Faith in common man confirmed

[Mom]

"Pay it forward", a funny little phrase, but one that we all should subscribe to. I have always tried to help out where I can, it is just what you do as a good citizen of your community. Today I was on the receiving end of some really cool help, much appreciated, and totally confirming that we live in a great place.

The petrol guage in the car was doing stupid things yesterday, started my trip to work at 1/2 a tank, ended up with a full one :clap: Then I went out and it started out dead empty, and finished up full once again. I did say to Maha I thought it was playing up "really":rolleyes: and I would keep an eye on it. Same thing today 1/2 tank at home then a full one at work. Knew that it had enough to get me there and back again, my plan was to fill it to the brim tomorrow (with my fuel docket). I had to leave work early today to be a supportive wife :love: Off I go and the poxy thing died on the motorway :oi-grr: No warning, no surging, no nothing, just the engine stopped. Thank goodness I left work early, normal time would have seen me stranded in the fast lane, as traffic is heavy where it happened then. With no power steering I made my way to the shoulder and eventually managed to stop, no power brakes either! I said Boris a few times! Loudly! Boris is my new swear word, as I currently work where swearing is not acceptable. I also said FUCK!

I have run out of petrol, obviously :crazy:

Or have I?

Ring hubby, who cant help, to tell him I wont be a supportive wife afterall :eek5: So, stuck on motorway, cell phone with 2 bars of battery, and no internet etc., for I am an old lady. Hubby cant help as he has VERY important appointment to attend. *555 to ask for some useful telephone numbers to ring :pinch: They give me *222 for AA! Well who would have known that? Meantime, a ute stops. Hell of a nice bloke. Troy is his name. Works for a company called Simpson Strong-Tie. This is where pay it forward comes in. He went and found me some petrol, from a guy, in a shed. He fell through the fence but managed not to rip his shirt on the barbed wire. The guy in the shed provided 6 ltrs of fuel, which was then tipped into my poxy car! Would it start? No Way!

So, not petrol then. All gauges going mental by now it is obviously electrical. Battery still happily trying to turn engine over too, cant be that simple surely? Troy returns the empty can, I wanted to fill it for the guy, but that offer is refused.

Now for AA. Hmmmmmmmmm, not a huge fan to be fair, and specially as I have been told by plod earlier that the charge a premium to drivers stranded that need a call out. I know people...

Tow truck organised in moments. Troy now leaves me as help is on its way, what an awesome guy! He was originally offering to take me to the BP for gas and to return me to the car. Then he went bush and fell over to get me some help. His boss is about to receive an email from me, and I hope he is recognised for his good deeds. As for the petrol supplier. This is twice this week he has provided petrol to people, I dont even know who he is, but he asked for nothing and refused offers of money.

Real long story short now. I am home, car now works perfectly :angry2: Far Canal!

Battery was dropping a cell ( never indicated anything was wrong starting wise) apparently wonky guages is an indicator too :crazy:

Today it failed on the motorway, altenator went mental trying to compensate, and the computer thought all hell was cutting loose and stopped the engine!

A tow to a garage (cost unknown at this stage) and a new battery $180 *cough*, plus a full tank of gas ($150 odd dollars) with no feul docket at a very expensive station and I am a poor gal.

BUT, very rich all the same as result of the help I received.

Pay it forward folks...

[bluninja]

Glad all is ok. I wonder if men like Troy are coommon, or uncommon; never mind the free petrol man :)

[mashman]

Praps you should pay him a visit in his shed and ya know, pay it forward and backward and forward and backward and for.........

[Smifffy]

Yay for happy endings. Someone will probably happen in here shortly to sell you a new battery ;)

[Mom]

Praps you should pay him a visit in his shed and ya know, pay it forward and backward and forward and backward and for.........

I am sure I have NO idea what you mean :lol:


Yay for happy endings. Someone will probably happen in here shortly to sell you a new battery ;)

Too late, I already have one :)

[nzspokes]

So Mark was picking up his bike then? :headbang:

[Mom]

So Mark was picking up his bike then? :headbang:

No, but no comment...

[clonak]

"Pay it forward", a funny little phrase, but one that we all should subscribe to. I have always tried to help out where I can, it is just what you do as a good citizen of your community. Today I was on the receiving end of some really cool help, much appreciated, and totally confirming that we live in a great place.

