What recovery services?

[Tinbasherdan]

That's AA flatbed recovery procedure.

By driving a vehicle on, you're relying on the vehicle handbrake being good enough to hold the vehicle until you can get the wheels strapped.
All vehicles have to be winched on, with a secondary breakaway strap attached in case the winch rope fails.

Also they're not allowed to use towing eyes, as quite a few towing eyes aren't strong enough to winch a vehicle up the bed incline, so they just have a blanket policy of not using towing eyes for flat bed recovery.

A bit of common sense from the driver would have worked, there was 2 15mm tow loops with 5t shackles on the front bumper, with the bumper bolted to the chassis with m12s. Never have I had one use a breakaway strap when winching and the 2 other times I’ve had to be dragged home they’ve had me drive it on in low box ( the third time I melted the head, she wasn’t for starting!)

None of them are recovery drivers, they’re drivers with a recovery truck, absolutely no clue beyond dragging it straight up and putting some straps on.

 

[m_c]

A bit of common sense from the driver would have worked, there was 2 15mm tow loops with 5t shackles on the front bumper, with the bumper bolted to the chassis with m12s. Never have I had one use a breakaway strap when winching and the 2 other times I’ve had to be dragged home they’ve had me drive it on in low box ( the third time I melted the head, she wasn’t for starting!)

None of them are recovery drivers, they’re drivers with a recovery truck, absolutely no clue beyond dragging it straight up and putting some straps on.

Driver can't go against company policy though, especially since all the trucks have cameras with everything recorded and viewable remotely.

 

[rtcosic]

The eldest boy hit a curb on Wednesday night and wrecked a wheel and tyre

They deem that a Road Traffic Collision and won't recover. They did the same to No2 son when debris on the motorway punctured his radiator.

We have cover with our Nationwide account, but I don't recall which provider they use. I lost coolant and neither I nor the responder could identify the source let alone try to repair it so I was flatbed recovered c.100miles home. We were in rural mid Wales. Response time was about 2 hours. This was about 6 years ago.

 

[bricol]

The last few posts are interesting regarding accidents and no spare!
But why send a lorry out then leave him? I doubt the phone monkey would know what cars have a spare or not.
The more I hear about the AA the more I'm certain they'll not be getting any more money off me!

Well, until they got there, they probably didn't know he had no spare?

"Phone monkey" will no doubt have a nice list on their computer to pull up to see which cars come as standard with spares, and which don't. Won't take much effort - in-fact, I bet typing your reg into their system tells them the spare wheel status of a standard car.

 

[reb78]

They deem that a Road Traffic Collision and won't recover. They did the same to No2 son when debris on the motorway punctured his radiator.

We have cover with our Nationwide account, but I don't recall which provider they use. I lost coolant and neither I nor the responder could identify the source let alone try to repair it so I was flatbed recovered c.100miles home. We were in rural mid Wales. Response time was about 2 hours. This was about 6 years ago.

Nationwide changed from Brittania to AA in the last 2 years i think. This threads making me wonder if I ought to sort something else out! Only had cause to use it when it was Brittania and they were very good.

 

[qwakers]

They deem that a Road Traffic Collision and won't recover. They did the same to No2 son when debris on the motorway punctured his radiator.

We have cover with our Nationwide account, but I don't recall which provider they use. I lost coolant and neither I nor the responder could identify the source let alone try to repair it so I was flatbed recovered c.100miles home. We were in rural mid Wales. Response time was about 2 hours. This was about 6 years ago.

6 years ago that would have been Britannia, now it would be AA

 

[bricol]

Does anyone have any positive stories about the AA?

Mostly - been with various cars over the years. All drivers have been friendly and helpful enough. After all, it's probably not their faults it's taken hours to get to you.

And the AA card got me some serious discounts via their link to the AAA in the USA over the years.

I'm with the RAC simply due to cost - they used to recover from motorsport events when it was the RACMSA in charge of motorsport in the UK, but I think that is now excluded. Admittedly, the last time I used them, I could have walked home, put the wheels on my trailer, driven back and recovered myself in the time it took - but again, the guy had been busy with other customers.

 

[Islander71]

Need to be careful, I believe the AA wont cover cars over 16 years old. I am currently with Auto Aid with personal cover for me and wife, but wont be renewing after my wife broke down with a brake calliper seizing on, phoned Auto Aid who told her she needed to give them the postcode of where she had broken down! Eventually they located the spot using "what 3 words", but then didn't call the only recovery garage on the Island. Eventually I took the campervan and sorted the problem.
Will be renewing with personal cover for me and wife with the RAC which will cover the car and campervan ( under 3.5t) both older than 16 years, and the motorbike.

 

[sako243]

@Islander71 that reminds me when I did the crank. Was west bound on the Severn Bridge. Phoned up the RAC - where are you? Westbound M4 about 1/5th of the way across the Severn Bridge. Uh do you have a postcode? Er what?! How much more detail do you need?! Ended up having to give them GPS coordinates. Uh sir that's over water, u yes I'm on this thing called a bridge, surely you've heard of it - I just passed your headquarters 3 minutes ago...

