AA Recovery - What a nightmare!

**Paul900SS** · 15 Oct 07, 07:55 PM

As most of you were aware, yesterday was the day of the Ducati SS meet up at Jack's Hill Cafe. A great day was had by all, meeting new friends, putting faces to members cryptic handles, the big rideout and generally having a good Ducatisti day. That was until I returned home.

During the day my battery light came on and stayed on - not a good sign on a 14 year old duke. Buy hey, I was 140 miles from home and having a good time. That was until I was travelling north on the M1 in the middle lane at 80mph on the approach to J19 when zap - dead engine - all electrics disappear.

So I pulled on to the hard shoulder and called The AA. A friendly young lady advised it was no problem, a suitable vehicle would be there "within the hour". Time was now 3:45pm.

One hour later a "sub contractor" called me to advise tthat I was "outside their area". They were in Northampton and said they only do recoveries south of J18 on the M1. Great! Called said lady back who advised that she would get a second subcontractor to collect me "within the hour". Time now 5:00pm.

At 6:00pm, after sitting on the hard shoulder for 2 and a quarter hours with the Highways Agency officer as my new best friend, a flat back recovery vehicle arrived and loaded the bike and myself onboard. As we set off "back home", the driver advised me he was only taking me to "a place of safety" where he would call in for further instructions. The place of safety was 1 mile up the road off the M6. After making the call he said he would drop me off somewhere where I could wait for a further recovery agent to collect me. So here I was at the Premier Inn near Rugby. Time now 6:30pm.

At 7:30 the next contractor arrived "to take me home". Wrong. He could only take me as far as Hilton Park services on the M6. "Sorry mate, thats as far as I can go" Great!

Oh well a least another 30 miles covered and 30 miles nearer home. Only 70 more to go. Drop off time here was 8:30 ish - lost track of time.

The AA had now called me. By now they had changed shifts and I made friends with a new contact. She told me that an AA truck was free in the Birmingham area and would be with me shortly. Yeh right - heard it all before to coin a phrase. AA driver rang me at 9:30 and said he could be ther in about half an hour - Another coffee ordered.

The AA driver arrived at 10:00pm. Thank goodness, I would be home by 11:15 ish. But, I knew they would be a catch. "Did you know that we AA drivers are all on Tachograph now sir and I have to take my 45 minutes break now."

Yes, at last I was on my way home, 10:45pm and heading in the right direction. I'd covered 35 miles in 7 HOURS!!

The north Cheshire countryside looked a wonderful sight as it approached midnight - well I was hoping he was heading in the right direction as he was from Harlow in Essex and had only been this far up North once or twice before.At least "Sally Sat Nav" seemed to know where she was doing.

10 past midnight and home sweet home.

I think dinner was ruined (Told Mrs. I would be home by 6:00pm - LATEST) Lucky AA man had then to drive 175 miles back to his depot in Cambridge.

Well just a thought, but does anybody know how The AA work to obtain such a splendid system they have. I realise Sunday night is a busy time but somewhere somebody must have realised how much it cost the AA to get me home the 140 miles.

Anybody know of a recovery scheme with a 5* rating and service? or are they all like this? First time the old girl breaks down in 8 years of ownership and this is what happened. All comments gratefully received.

P.S. The AA driver who took me back north was a Triumph 675 rider. Apparently he absolutely loves Ducatis but he has had more of them attached to the back of his truck than any other brand - Apparently topping this years AA bike chart is the 1098!!!!!!!!!!!!

**nogaromill999** · 15 Oct 07, 08:03 PM

I'm suprised they've had any bikes on their trucks given their level of service....so i wouldnt take their figures with anything but a huge pinch of salt......

**97Bip** · 15 Oct 07, 08:13 PM

They used to call this wonderful service .... AA Relay.....

Prompted my move to the RAC years ago after a nine hour trip from Burnley in Lancs to Hampshire.

97.

**Hereford_duke** · 15 Oct 07, 08:17 PM

Never mine that, you are now a fully paid up member of the Ducatisti with recovery!
Well done you..

Mick

**749_MON** · 15 Oct 07, 08:34 PM

Glad you got back OK, finally!

I'm not sure what we could have done to help, but it's a pity you didn't try to call one of us that had been out. Myself, my wife & Steve GD stayed on for a coffee at McD's until around 16:30 and we don't live a million miles away from where you were standed.