The petrol guage in the car was doing stupid things yesterday, started my trip to work at 1/2 a tank, ended up with a full one :clap: Then I went out and it started out dead empty, and finished up full once again. I did say to Maha I thought it was playing up "really":rolleyes: and I would keep an eye on it. Same thing today 1/2 tank at home then a full one at work. Knew that it had enough to get me there and back again, my plan was to fill it to the brim tomorrow (with my fuel docket). I had to leave work early today to be a supportive wife :love: Off I go and the poxy thing died on the motorway :oi-grr: No warning, no surging, no nothing, just the engine stopped. Thank goodness I left work early, normal time would have seen me stranded in the fast lane, as traffic is heavy where it happened then. With no power steering I made my way to the shoulder and eventually managed to stop, no power brakes either! I said Boris a few times! Loudly! Boris is my new swear word, as I currently work where swearing is not acceptable. I also said FUCK!

I have run out of petrol, obviously :crazy:

Or have I?

Ring hubby, who cant help, to tell him I wont be a supportive wife afterall :eek5: So, stuck on motorway, cell phone with 2 bars of battery, and no internet etc., for I am an old lady. Hubby cant help as he has VERY important appointment to attend. *555 to ask for some useful telephone numbers to ring :pinch: They give me *222 for AA! Well who would have known that? Meantime, a ute stops. Hell of a nice bloke. Troy is his name. Works for a company called Simpson Strong-Tie. This is where pay it forward comes in. He went and found me some petrol, from a guy, in a shed. He fell through the fence but managed not to rip his shirt on the barbed wire. The guy in the shed provided 6 ltrs of fuel, which was then tipped into my poxy car! Would it start? No Way!

So, not petrol then. All gauges going mental by now it is obviously electrical. Battery still happily trying to turn engine over too, cant be that simple surely? Troy returns the empty can, I wanted to fill it for the guy, but that offer is refused.

Now for AA. Hmmmmmmmmm, not a huge fan to be fair, and specially as I have been told by plod earlier that the charge a premium to drivers stranded that need a call out. I know people...

Tow truck organised in moments. Troy now leaves me as help is on its way, what an awesome guy! He was originally offering to take me to the BP for gas and to return me to the car. Then he went bush and fell over to get me some help. His boss is about to receive an email from me, and I hope he is recognised for his good deeds. As for the petrol supplier. This is twice this week he has provided petrol to people, I dont even know who he is, but he asked for nothing and refused offers of money.

Real long story short now. I am home, car now works perfectly :angry2: Far Canal!

Battery was dropping a cell ( never indicated anything was wrong starting wise) apparently wonky guages is an indicator too :crazy:

Today it failed on the motorway, altenator went mental trying to compensate, and the computer thought all hell was cutting loose and stopped the engine!

A tow to a garage (cost unknown at this stage) and a new battery $180 *cough*, plus a full tank of gas ($150 odd dollars) with no feul docket at a very expensive station and I am a poor gal.

BUT, very rich all the same as result of the help I received.

Pay it forward folks...

Perhaps its time to look at an AA menbership then ? I am not a sales rep for them, but I have been a member for 10 years. Never used them for my self, because I am capable of fixing most things my self, but have rescued a number of people on the side of the road with it. Hell, even PM me I will send you my mobile, if it happens again give me a call Ill see if I can get out to you, most of the tow truck drivers dont even check the membership card. I am a major believer in Pay It Forward, the world would be a much better place if everyone helped even 1 person, but 3 people is even better.

Also, I find sweet talking and caressing the car helps along way... Dont ask me how, but it does.

[clonak]

double post. :/ bloody internets.,

[JimO]

Glad all is ok. I wonder if men like Troy are coommon, or uncommon; never mind the free petrol man :)
i have changed a few flat tyres for women over the years, one who didnt have a clue where to start had a sticker on her back window saying "women can do anything"

[blue rider]

i have changed a few flat tyres for women over the years, one who didnt have a clue where to start had a sticker on her back window saying "women can do anything"

good on you for changing flat tyres for women.....this way we don't have to do it! lol

how ever, i can assure you that there are a lot of non women who also don't know how to change tyres....and they also believe they can do anything.

disclaimer........i work for that roadside service business...

[Laava]

No warning, no surging, no nothing, just the engine stopped.

Was it a Holden? A red one?
Ahh, that can happen to those ones...* nods knowingly*

[bogan]

Way back when, Troy would have been called Terry (short for Terrence) and he would have fixed your car with only a small hammer and a shoelace. The petrol would have cost only a tenth of what it did, and an attendant would have filled your car, and cleaned the windscreen...

