RAC breakdown

Katiehound

Just to say there won't be anything to report for a while as I am away from tomorrow.

Breakdown: When I phoned them at 10.15am they said that patrolman would be with me between 2.30-3.30pm. They didn't even get near that time.They also didn't correctly record what I told them- seems like the symptoms were classic clutch problems. Maybe no one in the call centre is a car mechanic?

Complaint: I phoned them one day after the 20 working days were up. They said it is still being investigated! So I replied something like- oh your complaints proceedure is about as good as the breakdown assisstance!

I am not holding my breath but if they think I am going to go away satisfied then they have chosen the wrong person.

Also to clarify the breakdown cover was bought with car insurance from Saga. They have put their name to this ie "Welcome to Saga Breakdown cover2 (or similar) so Saga are also waiting to hear the outcome.........

Barny1979

Katiehound wrote: »

Maybe no one in the call centre is a car mechanic?

I doubt they would be, as call centre work has a high turnover, so unlikely to find skilled mechanics looking at doing call centre work, rather than working in a garage.

worried_jim

Barny1979 wrote: »

I doubt they would be, as call centre work has a high turnover, so unlikely to find skilled mechanics looking at doing call centre work, rather than working in a garage.

Many are working from home plugged into a laptop, no call centre needed.

Barny1979

worried_jim wrote: »

Many are working from home plugged into a laptop, no call centre needed.

My point is still valid.

Katiehound

Barny1979 wrote: »

My point is still valid.

Yes, you are right but if someone had correctly identified the problem they could have ordered a tow truck at 10.15 am instead of 5.00pm. That was 7 hours completely wasted.
When a car has had to be pushed across a major junction and ground to a halt it clearly isn't going anywhere of its own volition!!

forgotmyname

Going to phone tomorror to haggle on the price for the RAC if they dont drop it enough I will be moving to Green Flag.

Lots of reviews like the OP's saying how bad the RAC are but you get the same amount with Green Flag and most likely the other breakdown services also.

Most of the time they all probably get it right but sometimes it just doesnt go to plan.

I guess the limiting of drivers hours caused plenty of issues for them all.

Barny1979

I've been with the AA for 21 years and never had an issue with them and called them out 4 times in the past from recollection.

JReacher1

I used to be a member of green flag and thought they were terrible. They may have improved (been 10 years since I was a member) but the issue with them was they don't have many breakdown recovery vehicles and everything is outsourced to local garages where you break down. In my experience these garages liked to tow you back to their garage and then pressure you into paying for them to do mechanical work on the vehicle!

I wouldn't use them again.

I have switched between RAC and AA over the last ten years and found them both excellent.

Waterlily24

JReacher1 wrote: »

I used to be a member of green flag and thought they were terrible. They may have improved (been 10 years since I was a member) but the issue with them was they don't have many breakdown recovery vehicles and everything is outsourced to local garages where you break down. In my experience these garages liked to tow you back to their garage and then pressure you into paying for them to do mechanical work on the vehicle!

I wouldn't use them again.

I have switched between RAC and AA over the last ten years and found them both excellent.

We were a member of the RAC and broke down called them and they towed the car to a garage the garage towed it incorrectly and caused a lot of damage. This is going back a long time though. We are a member of Green Flag now.

sheramber

We use Green Flag and have used them twice.

the first occasion the car developed a fault near home so we limped home. Our local garage advised not using at all. He didn't have a tow truck so suggested our breakdown service.

This was Friday afternoon so OH called Green Flag on Saturday morning.

The call handler insisted of having a time for pickup although OH said we wouldn't be going anywhere.

The call handler said he didn't like open arrangements and settled on 1pm.

Tow truck arrived on time and delivered our car to our local garage. putting th keys through the the letter box as it was closed.

The second time it was two burst tyres from a pothole.

Tow truck arrived when we expected, knowing where it was coming from- 50 miles away in a rural area.

He dropped myself and two dogs off at home on the way to the local garage and dropped my husband back home after delivering the car. He passed the house on the way.

All the breakdown services use local garages up here and Green Flag is the cheapest.