone to pick me up and I get a call from a local company saying it’s been passed to them and they’ll be there in ten minutes.
Ten minutes later they’ve turned up.
Very impressed.
Clutch went on my bike. In a safe location (lay-by across the road from a pub). Easter Sunday about seven miles from home.
Phone them, explain it’s the clutch and not the cable. Get a phone call about ten minutes later from the driver confirming it’s the clutch and not the cable. Says he can’t fix it and he’ll get a truck to recover me. He’s not sure how long it will be.
No worries I start to make arrangements for someone to pick me up and I get a call from a local company saying it’s been passed to them and they’ll be there in ten minutes.
Ten minutes later they’ve turned up.
Very impressed.
In a nutshell they are all as bad as each other but mostly it is luck of the draw on the day in question. Generally speaking though, through the busy periods - autumn through to spring you will be waiting longer and the more the remote the location you break down in, again it's likely that you'll have wait a while.
Like every other industry it's a race to the bottom. Unlike the old days where guys were sat around waiting for customers to break down it doesn't work like that anymore. Nowadays the jobs just stack up and up and you end up in the queue.
Add to that everyone is short staffed like most other industries in this country and with the price of fuel gone through the roof there is no money in long distance work. That's why no one has much interest in the contract work from the likes of the AA, RAC, Green Flag etc.
Without a massive hike in the yearly premium, the service isn't going to improve much at all.
Like every other industry it's a race to the bottom. Unlike the old days where guys were sat around waiting for customers to break down it doesn't work like that anymore. Nowadays the jobs just stack up and up and you end up in the queue.
Add to that everyone is short staffed like most other industries in this country and with the price of fuel gone through the roof there is no money in long distance work. That's why no one has much interest in the contract work from the likes of the AA, RAC, Green Flag etc.
Without a massive hike in the yearly premium, the service isn't going to improve much at all.
Now we all have smartphones I wonder if the numbers stack up for the average person or whether you would be better phoning around garages yourself
The only reason I am with the RAC is because my wife wants peace of mind - in the last 15 years I think she has broken down twice, both punctures which were local so I fixed them
The only reason I am with the RAC is because my wife wants peace of mind - in the last 15 years I think she has broken down twice, both punctures which were local so I fixed them
The key point is that there are 2 different business models at play here. The likes of the AA and RAC run their own fleet where others simply coordinate local businesses to do the work.
Those with their own fleet can better coordinate quality and training as it’s their people and their kit. As most (car) call outs don’t need a recovery truck, they can send the man in a small van and save on costs. It also means they can tick the box of attending the customer within the stated time period. If the call requirement exceeds capacity then they will hand calls onto local independents but that is generally a last resort as it incurs additional cost.
The insurance schemes start by engaging the independents. Their advantage (for us bikers) is that they want to get the right people/vehicle to the customer first time as they will get paid per event. They also want to get things sorted as quickly as possible so they can collect the next job to be invoiced.
If you have an idea what you are talking about with regards to mechanics (but are not a mechanic yourself) then getting the right vehicle first time is probably your priority. The call centre teams at the AA/RAC will likely be trained to, at least in part, ignore what the customer says is the problem as most people haven’t a clue what their taking about mechanically! (We’ve all been there with an engine turning over at full speed on the starter but not firing when some bright spark says “I think it’s the battery!”
) My best example of that on a car was when I called the AA out to my completely dead Celica GT4. It’ll need recovery I said, but it’s 4 wheel drive so it’ll need to be a flat-bed not a dolly. Guess what they sent?
Those with their own fleet can better coordinate quality and training as it’s their people and their kit. As most (car) call outs don’t need a recovery truck, they can send the man in a small van and save on costs. It also means they can tick the box of attending the customer within the stated time period. If the call requirement exceeds capacity then they will hand calls onto local independents but that is generally a last resort as it incurs additional cost.
The insurance schemes start by engaging the independents. Their advantage (for us bikers) is that they want to get the right people/vehicle to the customer first time as they will get paid per event. They also want to get things sorted as quickly as possible so they can collect the next job to be invoiced.
If you have an idea what you are talking about with regards to mechanics (but are not a mechanic yourself) then getting the right vehicle first time is probably your priority. The call centre teams at the AA/RAC will likely be trained to, at least in part, ignore what the customer says is the problem as most people haven’t a clue what their taking about mechanically! (We’ve all been there with an engine turning over at full speed on the starter but not firing when some bright spark says “I think it’s the battery!”
