Appalling Service - Greenflag Breakdown

[muchlovex]

I apologise in advance about the length of this....Last night I broke down in an area which i don't know. My engine was overheating so I pulled over onto the grass verge on a dual carriageway (there was no hard shoulder). It was at 7:45pm last night, so it was in the dark and me being on my own I was rather scared. I rang GF emergency rescue. the girl who answered had a rude tone of voice. I read out my reg as she'd asked then she rudely butted-in and continued to spell my reg out phonetically but wrongly. I then said no, then I said it phonetically to her. Again she butted-in and said with a sarcastic voice the reg again. I told her not to be so rude and that they are supposed to be an emergency service - she then HUNG-UP on me! I rang again and told the guy my reg(phonetically), confirming my name and address. If confirmed my car, Peugeot 206. If then asked if it was a 4x4 or 4 wheel drive!! which I thought was very odd. I told him that my engine was overheating. He asked what I thought the problem with my car was! I told him I don't know the area and he asked if there were any phone boxes near-by, which there weren't. No signs or anything. I explained I was on the dual carriageway from Bournemouth to Southampton. after much to'ing and fro'ing as to where I was located. He said he didn't know where I was located, so he put me on hold. The song that was playing was 'rescue me' by Aretha Franklyn!! Which I thought was an absolute joke. Whilst on hold I got out of my car, opened the bonnet and checked the water-tank. I had luckily had some left over water and engine coolant in the boot of my car, as I had only filled it last week. I filled the tank to the required level, got back in the car and switched engine back on. The temp slowly began to lower. I was still on hold. I hung-up, as I wanted to get home as quickly as poss, as was parked in not a good spot. 10 mins later he rang my mobile and left a message, then a further 10 mins later left another message.

[what..the?]

pap??...lol sorry...map

[R1Geezer]

Green flag are a total shower, that's why I'm wiith the AA, may not be the cheapest but they are the best.

[muchlovex]

Yes. I used to be an AA member a few years ago and they gave me good service whenever I had to call them out. I don't know why I chose to go with GF..what a big mistake, waste of money and time.

[Hopkirk]

It's only a few years since the AA had some very bad press for poor service.

Have they pulled their socks up then?

[redcrx]

i recall one breakdown service being dragged over hot coals on watchdog (may have been AA) for refusing to come out to a lady and her mother because they werent registered as being members.
Its a few years back but they were given a brand new car as compensation in the end.

Dont expect more than an apology for the female staff members behaviour though.

[R1Geezer]

Dunno hopkirk, I just know I've been impressed whenever I have callled the AA, probably half a dozen times in my motoring life for various reasons. I even called them once when I crashed on a track day ostensibly to see how much they would charge an existing customer, they didn't have to attend as part of the contract but they did and relayed me home gratis. On other occasions they've given me an ETA and always been well within it, keeping me updated with text messages etc. Happy to sing their praises when a firm gets it right.

[Hopkirk]

I think they were owned by Centrica/British Gas, who made some bad decisions while cost cutting.
However I think they wriggled free of that dreadful organisation.

[joko]

bournemouth to southampton!? have you any idea how far that is?
did you expect them to just randomly drive along from bournemouth to southapmton an hope they saw you?
multimap cannot tell them every little detail about you.

im not surprised they needed some time to locate you....they are not magic...how do expect them to know where you are if you dont?

[boxtops]

Can't people locate you by GPS these days from the mobile phone you are ringing from?

[Ankou]

not only that, can you imagine how many prank cals they get ?

anyhow, i have been with aa, rac and gf. they are all pretty much the same. but generally patient and helpful when you call up. it sounds like the first woman was reacting to your tone more than anything. you say you were you scared, this can come across as angry and rude. even if you are in a muddle up a dirt road.

[stoofur]

I live near Bournemouth and I am sure I saw a Green Flag van driving up and down the A31 looking for "much love"

[Lady-Cc]

Don't mention Green Flag! I broke down a couple of months ago on a flyover and was by myself. When I rang them the woman was also rude. I told her where I was but didn't know the exact road name and she said that she HAD to have it or they couldn't help. I told her that I really didn't know it and I was stuck on the only flyover in the Town and that it shouldn't be too hard for them to find it. The base for the recovery drivers was only a couple of miles away from where I was and it still took them nearly an hour to get to me.

[muchlovex]

Joko - I did explain to them that there is only one dual carriageway from Bournemouth up until a round-about which then joins to Southampton. I was stuck just before that roundabout.

Ankou - Prank calls? Why would someone call and be charged to call a breakdown service?
I was not rude at all, infact far from it. I always treat people how I want to be treated. I do not expect to be spoken to in the manner that they did.

Stoofur- the are no Green Flag recovery van. GF use a local recovery service

LadyCc - they were really rude to me also. This is the second time I have had to rely on them and on both occasions they were rude. Disgusting service.

[stoofur]

I was only kidding. I actually sounds like it was not a lot of fun for you. I have not had to use my brakedown service yet (tough wood). Glad I am not with Green Flag. I am with the AA.