RACV tows wrong car from Chadstone car park - Page 3

**Full Noise** · 12-09-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

80 year old should hand in their licence ???
Thats just to funny for words
A mate who is 74 years old would probably give most of you so called expert drivers a run for ya money,and no doubt give yas a hidin

Just remember people approaching 80 is happinig on a day occurance

Without getting into the BS in your post, I have just one thing to say about the competency of this 81 year old bloke.

If he can’t even identify his own car after trying the keys, key pad, etc.

How can he identify a pedestrian, motorcycle, another car, B-Double, emergency services or even the colour of the bloody traffic lights?

That’s why he should hand his licence in. Think about it.

**Dave R** · 12-09-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Noise

Without getting into the BS in your post, I have just one thing to say about the competency of this 81 year old bloke.

If he can’t even identify his own car after trying the keys, key pad, etc.

How can he identify a pedestrian, motorcycle, another car, B-Double, emergency services or even the colour of the bloody traffic lights?

That’s why he should hand his licence in. Think about it.

I agree old drivers can be pretty ridiculous, a few months ago my old man's car was side swiped by a pensioner trying to parallel park. Lucky he was standing close by - the old woman tried walking off without leaving a note. I've also heard about some 80 year old that thought someone elses car was actually his, so when his keys didn't work he called RACV and they towed it away.......

EVL BOS · 12-09-2010, 05:19 PM

i feel sorry for the girl because it wouldn't be a nice feeling to come out and find you car missing, i think the $100 upgrade racv offered is a joke, they damaged her car at the very least they should fix her car and provide her with a loan car for the duration of the repairs. I don't think the towie should lose his job over it though as yes it was a mistake but racv need to look at their procedures involved and figure out what went wrong, i've had my car towed twice by racv and can tell you that if the cars not on your member ship then they wont tow it and you have to provide id to prove who you are, I can only guess that the old guy owns a silver ts astra like the girls and the towie figured it fits the description of the car on the records and for what ever reason didn't check the rego

302 XC · 12-09-2010, 05:42 PM

Full Noise,
Putting ALL drivers being old,young,compedant or not into 1 basket is wrong
With reference to perhaps the B/S in my post
The 74 year old i mentioned has been driving since 11 years old,yep 11
Racing cars seen mid teens ,not only a story but has trophies,credentials,to prove he can drive
Seems its a touchy subject for yourself
PS
He retired from racing just on ten years ago,still works the tools and throws an 80 series cruiser around like a toy
So you are better and have a back up to proove
OR
Are you like most other so called drivers ????

Wether 81 or 18 we ALL have bad days ,and have cloudy judgement
Think about that ???

**Full Noise** · 12-09-2010, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Putting ALL drivers being old,young,compedant or not into 1 basket is wrong
With reference to perhaps the B/S in my post
The 74 year old i mentioned has been driving since 11 years old,yep 11
Racing cars seen mid teens ,not only a story but has trophies,credentials,to prove he can drive

I couldn’t care less about your 74 year old mate and how good a driver he is. He may have been driving for 63 years, well hooray. What’s the bet that I’ve probably done more miles than him in the last 24 years? So who cares? If you read my posts, you’ll find that I didn’t stereotype all older drivers at all. I just said that this bloke should hand his ticket in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Seems its a touchy subject for yourself

Yeah, because, like many others, I have to deal with these people out on the road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

He retired from racing just on ten years ago,still works the tools and throws an 80 series cruiser around like a toy

Good luck to him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

So you are better and have a back up to prove

I never said that I was better and certainly have nothing to prove but I can back up what I’ve done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Are you like most other so called drivers ????

Absolutely not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Wether 81 or 18 we ALL have bad days ,and have cloudy judgement
Think about that ???

There’s a big difference between cloudy judgement and borderline Alzheimer’s

Think about that.

flappist · 12-09-2010, 06:35 PM

Well I remember trying to drive off in the wrong car about 30 years ago. My key actually unlocked the door but would not start it then I noticed the seat felt "wrong" and a few other things were out of place.

P.S. I am not 110 years old now.....

**Full Noise** · 12-09-2010, 06:48 PM

I jumped into an near identical Kenworth Aerodyne to mine one night at the BP at Marulan. He parked right next to me at the bowsers and as soon as I jumped in and noticed some different gauges, then saw his missus sitting there, I knew that I’d made one amusing mistake.

