Recovery ain’t what it used to be…

B21 · Post by **B21** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:48 pm

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 · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:08 pm

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!

ronk · Post by **ronk** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 9:04 pm

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 · Post by **1536Z4** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 9:34 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:48 pm 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 · Post by **Pondrew** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:40 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:48 pm 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 · Post by **B21** » Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:54 pm

1536Z4 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 9:34 pm
B21 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:48 pm 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 · Post by **B21** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:05 am

Pondrew wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:40 pm
B21 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:48 pm 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- ... ations.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 · Post by **MikeyH** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:25 am

Pondrew wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 10:40 pm
B21 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 06, 2023 7:48 pm 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 · Post by **B21** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:20 am

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 · Post by **1536Z4** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:31 am

B21 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:20 am 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 · Post by **B21** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:37 am

1536Z4 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 11:31 am
B21 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:20 am 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 · Post by **MikeyH** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 12:36 pm

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 · Post by **B21** » Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:46 pm

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 · Post by **beanie** » Fri Dec 08, 2023 2:01 pm

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 · Post by **1536Z4** » Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:24 pm

B21 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:46 pm 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 .

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