Recovery ain’t what it used to be…

[B21]

Three groups I know ( a neighbour and two friends) have all had the misfortune to breakdown in the last 28 days on long trips…in each case it’s electrical issue though it’s not relevant save a roadside or local garage repair was not possible…

As an aside since it now seems all garages are not willing to accept ad hoc work and therefore the option of taking a broken down vehicle for immediate repair goes out of the window.

In each case a trip of 200-250 miles home has turned out into a 12-15 hour recovery as the people subcontracted to do the work can only venture 62 miles from home base without a working tacho..

Most of the recovery fleet do not have tachos.

It’s based on an EU directive which HMG ‘ignored’ but GMB union brought a trst case to have it enforced.

First of all I thought it was my friend using a cheapo policy but yesterday and today found out AA and RAC are affected by this.

One to think about if like me most of your Zed trips take you more than 62 miles from home..

 

[Mr Tidy]

I can understand local garages not being keen to take on an unscheduled extra job, especially as electrical issues are often quite challenging to diagnose and fix. Especially with newer cars that require diagnostic equipment they may not have.

And sadly it seems a relay of recovery vehicles is also the norm now. Just glad my car didn't break on the NC500! :lol:

 

[ronk]

I suppose this is when the BMW Insured warranty pays off!

Our 335 developed a heater distribution problem ie Hot air blowing when ir should have been cold - Not a real "Breakdown"
Nevertheless, I called them, the BMW Man in a Van arrived, diagnosed the problem, booked me in next day to the dealership and arranged a hire car!

No complaints from me

 

[1536Z4]

AA and RAC are affected by this

I`m with RAC and was not aware of this so will call them tomorrow and see what they have to say .

 

[Pondrew]

It’s based on an EU directive which HMG ‘ignored’ but GMB union brought a trst case to have it enforced.

But we ain't in the EU anymore, so doesn't make much sense to me.
Although a Union costing the UK people money and inconvenience sounds about par for the course. Unions should be classed like terrorist groups and banned IMO.

 

[B21]

AA and RAC are affected by this

I`m with RAC and was not aware of this so will call them tomorrow and see what they have to say .

As I type my friends with a 2013 Range Rover are at at Lymm truck stop…it’s now over 12 hours since their journey from Lancaster was supposed to start..they are 160 miles from St Albans..so it’s going to take 3 more changes to get home..,

They are with the RAC

 

[B21]

It’s based on an EU directive which HMG ‘ignored’ but GMB union brought a trst case to have it enforced.

But we ain't in the EU anymore, so doesn't make much sense to me.
Although a Union costing the UK people money and inconvenience sounds about par for the course. Unions should be classed like terrorist groups and banned IMO.

Page 11 refers

https://www.avrouk.com/images/ul/guide-for-recovery-operations.pdf

UK inherited 1,000s of EU directives ..almost all have been retained on grounds of ball ache to replace, seen as retrograde in terms of safety, green or other reasons.

So just because you took back control doesn’t mean you can do what you like, cause some poor bastard has to write a whole bunch of new regulations..

In my short aviation career ..1999-2023 I’ve seen CAA-JAA-EASA-CAA…each with the most unbelievable pile of bureaucracy..each reworking of those regulations (bearing in mind planes still fly and pilots still fart) cost 1,000 of man hours for us to climb over..

 

[MikeyH]

It’s based on an EU directive which HMG ‘ignored’ but GMB union brought a trst case to have it enforced.

But we ain't in the EU anymore, so doesn't make much sense to me.
Although a Union costing the UK people money and inconvenience sounds about par for the course. Unions should be classed like terrorist groups and banned IMO.

 

[B21]

So it’s Thursday 09:00 am..my friends are at Sandbach services ..next pick up scheduled for 10:30…they will need another relay to get to St Albans…Tuesday morning they reported the fault…after diagnostics agreed to be recovered 09:00 am Wednesday …so 2 days so far..

They were offered a taxi with seperate unaccompanied recovery..our nieghbour got back from Wetherby by hire car to Jedburgh after 30 hours..

 

[1536Z4]

So it’s Thursday 09:00 am..my friends are at Sandbach services

This is a disgrace .

Who is picking up the accomodation costs ?

 

[B21]

So it’s Thursday 09:00 am..my friends are at Sandbach services

This is a disgrace .

Who is picking up the accomodation costs ?