She p1ssed herself laughing and pointed out her window to the next bay and said that I think that one’s yours.

302 XC · 12-09-2010, 06:56 PM

All ill say is this,
I hope ALL the so called experts,knockers,legends whatever out there
Never ever make mistakes,stuff up,or have bad judgement

AussieAV · 12-09-2010, 07:20 PM

Sorry to be a voice of reason (well IMO anyway) in such an entertaining thread, but I think you all need to give a bit of ground.

The 80 year old had a brain fade, can happen to any of us. This error however was big enough that the police should investigate his competency to drive. Don't think you can make a definitive judgement just on this incident, especially without all the facts.

The Towie also had a brain fade. Again can't be too quick to judge without all the facts. If this is yet another in a long line of mistakes, he'll probably get the boot. If it turns out his kid died the week before, think we would all excuse his mind being elsewhere.

The real problem here is the way the RACV handled the innocent victim. Her anxiety and distress would have been very real, no matter how unintentional the incident was.

Whoever offered the $100 discount had the biggest brain fade. They basically told the woman her feelings were irrelevant and that she overreacted. Anyone here tried telling their wife/girlfriend they are overreacting when they are upset about something?? BIG MISTAKE.

Could have all been avoided if the RACV had validated the woman's feelings, said they would do everything necessary to put her car right, and do something to make up for the inconvenience she suffered.

Bobman · 12-09-2010, 07:22 PM

I know some old folks who don't even know how to operate the wiper switch or headlight switch, but can use indicators. It's a real worry.

Cast your minds back to 2008 when an old bloke hit two kids I think it was, on Sydney Road, Melbourne. They had the right of way, but the old bloke hit the wrong pedal (as they commonly do). The family forced him to surrender his licence but the damage was done. The pedestrians were in hospital for a while.

302 XC · 12-09-2010, 07:29 PM

Just 1 mistake means loss of licence ????
Well if thats the case, we mite as well all hand em back
Im sure we ALL have a skeleton in the closet

Towie makes a bad judgement (did he ???)
So everyone cries, sack him
Well again,we mite as well all resign from our jobs
Im sure we ALL have had a bad day at least once

The cooperation handled it perhaps incorrect
If everything was done to their regulations and was correct by them
Then what shut down all businesses that make bad

WE need the whole story,as in
Yes perhaps the 81 year old driver made bad,so they all made bad from there on ???

ALL the FACTS from the story,not some beat up jerno B/S

Bobman · 12-09-2010, 07:54 PM

302_XC,

I agree that we all have bad days, but how many of us have bad days at work or make mistakes that causes great distress to other people? Not talking about running late for work either.

I think it's poor form what they offered her, especially considering towing a car = dragging it in park. Breaking in = damaging door frames, rubber moulds, door trims and so on. The car is not really the same again. It's been vandalised and stolen. That's the facts.

302 XC · 12-09-2010, 08:03 PM

FACTS,
What are the complete FACTS

Reading the OP , the only damage was a window seal
This is all thats written in the first post regarding damage

FgNewbie · 12-09-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

FACTS,
What are the complete FACTS

Reading the OP , the only damage was a window seal
This is all thats written in the first post regarding damage

Why do you want facts? That would stop the assumptions and witch hunt

Bobman · 12-09-2010, 08:19 PM

I can get the full facts as I can contact the person involved, but what we know is what happened.

Oh, as for AU-BA Ford Falcons. You can lock anyone's AU/BA Falcon door with any AU/BA key. How's that for dodgy?

CODSASR · 12-09-2010, 08:26 PM

302_xc,

I dont see why you are geting so upset not once have I seen anybody say that every elderly person should lose there licence.

If it had happend to me I wouldnt be happy fair enough the old fart had a brain faid but how could the RACV let the car be towed without checking who owns it. I have had my car towed a couplke of times and every time they check the rego.

The worst part is offering her a $100 upgrade if it was me I would be telling them to shove it and move my policy to another company

FgNewbie · 12-09-2010, 09:17 PM

Bobman in the E series too. I think any tibbe key can engage any tibbe lock but it should need the correct key to unlock or start.

