written by KarleyWade69 on 08/10/2020
Total shambles to be assisted partially blocking the A143 single carriageway with car and touring caravan with terminal engine fault requiring immediate recovery back to our home address 68 miles away, where we had left 1 hour 20 minutes before.
12:31pm [lunchtime] Phoned Aviva/RAC regarding our Car (with dual mass flywheel /clutch failure) and caravan located, informed operator the vehicle and caravan was in dangerous location, we were vulnerable even stood on grass verge and that my wife has medical condition (Parkinson's). Informed we were looking possibly between 3 to 4 hours for RAC patrol, I suggested as I'm experienced they dispatch a RAC contractor with suitable recovery vehicle as it was not a roadside repair and we were at risk.
15:24 Phoned Aviva/RAC asking for update as we were very cold, no food or drink and due to the dangerous location it was not safe to enter the caravan or sit in the car. Put on hold whilst they investigated and given 20 mins eta for patrol.
16:10 RAC contractor (PJ Kerley Recovery) who arrived with a new crew cabbed recovery transporter ideal to recover both the car caravan and the two of us. He quickly identified dual mass flywheel failure and that we required recovery. He was totally professional and concerned for our safety but unable to recovery caravan due to license restriction. On his advice we managed to limp 200 metre slightly further to the side of the main A143 to the entrance of a farmers field. Recovery driver departed along with recovery vehicle.
16:42 Phoned Aviva/RAC asking what was happening, expressing that we were very cold to easterly winds and it was getting dark due to clouds. Informed two RAC patrols will be dispatched one to TOW the car and the other to TOW the caravan.
17:30 Passing local motorist concerned for our welfare and safety offered to TOW our caravan with his work van back towards Ipswich to the safety of a layby 1/2 mile away. My car had flat battery having used the hazard lights on the car & caravan for FIVE HOURS at the roadside. Passing motorist jump started car from his van. Managed to detach caravan and attach to his works van, he drove off and having used the next roundabout drove back to the layby and unattached our caravan. With no load on the clutch from the caravan managed to U-turn and limp into the layby. Now 18:00 we were SAFE, warmer as the layby was sheltered with trees. The motorist stayed with us a further 1/2 hour to ensure we were safe. We now manage to put the caravan legs down to enter the caravan to use the toilet and make a sandwich and get a cold drink from our fridge. The helpful motorist finally left us and astonished in the service we had received.
18:03 Phoned Aviva/RAC to inform them of our new location, that we are now safe and although layers of clothes slowly warming up, asked when would we get recovery and get home. Informed a RAC contractor has now be tasked to recover both the car + caravan and ourselves, but we could be waiting around 1 hour for recovery.
19:43 RAC Contractor phoned to inform he was on route to our location and wanted to confirm our location, that he was with recovery vehicle, however we would only be relayed 34 miles (68 mile to our home) towards Ipswich and dropped off for RAC to arrange onward recovery.
20:15 The helpful motorist who assisted us earlier to ensure we have gone from the layby and on our way home. He was shocked and disgusted were the 8 hours later.
20:30 RAC Contractor arrived (same contractor company PJ Kerley Recovery) with same style of recovery transporter. Totally professional service and first class vehicle loaded car onto recovery vehicle and attached caravan – We thanked Stuart the helpful motorist who assisted us, who cared for our welfare and safety.
20:38 We were finally in the warmth for the first class RAC Contractor recovery transporter, left the layby and heading towards home that was 68 miles away 8 hours 8 mins since breaking down and requesting assistance.
21:40 approx. Arrived at a Shell Service station located on the A140 near to the junction of the A14 and 5 miles west of Ipswich - No RAC vehicle or RAC Contractor waiting to take us the final 34 miles home. Car and caravan unloaded in constant heavy rain, by this time we were both very wet. The fuel station was locked, no hot drinks available due to machine problem and no access to toilets in the shop.
Recovery driver from PJ Kerley was thanked and he departed onto his next recovery.
21:51 Phoned Aviva/RAC to ask what was happening as we were sat in the dark rundown service area carpark and now tired and very frustrated. Put on hold whilst they look at notes and locate what resort had been allocated to the recovery. Informed a RAC Contractor was already on-route that they should be with us within minutes. Explained I know the RAC Contractor(Edan Enterprises) were based around 70 miles away at Peterborough and shocked they are the ones allocated.
23:00 Phoned Aviva/RAC to ask where was the recovery vehicle that we are both still very wet, cold and tired.
23:44 Phoned Aviva/RAC to ask where was the recovery vehicle was as we are still abandoned in a run down service area, waiting in the dark still cold and tired.
00:07am RAC Contractor arrived unaware we were towing a caravan. He was more than willing to take both the car and caravan. He proceeded to load the vehicles in heavy rain whist we stood with a torch due to the area in darkness.
00:08am Aviva/RAC phoned to say they were now planning to dispatch a taxi - Declined as we wanted to ensure our car and caravan were loaded correctly and that we would travel in the rear of the recovery vehicle wearing our masks, plus provide directions to our home. Although the recovery transporter was a 18 plate vehicle the interior was cluttered and not particularly clean, however we just wanted to get home remove our wet clothes and go to bed.
01:50am Finally arrived home 68 miles from breakdown location to heavy constant heavy rain with no street lights to aid unloading.
02:30am Having moved the caravan and car back onto our home property by now totally soaked through eventually got into our home and lock up!
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