Having been an RAC member for many years with full membership including 'Home Start' service when my Smart Car refused to start at home I expected to get a reasonable service from them. Phoned then to report I could not get my car started and a mechanic turned up within 20 minutes. That was the good news, what happened next left me disgusted at the RAC. What was diagnosed was that the starter & alternator belt had been thrown off due to the bearing on the alternator wearing. The only people who could fix this were Smart/Merceedes ( we phoned the local garage to ask them if they could fix it). So the mechanic was all ready to tow the car to the Smart/Merceedes repair centre 31 miles, but he was then told by the RAC control that I would have to pay £127 before we set off because the car was at my home. He explained to control that the only place the car could be repaired was at a Smart/Merceedes garage but was still told I would have to pay £127. I also spoke to control and the complaints department and was told it was MY FAULT for not reading the small print in the T&C's.
If you stay in a rural location and you break down at home they will only tow you a maximum of 10 miles for free. If the closest garage that can fix you car is more than 10 miles it is your responsibility to get it there and your RAC membership will not cover it.
I have an artificial left knee that's why I have to drive a Smart car and I also live in a rural location with all dealerships 18 miles away in Edinburgh so if I breakdown at home and require a dealership repair my membership is a waste of time. The RAC are discriminating against the disabled & those living in locations more that 10 miles from a garage. and if It requires specialist work that only a dealership can do you have wasted your money by taking out RAC membership. Last but not least the cost of a local garage taking it to the Smart Dealer 31 miles away was £75. RAC charge almost double to going rate for the tow.
If you stay in a rural location and you break down at home they will only tow you a maximum of 10 miles for free. If the closest garage that can fix you car is more than 10 miles it is your responsibility to get it there and your RAC membership will not cover it.
I have an artificial left knee that's why I have to drive a Smart car and I also live in a rural location with all dealerships 18 miles away in Edinburgh so if I breakdown at home and require a dealership repair my membership is a waste of time. The RAC are discriminating against the disabled & those living in locations more that 10 miles from a garage. and if It requires specialist work that only a dealership can do you have wasted your money by taking out RAC membership. Last but not least the cost of a local garage taking it to the Smart Dealer 31 miles away was £75. RAC charge almost double to going rate for the tow.