Green Flag's rude mechanics

ivan_drago_2

Found the car had a flat tyre this morning so I called Directline who have breakdown cover provided by Green Flag. The mechanic shows up and the first thing he says is not 'Good Morning' but 'Don't you know how to change a tyre?'. I reply 'No' and then he said 'Well you should learn then.'. But isn't that the whole point of having breakdown cover? To give him some credit, he only took 1.5 hours to get to my place and got the job done in 10 minutes, but a bit of courtesy would have been nice.

Thankfully my insurance will be up for renewal in June. I'll probably stay with Directline but get my breakdown cover from the RAC. I'm sure that not all Green Flag mechanics are as rude, but as they seem to be a motley collection of local garages, the training is probably not as good as that of the AA or the RAC.

Bossyboots

I would contact directline and tell them about it.

I know HOW to change a tyre. I physically CANNOT change a tyre. I would have been offended by that question and frankly if he is being paid to a job it is none of his business whether you can do it yourself or not.

ivan_drago_2

I would but unfortunately the mechanic knows where I live!

sleepy

I can recomend the RAC. I'm with Norwich Union and they sent me someone from the RAC to fix my car. I'd been trying for ages to get the car to start, and it wouldn't. The RAC man arrives, turns the key - and it starts first time . I could of died of shame (as a 20yr old female I feel quite stupid around cars), but he was really friendly had a look at the engine and assured me that the car was ok.

chugalug

I can definately recmmend the RAC. Dont often have to call them out but when I have its always been for something stupid. Left the indoor light on all night and flat battery, called out the RAC and they sorted it with no sarcastic comments at all!! Also called them out to change a tyre - and yes I can change one but I dont have to anymore as I can pay someone else to do it. I pay the same whether I call them out or not. Now all I need is a female friendly garage??

hids_2

i had this with green flag a few years ago, had an old orion and the car was glugging oil and the oil light kept coming on on the way back from manchester 1 day i couldn't drive it any further as it kept chugging, rang green flag, quite prompt response, old driver got out and started to put the car on to the back of his lorry, i asked if he was going to have a look at the car he replied "no" if your oil light comes on we refer to it in the business as the "too late light" and the damage has been done already and i'd probably be better scrapping it. I was so upset as i couldn't afford another car. When he dropped me and the "knackered car" off at my house i rang my garage and they picked it up and fixed it for a tenner!!!! yes i complained but never got anything apart from a letter of apology, mind you that was a few years ago, i've learnt a few things from this site from then!!

PeteMc

Recall a sub-contacted firm attending to a motorway breakdown involving a burst tyre I had some years ago.

There were two of us blokes on a wild winter night on a very busy motorway. When the truck arrived he sarcastically said "Can't either of you change a tyre". My reply was yes but wearing suits, chucking it down and without a big truck to stop any car out of control ploughing into us, the answer was no.

Also he took him half an hour because of the nuts and he said that we would never have done it on our own

Fatboy_NSS

I've always had cover with the AA and always found they're excellent when they send out one of their own guys but you get really rude service when they send out a local garage. One time the fella clearly didn't want to fix my car but just wanted to tow it to his garage so he could charge me for the repairs, and the other one took over 2 hours to find me (and I was stuck on a country road in the middle of nowhere, called at 11pm and it was after 1am when he finally got there), he admitted that he didn't have a map in his van so had been driving around trying to find me! Whenever they've sent one of their own guys they always do their best to do a temporary repair at the side of the road. However I now drive a much better car so haven't had to call them for a few years now!

sunflower_2

oh dear
oh dear
oh dear

i didnt realise breakdown cover included changing wheels.....

wish i had known this last week... in the snow... on my own

CTT_2

sunflower wrote:

oh dear
oh dear
oh dear

i didnt realise breakdown cover included changing wheels.....

wish i had known this last week... in the snow... on my own

I was in Reading last Summer and I got a large nail through one of my car tyres and had to call the AA out. They arrived within 30 minutes and the guy was very, very helpful and a credit to the AA.

obeywan_kenobe

I was stranded at Stansted airport the other night (11:00pm). I live in surrey. I called green flag and i was told that they could get me home but i would have to pay for anything over 10miles. It cost me £200 to get home. Obviously I didnt read the small print. Next time i will make sure i breakdown closer to home. Silly me!!!