Female Abandoned by RAC at Night

micknmace

I have recovery & onward travel membership with the RAC. Last week when we were all hit with extra heavy rain & winds my car conked out whilst going through surface water on the road. Given the choice I wouldn't have gone out in that weather but my job as a homecarer means that I have to ensure that the elderly & vulnerable are looked after & safe in their own homes. Most of my clients are in remote villages where there are no streetlights.
10pm at night I requested help from the RAC. As soon as I mentioned flood water they told me they couldn't help me as it was now an insurance issue. They could however come & do me a private tow for a one off charge of £85 then £2 per mile thereafter or my other option was to 'phone the Fire Brigade. I fell to pieces when I got off the 'phone.

specialboy

So how did you get sorted in the end? Why blame the RAC?

Westmead_Fan

check your policy very carefully but why would you drive through flooded areas, i know you had to help the elderly but you should not put your health/life on the line.

Captain_Flack.

Let's get to the important issue. Who got the elderly to bed that night?

facade

Does "surface water" mean 1/4" deep or deep enough that your engine has inhaled it?

Not sure why your insurance would cover driving into water, it would cover you if parked and a river burst its banks or something and filled the car up.

In future, always tell the nice man that "It just stopped and it won't start", and at least they will come out to you.

As above, check the small print. I've been with the AA for donkeys years, under the impression that if my car won't move, they will recover me. Now I am hearing that this is not actually the case: any accident damage or vandalism is not covered. Wrong fuel is not covered.

Doesn't seem worth paying them every year now, I'd be better off paying a 24hour recovery service as a one off if I need it.

micknmace

Thankfully I only had 1 client left to get to & the company I work for sent another carer. I 'phoned a friend to get out of bed & come & tow me out. A couple of cars in front of me went through the puddle with no problems. The reason I'm so narked at the RAC is that I pay for a service to help me out of trouble when I need it & not hold their services to ransom as I watch the rain get heavier & the puddle getting deeper.

WTFH

Was your policy related to a business, or personal?

What aren't you telling us?

[Deleted User]

Did you notice the water and went through it nice and slow or did you just drive at it full pelt like I see so many people do?

micknmace

I have business use on my insurance because of my job but RAC is personal cover but I do make them aware at every renewal that I need the cover because of the job I do. As for going through the water I was in 1st gear going slow, extremely wary.

dacouch

Is there much damage to the car

Macca83_2

Surface water seems to suggest very little water on the road?