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RAC refused to tow my car
Although I had Solution 3 option with Recovery to anywhere in UK!!!
This is how it happened. I was going to a dealer to check some faults with ECU (car wasn't under warranty). In the meantime, there was an oil leak from engine and engine seized quite near to the dealer's garage, leaving me stranded in the road.
I called RAC and they didn't come even after 1.5 hours. Then a fellow motorist towed my car with a rope to the dealer's garage (which was 10 minutes from there).
By this time, I cancelled the RAC called as I reached in the garage.
Now, the dealer checked the car and said engine has seized and it will need a new engine (£3000 cost option).
As it was more than the cost of car I paid for, I wanted to scrap it (or fix it from local garage who said they can fit a used engine for £650).
However, I first wanted to take the car to my home (10 miles away). When I called RAC for towing, they refused to do it.
They said as per their terms & condition, I am already in a garage and must repair the car there (even if costs me £3000 to fit a new engine it repairable as per their definition).
I was completely ghasted at their attitude. Even after speaking with two managers in their customer service, they still refused to tow me. But offered me to tow if I pay £100 charge.
Finally I had to tow the car by paying £60 to a local agency.
I already sent an official complaint letter by post but like to know where do I stand.
What is the actual meaning of recovery to any UK destination???
This is how it happened. I was going to a dealer to check some faults with ECU (car wasn't under warranty). In the meantime, there was an oil leak from engine and engine seized quite near to the dealer's garage, leaving me stranded in the road.
I called RAC and they didn't come even after 1.5 hours. Then a fellow motorist towed my car with a rope to the dealer's garage (which was 10 minutes from there).
By this time, I cancelled the RAC called as I reached in the garage.
Now, the dealer checked the car and said engine has seized and it will need a new engine (£3000 cost option).
As it was more than the cost of car I paid for, I wanted to scrap it (or fix it from local garage who said they can fit a used engine for £650).
However, I first wanted to take the car to my home (10 miles away). When I called RAC for towing, they refused to do it.
They said as per their terms & condition, I am already in a garage and must repair the car there (even if costs me £3000 to fit a new engine it repairable as per their definition).
I was completely ghasted at their attitude. Even after speaking with two managers in their customer service, they still refused to tow me. But offered me to tow if I pay £100 charge.
Finally I had to tow the car by paying £60 to a local agency.
I already sent an official complaint letter by post but like to know where do I stand.
What is the actual meaning of recovery to any UK destination???
Happiness is buying an item and then not checking its price after a month to discover it was reduced further.
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Comments
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I would think they are within their rights. You had already called them once for the fault, the fact you didnt wait for them was hardly their fault.
Once the car was at the garage it was your problem, Just because you found the cost of repair to be prohibitive you cant expect the RAC to tow you away. I'm not particularly a fan of the RAC but I doubt you would get any such organisation to assist in such a situation"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts."
Bertrand Russell. British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)0 -
yes I agree with optimist! The rac / aa are not convienience car towing services for petes sake!0
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Then under what condition they offer towing?Happiness is buying an item and then not checking its price after a month to discover it was reduced further.0
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Roadside assistance anywhere in the UK 24 hours a day, 365 days a year providing you are at least a quarter of a mile from home.
If we can't fix your car at the roadside within a reasonable time, then we'll give you a tow to a nearby garage within a 10-mile radius
youEx forum ambassador
Long term forum member0 -
Yeah, the towing service is there to get you from the roadside to a garage.
Not just to tow people about as they see fit.
They've done their bit, if you want towing on from there, that's down to you.
Personally, I'd be quite annoyed if my gf was stuck one her own at the roadside waiting for recovery whilst the RAC were off towing you about the place (whether you pay for it or not)...It's just not what they're there for.0 -
That's actually Roadside only option 1. Option 3 says Recovery to any place upto myself and 7 other passengers!Happiness is buying an item and then not checking its price after a month to discover it was reduced further.0
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maybe you should have pushed the car out into the street and not mentioned you was at a garage0
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Well, actually I did that and it was on public road in front of the dealer!
RAC still refused! They insisted that I fit a new engine at that garage!!
Recently I went to a holiday far away from home with the car. I was always under the assumption that if car breaksdown anywhere in UK, RAC will always tow me back to my home.
Looks like I was wrong completely!
Still I fail to understand under what condition they will tow the car to home from anywhere!
I read some other places that when people were in continental Europe and called RAC for towing to UK, if they found cost of transportation is more that value of car, they will not tow to UK and will actually scrap the car!
It looks like many customers are taken for a ride!Happiness is buying an item and then not checking its price after a month to discover it was reduced further.0 -
When my mums car broke down we called the recovery company and they sent out a truck from a local firm to tow us home which was 200 odd miles away, they did this with no questions askd, i think we have the top package or 1 where we get towed back home, im not sure who we are with mindNo Links in Signature by site rules - MSE Forum Team 20
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