RAC Rant. Just to get it off my chest.

Damn they have given me bad service with my bikes (dropped it off the side of a trailer and bike hit the ground upside down) and now I'm getting bad service with my car.

Last November a crack on windscreen developed and quickly spread from one side right the way across to the other. A call to the car insurance and we were put through to RAC who gave us a date of within a week to get it fixed. They turned up 3 days later with the wrong screen. It's a Renault so has the reflective film on the inside. My car has sat nav so a cut out is required in order for it to work. This screen did not have the cut out in. I was told by RAC that they would have to contact the local Renault dealership to order the screen in. This would take two weeks at the most.

Seeing as the MOT is not due until April I was in no rush so agreed. However, come January and still no contact, I called them to find out what was going on. They had no record of the claim due to a change over of systems and it would appear some records got lost in the process. I gave all my details again and was told that the screen would be ordered and they would contact us when it had arrived to arrange a time for it to be fitted.

Now into March and the MOT looming, another call to the RAC. It would appear that the job had been marked down as completed. WTF.

I told them that this was not the case and that I still needed the screen and that I needed it before April. They promised that they would call me back after they had spoken with the local Renault dealership. They did, but only to tell me that there was a back log at the manufacturers and that Renualt could not give a time scale as to when a screen would be available.

Not happy with that reply, I called Renault myself. I explained the exact requirements of the screen for the make and model of the car including the cut out bit for the sat nav. No problem said the parts man, if I ordered today it would be here tomorrow morning as the system says there is one in stock at the factory.

Another call now back to the RAC complaints department, explaining all that had gone on before. They called me back within 10 minutes indicating that the local RAC branch is still insisting that there is a back log and the screen is not available. Pretty much ready to explode now.

I phoned my insurance and said that I wanted to make a complaint. They tell me that I have to go through to the RAC complaints department. After a raised voice chat I told them that I pay the money to them so they are the ones that have to deal with it and I want either a new windscreen or another car whilst I am waiting. They are now dealing with the RAC direct and I wait to see what the result is.

Very much annoyed.

You could probably tell right?

Well, you did buy a Renault.






Run like you've never run before, Nutkins!

well whilst we're on the subject, the AA has removed some of the paint from my subframe, not a biggy, but ****ed me off! then I get a letter the day after asking if I want another year of service with them with 50% off, hmmm let me think!

In saying that and in all fairness they have been very helpful with the two pickups I've needed, took 2-3 hours to pick me up when I was north, but it was the middle of nowhere in the evning, and there was a nice pub next to where I was parked, and the other time the guy took 20 mins but tied my bike down to the trailer too tight taking the paint with the straps.

Bummer.

Incidentally what was the outcome from the bike drop? Damage? Did they repair etc?

Doh...

Must admit I stopped using the rac a few years ago after being messed about when the engine blew up on my 125, happenned on the a406 on a friday night in pouring rain, I managed to push into a busstop, told them when I called it wasn't going to go anywhere and so needed it recovered by a specialist vehicle / trailer, they told me they'd send one, so over an hour later an rac van turned up, no trailer no nothing and tried to bump start it

So after another 20mins of fannying about he agreed it wasn't going to start and he'd get someone else to come and recover it... 2 hours later someone did which by this time I was drenched, fed up and ****ed off at the wasted time....

with nci now, I know a few others messed about by the rac as well and would never recommend them..

hope you get it sorted mate

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by BigApe

Very much annoyed.

I'm not surprised.

Originally Posted by BigApe

You could probably tell right?

Err... yes.

Originally Posted by Iansv

Doh...

Must admit I stopped using the rac a few years ago after being messed about when the engine blew up on my 125, happenned on the a406 on a friday night in pouring rain, I managed to push into a busstop, told them when I called it wasn't going to go anywhere and so needed it recovered by a specialist vehicle / trailer, they told me they'd send one, so over an hour later an rac van turned up, no trailer no nothing and tried to bump start it

So after another 20mins of fannying about he agreed it wasn't going to start and he'd get someone else to come and recover it... 2 hours later someone did which by this time I was drenched, fed up and ****ed off at the wasted time....

with nci now, I know a few others messed about by the rac as well and would never recommend them..

hope you get it sorted mate

I went through much the same when I my CBR broke down. It was the fuel pump so knew that no road side repair was going to work. I also stated that it was a motorcycle so please make sure that who ever turns up is equiped to tow a bike.

RAC turned up, did not have a clue about bikes. Did not have a trailor. Waited another 2 and a half hours for a recovery vehicle to arrive and they took me as far the local garage where I had then to wait for a suitable vehicle to tow the trailer. 2 further hours later some old geezer arrives in a 4x4 and eventually we set off. Going round a corner I noticed that my bike was listing and told the driver that he had better check the straps. They were loose.

He is then trying to use an in car mobile phone and is swerving all over the road whilst trying to dial. I take over and do the dialing for him.

Eventually get home some 8 hours after I breakdown 60 miles away from my house. I used to live on an incline and he was facing down the hill whilst trying to get my bike off the trailor. Well he set up the ramps, took off the straps and then started to lower the bike down the ramp. Because of the angle of the road the height of the trailor was quite a bit higher than normal. So when he tried to get the bike down the ramp the belly pan hit the end of the trailor. He pushed the bike back on the trailor and stated he could not understand how they could have got the bike on the trailor in the first place.

I explained that he needed to unhitch the trailor and jack the front of the trailor up. As quick as you like he shot round to the front of the trailor and un hitched. This was before lowering the legs at the back, putting the trailor brake on or lowering the jocky wheel. End result was the trailor tipped backwards with rather rapid speed and my unsecured bike toppled over the side of the trailor and on to the deck.

In answer to the previous question in regards to retrieving damages. I took the guys details and stated that I would be reporting it first thing in the morning and that he should do the same. I actually did not report it until the Monday (this all happening on the Friday evening / Saturday morning). When reporting it, the RAC stated that no incident had been reported and that the whole job had been closed.

Eventually I did get compensation, but only for the damage caused. Nothing for the duration that I did not have use of the bike.

That really was a day to forget. And this is the only time since the trailor escapade that I have had dealings with the RAC. I see some things really do not change.

No suprise that they have still not responded.

[Balky001]

Bigape - why have your insurance company put you on to RAC rather than deal with the claim themselves? Can't you arrange directly with Renault and they bill your insurance company?

[Sid Squid]

Not to dismiss your very unfortunate dealings with the RAC, but on the few occasions I have needed them, they've been really helpful.

Originally Posted by Balky001

Bigape - why have your insurance company put you on to RAC rather than deal with the claim themselves? Can't you arrange directly with Renault and they bill your insurance company?

It would seem that my insurance company employ RAC to cover the windscreen replacement side of the business. I have spoken to the insurance company asking what they are going to do if the windscreen is not fitted by the time the MOT is due. They have informed me that I will not be without a car. (I don't believe them). They told me that I should be phoning RAC complaints to make the complaint but after I pointed out that it is they that I pay my money too, and as such it is them that I wish to lodge a complaint, and that it is for them to speak with RAC and not me, they reluctantly agreed. ( I had already lodged a complaint with RAC but that's besides the point. I shouldn't be told that it is for me to chase and complain to them).

They (the insurance company) also informed me that the alternative solution would be for me to have the screen fitted and then send the bill to the insurance company who will pay me back. They are not prepared to have a bill sent to them direct from either the suppliers or the fitters.

And in anycase, I can't afford the £180 plus vat for the screen and also the cost of having if fitted. That's the whole idea of having windscreen replacement in the insurance bundle, so I don't have to stump up that sort of cash.