Rescue service 'service unavailable'

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Sat 21 Nov 2009 13:36
Rescue service 'service unavailable' - Robin
Just a cautionary tale for anyone who has RAC membership through Club Toyota.

On Thursday morning I was coming home at midnight, travelling up the A1 through darkest Lincolnshire. At the same time a rather large fox decided to end it all by dashing in front of my car. Now, at the time I did not know it was foxy as to me it looked like a rather large yellow box or la abrador. No chance to swere or slow down so foxy and I had a collision. Cue horrible scraping sound from the front of my car. I stop at a nearby lay-by and get out to have a look. This part of thr A1 is unlit and of course there is no torch in the car so I cannot realy see what is wrong bit the bumper looks a bit poorly. I'm a bit worried about leaking fluids so time for the RAC.

Out with the mobile phone and onto the Club Toyota/RAC rescue line. This is apparenly a dedicated number for Club Toyota members to call the RAC. Only it was not. I got through to a message about getting out of the car etc and then a couple of options. The one for 'send someone, I have broken down' has a message stating 'this service is currently unavailable' Brilliant. For some reason it did not occur to me to phone directory enquiries to get the normal RAC number (bit shocked I suppose). Luckily I was next to a Highway Agency phone point so I asked them to call the RAC for me. When they finally worked out where I was - the phone ID number did not tally with the location their systems said I was phoning from (!) - out come the RAC flatbed, a Highways truck to look for whatever it was I hit and a couple of friendly policemen. It was the Highways guys who told me it was fox.

I redialled the contact number the next morning to check it was correct and, hey presto, no problems, straight through to them.

So, if you are in Club Toyota, always carry the main RAC number with you as well as your membership card as the number on the card cannot always be relied upon. (and for those who wonder why bother joining CT - you get full RAC membership thrown in with the annual sub of £59. Bargain)

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Sat 21 Nov 2009 14:54
Rescue service 'service unavailable' - NARU
Glad it all worked out.

I agree on CT being good value - except that club toyota only cover caravans up to 7.0m and mine is 7.2, so I also have Caravan Club breakdown cover.
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Sun 22 Nov 2009 23:22
Rescue service 'service unavailable' - J500ANT
Club Toyota.


I would imagine thats exactly what you wanted to do when you heard that recording ;-)

I used them recently when my rented Prius broke down, they were slow and didn't fix it on the roadside, but the comms while en route etc were brilliant. But that was daytime, maybe they dont expect Toyota owners to venture out after dark?
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Mon 23 Nov 2009 09:12
Rescue service 'service unavailable' - Bill Payer
I redialled the contact number the next morning to check it was correct and hey
presto no problems straight through to them.

Did they explain why it had been unavailable the previous evening?
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Mon 23 Nov 2009 09:23
Rescue service 'service unavailable' - ifithelps
I hit a dog on the A38 in the Midlands a few years ago.

Cracked the bumper on the focus which eventually cost about £350 via insurance.

Reported it to the police over the phone who told me to go my local station the next day.

I did this and was asked to produce my driving documents. which happily I'd thought to take along.

Turns out the dog survived, but belonged to some local travellers, so no chance of any redress through them.

Left me a bit miffed, actually.

The travellers let their dog run wild with no comeback or sanction whatsoever, and me, as the law-abiding tax-paying motorists, gets a producer.

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