The AA failed to diagnose a simple fault

stewdaviesuk

A recent trip to relatives ended when the Ford Mondeo I came in mysteriously would not start. I am a member of the AA with roadside Assist only not recovery. They sent a local garage vehicle who could not see the fault. He used a small hand held diagnostic tool which did not report any faults. His conclusion was that the fuel pump must have failed as it would not show on the diagnostics.

I had to pay to get recovered home, a journey of 130 miles. Once home the car was taken to a local garage and i awaited the expensive outcome...

The result, a fuse had fallen out of the holder in the fuse box. The recovery chap never checked the fuses as I was with him the entire time. The garage also said that their diagnostic tools and that of a normal AA patrolman would have found the fault and certainly cleared the fuel pump as a source of the problem.

Do i have a genuine case for compensation against the AA and / or the bloke they sent out?

Regards

S

im-lost

Nope.. They aren't guaranteed to fix your car at the roadside, and as you didn't have adequate cover to recover you home, how can they in anyway be held responsible for the cost?

As it was such an easy fix, why didn't you diagnose and fix it yourself at the roadside

stewdaviesuk

im-lost, true it was a simple fault that I should have found myself, i was tired and soaking wet by the time the guy arrived and it was dark and I had no torch. Though if the fault is simple but overlooked it hardly inspires confidence. The consensus is that had I got the genuine AA patrolman it would have been fixed but i got a tow truck driver who did not seem to have the right skills to diagnose correctly. I paid to upgrade my AA membership and pay an excess to the AA to get me home, hence my beef with them.

scotsbob

At the very least you should complain to the AA. The with a bit of luck that garage is taken off their "approved" list.

nickcc

Had a similar problem with Green Flag. Daughters Fiesta lost the coolant with clouds of steam out the back of the car, she also had roadside assist. Recovery vehicle and driver arrived, lifted the bonnet and told her head gasket had blown and he could only recover her to nearest garage (his employer) or she would have to pay £90 to take her and vehicle home, which she opted for. Turned out that one of the hoses had split, so much for roadside assist.

motorguy

I dont understand why people opt merely for roadside assist when you can get a recovery package recommended on this website for less than £40 a year?

forgotmyname

Compensation?

Although they failed to spot the fault, There is probably a time limit on how long they spend on diagnosing it. No codes then its either the pump or wiring.

If its wiring they could be checking it for days. So jumped straight to the recovery option.

Dark and raining then im not surprised he didnt want to spend hours checking it all over.

I presume the fix was fairly cheap. Upgrade your cover to include onward travel.

mad_rich

Not 'compensation', but a refund.

Did the third-party contractor that the AA decided to use show 'reasonable care and skill'? I'm not a mechanic, but I don't think so.

Checking the fuses seems to me like a very sensible idea before advising you to spend £130 on recovery and god knows how much more on repairs.

But hey. If it's dark, and raining, and he can earn £15 commission for getting you to pay for the tow....

I think you should write to the AA (not the guy that came out) and point out how simple the fault was, and how you expect a better level of service. (And incidentally, you don't expect to be upsold to recovery if their man can't be arsed to diagnose the fault properly.)

nickcc

motorguy wrote: »

I dont understand why people opt merely for roadside assist when you can get a recovery package recommended on this website for less than £40 a year?

Nor me, always go for recovery and as an IAM member get further discount. Problem is that Children don't always heed their parents advice:)

gilbert_and_sullivan

The days of a mechanic coming to you with a van full of the usual suspect failures are long gone.

Far too complicated now for roadside diagnosis and repair unless its blindingly obvious...like a fuse fallen out...;)

Just the same in the lorry breakdown game, at one time lift and tow was unheard of except for a completely destroyed engine or gearbox, now almost every breakdown gets dragged in at huge cost.

roddydogs

How does a fuse "Fall out?"