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Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )
RAC Recovery
- Thread starter Nige F
- Start date
Sounds like a good time to download a solitaire app…….
You'll know what to do come Renewal time.
Unfortunately it's through the old gits federation scheme and free so in that respect there's no option..... But I will look to join Green Flag.... If they're any better
Well I eventually got home at midnight in a taxi paid for by the RAC.... car arrived at 3am.
Not even going to bother complaining..... Just read the reviews..... More like a horror story.... Cars being left for days in service areas unlocked with keys on wheels and families left stranded for hours...... Its, really really bad. It would have quicker for me to get a lift back home and grabbed a trailer from work and recovered myself
Not even going to bother complaining..... Just read the reviews..... More like a horror story.... Cars being left for days in service areas unlocked with keys on wheels and families left stranded for hours...... Its, really really bad. It would have quicker for me to get a lift back home and grabbed a trailer from work and recovered myself
Google does not seem to know who GEM is.
Was there any mention of issues caused by self isolating? I think it was the AA (as in cars not booze!)who announced that their service was likely to be impacted a few days ago.
I used Green Flag for years as I got it free - it is a totally different set up where independent garages are in a network for recovery. My experience was mixed…sometimes they arrived quickly, sometimes not and with motorised cycles they were more focussed on getting you home or to a garage rather than roadside repairs, the latter not really on their agenda.
I would agree with you about Green Flag. I was one of their motorcycle recovery agents when I had my business and they are very different to the AA, RAC, Europ Assist et al who I was also a recovery agent for.
Green Flag pay the garage for each job. They get quite a substantial call out fee (regardless of the distance they have to travel) and they then get paid decent mileage costs after the first 20 miles have been completed. I used to reckon that each call out was worth around a minimum of £50, and this is going back a few years.
The point is, the independent garages will do their best to reach you asap as they could lose their franchise, whereas the AA and RAC tend to use their own patrols and vehicles, the staff who really don't give a stuff if they keep you waiting 10 minutes or 10 hours.
With Green Flag, as mentioned they use independent garages and they must be with the broken down motorist or rider within 1 hour of the call otherwise the customer gets a £10 refund (which doesn't sound a lot but it all adds up) and they must attend with a vehicle to do an immediate removal in the event that the mechanic cannot get you mobile again.
1 vehicle takes you to your destination or a local garage (your choice) so there is no relay, and you also get a no claims bonus if you do not use them from year to year.
I had to call them out about 5 years ago as a result of me misfuelling, and they said that they may take over the hour as it was during a busy holiday spell, 30 minutes later they were on scene and I was mobile again 30 minutes later.
I have had loads slag off AA and the RAC, very few have a bad word to say about GF and although there are the likes of Europ Assist, or GEM (Guild of Experienced Motorists) everyone will have their own accounts of who they have found good, but for me I stick with GF as they tend to be a little cheaper than most. Just make sure you include homestart.
My personal opinion and experience for what its worth.
Right from the start there is a message on their phone system saying there may be a delay..... Yet another excuse of poor service blamed on Covid.
I will say when people eventually arrived the service was good.... Its just lack of communication and the time it took to actually get to me that was the problem
Europ assist were brilliant when I used them.
Lack of communication is what drives most people nuts, not things going wrong per se.
A friend awaits delivery of a got to be £70k+ Range Rover, already five weeks past expected delivery date. Yesterday he was told by the dealer ‘ try calling again next week’. Like a fool he agreed. I would have told them when I next expect an update from them, the people who’s bills are being paid for by my purchase.
Never had a problem with the AA.
The BIRD had a ride on the back of one of their wagons, before I realised I'd had the R&R go tits!
Same problem but hidden by keeping it on an Optimate the second guy did a couple of roadside checks,
a quick boost to my battery and I had enough to get it home.
Last time I used them was my daughters mini, when she was leaving work, I went and sat in it with her..
Somehow the cables between the gearstick and the box, one had popped off its mount so she was only getting N,2nd & 4th.
The guy stripped it and sorted it.
From phone call to drive away, not even 2 hours.
The BIRD had a ride on the back of one of their wagons, before I realised I'd had the R&R go tits!
Same problem but hidden by keeping it on an Optimate the second guy did a couple of roadside checks,
a quick boost to my battery and I had enough to get it home.
Last time I used them was my daughters mini, when she was leaving work, I went and sat in it with her..
Somehow the cables between the gearstick and the box, one had popped off its mount so she was only getting N,2nd & 4th.
The guy stripped it and sorted it.
From phone call to drive away, not even 2 hours.
Never used any of them as have willing mates with vans for bikes and a mate with a beavertail for cars the amount I have had to pay any of them for the ( 3 ) breakdowns over the last 40 years or so is much less than I would have paid for cover from rac aa or any of the others so I figure I am winning 
I've been let down in the past by both the AA and RAC, the AA left me sitting on my own on a road just off a main road for 4 hours and the RAC left me sitting for 3 hours in the middle of the countryside, it took them 1/2 hour to drive 1 mile from the nearest village, so much for giving women on their own priority, I'm with Ford Assit which I've learnt are with the AA I hope things have improved, hopefully I wont need them
Just got my renewal notice from RAC must take action before it auto renews eh.