) My best example of that on a car was when I called the AA out to my completely dead Celica GT4. It’ll need recovery I said, but it’s 4 wheel drive so it’ll need to be a flat-bed not a dolly. Guess what they sent?I had the yellow team out last Sunday. Finished shopping and service light on the car flashed with no attempt to start. Arrived within an hour, coerced the key into working (he bent it a bit and it worked!) then told us to get home and get a locksmith out to sort us a new key. Couldn't have been happier. I've had ups and downs with them but much many more ups than downs. The benefits on the app come in handy too for money off at Halfords, various restaurants etc.
I got stuck on the A34 when the wheel bearing on the trailer that I had just bought (along with the sailing dinghy on it) seized.
The RAC told me I wasn't covered for a trailer under the personal membership I have, gave me a quote of £750 to get the trailer from Oxford to Alton Hampshire. If the car was broken they would have recovered that - the trailer was no harder to transport on a recovery truck than a car. Despite me appealing to the bloke on the phone that I had been a member since 1995 etc they were not interested.
Called a local recovery bloke and paid £195.
I have three cars a boat trailer and a bike. If anyone here knows a decent alternative to the RAC that would cover this lot I would love to know.
The RAC told me I wasn't covered for a trailer under the personal membership I have, gave me a quote of £750 to get the trailer from Oxford to Alton Hampshire. If the car was broken they would have recovered that - the trailer was no harder to transport on a recovery truck than a car. Despite me appealing to the bloke on the phone that I had been a member since 1995 etc they were not interested.
Called a local recovery bloke and paid £195.
I have three cars a boat trailer and a bike. If anyone here knows a decent alternative to the RAC that would cover this lot I would love to know.
We have RAC recovery, as it gives t'other half peace of mind for when she's off miles away visiting family.
I've not been impressed on the rare occasions we've had to use it.
When the charging system (literally) went bang on my 1400 Intruder, we ended up sat by a busy dual carriageway in the wet and the dark for several hours, before a van appeared and oppo' confirmed that we needed recovery. Cue another long wait sat in the rain until the flat bed turned up. I was asked to load the bike myself as they weren't used to bikes. When I lost my footing and found the truck to be awash with oil (remember it was also wet and dark) I was told that was because the last vehicle on there had a major engine failure... Thanks. Total time until pick up was around five hours.
Recently my better half's Harley developed a misfire and packed up a few miles from home. Mechanic was able to help start it with a booster and followed me back to make sure I got it home okay. T'other half didn't want to ride it as it was popping and banging so badly. Took around two hours to turn up. Biggest hassle was trying to ring in and book recovery. Automated message stated that there was a half hour queue before calls were being answered, and to use the website instead. I rode home and used the computer to log the problem (I don't have a phone and t'other half's had barely any reception) whereupon it asked me to ring them as they needed further details.
I managed to crack the sump on my mate's Harley a few years back. It's a long low chop and leaving an airport I rode over a piece of steel set into the ground at the exit, it caught the drain plug and ripped the sump open. My better half alerted me to the problem and we stopped on a petrol station forecourt. My mate used his RAC membership, informed them that the sump had been ripped open and that it wasn't a roadside fix. He was in near constant contact with them as approx' every half hour they would call and advise that the van was "twenty minutes away". When the van did turn up, one look told the mechanic that we needed recovery. We then had eight or nine hours of being told that the recovery truck was "twenty minutes away". Finally, a truck (not RAC) from a local garage turned up (funnily enough, owned by someone we know through the drag racing), the driver of which told us that they'd only just had the call... My mate, complained about the wait, and the constant "twenty minutes away" and was offered something like a twenty pound discount at renewal.
However, every year t'other half renews (after haggling the price down) as she feels it would be well worth it should she find herself stuck at the side of the M5 with a flat. I tend to agree... ish.
I've not been impressed on the rare occasions we've had to use it.
When the charging system (literally) went bang on my 1400 Intruder, we ended up sat by a busy dual carriageway in the wet and the dark for several hours, before a van appeared and oppo' confirmed that we needed recovery. Cue another long wait sat in the rain until the flat bed turned up. I was asked to load the bike myself as they weren't used to bikes. When I lost my footing and found the truck to be awash with oil (remember it was also wet and dark) I was told that was because the last vehicle on there had a major engine failure... Thanks. Total time until pick up was around five hours.
Recently my better half's Harley developed a misfire and packed up a few miles from home. Mechanic was able to help start it with a booster and followed me back to make sure I got it home okay. T'other half didn't want to ride it as it was popping and banging so badly. Took around two hours to turn up. Biggest hassle was trying to ring in and book recovery. Automated message stated that there was a half hour queue before calls were being answered, and to use the website instead. I rode home and used the computer to log the problem (I don't have a phone and t'other half's had barely any reception) whereupon it asked me to ring them as they needed further details.