And back then AA was just a battery size, not some overcharging under-servicing organisation who probably doesn't even employ anyone called Terry.

[Daffyd]

one who didnt have a clue where to start had a sticker on her back window saying "women can do anything"

Funny how some people leave themselves open to ridicule with notices, both on their windows and on tee shirts... I saw a grossly overweight woman wearing a tee shirt with the message, "Guess" on the front. She wasn't very impressed when I guessed "200 kg"

[Gremlin]

And back then AA was just a battery size, not some overcharging under-servicing organisation who probably doesn't even employ anyone called Terry.
To balance that, Toto and I were heading south with the bikes on the back of the boss' ute. Left the Cambridge BP and it turned out the fuel line came off. Fuel pissing out everywhere, we're both AA+ members, so called. They said within the hour, the local authorised chappy arrived in under 30min, finds the fault, explains it, puts it back on with best effort (all that could be done in the situation), no charge and we're on our way again.

I'll keep my membership... for $120 odd a year it's a very cheap helping hand, but then I'm travelling all over the country often enough I guess.

[Nova.]

Glad all is ok. I wonder if men like Troy are coommon, or uncommon; never mind the free petrol man :)

Turns out they are, after breaking down in the turning lane in peak hour traffic in my ute (down to 1 lane) on moorhouse ave (anyone who knows christchurch will know how bad traffic is on moorhouse ave at 5.00) slamming my door as hard as I can because we all know that fixes things right? few cuss words exchanged to myself and popping the hood some good cunt in a van offered me a tow!


have also changed tyres for women quite a few times, and as you say they really don't know what they're doing lol

[Tigadee]

Pay it forward folks...

Cool story and will do... :niceone:

[cc rider]

i have changed a few flat tyres for women over the years, one who didnt have a clue where to start had a sticker on her back window saying "women can do anything"I don't know... she got her tyre changed didn't she :laugh:


Troy is his name. He fell through the fence, managed to rip his shirt on the barbed wire....




Pay it forward folks...I'm paying it forward by thinking 'nice' things about Troy :blip: Mmmm

[Maha]

So Mark was picking up his bike then? :headbang:

I have the money, could be as early as tomorrow.
But no, at the time of this occurance, I was at an appointment, almost cancelled to go to the aid of my wife in distress but, Troy had it sorted...:clap:

[Mom]

I will be buying a membership to AA today. It was actually a very stressful thing to be stranded on the motorway, one I dont want to ever repeat.

[phill-k]

Am I the only one who has roadside assist included in vehicle insurance - both motorcylce and car?

[Mom]

Am I the only one who has roadside assist included in vehicle insurance - both motorcylce and car?

No, I have roadside assist for my bike, not for the car, I used to have it as part of an extended warrantee but let it go as the renewal was too expensive.

[BigAl]

+1 for AA membership, wifey has used it a few times.

[Edbear]

We gave up our AA membership when we got the Kizashi as Roadside Assist was included in the warranty, (not that we ever expect to need it), however when we did have it they came to my wife's rescue in Taihape of all places and their service was very good. :first:

[bogan]

To balance that, Toto and I were heading south with the bikes on the back of the boss' ute. Left the Cambridge BP and it turned out the fuel line came off. Fuel pissing out everywhere, we're both AA+ members, so called. They said within the hour, the local authorised chappy arrived in under 30min, finds the fault, explains it, puts it back on with best effort (all that could be done in the situation), no charge and we're on our way again.

I'll keep my membership... for $120 odd a year it's a very cheap helping hand, but then I'm travelling all over the country often enough I guess.

Sooo, was his name Terry or not?

My insurance has roadside assistance anyway, not bad for a $170pa full cover premium. The problem with AA is they market like an insurance co, 'what if this were to happen', except in their case there's far less financial reason to get it. You're only inuring against a towie/mechanics roadside fee, which isn't much more than their yearly premiums anyway.

[oneofsix]

My insurance has roadside assistance anyway, not bad for a $170pa full cover premium. The problem with AA is they market like an insurance co, 'what if this were to happen', except in their case there's far less financial reason to get it. You're only inuring against a towie/mechanics roadside fee, which isn't much more than their yearly premiums anyway.

