"The driver informed the RAC, and asked if I could be taken home, and the bike to my preferred dealership. They informed me that they would have to get permission from management to agree, and would ring back. The manager did ring back and informed me it would be OK. As it would be late at night, I was concerned about the relays and timings. The driver informed me it would be all put in place and not to worry. A new van arrived and was loaded up about 19:30 (excellent motorcycle man, knew his way round bikes)."
A night sleeping rough
At this point Nick must have be breathing a sigh of relief. After all, he was in an RAC van and had been assured by the RAC control room that all the relay vans would be in place, and it's now just a case of sitting back until he got home. It would be a long drive, but at least he was heading home. However...
"The new driver estimated we would arrive at Perth between 01:00 and 01:30, he informed the RAC en-route so they could have another relay driver ready. We arrived at 01:10 and waited until 02:00 for the relay driver, by which time we decided to call the RAC. Again, 20 minutes before they picked up the phone and they said there was no meet up for the relay, and no one would be available until the following morning.
"The driver explained the situation to the RAC, that I was an elderly gentleman and couldn’t be left on my own. He waited another half an hour and got in touch with the RAC again, but they put the phone down on him. He is an experienced relay driver and knew other firms in the area, that also did work for the RAC. He phoned them and asked if the RAC had been in touch with them - the answer was no. He took me to the petrol shop and unloaded the bike, so I would be safe. That driver waited 90 minutes over his shift, did everything possible to make sure I was safe, and he was only a contractor. No one turned up."
"After more phone calls and with no transport relay available until 08:00, “book yourself into the Travel Lodge, get a meal and we will pay the bills” was the advice of one of the RAC managers at 03:15. I told them I couldn’t leave the bike because of the insurance, and asked would they cover it. “We didn’t know that” was his answer. At 09:20 on the 19th June, a big flat back lorry arrives, driver hasn’t driven a Motorcycle, he asked if would I instruct him or load the bike myself. The decking on the lorry had oil and grease everywhere and the driver said “I don’t do bikes”. The next change over would be at Newcastle."
So after being dropped off at a petrol station in the middle of Scotland at around 1 o'clock in the morning, Nick had to wait around, outside, with his bike until 09:20 the following morning before being picked up. Seriously?! Do the RAC really think that this is an acceptable way to treat any customer, let alone a vulnerable one? What if something had have happened to Nick?
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