Oh my goodness gracious me…does anyone else think that breakdown cover is a given? Well apparently it isn’t. Today I met a man who drives a recovery van who actually goes out of his way to make things difficult for people.

This morning, I was travelling on the M55 following a breakfast networking event and my car (he’s called Louis by the way) lost all power and I had to manoeuvre him across three lanes to the hard shoulder, luckily avoiding a truck! I rang my insurance company who put me through to breakdown and was assured that someone would be with me within half an hour. After being told off by numerous people who care about me, it was clear I had to step out of my car and move along and over the barrier to safety. First of all, I was in a dress and secondly some sort of monsoon had descended upon me! After staying in my car for about 20 minutes I finally decided to get out and be safe whilst waiting for the recovery van. I got drenched. Plus why do lorry drivers have to beep at girls in dresses with no coats!!!??? Fools!

Anyway, I was picked up after about 45 minutes… I’m not a girly girls (I drive a Lupo GTi) however, I did expect to be greeted with a friendly smile, especially as I was shivering at this point. The gentleman (who wasn’t very gentlemanly) took my keys shouted questions across to me and proceeded to tell me that my car was ****** and it would cost loads to get it fixed, “best get it to a garage love” he said.

Hmmm “I’d hope you’d help me get it to a garage?” I replied”As that’s why I pay for breakdown cover!” to which the guy said “Well I’m only meant to take you home but I guess I’ll av to!”

Really appreciated his kind words at this stage … harummph

As I was driven at about 30mph on the MOTORWAY to the garage back near home the guy told me all about his work and how he once left a woman with a 7 month old baby at a BP garage because she had limited insurance and didn’t have any cash on her. I didn’t know you could get limited breakdown cover actually, apparently the mother of the baby had to pay £200 to get her car recovered and back to Sheffield from Blackpool. When the recovery guy asked her for cash up front, she replied “I don’t have the correct card to get the money out” so…. HE LEFT HER!

This was not the only horrendous story I heard from him. He proceeded to tell me how he’d been given a parking ticket once for parking on double yellow lines as he was on a job. He went to the council to appeal to get this eradicated due to his line of work and they declined as it had already been legally issued.  The following month, the council worker who informed recovery guy of the rules regarding the parking ticket, broke down. It was recovery guy who was called out to pick him up.

Recovery Guy: “Do you remember me?”

Council Man: “Yes!”

Recovery Guy: “Well as you have broken down on this road, Iwould have to park on double yellow lines to recover your vehicle, therefore I cannot help you!”

Council Man: “Please tell me you are joking” said Council Man

Recovery Guy: “Nope!”

The council man pleaded with recovery guy, and eventually he proceeded to reluctantly help Council Man. However, recovery guy informed me that he literally “bounced” council man’s car onto the van to teach him a lesson. He also then “ragged” the car into the garage, denting it very slightly in order to get revenge.

Now, recovery guy was obviously distracted by telling me these horrid stories as I managed to get my louis dropped off at the garage and then also recieved a lift home. And yes, I do still wonder if the mother and her 7 month old baby are still at the BP garage. Seriously how does recovery guy sleep at night and have I found a career which is more destrcutive than traffic wardens?? I think so!

Please remember, generally people who have broken down are usually late for something, it’s always a bad time for it to happen and almost always it’s raining… recovery workers need operate in a kind and personal manner, rather than making a situation worse.

Thanks!