Thread: Roadside Assistance who's best?

Originally Posted by DaveS3

We've had great experience(s) with RACV Total care.
Saved our behinds a few times with fairly major mechanical issues and it has paid for itself over the past 8 years.

Well worthwhile for the minimal outlay.

Dave.

I am glad you have had a good run. I for one have found the exact opposite.
The firm where the wife works is subscribed to the commercial side of RACV for a small bus that is generally used to transport old people. It broke down once at midnight on the freeway, TWO rear flat tyres. They called the RACV, they came out, looked at it and said, "Sorry too big you will have to find your own way out of this and back home. Bye" they then took off like a blue tailed fly after sheep. So I get a phone call, load compressor tools etc into car, chage tyre with the tools they had onboard with the help of the police, then they limped home.

I also contacted them about insurance for the defender and my business, several times. Dispite being promised a call from one of our represenatives within the next 24 hours, I am STILL waiting to here from them. If that is their service I don't need it!!


This is not the only bad thing I heard about them either.

A lady we know has been a member for about 40 years, (she was in total care) never had a call out. She broke down once, rang RACV, they told her that "Because you are NOT over 100 Kms from your house we cannot and will not attend" When asked how she would get home or get the car fixed to get home they just said "It is not our problem" and hung up.

So I told them about all this and handed in my subscription to them!

gruntfuttock that experience with Total Care sounds unusual

I've been in Total Care for a few years, the couple of occassions I've had to use it I have been impressed.... and mates who have it also have related the same.

I have been both within and well over 100km from home and they offered transport of the car back home or to my servicer ( all no cost ) plus taxi to wherever for passengers.

There's also a special 1800 number for Total Care ..maybe she rang the normal number.

there's a couple of different levels I think mid range called "Extra Care", then top level is "Total Care"

Well that is what happened. A farmer towed her to his farm and got her going enough to get her into town.
But what about the bus? The RACV could not even change a tyre when myself and a police officer manged to do it. And the bus was covered by the commercial vehicle side of RACV

I think it is the fact that if you live outside of melbourne then it is about how the bloke on the other end of the line feels. If he wants to help out the it's okay, if not then.............................................. ..

Also depends on the equipment they have. Around here they use a van and have a trailer. Not good if your towing.

As said most are good but like anything make sure you read the fine print so you knwo what you AREN'T covered for. (In the case of tyres they usually only cover fitting your spare. 2 flats too bad, no spare, too bad (eg blowout has been replaced with spare and you get a leak in another tyre/spare not their problem)

I havnt had Racv coverage since I was 21 as I had cover when I was courier driving and when I did a clutch in the city and they only would cover me for 12 kms of towing and then charged me $120 for 7kms more and forced me to pay $200 up front.

On another occasion I had them come out to jump start my car and after he checked the electrolite he left the battery clamp off and jump started the car sent me on my way.

I got to the first round about and the battery slid over onto the alterator throwing battery accid thoughout the engine bay and then wouldnt accept liability for it and I had to take them to court to get the damage repaired.

Another mate of ours got stuck on the way up to a 4wding weekend with us with a stuffed front wheel bearing and because I removed the drive cover to check to see if it was just an easy bearing change and found the stub axel was also stuffed so we called a tow.

They told us that because we had tried to fix it (regardless of the fact that im a mechanic) they would not tow it any longer and that it has to be diagnosed by their blokes.

My sister rolled one of my cars which had RACV extra care and they told me we dont do accident towing.

I knew the towey who wrote it up predated a couple of days before and as a blow out (which it was) which damaged the car enough to be undrivable and towed it home for me but the RA's didnt want to know about it they were sus on it but nothing ever came of it.

On 2 other occasions, 1 with my sister and 1 with my parents when I didnt have tools or spares we have called them and they have come out and said that the car would need to be towed to the nearest workshop.

1 was the fuel pump relay on a Mazda 323 which I asked if he minded if I used his test light and diagnosed it my self and we were underway again 5 mins later after he did all the paperwork and the other was a faulty spade terminal on the LPG system on a Mitsubishi triton which was nearly out of gas so swiched over to petrol but wouldnt shut off the gas.

My old man told me not to bother stuffing around with it as we were all dressed up going out some where and called the RA's which again hardly even looked at the car and suggested that the converter was stuffed and letting gas in.

Straight away I was " Ummm sorry but no " and went about fixing it myself again with the help of his tools.

From that I decided it was more worthwhile spending the same money that I would on RACV membership on tools and spares but if I do a major trip like CSR or the like then I would more than likely get it for at least the towing.

The country guys are normally great but most of the city ones suck but not all, the only problem being that you dont know which your going to get.

Hi all,
Renewed my racv gold cover and found out that IM covered.. no matter who's car Im in ..Its not just for your own car .. as long as you have your card with you and your in your mates car YOUR covered and can get service for his car even if your just a passenger and not driving..Just a small thing but worth knowin..
robert42

Thanks for all the replies, looks like I'll be joining AA plus then. Or is that the WA version as we maybe moving to the Kimberleys next year!

cheers
3LB

Mr rover,
talk about the service from hell, sounds like the nrma in another guise.
while I have been with them for years the and have had the plus since it came out, ( have to be more than 120 km from home)
the city blokes are supposed to be mechanics,up to date on all things car geting regular bulletins in typical problems.

have a couple of stories about the city guys they are similar to yours.



john