RogerS
Established Member
We've talked about this in the past and, like many others, we were with ABR (Auto Breakdown Recovery) but they got taken over recently by AutoAidBreakdown and based on the following I'm wondering whether it's time to ditch them.
18.00 yesterday broke down on M5 J17 bringing back the missus from a consultant appointment. Standing outside in the bitter cold on the other side of the barrier for safety is NOT recommended. She does not have very much surplus fat to keep her warm. Rang breakdown company. Told they'd get back to me.
18.42 No return call so rang breakdown company again to be given some rubbish about 'tried 15 companies' and 'no-one available for 2 and a half hours'. Told them not happy. They've recently been taken over. There's a surprise.
Walked down the hard shoulder in the bitter cold and drizzle, cars belting past, to find an emergency phone to see what other options we had. Very impressed with professionalism of Highways England. "Where are you" Do you have breakdown cover ....yes, but 2.5 hour delay claimed...That's not acceptable, please hold while I speak to them....They say they've tried 20 breakdown companies but they're all busy. I find that strange, as we're very quiet tonight. I can see you on my camera. You can join another company. Would you like a number ? Is the Pope Catholic ? Ask about waiting in the car, told that safest place is where we are but if it's getting too cold then both sit on the passenger side with seatbelts on.
19.19 call in from breakdown driver..Whereabouts are you.
19.33 towed up onto back of recovery truck for a 'safe recovery' to Michaelwood Services
Highways England call back to check recovery vehicle is there. Looks like they kicked some butt.
Talking to the recovery driver (who had knocked off for the night) and asked if he had been sent by the breakdown company or Highways England. "Everyone" he said. Turns out he is the owner of the recovery fleet company. Dropped off at the services. Told next recovery vehicle would be along within the hour.
21.30 finally picked up from the services.
23.30 home
So....anyone else had recent experience? Just a one-off or now the norm? In the past whenever we called out ABR they were there very quickly. Maybe we were just lucky.
Time to move? If so, where ?
18.00 yesterday broke down on M5 J17 bringing back the missus from a consultant appointment. Standing outside in the bitter cold on the other side of the barrier for safety is NOT recommended. She does not have very much surplus fat to keep her warm. Rang breakdown company. Told they'd get back to me.
18.42 No return call so rang breakdown company again to be given some rubbish about 'tried 15 companies' and 'no-one available for 2 and a half hours'. Told them not happy. They've recently been taken over. There's a surprise.
Walked down the hard shoulder in the bitter cold and drizzle, cars belting past, to find an emergency phone to see what other options we had. Very impressed with professionalism of Highways England. "Where are you" Do you have breakdown cover ....yes, but 2.5 hour delay claimed...That's not acceptable, please hold while I speak to them....They say they've tried 20 breakdown companies but they're all busy. I find that strange, as we're very quiet tonight. I can see you on my camera. You can join another company. Would you like a number ? Is the Pope Catholic ? Ask about waiting in the car, told that safest place is where we are but if it's getting too cold then both sit on the passenger side with seatbelts on.
19.19 call in from breakdown driver..Whereabouts are you.
19.33 towed up onto back of recovery truck for a 'safe recovery' to Michaelwood Services
Highways England call back to check recovery vehicle is there. Looks like they kicked some butt.
Talking to the recovery driver (who had knocked off for the night) and asked if he had been sent by the breakdown company or Highways England. "Everyone" he said. Turns out he is the owner of the recovery fleet company. Dropped off at the services. Told next recovery vehicle would be along within the hour.
21.30 finally picked up from the services.
23.30 home
So....anyone else had recent experience? Just a one-off or now the norm? In the past whenever we called out ABR they were there very quickly. Maybe we were just lucky.
Time to move? If so, where ?
Very senior moment going on here. The AA was up there ...it's the RAC that were rated lower.
