RAC Woes & tows - this could be you!

[henrysmith]

I have recently had a big problem with the RAC. My Lancia Integrale broke down at home (water pump leak) and so I rang the RAC (I have the full cover package - Solution 4 it's called now). The RAC man turned up and had a look and said that obviously there was nothing he could do about so I assumed they would take it to my nearest recognised Lancia specialist. It turns out that the RAC will only take your vehicle to within 10 miles of your home address if you break down at home (this is with their full cover) and so they refused to do anything with my Lancia! If you break down over 1/4 mile from home then they will transport your car to any UK destination. I then spoke to a 'Supervisor' at the RAC and mentioned that my nearest Subaru dealer is over 40 miles away and my wife's honda's nearest dealership is some 15 miles away. I was then informed that again the policy wording states 'to within 10 miles of home if you break down at home' and so if any of my cars broke down at home and could not be fixed by an RAC call out then the RAC would offer no further assistance. I have spoken (and switched) to the AA who on recovery plus package will transport from home to any UK destination.

ps. Sorry for the Diatribe!

[steves scooby]

you should of got somebody to tow you outside the limit m8 then they would have done it,anything to get out of it

[plumbscooby]

no problem taking the wedge for the policy though......feckers......:frown:

[leplumbiere37]

I Spoke With The Rac This Morning About The Same Thing Near Enuough And Had The Same Experience - The To**ers

[Dspeed]

you should of got somebody to tow you outside the limit m8 then they would have done it,anything to get out of it

Not sure if u can tow an intergrale but u cant tow a scooby.

[leplumbiere37]

Yes You Can - Last Time Mine Went Down To Aj's It Was Towed 60 Mile

[henrysmith]

As far as I know towing a 4WD is fine - what you shouldn't do it is 'front lift tow' a 4WD - very bad for the differentials.

[Broxi]

last year, on the Way to the SWMS my engine blew up in the Subaru...... the AA recovered me and took me home, less than a mile from the show....
I Informed them i am a Mechanic, and that the engine was Terminal and a full spec recovery would be required.......
a std van was sent.... who then called through the problem. and had a go as he wan not happy being called out when i told them the problem....
any way he told them i needed a full spec recovery for a low vehicle... 2.5 hours wait and it arrives, he said sorry i am not taking that.... i will have to get a specialist out, as your car is too low... (My car is 2" higher than std, due to low front bumper) he said it would take a few hours, and I would need to pay for it.... I Said F*** that. i will remove the bumper, it only takes a few mins. fo i got my tools out and removed the bumper.

once home i got into my other car, and set back off to the show, and on the way that engine blew up due to sabotage from a neighbour, draining the oil......:fuyou_2:

so back on the blower to the AA...... this time i tell them, i have another blown engine and need recovery. an A frame will do......

the aa Man arrives, in his Big yellow Van.... Puts on a straight bar, and tells me any problems sound the horn and wave my arm out the window.

for some reason, as he pulled away, my brake calipers locked on. and he kept pulling..... I was blasting the horn, and waving my arm for nearly 20 miles... by this time smoke is coming from my brakes.

:fuyou_2::mad0213: eventually aproaching Barnstaple. he slows down for a roundabout. and hears my horn, and pulls into the layby.... said sorry i did not hear you... i thought it was struggling to pull...:mad0213:

He then got cold water out and threw this onto my brakes which were smoking. it cracked the disk. next despite my protest. he got a Bar, and large hammer and smacked both calipers. this did free them off, but one caliper cracked in half.:fuyou_2:

Put in a complaint to the AA. and got no-where..... had to take it to another Garage for a quote, and was quoted over £500 of damage....

pair of new calipers, New Black diamond Xdrilled and sloted discs new pads, and brake fluid.

they AA rejected the claim, saying i must have had my foot on the brake, and the Driver denied, using water or a Bar to free the calipers.:fuyou_2:

Now i do not have any break down.

[scoobyDAZZA]

i'd have ripped his face off Derek


i recently bust a driveshaft, as most of you know.

rang my recovery on a SUNDAY (not rac or aa) they arrived with a flatbed(as requested) within 40 minutes, took me home, then asked when i want to be took to a garage . told them wednesday , no problem they said until i mentioned they were 28 miles away
same old story with the 10 mile rule, but i asked if i waive the rights to a courtesy car can i have it taken 28 miles . . . yes sir, of course we'll do that for you .
i told them to pick up the car at 9.30
9.25 i get a call from the driver , he's 5 minutes away .
picks the car up, i go with him with the spare shaft - turns out to be a bloke i used to play football against, so we had a good ole chat about old times . :biggrin:

Kev fits it (for a fag) and i drive home
£88 quid a year my breakdwon recovery costs
worth every penny and more

well done GREENFLAG
now don't sting me too much on my renewal :biggrin:

[xXx]

i have been with RAC for years and they have always been good but this is all real useful to hear.

i was once with green flag and they were a complete bunch to cock smokers so they must have improved a great deal!

someone needs to start a modified performance car recovery service - that might actually know what the hell its on about...

which reminds me recently dropped my insurance company because premium was exceesive but also when stating i had tinted windows, i was asked....


what bhp performance gain that provided...:action-smiley-060:

[scoobyDAZZA]

some people even think a dump valve gives you BHP

bloke on e-bay selling a 97 UK scoob with 260 bhp
i asked the question ''how have you gained 52 over standard''
his reply was ''fitted a dump valve''
:lol:

[xXx]

nice - theres some incredible sellers on ebay...:scratchchin: