It is the HA officer at the scene that makes the call on damage category, if the operator feels it should be in a higher category then he has to take pictures & argue his case later but very rarely wins,
The problem lies with the £350 - £4500 and no middle category,
To be fair to the recovery operator the rear wheels were off the unit so not a straight forward £350 lift and tow recovery
the next bracket is £4500
As a rule, be it car or truck if a wheel is off or pointing in another direction it will be classified as “substantially damaged”
Not saying its right though!
Towman:
It is the HA officer at the scene that makes the call on damage category, if the operator feels it should be in a higher category then he has to take pictures & argue his case later but very rarely wins,
But not always the case as it only needs the recovery operator to have a word and then the category can quite easily be changed. And by this last comment, I was not implying corruption. I was suggesting that through communication, the HA may choose to re categorise the incident.
Towman:
The problem lies with the £350 - £4500 and no middle category,
To be fair to the recovery operator the rear wheels were off the unit so not a straight forward £350 lift and tow recovery
the next bracket is £4500
I do agree with your comments about the vast disparity between these two categories however, I firmly disagree with your comments about the recovery not being a straightforward one. Given your user name, it would appear that you are in the recovery industry and I am sure you are therefore aware of how widespread the practise of rear lifting vehicles is in order to quite rightly do away with disconnecting the driveline. This situation was no different in that, I believe, it was just a rear lift which needed to be done. And £350.00 is an ample charge for this.
Towman:
As a rule, be it car or truck if a wheel is off or pointing in another direction it will be classified as “substantially damaged”
Not saying its right though!
I do agree with your comments about the vast disparity between these two categories however, I firmly disagree with your comments about the recovery not being a straightforward one. Given your user name, it would appear that you are in the recovery industry and I am sure you are therefore aware of how widespread the practise of rear lifting vehicles is in order to quite rightly do away with disconnecting the driveline. This situation was no different in that, I believe, it was just a rear lift which needed to be done. And £350.00 is an ample charge for this.
They way I read the OP’s OP the vehicle was on the M1 with a fully laden trailer?
I am aware of rear lifting in practice but a unit & trailer on a motorway is not as straight forward as “it was just a rear lift which needed to be done”
Towman:
Sorry not to sure how to use the quote system,
I do agree with your comments about the vast disparity between these two categories however, I firmly disagree with your comments about the recovery not being a straightforward one. Given your user name, it would appear that you are in the recovery industry and I am sure you are therefore aware of how widespread the practise of rear lifting vehicles is in order to quite rightly do away with disconnecting the driveline. This situation was no different in that, I believe, it was just a rear lift which needed to be done. And £350.00 is an ample charge for this.
They way I read the OP’s OP the vehicle was on the M1 with a fully laden trailer?
I am aware of rear lifting in practice but a unit & trailer on a motorway is not as straight forward as “it was just a rear lift which needed to be done”
apologies if I’ve miss read the OP
I thought the OP had made arrangements for the trailer to be moved by one of his own vehicles - but I might be wrong. I would agree that a rear lift on the motorway is not a straightforward operation but I think I am right in saying that it has been known for the HA to make a charge for performing a chapter one lane closure…if this was at all feasible, then this would surely have been the better option. And in actual fact, they probably had to carry this out in order to get the OP’s unit from the motorway.
N.I Express:
Should operators not have some type of breakdown cover in place to cover scenarios like this ?
Yes. And there are companies out there which give free membership - that is to say that when you use their services they charge for them. The crux of this matter is that when an incident does happen, you ensure that your preffered recovery company is there within half an hour or the HA can insist that you use their people. The other point worth noting is that some of the recovery companies who work for these clubs which provide free membership are also contractors to the HA. And of course, money talks…
Towman:
Sorry not to sure how to use the quote system,
I do agree with your comments about the vast disparity between these two categories however, I firmly disagree with your comments about the recovery not being a straightforward one. Given your user name, it would appear that you are in the recovery industry and I am sure you are therefore aware of how widespread the practise of rear lifting vehicles is in order to quite rightly do away with disconnecting the driveline. This situation was no different in that, I believe, it was just a rear lift which needed to be done. And £350.00 is an ample charge for this.
They way I read the OP’s OP the vehicle was on the M1 with a fully laden trailer?
I am aware of rear lifting in practice but a unit & trailer on a motorway is not as straight forward as “it was just a rear lift which needed to be done”
apologies if I’ve miss read the OP
I thought the OP had made arrangements for the trailer to be moved by one of his own vehicles - but I might be wrong. I would agree that a rear lift on the motorway is not a straightforward operation but I think I am right in saying that it has been known for the HA to make a charge for performing a chapter one lane closure…if this was at all feasible, then this would surely have been the better option. And in actual fact, they probably had to carry this out in order to get the OP’s unit from the motorway.
It hard enough getting the HA to close a lane let a lone a Chapter one
More clarity on how the recovery was done would help I think
N.I Express:
For breakdown cover to cover the scenario referred to in this post , how much would you expect to pay per annum . ?
As far as I am aware, there is no such breakdown cover available. Dont forget that if you call out your appointent agent and either the HA or Police are not happy with the ETA given by your people, they WILL take control and use their own appointed recovery operator.
Silver_Surfer:
Ohh spy speak, what’s a “chapter one”, over.
I didn’t even know there were other chapters than ‘chapter 8’ lol or even where it refers too…
But still that recovery sounds expensive. However, in future I shall be very careful accepting assistance from yonder HATO or any govt bod at this rate…
Silver_Surfer:
Ohh spy speak, what’s a “chapter one”, over.
I didn’t even know there were other chapters than ‘chapter 8’ lol or even where it refers too…
But still that recovery sounds expensive. However, in future I shall be very careful accepting assistance from yonder HATO or any govt bod at this rate…
Very, very wise words my friend But as a cautionary note, beware of calling and old jack out as they can charge what they want…at least with the H.A/Police, their fees are capped.
Hi Guys…to clarify the particulars of the recovery
I Called Wards to come from Leeds coz I knew I wouldn’t be ripped off - and I wasn’t…£315 plus VAT
My own unit was to come for the trailer after his morning container tipped out
So it was obvious with hindsight that I was going to need further 3rd party assistance to have the truck removed within the ‘half-hour’
Due to the extremely close proximity of Trowell northbound (200 yds), Burrows detached the unit so it wasn’t carrying any weight, lowered the midlift to support the drive axle minus its nearside wheels, and forward towed it 200yds to the services
THEY EVEN DESCRIBED THE DAMAGE ON THEIR JOBSHEET AS A ‘DOUBLE BLOW-OUT NSR’
mark j robinson:
Hi Guys…to clarify the particulars of the recovery
I Called Wards to come from Leeds coz I knew I wouldn’t be ripped off - and I wasn’t…£315 plus VAT
My own unit was to come for the trailer after his morning container tipped out
So it was obvious with hindsight that I was going to need further 3rd party assistance to have the truck removed within the ‘half-hour’
Due to the extremely close proximity of Trowell northbound (200 yds), Burrows detached the unit so it wasn’t carrying any weight, lowered the midlift to support the drive axle minus its nearside wheels, and forward towed it 200yds to the services
THEY EVEN DESCRIBED THE DAMAGE ON THEIR JOBSHEET AS A ‘DOUBLE BLOW-OUT NSR’
Did they tow it with a chin or was it a front suspended tow?
Have you got any further forward with this Mark or have you accepted it?
Not sure of the exact details but I think the driver said the drive axle airbags were dumped and the axle ‘strapped up’ to the chassis…then the midlift dropped and the suspension re-inflated
This has saved any necessity to close a motorway lane
They HAVE done a £350 job and charged £4500
I will NEVER accept this charge to my dying day ! !
I did forward an email statement of the events I wrote for the solicitor to Watchdog on a whim last weekend…they have not responded
Presumably a double blowout is substancial damage and will merit a £4500 tow-in
mark j robinson:
Not sure of the exact details but I think the driver said the drive axle airbags were dumped and the axle ‘strapped up’ to the chassis…then the midlift dropped and the suspension re-inflated
This has saved any necessity to close a motorway lane
They HAVE done a £350 job and charged £4500
I will NEVER accept this charge to my dying day ! !
I did forward an email statement of the events I wrote for the solicitor to Watchdog on a whim last weekend…they have not responded
Presumably a double blowout is substancial damage and will merit a £4500 tow-in
BEWARE ALL YOU HARD WORKING OPERATORS OUT THERE
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ! !
Thats actually a clever thing they have done as it saves them a fair bit of time…
If you need any help with this Mark, just let me know and I will see what I can do…dont know what mind, but the offer is there. It is just wrong.
But as a cautionary note, beware of calling and old jack out as they can charge what they want…at least with the H.A/Police, their fees are capped.