The AA were called when I used Ducati Assistance when I got stranded at Thurrock Services with a flat on the way to Brands WSBK. I got told the best they could do was tow me to the local brand of Quick Fit

but they didn't know if it'd be open on a Sunday... Fortunately the chap who turned up plugged the tyre and I was away, but we seem to hear an awful lot of tales like yours on here unfortunately.

**kempy** · 15 Oct 07, 08:43 PM

Sorry to say but that's a familiar story {the recovery not the break down} there are a few threads on here about the various firms with some real horror stories, i posted my own on one. Your's is a real shocker though. I take it your gonna get in touch with the AA and demand an explanation/appology?

**captain soup** · 15 Oct 07, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul900SS

As most of you were aware, yesterday was the day of the Ducati SS meet up at Jack's Hill Cafe. A great day was had by all, meeting new friends, putting faces to members cryptic handles, the big rideout and generally having a good Ducatisti day. That was until I returned home.
!!!

Sorry to hear you had a mare returning home, you have my sympathies.

What do AA charge per annum for that level of service?

**NedLudd** · 15 Oct 07, 09:48 PM

The odd thing is, the AA often come out top of surveys. Perhaps that was a while ago. Is it just that one hears more bad stories about them because they're much the largest (c. twice the RAC, I think)?

I have AA coverage for the car, but one reason I'm glad to have the breakdown cover that Carole Nash include with their insurance policies is that I'd have more faith in a bike-only service.

**Paivi** · 15 Oct 07, 09:57 PM

The problem a lot of the breakdown companies seem to have is that their staff are clueless when it comes to bikes, and don't carry even the basic parts. Also, the vehicle sent over is, in my experience, unsuitable for bike recovery. Whether I'm stranded on the Ducati or the Vespa, I always insist they send SOS to help me, as they're the only recovery people in London who actually know bikes.

Around 8pm on Friday, I stopped on my way home to see if a scooterist was OK, and was told that he'd been there since 5.30pm, having developed an electrical problem. RAC was there after an hour and a half, but the guy had no idea about scooters, so had to call for reinforcements, who were promised 'within an hour', and then regularly, 'on their way', 'a mile away', 'another half an hour', 'on the next road', etc. They finally arrived at 10pm, to recover the scoot the five miles home.

**Pax** · 15 Oct 07, 10:15 PM

They all seem to be the same, I am with the RAC. Left me stranded in the middle of nowhere at night for 5 hours. I then realised they were'nt coming. Hid my bike out of site and my wife drove to get me. They recovered me the next day.
Its better than nothing....................................... but not by alot.

**hughmark** · 15 Oct 07, 11:22 PM

Sorry to hear your experience. I remember putting a post some months ago when i broke down with my 1098 in london having to wait 5 hours or so before help came my way via the AA, and being asked questions as to whether the bike took petrol or diesel. Refusal to answer the question and no assistance would come! On the other hand claimed assistance under my e-bike insurance a few weeks ago and help from their third party recovery could not have been swifter or more helpful. Just goes to show, AA is about cars not bikes!

**wrs71** · 15 Oct 07, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NedLudd

The odd thing is, the AA often come out top of surveys. Perhaps that was a while ago. Is it just that one hears more bad stories about them because they're much the largest (c. twice the RAC, I think)?

I have AA coverage for the car, but one reason I'm glad to have the breakdown cover that Carole Nash include with their insurance policies is that I'd have more faith in a bike-only service.

i have used the carol nash one when my bike broke down, had to wait 2hrs, would have only been an hour if i had got the motorway junctions correct, dropped me back off at my home,in one run, compared to the aa absolutely top service.

**NedLudd** · 16 Oct 07, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrs71

i have used the carol nash one when my bike broke down, had to wait 2hrs, would have only been an hour if i had got the motorway junctions correct, dropped me back off at my home,in one run, compared to the aa absolutely top service.

Yes - a friend's experience was very similar. Quick, knowledgeable, and with a proper bike trailer.

**beancounter** · 16 Oct 07, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrs71

i have used the carol nash one when my bike broke down, had to wait 2hrs, would have only been an hour if i had got the motorway junctions correct, dropped me back off at my home,in one run, compared to the aa absolutely top service.

Seconded (or thirded, whatever).

Only needed collecting once when a Superlight engine ate itself, carol nash recovery absolutely top notch with a dedicated bike recovery vehicle.

Highly recommended (not the Superlight though).

bc

**Kenoir** · 16 Oct 07, 08:57 AM

Sorry to hear about your episode with the AA, I called them a few weeks ago and by the time they'd found someone to come and help, I'd got the bike up and running again and was off.

Where abouts in North Cheshire are you? I'm in Northwich.