The AA is an insurance of sorts. What if the vehicle you are travelling by breaks down type insurance. A big difference is your roadside assist only covers the insured vehicle whereas AA covers you - if you are the passenger your AA is still valid and it is valid regardless of who's vehicle or which of your vehicles, and then there are the discounts :lol:

[Edbear]

The AA is an insurance of sorts. What if the vehicle you are travelling by breaks down type insurance. A big difference is your roadside assist only covers the insured vehicle whereas AA covers you - if you are the passenger your AA is still valid and it is valid regardless of who's vehicle or which of your vehicles, and then there are the discounts :lol:

Good point.

[bogan]

The AA is an insurance of sorts. What if the vehicle you are travelling by breaks down type insurance. A big difference is your roadside assist only covers the insured vehicle whereas AA covers you - if you are the passenger your AA is still valid and it is valid regardless of who's vehicle or which of your vehicles, and then there are the discounts :lol:

But still, who has more than 120 bucks per year worth of breakdowns in all the cars they use?

[Mom]

Speaking as a small female, being stranded on your own is not a nice experience, I hope it never happens to me again. Even if it never does, I still want the peace of mind that should it happen one call will get things sorted for me. Much as it sticks in my craw I will buy coverage with AA.

[neels]

Basic cover from the AA is cheap enough, and gets you going, home, or at least back to some sort of civilisation to sort it out. Saved me once when stopped in the middle of nowhere with a jammed starter motor and no tools, local garage man out to lend me the spanner I didn't have and stand there while I fixed it in 2 minutes, would have cost me a garage callout otherwise.

Back on topic, it's amazing how much people appreciate minor things. When I was in at the hospital the other day and bought the maximum 2 hours of parking and was done in an hour, I gave the ticket to the lady that was waiting for my car park before I left, she seemed quite stunned that someone would think of doing that.

[Mom]

Two minute phone conversation with Troy's boss - done :)

[Edbear]

Basic cover from the AA is cheap enough, and gets you going, home, or at least back to some sort of civilisation to sort it out. Saved me once when stopped in the middle of nowhere with a jammed starter motor and no tools, local garage man out to lend me the spanner I didn't have and stand there while I fixed it in 2 minutes, would have cost me a garage callout otherwise.

Back on topic, it's amazing how much people appreciate minor things. When I was in at the hospital the other day and bought the maximum 2 hours of parking and was done in an hour, I gave the ticket to the lady that was waiting for my car park before I left, she seemed quite stunned that someone would think of doing that.

We usually do that if we can. People are surprised but always grateful.

[Edbear]

Two minute phone conversation with Troy's boss - done :)

Good one! I think I'm out of bling for you until I give a bit more out...

[Gremlin]

Read your roadside assist policies carefully... the normal ones are actually quite restrictive, with low dollar limits, caveats on what they will cover etc. You don't want to find out the hard way what's covered when you're in the middle of nowhere.

Basic AA cover will only get you to civilisation as such, ie, if you're on a BMW bike, it won't be to the nearest BMW dealer, it will be a motorcycle dealer (who likely could not work on the bike). AA+ cover will get you back to home base. The costs involved in that are going to exceed basic cover very easily.

I don't work for the AA (and uh, the post seems very pro them) and they probably have pitfalls, but for me, it's cheap, but then I'm in the South Island at least once a year, and down country regularly. I know others who have broken down as well, so been able to figure out what seems to work, and what doesn't. Buggered if I'm paying that much for a vehicle (ie, new) that you get a warranty. Money don't grow on trees...

[blue rider]

Read your roadside assist policies carefully... the normal ones are actually quite restrictive, with low dollar limits, caveats on what they will cover etc. You don't want to find out the hard way what's covered when you're in the middle of nowhere.

Basic AA cover will only get you to civilisation as such, ie, if you're on a BMW bike, it won't be to the nearest BMW dealer, it will be a motorcycle dealer (who likely could not work on the bike). AA+ cover will get you back to home base. The costs involved in that are going to exceed basic cover very easily.

I don't work for the AA (and uh, the post seems very pro them) and they probably have pitfalls, but for me, it's cheap, but then I'm in the South Island at least once a year, and down country regularly. I know others who have broken down as well, so been able to figure out what seems to work, and what doesn't. Buggered if I'm paying that much for a vehicle (ie, new) that you get a warranty. Money don't grow on trees...



depending how old the BMW is it should be listed with AA road side assist under the BMW warranty. might pay to check.

basic roadside assist will get you to the nearest approved repairer....not to a repairer of choice. in saying that with bikes it pays to get the plus service, as with bikes it is always a tow....so might aswell get it towed home, or to the repairer of your choice.

disclaimer, i used to work for the large roadside service company, but i was made redundant....lol, and will now join the moochers.