I am an RAC dispatcher. To clear things up.
Company policy is to have a RAC patrol attend all breakdowns. If fault cannot be fixed then a recovery truck will be sent if the patrol is not able to do the recovery themselves. Patrol recovery within the RAC is encouraged as much as possible. We will arrange a recovery without inspection if the customer is prepared to pay for this service.
Only reasons a recovery vehicle (RAC flatbed/local contractor) is sent out before a roadside inspection (which is avoided at all costs) is because a reasonable ETA for response is considered to be bad for the customers safety (note; not comfort) and/or the fault is obvioulsy nonfixable and a recovery resource being sent first time benefits the RAC if the area had other jobs queuing. Another reason is no patrol van within area and it saves us money not paying a contracted mechanic to attend.
Reasons as to why this approach is taken include checking if a vehicle is road taxed, accessibility and confirming membership details, we save so much money (millions, ive seen the figures) on fraudulent, local tows and temporary repairs it will be silly not to justify such a procedure.
Also as a general rule, the AA has more patrols than the RAC in any given area, however they have many more customers.
Recently we have been winning more indusrty awards than the AA, but IMO this is only due to them having more customers and people only having a thing to say when they experience bad service.
Company policy is to have a RAC patrol attend all breakdowns. If fault cannot be fixed then a recovery truck will be sent if the patrol is not able to do the recovery themselves. Patrol recovery within the RAC is encouraged as much as possible. We will arrange a recovery without inspection if the customer is prepared to pay for this service.
Only reasons a recovery vehicle (RAC flatbed/local contractor) is sent out before a roadside inspection (which is avoided at all costs) is because a reasonable ETA for response is considered to be bad for the customers safety (note; not comfort) and/or the fault is obvioulsy nonfixable and a recovery resource being sent first time benefits the RAC if the area had other jobs queuing. Another reason is no patrol van within area and it saves us money not paying a contracted mechanic to attend.
Reasons as to why this approach is taken include checking if a vehicle is road taxed, accessibility and confirming membership details, we save so much money (millions, ive seen the figures) on fraudulent, local tows and temporary repairs it will be silly not to justify such a procedure.
Also as a general rule, the AA has more patrols than the RAC in any given area, however they have many more customers.
Recently we have been winning more indusrty awards than the AA, but IMO this is only due to them having more customers and people only having a thing to say when they experience bad service.
