HOW does this work if you I break down in Manchester do I accompany the vechile to Aberdeen or can they drop me at friends in Manchester
They will drop you off home or at a place of repair, if you tell them thats your friend can repair then I guess that would be acceptable, especially
if it means they dont have to relay you to aberdeen instead!
Not sure if its still the case, but they used to not take you directly home, the relay service is just that, they swap you between different crews so
they dont end up out of their areas. It can add a heck of alot to a long journey! Oher recovery firms will just take you all the way in one go.
Because of tacho laws and recovery vehicles not being exempt anymore and you will most probably get a number of different vans and trucks transporting you on the journey. They can now only travel 62 miles from their base as the crow flies unless they are using a tacho. All the AA trucks have tacho but the vans don't. You and any passengers can go with the vehicle to the destination or you can send it unattended. If it is unattended don't expect it to be a priority. If can sometimes take days to get to the destination with it being left in carparks and services for long periods of time with the keys tied up underneath. If you do have to get relayed by van (which is very likely now due to cost cutting) be prepared for a wait at each stop for the next van to turn up and load time which can take 30 minutes depending on the patrol. Also if you get picked up by a van they only have 2 spare seats so they may send another van for the other passengers if there are any. You may get lucky and get a truck all the way but it's getting rare now.
So can they relay "unattended" is an acceptable norm?
Yep as long as someone is there to give them the keys when they come to pick it up. They may not send a recovery out because you say it needs one. The norm is to send a patrol out to check the vehicle first and 'fly the flag' as they call it so the dispatchers make their bonus. Remember the car must be in a breakdown situation at the time of calling the AA. If you just want the car transported they won't do it. Inspect the car for damage before and after the recovery as it has been known for vehicles to get damaged on route.
quote:
Originally posted by Davegtst
Yep as long as someone is there to give them the keys when they come to pick it up. They may not send a recovery out because you say it needs one. The norm is to send a patrol out to check the vehicle first and 'fly the flag' as they call it so the dispatchers make their bonus. Remember the car must be in a breakdown situation at the time of calling the AA. If you just want the car transported they won't do it. Inspect the car for damage before and after the recovery as it has been known for vehicles to get damaged on route.