Aa assistance?

James_Clarke

On hold for 25 mins to a emergency breakdown service and this is acceptable? Would of been longer but highways England stopped and made call on there number which is direct dial.
I can understand 3 hours if somewhere safe. Not the hard shoulder of a motorway.

Aylesbury_Duck

James_Clarke wrote: »

Spent 3 hours on the side of the m27 motorway last night with 2 young children! Called at 1922 on hold for 25 mins and eventually given an eta of 2130. When no one showed called again and given a new eta of 2215. My kids were cold/scared and to be honest so was I. I was shocked they could leave me or anyone else for that matter for that period of time. I could understand if adverse weather like weekend but not on a clear night. I pay for relay service and when a recovery truck turned up (not aa as they sub-contracted it) they were going to take me to place of safety and wait for an aa patrol man to show up! The recovery driver took us to my local garage as could believe we were there for that long and I was not prepared to.wait any longer.

Had to rant as furious over the as customer service

I see. So you received the service you paid for, albeit with a delay, and no one came to any harm.

Cool story bro.

neilmcl

James_Clarke wrote: »

On hold for 25 mins to a emergency breakdown service and this is acceptable? Would of been longer but highways England stopped and made call on there number which is direct dial.
I can understand 3 hours if somewhere safe. Not the hard shoulder of a motorway.

It's only unsafe if you stay in or around the vehicle, something you're advised not to do.

mchale

James_Clarke wrote: »

Not the hard shoulder of a motorway.

You do realise the correct procedure if you breakdown on the motorway, is to use the sos box's to call for help.

G_M

James_Clarke wrote: »

On hold for 25 mins to a emergency breakdown service and this is acceptable? Would of been longer but highways England stopped and made call on there number which is direct dial.
I can understand 3 hours if somewhere safe. Not the hard shoulder of a motorway.

Sounds like you were using your mobile. How could they know you were on the hard shoulder?

Next time use the motorway emergency phone for an instant response.

No breakdown service guarantees (or can guarantee) a response time, though some have better records than others.

And sometimes just bad luck may exacerbate matters. If all their patrols happen to be busy, or to have been called previously to areas some way away, then you just have to wait.

Sometimes stuff happens in life and things don't go exactly as you dream. Think of it as a learning experience for the kids. If they never experience any negative things in childhood they'll be ill-prepared come adulthood, and no harm came to them, or you.

AdrianC

Remember the Highway Code?

HC wrote:

Rule 275
If your vehicle develops a problem, leave the motorway at the next exit or pull into a service area. If you cannot do so, you should:
...
* try to stop near an emergency telephone (situated at approximately one-mile intervals along the hard shoulder)
...
* walk to an emergency telephone on your side of the carriageway (follow the arrows on the posts at the back of the hard shoulder) !!!8211; the telephone is free of charge and connects directly to an operator. Use these in preference to a mobile phone. Always face the traffic when you speak on the phone.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/breakdowns-and-incidents-274-to-287

The emergency phones go straight through to Highways England (or their equivalents in Wales/Scotland/NI) control rooms.

Aylesbury_Duck

But you're not giving the OP the answer he really wanted!! :mad:

AdrianC

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

But you're not giving the OP the[STRIKE] answer[/STRIKE] cuddle he really wanted!! :mad:

Fixed that.

Merlin139

Why did the OP edit the post to take out all the detail?

I think they looking for compensation on this one!

I always thought the M27 was in a fairly safe area! Not like its the M8 going through Glasgow! :D;)