Helpful RAC man

[narked]

On my way back from picking up a set of steel wheels for my Disco yesterday I had a slight problem. Got on the M6 near Chorley, and as it was starting to go a bit dark I went to put my sidelights on. Main beam light on the dash illuminates. [!Expletive Deleted!] I thought, this has happened before. Usual fix is to spent a moment or 2 wiggling the connectors about a bit, though this is obviously out of the question whilst on the M6. End up racing the sunset to the services on the M56 near all the chemical works. Got 1 light working, and totally knackered the connector on the passenger side. [!Expletive Deleted!] [!Expletive Deleted!] [!Expletive Deleted!].

Now, at this point I was kicking myself. This is a problem I've had for a while. I had even ordered myself a new set of connectors. In fact, they were actually IN the car. But I'd been putting it off, as the lights had been behaving recently. But now it was sunset, I was still about 2 hours from home, no crimping tools, no connectors, not prepared to drive all the way back with 1 light that would more than likely cr*p out on me at some point.

As I turned round, probably to throw something in anger, I saw a most welcome sight. Just across the car park there was a RRC, up on a jack. Having a wheel changed. By an RAC man.

Tail between my legs I approached him, with the opening line of "By all means tell me to get lost if you think I'm being cheeky, but...". I'm not an RAC member (or AA either for that matter), but the bloke happily fitted the new connector to replace the knackered one. Offered him a tenner for a few beers, but he would only take a fiver.

So, thank you mister RAC man. Think I'll join the RAC now!

[Daz800]

thats why i am with the rac.

now the aa relay... trust me its called relay for a reason.
i had a company car that broke down just outside of dover and it had to be relayed back to Redditch (west midlands). The car was carried by 3 relay vehicles ( yes unloaded and loaded up 3 times) before it got back to work. Now when our machanic looked at the car all that was wrong was the main fuse (which was loose) and a bash with his hand fixed it.

Thats why i am with the Rac (which i get 10% discount every year for not calling them out) with the knowlage if swmbo breaks down the car and her gets home in one go.

Darryl

[spy]

I have had my moneys worth out of the RAc in the past.  The took me 350 miles home from cornwall when some boy racer tosser pulled out in front of me.

SWMBO is also on the membership, they did a temp repair to her wiper linkage at the side of the motorway the other month and then waited for me to turn up to give her another car.  They followed me all the way back in her car just in case it gave up again so they could tow me if need be!  As it was it gave up with 500yrds to go so I did the last bit with my head and shoulder out the drivers window "ace ventura style".  Very amusing for everyone else but I got completely soaked!

Well worth the money just for peace of mind.  I dont trust cars, I would never venture onto a motorway without breakdown cover.  Just getting towed to the next exit by a local firm could cost more than a years membership.

[old joe]

I'm with brittania rescue through CSMA no problems at all with them can't praise them highly enough and the discount i get with having both cars on the policy leaves AA & RAC hands down & me not worrying about SWMBO when shes working a late shift.

Dazza

[rollazuki]

After being relayed before, and being annoyed at the time taken I felt the same, until I was recovered by green flag:

They dont do relay, so 1 driver does the whole trip. If that driver has worked a full shift, and is then on call the next day, and gets called out to you, and maybe takes you 200-300 miles, then he's up for god knows how many hours, and as he explained to me, they are off the tacho as they are classed as an emergency/recovery vehicle.
Basically, in the 1.5 hour journey, I had to talk inscessantly to keep the poor sod awake.

Im sure someone out there in mudclub land can explain the reason why reco drivers dont appear to be taco'd, cos I wasnt 100% sure.

In the end tho, Id sooner be relayed, maybe getting a fresh driver, cos if Id been on a 300 mile journey with that guy, Id have called green flag and demanded someone a little more awake.

[narked]

Quite a few of the drivers I know round here are off the tachos. Local company that does drain services are all tacho exempt as they do a lot of council work, empty out the BT boxes etc. Even the 44 tonner they've got is tacho exempt!

[bezzabsa]

I believe recovery drivers are exempt due to the nature of their work - ie they COULD sit around all day and do naff all - or have lots of small 10-50 miles journeys - and lets face it if you have waited an hour in the rain to be recovered - the last thing you need to hear is " sorry mate gotta book 45 minutes break"

[MuddyMike]

We used to be with RAC but switched to AA when they refused to attend to wheel change for my wife. She had a flat outside the dentists, RAC asked her  where she was and she gave the dentists address straight off her appointment card, no that address does not exist she was told, yes it does I am next to the street sign says she. No sorry we wont be able to find you, the street name you have given does not exist they said. My wife then gave up, took a cab back to work, and phoned me. I tried the RAC, and again they refused as the street did not exist on their system (it was not a new street but had been there for 20+years) so they would not be able to find it.

Cancelled next day, joined AA, no problems.

Mike

[MTyrrell]

I have been with the RAC since i have had a car, never had a problem with them.
 When i had a wheel bearing go the RAC chap offered to tow me a couple of miles down the road so I was in the free recovery radius of home before he called for the flat bed.

End up racing the sunset to the services on the M56 near all the chemical works.

On a completely pointless note I live all of about three minuets from the services, in Elton.

[Mash]

To a certain extent we are classed as emergency vehicles, so tacho law does not apply,

As bezzabsa says the last thing thats needed is sorry but gotta have a break especially when your dealing with RTA's and roads being closed etc etc...

It is also true that due to this we tend to work all the hours god sends...I've just arrived home at midnight and lefty the house at 7:30 this morning...Tomorrow will probabely be the same as its Bank holiday weekend  :roll:

[CaptainColourful]

I once needed breakdown recovery from Tadcaster to  Sheffield in the firm's van. I did get the "sorry mate,end of my shift" from an AA recovery agent.

 At least he was a fresh driver.
I do wonder how safe a driver doing 300 miles plus is, and then returning to his base.

[spy]

I got driven 350 miles from newquay cornwall to southport merseyside on the back of the truck by an old guy.  We did it in about 6.5 hours which is damn good going.  I talked him into coming in for a coffee but he wouldnt stay more than 2 minutes as he was a fisherman and only did the driving on the side.  He had to be on the boat at 5am so he shot straight back down.  

I did multi drop courier work round devon and cornwall from southport and then back in a day once.  Nearly 800 miles and I was a wreck.  Bad enough in a sprinter but in a recovery truck it cant be good!