Cars & Transportation RACV Issues

[Colin D'Cops]

G'day folks.

Was absolutely pissed off when I heard my mother had been denied help by RACV this afternoon. She has been a member for 30 years and was 3 days late paying her fees after the 30 day grace (whatever it's called). She offered to pay for the membership within 24hrs of the person turning up, but no she was denied help and was told there was nothing they could do. I've paid my RACV fees, so it's not like we've got a bad record or anything of sorts.

Uncle turned up from work about an hour and a half later to get the battery back up and running, which was good. But f*** me, despite having been a loyal member for 30yrs, having a son sign up recently and pay up PLUS putting on record she'll pay within the next 24hrs; RACV still declined to help her. Doesn't sit right with me, thinking about writing to them...

Anyone had similar experiences with them? Am I over-reacting?

 

[CrippsonBlue]

It's not an over-reaction to be frustrated with the situation, but it is absurd to think that denying your mother is unreasonable.

Would your mother have called that same day and offered to pay the membership had there not been a problem?

You can't expect to become a member on the basis that they should fix an existing problem (although you could still do it).

It is good business to reward customers that have been members for so long, but unfortunately your mother wasn't a member.

 

[Daytripper]

G'day folks.

Was absolutely pissed off when I heard my mother had been denied help by RACV this afternoon. She has been a member for 30 years and was 3 days late paying her fees after the 30 day grace (whatever it's called). She offered to pay for the membership within 24hrs of the person turning up, but no she was denied help and was told there was nothing they could do. I've paid my RACV fees, so it's not like we've got a bad record or anything of sorts.

Uncle turned up from work about an hour and a half later to get the battery back up and running, which was good. But f*** me, despite having been a loyal member for 30yrs, having a son sign up recently and pay up PLUS putting on record she'll pay within the next 24hrs; RACV still declined to help her. Doesn't sit right with me, thinking about writing to them...

Anyone had similar experiences with them? Am I over-reacting?

Lesson : Pay your fees on time.

The RACV would not have flat out refused to turn up. They would have said that if they did arrive, then the full fee would be charged.

We all have choices. You mother chose not to pay the annual fee and then chose not to pay the full price when a problem arose once her previous fee had expired. As a result of those choices, there are consequences.

And you being a member or not has absolutely nothing to do with it.

 

[WALL-e]

Bad business to deny a membership renewal.

 

[HarryTiger]

So technically she was 33 days late.

She got what she paid for.

 

[Squarky]

G'day folks.

She offered to pay for the membership within 24hrs of the person turning up, but no she was denied help and was told there was nothing they could do.

I'm surprised to hear this. RACV allow anyone to receive roadside assistance without a valid membership, providing they pay the following via credit card over the phone:

1. The annual subscription fee
2. A 'join on road' fee of approximately $150 (or at least it was about that much when I worked there)

It sounds like either your mother was unwilling/unable to pay this fee, or the RACV customer service operator did the wrong thing. The calls are recorded, so if it was the latter, I'd complain.

Otherwise, it sounds like RACV have done the right thing here.

 

[Caesar]

FWIW I've found RACV to be one of the most helpful roadside assistance providers going around.

RACQ are atrocious, or have been the couple of times I've needed them. Just really inflexible and unwilling to work through problems. Last year my car broke down in Glen Innes when I was trying to get to Canberra. All I wanted was them to pay for a rental car to get me there same day, but apparently that wasn't part of my policy. Instead, they paid my bus fare to Canberra via Sydney, and two nights' accomodation (GI and Sydney).

Ended up costing them far more than a simple rental car, not to mention taking about 36 hours longer than it should have and being 10x as much of a PITA.

 

[Ruck Machine]

All I can say is she got what she deserved.

She would've received her renewal letter at least 4 weeks before expiry.

Plenty of time to cough up $87 bucks for basic Roadside Care.

 

[ChrisFooty]

I do not understand. The RACV would help anyone. If your not a current member you would just have to pay extra.

 

[Saint KFC]

I for one am glad that they denied her assistance.