I managed to crack the sump on my mate's Harley a few years back. It's a long low chop and leaving an airport I rode over a piece of steel set into the ground at the exit, it caught the drain plug and ripped the sump open. My better half alerted me to the problem and we stopped on a petrol station forecourt. My mate used his RAC membership, informed them that the sump had been ripped open and that it wasn't a roadside fix. He was in near constant contact with them as approx' every half hour they would call and advise that the van was "twenty minutes away". When the van did turn up, one look told the mechanic that we needed recovery. We then had eight or nine hours of being told that the recovery truck was "twenty minutes away". Finally, a truck (not RAC) from a local garage turned up (funnily enough, owned by someone we know through the drag racing), the driver of which told us that they'd only just had the call... My mate, complained about the wait, and the constant "twenty minutes away" and was offered something like a twenty pound discount at renewal.
However, every year t'other half renews (after haggling the price down) as she feels it would be well worth it should she find herself stuck at the side of the M5 with a flat. I tend to agree... ish.
epicfail said:
I got stuck on the A34 when the wheel bearing on the trailer that I had just bought (along with the sailing dinghy on it) seized.
The RAC told me I wasn't covered for a trailer under the personal membership I have, gave me a quote of £750 to get the trailer from Oxford to Alton Hampshire. If the car was broken they would have recovered that - the trailer was no harder to transport on a recovery truck than a car. Despite me appealing to the bloke on the phone that I had been a member since 1995 etc they were not interested.
Called a local recovery bloke and paid £195.
I have three cars a boat trailer and a bike. If anyone here knows a decent alternative to the RAC that would cover this lot I would love to know.
The AA covers trailers as part of the basic membership. See here.The RAC told me I wasn't covered for a trailer under the personal membership I have, gave me a quote of £750 to get the trailer from Oxford to Alton Hampshire. If the car was broken they would have recovered that - the trailer was no harder to transport on a recovery truck than a car. Despite me appealing to the bloke on the phone that I had been a member since 1995 etc they were not interested.
Called a local recovery bloke and paid £195.
I have three cars a boat trailer and a bike. If anyone here knows a decent alternative to the RAC that would cover this lot I would love to know.
Glad to see I'm not the only one with a story...
TL:DR - even when you get good people on the phone their hands are tied...
I've had a few breakdowns where they turned up pretty quickly, others where they turned up with a patrol when I told them it needed a flatbed, but 2 weeks ago was the most memorable one so far (times approximate but they paint a picture):
On the bike (with my wife as pillion), I get a puncture near Newark (70 miles from home), at 17:30 on Sunday. Not repairable as the tyre overheated as it lost pressure and there is now a 5p size hole in it showing cords (it was getting close to the wear markers and ready to be replaced).
18:00 (by the time I stopped, checked the tyre, confirmed it's a puncture and it won't hold any air, etc): I ring the AA, get told to do it on the app as it's quicker. Log it on the app, which tells me to ring them as I'm in a dangerous location
(I had made it to a services on the A1). I think it got to 18:30 by the time it was all logged and I was told they would be here within the hour, but maybe two.
19:45: AA rings me to tell me they're struggling to find a flatbed, but should be before 10:00. Oh well, we're at a 24h services, could be worse.
20:00: The guy running the 24h services as had enough, closes up shop and buggers off home. We're left in the dark. Thankfully he's left the lights on inside (and all the pumps too?) and one of the shutters is broken so there is a bit of light.
21:00: I ring AA to chase, I'm told it'll now be 2AM before they can get someone to me. AA suggests I get a hotel and they'll pay for it, however they don't know what to tell me when they realise I'm on foot and nowhere near a hotel... I start ringing others to see if they can get here quicker. Greenflag can take me 10 miles for £150, RAC is £170.
22:00: Screw it, I'll take Greenflag up on their offer, only now they can't do that anymore? They give me some numbers for local recovery companies to try. The ones who actually pick up the phone won't touch it. I ring RAC back, turns out I had an account with them the whole time (insurance perk I forgot about!). Should be with us within 2 hours.
23:30: No update from RAC, they're struggling to get someone out.
24:00: I get a crack at the new Cardle
01:30: Message from a taxi company, they're sending a driver and he should be with us in 45 minutes. No idea where he's planning to take us or who booked it.