Eventually said a lorry was on the way and the driver would be in touch. He duly phoned and said I don't know what control have done but where are you? West bound M4 on the Severn Bridge about 1/5th of the way across. Ah good you've passed the junction where my motorway will join (M49? I think), you by the first or second cable on the bridge? First. Righto see you in 20 minutes.

He was great but the call center was muppet central.

 

[cheb]

I'm with Auto Aid and the times I've needed them they've been excellent.

 

[julianf]

Rac left my partner and 5 yr old daughter from 3:30 in the afternoon until the pub they were sheltering in chucked them out.

I would recommend anyone to steer well clear of them.

Go for one of the smaller companies who just contract out, rather than mess about with their own drivers.

I've had good experience with auto aid in the past, but am not with them currently due to some small print technicality which would make their policy invalid for me.

Currently with a service resold but the camping and caravaning club. I've not had to test them yet.

 

[Beanwood]

I'm (Usually) with AutoAid - only used them once, but they were just within their response times - middle of nowhere and providing a location wasn't an issue (I don't recall what I used, but certainly wasn't a postcode).

Strangely, they seem to exclude vehicles over 16 yrs old, but then add a premium to the policy I presume to cover them (All mine have just reached or are already 16 years+)

 

[nickk]

I’ve been with the AA for many years,on our annual France/spain tours every summer for the last 10 years we pay a £99 additional for 30 days cover in a 1967 camper,never a problem,and I’ve called them out.

 

[DanZac]

Does anyone have any positive stories about the AA?

I'm not with them any more because I got fed up with their stupid put the price up by a million % every year and expecting you to beg them for a sensible quote, but I was with the AA for many years and never had a problem.

I've broken down in my van a couple of times, and every time they were there well before the stated time and sorted things out efficiently and with no problems.

I limped into the services one Friday evening and stopped next to a bloke who was waiting for the RAC and had already been there 3 hours. I phoned the AA and they were there quicker than the stated 2 hours, and had towed me home before the RAC had even arrived for the other guy.

Another time the alternator packed in. The AA patrol arrived quickly, had a look, said "I can't fix it but the battery's good and as long as you keep it running it'll get you the 100 miles home"

He followed me back to the motorway from where it was plain sailing home, and I'd not been in 10 minutes when he phoned me to make sure I'd got home OK.

Had an injector come loose once on a Sunday afternoon and they were there super quick that day too, despite saying it would be a 4 hour wait (they were there about 20 minutes after saying 4 hours).

I'd have fixed it myself but didn't have the right tools with me. The AA man had it nipped back down in about 5 minutes and had me back on my way Toot suite.

The Mrs swapped us to the RAC this year because they were miles cheaper but I've not managed to brave down with them yet, so can't comment on their service.

 

[Robotstar5]

I'm with the RAC simply due to cost - they used to recover from motorsport events when it was the RACMSA in charge of motorsport in the UK, but I think that is now excluded. Admittedly, the last time I used them, I could have walked home, put the wheels on my trailer, driven back and recovered myself in the time it took - but again, the guy had been busy with other customers.

I joined the RAC for the same reason, in case I ever broke down on an event in the middle of a forest, think I've used them 4 times in the 30+ years of membership and always had good service.

 

[Morrisman]

I’ve only had one breakdown in recent years, on my bike. Carole Nash had a man in a van out in 35 minutes flat. They did estimate 60-90 minutes but I’m guessing that is their stock reply to all breakdowns. He scooped me up, took me home, no problems.

My car, with LV, not really a break down, but the starter stopped doing its thing, outside my house. LV sent a guy over inside an hour, who confirmed that yes, the starter didn’t work and he offered to take it to a garage of my choice. And did so.

I also used LV for my bike breakdown about 5 years ago but they stopped covering motorcycles 2 years ago.

 

[oldbikedavey]

Up there with dentists, vets, and pox - doctors clerks , by the sounds of it.....

 

[Kayos]

Had the Discovery on the big yellow taxi a couple of times, failed wheel bearing and fan belt tensioner seized, snapping the alternator bracket

Both times they were spot on

A more recent breakdown however left me stranded for 8 hours, when the driver arrived he was unhappy I wouldn't let him take my car before the hire car landed, we had a boot full off luggage

 

[eddie49]

Twenty-five years ago after my mother died, I hired a cheap battered old Renault Master van from a local company in Reading, drove to my home town of Lincoln and spent a week filling it with junk from my parent's house. After a few miles of motorway on the way back the steering went all wobbly and it came to a halt with a broken nearside CVJ. I phoned the number on the hire contract and a nice Scottish-accented gentleman turned up with a yellow AA flatbed. He asked for the name and address of the van hire company. I replied with their name: "Why Pay More, Brock Gardens, Reading". He said "I think you got the answer to that question, sir".

 

[nickk]

I wonder how long they took to attend in the days of the M20/21’s,I mean they’d climb a mountain,but boy were they slow .