Engine Failure - AA

L0rdMike

L0rdMike

L0rdMike

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Joined
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Southampton
My manager was driving to see his sister blah blah when the engine started to make a funny noise, he pulled over and called the AA. The guy said it would be fine to drive home. Only problem is the whole engine munched it self and now my manager has a 2.5k bill or so.

He is trying to claim off the AA as the guy said it would be fine to drive it home, now do any of you think he has a chance claiming against the AA?
 
Don't count on it, wouldn't surprise me if there was something in the terms and conditions of AA saying you cant do that
 
L0rdMike said:
My manager was driving to see his sister blah blah when the engine started to make a funny noise, he pulled over and called the AA. The guy said it would be fine to drive home. Only problem is the whole engine munched it self and now my manager has a 2.5k bill or so.

He is trying to claim off the AA as the guy said it would be fine to drive it home, now do any of you think he has a chance claiming against the AA?
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Next to zero chance.
 
depends how it was all written up, doesnt the AA have the likes liability insurance to cover stuff like this?
 
Muncher said:
Wouldn't make any difference. They only have to use reasonable care and skill, proving the didn't is next to impossible.
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Having it in writing wouldn't make any difference? So a written notice from the AA saying that he is safe to drive the car isn't proof? I'm no legal expert but surely having it in writing would be the only way for his manager to have any comeback whatsoever. Afterall the average AA customer, who pays for knowledge that they do not themselves posess, can be reasonably expected to believe what the AA man tells them. It's no different from going to your mechanic for a job and driving your car away after he tells you it's safe to do so, at which point your car brakes as a result of what Mr. Mechanic told you. And you think 'yeah drive it mate, no worries'; is using 'reasonable care and skill'?
 
[TW]Fox;15805851 said:
The AA mans word doesnt suddenly give you a comprehensive warranty on the car!
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Not saying it does, but if he's been called out to look at a car because the owner is worried and then goes onto say it's fine to be drive, and massive damaged is caused - then why isn't the AA man responsible, he was called out for his expert opinion - why isn't he accountable for his actions??
 
[TW]Fox;15805851 said:
The AA mans word doesnt suddenly give you a comprehensive warranty on the car!
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Whoever suggested that that was the case?! That really is on a wild tangent from what is being suggested.

I would certainly expect to be advised not to drive the car by my professional automotive advisor if it really was making funny noises. Did the AA man's notes refer to the 'funny noises'? I suppose that it all depends on whether or not the AA man could have been reasonably expected to tow him to a garage, rather than advise him to carry on, given the noises in evidence.
 
Problem is proving it.

I had my car towed once by the AA, the guy came out and dragged it onto the flat bed and in so doing damaged the lower splitter (it made contact with the bottom of the trailer as it was being pulled on). I even had a passenger who saw it with me.

Started legal proceedings against the AA, they sent out an "expert" assessor who deemed that the damage was "most likely caused by kerbing/driver error". In the end I either had the choice of paying several hundred to take AA all the way through the courts, or a few hundred to actually get the splitter fixed. :(

In your case, if it cames to it, the AA guy will simply deny (and/or be told to deny) saying that it was safe to drive home and it will come down to an argument over "he said, she said", which is not a particularly tenable legal position.
 
Robbie G said:
Whoever suggested that that was the case?! That really is on a wild tangent from what is being suggested.

I would certainly expect to be advised not to drive the car by my professional automotive advisor if it really was making funny noises. Did the AA man's notes refer to the 'funny noises'? I suppose that it all depends on whether or not the AA man could have been reasonably expected to tow him to a garage, rather than advise him to carry on, given the noises in evidence.
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So if the AA said it was OK to drive home you could drain all the oil out of your engine down the road and get a free replacement from them when it pops? :D

They won't guarantee anything like this, my dad works for the RAC and they are very careful how they word contracts/accept any liability etc. They certainly wouldn't put "It's fine to drive and we guarantee it" in writing.

EDIT (after reading the thread properly :D ): So basically you're right, if he has nothing in writing (which he won't have) then he's screwed.
 
Last edited:
Hi there, I work for the AA and I noticed this thread. If you would like to discuss this with us, may I invite you to call our claims team on 01256 491905
 
The AA seem to be bad for this.

Some years ago my sister called them out, her car was overheating, the guy told her to drive it and even followed in his van, at one point she stopped as she was worried but he told her to keep driving. Eventually not far from home the car ground to a halt as the engine seized.

The AA paid for a replacement used engine to be fitted, eventually.
 
L0rdMike said:
Its been sorted thanks.
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