13-06-2023, 03:43 PM
(13-06-2023, 11:29 AM)Stuart Giles Wrote: The issue I have experienced with RAC is that the call handlers insist on sending out a patrol, regardless of the reported problem. I phoned them up requesting recovery
Stuart I understand your frustration with the RAC not sending recovery straight away, but having worked for the AA for over twenty years I can assure you that the idea of sending a man-in-a-van first often makes most sense. I'll give you a few examples from memory.
A chap in a 45 year old Morris very late at night knows he has lost his crankshaft front bolt. Pulley was adrift but not lost. It might make sense to send recovery, but I was sent instead. I took a look at the engine and offered to give the chap a 5 mile ride in my warm van to go to my house and take the bolt off my spare engine. Returned and fitted it and he was on his way, with another 250 miles to go.
Nearly lunchtime and a gang of 3 fitters knew their Transit engine was totally not repairable. They expected a recovery of 150 miles back home, dreading doing the same miles in a different Transit next day. I was sent in a van. After a bit of discussion I towed them the 25 miles to where they wanted to be to fit the specialist stainless steel panels they had brought in the broken Transit. They got on with the job, I went to the next breakdown, and I had arranged a recovery truck to pick them up and take them home later in the day. Bending the rules a little bit but it made sense.
Farmer was certain we couldn't repair his Land Rover and asked for recovery. I was nearby in a van and arrived in minutes. He'd forgotten to mention he was towing a trailer, or that the young pigs had to be at a nearby slaughter house urgently. I took the trailer behind my van and delivered the pigs, and got back to the Land Rover just before the recovery truck that I had arranged was also at the Land Rover.
Side of the A1 late at night a gentleman calls up to say his engine has lost power and is making dreadful noises. He wants recovery but instead I arrive in a van. A quick look under the bonnet and I see that one spark plug has unscrewed all the way out and is hanging on the end of the HT lead. You wouldn't believe the noise. Screw the plug back in and send him on his way.
Yes there are cases where a truck straight away is best, but on balance it makes sense to send a local chap in a van first.