02:30: I ring AA back, I'm told that they were informed at 01:50 (i.e. 40 minutes beforehand) that the driver had called in sick so we're now looking at 07:00. I mutter a few choice words under my breath and tell the call centre guy that it's fine, but if he could tell his drivers to stop driving past with empty flatbeds I'd be much happier (we'd seen 4 go past by now).
02:45: Call from taxi company, turns out it's too far so they're cancelling the booking. I tell them fine but you best tell the guys who booked it (turns out it was RAC).
02:55: Call from taxi company, he can't find a number for the RAC
.
03:00: I ring the RAC to tell them the taxi can't make it. Turns out the plan was that I'd leave the bike where it is and the taxi would take us to the services a mile down the road (actually 24h). I tell them I'm not prepared to leave the bike on its own, unlocked, at night, at a deserted petrol station which still has a little bit of local traffic going through it.
03:20: Taxi company number 2 tells me they're sending a driver from Sheffield to take us a mile up the road. At that point I'm starting to give up and agree to leave the bike here.
03:40: RAC rings back to confirm a taxi is coming, and they want me to stash the keys to the bike somewhere so someone can come and recover it later
. That went down like a lead balloon.
04:00: I get a call from a local recovery company, they're on their way to take me and the bike from the dangerous place I'm in to the services up the road. The guys gets very confused when I confirm the pick-up place is already a services. He tells me this is a big favour for the RAC as this is not the kind of recovery they normally do.
04:30: Taxi turns up. Turns out nobody has bothered to cancel the booking. The driver's alright though he'd fit well on the conspiracy theory thread on here.
04:40: The recovery company turns up. We load the bike on, he's now taking us to the Premier Inn in Newark. First I hear about this. Get a call from the RAC on the way there, they want me to leave the bike there and leave the keys at reception, and they'll get us a taxi home as recovery won't be till 9AM and they can't find us a hotel within 30 miles. I tell them I'll call them back as I'm still not sure about that plan.
05:00: There is a 24h McDonalds here. I ring them back and tell them we've waited that long, what's another 4 hours? At least we have food and some seats now.
09:00: Still no firm ETA from RAC (I had called a couple of times to check), Enterprise across the road has vans available for one-way hire, so I book one with a view to drive home, get my kit, drive back to get the bike, and finally get home.
09:10: Recovery company rings to tell me a flatbed is on its way to take us home. Turns out it's the same recovery company as earlier. I cancel the Enterprise van and the AA call (which I'd not heard anything about anyway).
12:00: Finally home, straight to bed for some kip. Thankfully our bosses are understanding and they advise we should just take the day off.
I appreciate they're working with limited resources and they did offer several ways to help (which I didn't agree were acceptable), so I can't just say the service was rubbish. They had different people trying different avenues at the same time to get us sorted as quickly as possible.
The AA on the other hand I feel didn't really wanted to do much to help other than getting a truck, but they did offer to pay for any expenses I'd have in booking a taxi and a hotel.
I would have appreciated better communication overall though, as things were happening and being booked without my knowledge, and I had to ring them for most of the updates. Also, if they knew from the start it would be ages, I'd have filled the tyre full of puncture goo (it's tubed) and tried to limp home, the only reason I wanted recovery in the first place was because the tyre was so bad I didn't want to risk riding it if it was only a couple of hours to wait. By the time we realised it would take forever the shop had closed so it was too late for that plan...
Next long trip on the bike I'm packing my tools, spare tubes, and spare tyres!
TL:DR - even when you get good people on the phone their hands are tied...
I've had a few breakdowns where they turned up pretty quickly, others where they turned up with a patrol when I told them it needed a flatbed, but 2 weeks ago was the most memorable one so far (times approximate but they paint a picture):
On the bike (with my wife as pillion), I get a puncture near Newark (70 miles from home), at 17:30 on Sunday. Not repairable as the tyre overheated as it lost pressure and there is now a 5p size hole in it showing cords (it was getting close to the wear markers and ready to be replaced).
18:00 (by the time I stopped, checked the tyre, confirmed it's a puncture and it won't hold any air, etc): I ring the AA, get told to do it on the app as it's quicker. Log it on the app, which tells me to ring them as I'm in a dangerous location
(I had made it to a services on the A1). I think it got to 18:30 by the time it was all logged and I was told they would be here within the hour, but maybe two. 19:45: AA rings me to tell me they're struggling to find a flatbed, but should be before 10:00. Oh well, we're at a 24h services, could be worse.
