Pensioner left waiting for help after tyre split
BBCA car breakdown service has apologised after a pensioner, 79, was left alone for nearly four hours on the side of the road waiting for help when her tyre split after hitting a pothole.
Kate Jenkins, from Tiverton, Devon, said her mother Susan had split her tyre on a rural road in Cullompton at about 20:30 GMT in December last year.
She said her mother called for assistance from the RAC who attended three and a half hours later and were unable to change the tyre as she had an Electric Vehicle (EV). She had to pay £270 extra for an emergency tyre fitter.
A spokesperson for the RAC apologised and said the company had now covered her costs and "taken steps to prevent similar issues in future".
Jenkins said her mother was told by the company her tyre could not be replaced as it would affect the drive shaft.
The RAC has since said it was due to the roadside assistance member not having a suitable tyre available that evening.
She said her mother was first offered a tow truck which could take four to 24 hours to arrive.
She said the RAC representative said they could call out an emergency tyre fitter at the cost of £270.
Jenkins said her mother was "afraid" and added: "Feeling she had no alternative, given the time, location, and her vulnerability she agreed to the emergency tyre fitter."
She said she paid £200 a year for her mother's insurance with the company and has done "for peace of mind since Susan was widowed".
A spokesperson for the RAC said staff would "routinely fit universal spare wheels to EVs."
They added: "Our policy is no different to that for internal combustion engine vehicles.
"But on the night in question, our patrol did not have a suitable one available for the car that had broken down."
They continued: "We're sorry Susan didn't receive our usual high standard of service.
"We've apologised, covered her tyre fitting costs, provided a goodwill payment and taken steps to prevent similar issues in future."
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