They get £30 to cover meals etc…

Just heard they are now being relayed from Sandbsch to Cannock…so that’s still over 100 miles short of St Albans..do they’ll need another relay after that

I’m so glad that when my water pump failed on the far north west of the NC500 we decided to limp home..(although that may have been pre the directives that have caused this issue)…

In fact in that part of the world I think quite a few places are more than 62 miles from anywhere..

 

[MikeyH]

I joined the many AA years ago due to having the 'recovery' system, one trailer all the way regardless of distance. Didn't like the RAC as they used non RAC companies to do the work and would swap from area to area. What a farce this country has become

 

[B21]

To close this one out..whilst my friemds were waiting for another relay at Cannock, they spotted a pukka RAC breakdown truck..using his former powers as a traffic cop he commandeered said truck..they arrived home after 30 hours on the road..sleeping in the car as the truckstops closed their doors at night..250 miles in 30 hours..

Think I'm going to pack an overnight bag and take a very warm. weather proof jacket with me on future Zed runs..

 

[beanie]

Sadly it’s nothing new. I broke down with my dad about 20 years ago. We were somewhere in the midlands and needed to get back to the Bournemouth area, probably a 2 hour journey at recovery truck speeds. Hours of waiting, multiple trucks and numerous stops later we made it. Utter farce and it seems things haven’t improved.

The entire industry needs a massive overhaul.

 

[1536Z4]

250 miles in 30 hours..

I tried ring RAC to ask them about this but gave up waiting on hold so emailed them instead . The reply from RAC was " Thank you for contacting us. Your enquiry has been forwarded to the appropriate area, who will contact you within next 5 working days."
Up to 5 working days for an email response thats a good start .

 

[1536Z4]

Update on this : RAC did not get back to me after waiting 10 working days so I phoned them . I was told that the waiting time for email replies was 20 working days to which I replied why does the auto reply say 5 days and don`t you think 20 working days is far too long . I was then passed to another person who couldn`t help me and then another who`s response was they do have relay limitations depepending on area but another relay vehicle should always be available waiting for you when you get there or within 30 minutes . The situation that I informed them about from this post they said was unheard of and must have been a combination of events ... . They informed me that I was not to worry and that most people are relayed to their destination within 30 minutes of the time it would normally take them if they were driving their own car .

Was I convinced . No not really but what are the alternatives .

I then received an email from them which included the following :

Thank you for your enquiry. Changing driving patterns and staffing challenges faced by all breakdown organisations are disrupting our service and it may take a little longer for us to respond.
Please rest assured we're doing everything we can to minimise delays.

In the meantime, if your enquiry is regarding a claim for reimbursement of costs, please send us copies of any receipts and explain how you would like to be reimbursed - by cheque or bank transfer. For bank transfers, please include your account number and sort code.

Yours sincerely


Sales Admin Team

 

[Hilly30si]

I suppose this is when the BMW Insured warranty pays off!

Our 335 developed a heater distribution problem ie Hot air blowing when ir should have been cold - Not a real "Breakdown"
Nevertheless, I called them, the BMW Man in a Van arrived, diagnosed the problem, booked me in next day to the dealership and arranged a hire car!

No complaints from me

Dead right BMW have been brilliant to me on the three call outs. I had one fault come on the i drive screen to do with the mild hybrid battery 10mins later they phoned my mobile with a view to sending a technician out right away which was 21.30 on a Saturday I declined and he came Monday morning to sort it.

 

[Ole gits rule]

Three groups I know ( a neighbour and two friends) have all had the misfortune to breakdown in the last 28 days on long trips…in each case it’s electrical issue though it’s not relevant save a roadside or local garage repair was not possible…

As an aside since it now seems all garages are not willing to accept ad hoc work and therefore the option of taking a broken down vehicle for immediate repair goes out of the window.

In each case a trip of 200-250 miles home has turned out into a 12-15 hour recovery as the people subcontracted to do the work can only venture 62 miles from home base without a working tacho..

Most of the recovery fleet do not have tachos.

It’s based on an EU directive which HMG ‘ignored’ but GMB union brought a trst case to have it enforced.

First of all I thought it was my friend using a cheapo policy but yesterday and today found out AA and RAC are affected by this.

One to think about if like me most of your Zed trips take you more than 62 miles from home..

Exactly the same story being told on M3 cutters, took a guy nearly 20 hours to get home after a breakdown, was sat around waiting for sub contractors to move him 15 miles on one occasion - he is with the RAC

 

[ronk]

Im going to read the small print of my BMW Warranty/Assist Policy