20:00: The guy running the 24h services as had enough, closes up shop and buggers off home. We're left in the dark. Thankfully he's left the lights on inside (and all the pumps too?) and one of the shutters is broken so there is a bit of light.
21:00: I ring AA to chase, I'm told it'll now be 2AM before they can get someone to me. AA suggests I get a hotel and they'll pay for it, however they don't know what to tell me when they realise I'm on foot and nowhere near a hotel... I start ringing others to see if they can get here quicker. Greenflag can take me 10 miles for £150, RAC is £170.
22:00: Screw it, I'll take Greenflag up on their offer, only now they can't do that anymore? They give me some numbers for local recovery companies to try. The ones who actually pick up the phone won't touch it. I ring RAC back, turns out I had an account with them the whole time (insurance perk I forgot about!). Should be with us within 2 hours.
23:30: No update from RAC, they're struggling to get someone out.
24:00: I get a crack at the new Cardle
01:30: Message from a taxi company, they're sending a driver and he should be with us in 45 minutes. No idea where he's planning to take us or who booked it.
02:30: I ring AA back, I'm told that they were informed at 01:50 (i.e. 40 minutes beforehand) that the driver had called in sick so we're now looking at 07:00. I mutter a few choice words under my breath and tell the call centre guy that it's fine, but if he could tell his drivers to stop driving past with empty flatbeds I'd be much happier (we'd seen 4 go past by now).
02:45: Call from taxi company, turns out it's too far so they're cancelling the booking. I tell them fine but you best tell the guys who booked it (turns out it was RAC).
02:55: Call from taxi company, he can't find a number for the RAC
.03:00: I ring the RAC to tell them the taxi can't make it. Turns out the plan was that I'd leave the bike where it is and the taxi would take us to the services a mile down the road (actually 24h). I tell them I'm not prepared to leave the bike on its own, unlocked, at night, at a deserted petrol station which still has a little bit of local traffic going through it.
03:20: Taxi company number 2 tells me they're sending a driver from Sheffield to take us a mile up the road. At that point I'm starting to give up and agree to leave the bike here.
03:40: RAC rings back to confirm a taxi is coming, and they want me to stash the keys to the bike somewhere so someone can come and recover it later
. That went down like a lead balloon.04:00: I get a call from a local recovery company, they're on their way to take me and the bike from the dangerous place I'm in to the services up the road. The guys gets very confused when I confirm the pick-up place is already a services. He tells me this is a big favour for the RAC as this is not the kind of recovery they normally do.
04:30: Taxi turns up. Turns out nobody has bothered to cancel the booking. The driver's alright though he'd fit well on the conspiracy theory thread on here.
04:40: The recovery company turns up. We load the bike on, he's now taking us to the Premier Inn in Newark. First I hear about this. Get a call from the RAC on the way there, they want me to leave the bike there and leave the keys at reception, and they'll get us a taxi home as recovery won't be till 9AM and they can't find us a hotel within 30 miles. I tell them I'll call them back as I'm still not sure about that plan.
05:00: There is a 24h McDonalds here. I ring them back and tell them we've waited that long, what's another 4 hours? At least we have food and some seats now.
09:00: Still no firm ETA from RAC (I had called a couple of times to check), Enterprise across the road has vans available for one-way hire, so I book one with a view to drive home, get my kit, drive back to get the bike, and finally get home.
09:10: Recovery company rings to tell me a flatbed is on its way to take us home. Turns out it's the same recovery company as earlier. I cancel the Enterprise van and the AA call (which I'd not heard anything about anyway).
12:00: Finally home, straight to bed for some kip. Thankfully our bosses are understanding and they advise we should just take the day off.
I appreciate they're working with limited resources and they did offer several ways to help (which I didn't agree were acceptable), so I can't just say the service was rubbish. They had different people trying different avenues at the same time to get us sorted as quickly as possible.
The AA on the other hand I feel didn't really wanted to do much to help other than getting a truck, but they did offer to pay for any expenses I'd have in booking a taxi and a hotel.
I would have appreciated better communication overall though, as things were happening and being booked without my knowledge, and I had to ring them for most of the updates. Also, if they knew from the start it would be ages, I'd have filled the tyre full of puncture goo (it's tubed) and tried to limp home, the only reason I wanted recovery in the first place was because the tyre was so bad I didn't want to risk riding it if it was only a couple of hours to wait. By the time we realised it would take forever the shop had closed so it was too late for that plan...
Next long trip on the bike I'm packing my tools, spare tubes, and spare tyres!
Edited by Alex@POD on Thursday 1st September 15:52
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