I have vague recollections of jiggling an F350 key in a warn ignition barrel of an F100 last century and got it going.

edit: ps. what we know is full of holes.

LeadFoot81 · 12-09-2010, 09:20 PM

How would all the heroes in this thread feel if it was their gf or wife, or sister or daughter? Would you tell any one of them to get over it? The so-called 'compensation' is a slap in the face.

'It all worked out, she'll be right' just isn't good enough. You've got no idea how any individual will be affected by something like this, you may not give a s*** but she obviously did (and rightly so I think)

How hard is it to check the car's rego against the guys account details ffs?

At least this has set a precedent that will have the insurance company triple checking the cars identity from now on.

JC · 12-09-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Full Noise

I jumped into an near identical Kenworth Aerodyne to mine one night at the BP at Marulan. He parked right next to me at the bowsers and as soon as I jumped in and noticed some different gauges, then saw his missus sitting there, I knew that I’d made one amusing mistake.

She p1ssed herself laughing and pointed out her window to the next bay and said that I think that one’s yours.

You should've rung the NRMA to report that your truck wouldn't start, though explaining the strange woman in the seat may have been amusing!

music189 · 12-09-2010, 10:57 PM

I could bet the old bloke insisted it was his car and he had not updated his new registration number with the RACV. He probably got the The contractor who broke in to change his regdo number to the car he thought was his and the poor towie rocked up and towed the car he was supposed to, only the old bloke had the wrong car and has his details changed to suit the girls car thinking it was his car.

It dosent mean he is incapable, just made a mistake, a car to him is probably just transport nothing else,
as most of us here would be classed a car nuts we might find it hard to understand but there is plenty of people out there just like the old bloke

**Dave R** · 12-09-2010, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by music189

I could bet the old bloke insisted it was his car and he had not updated his new registration number with the RACV. He probably got the The contractor who broke in to change his regdo number to the car he thought was his and the poor towie rocked up and towed the car he was supposed to, only the old bloke had the wrong car and has his details changed to suit the girls car thinking it was his car.

It dosent mean he is incapable, just made a mistake, a car to him is probably just transport nothing else,
as most of us here would be classed a car nuts we might find it hard to understand but there is plenty of people out there just like the old bloke

The car had a university sticker on the windscreen... and a female's clothes on the seats... Unless the old bloke was an 80 year old post grad transvestite I'm sure it would have looked suss from the get go.

3vXT · 13-09-2010, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

The car had a university sticker on the windscreen... and a female's clothes on the seats... Unless the old bloke was an 80 year old post grad transvestite I'm sure it would have looked suss from the get go.

My car has a uni parking sticker and a jacket and jeans on the back seat. Sometimes I lend it to my 81 year old girlfriend

**Full Noise** · 13-09-2010, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken2903

My car has a uni parking sticker and a jacket and jeans on the back seat. Sometimes I lend it to my 81 year old girlfriend

Bloody toyboy.

fiery · 13-09-2010, 09:32 AM

I have read through every post in here and it seems there is the one sided angel for both sides. Some seem extremely one sided that the girl is hard done by and the old man useless and the RACV pathetic.. then the other side of the coin here with others is that oh well mistakes happen..

Just wonder what the story line and reaction of some of you people (plus family of the elderly man etc) would have been if it were in fact the other way round.. The girl had the wrong car????

Young versus old....

Yes mistakes do happen and no one is perfect (sorry fella's in this thread but you are NOT!!!) but if noone admits to mistakes then there can not be protocol put into place to ensure it NEVER happens again!!!
Lesson learnt by a few!!!

302 XC · 13-09-2010, 10:20 AM

Full noise,
You say some 81 year old should hand is licence in cause he had a bad judgement (obvious an age thing ) ???

Yet you sir cant tell your truck from another
SO maybe you should hand your licence in,cause you had a bad judgement !!!

Hypocricy at its best !!!

flappist · 13-09-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

The car had a university sticker on the windscreen... and a female's clothes on the seats... Unless the old bloke was an 80 year old post grad transvestite I'm sure it would have looked suss from the get go.

No that is a Sydney thing, this was Melbourne......

**Silver Ghia** · 13-09-2010, 11:02 AM

The big problem I think is that the RACV up to not that long ago, used to supply a key tag for each members car, with the registration number on it.

The member had to show this tag to get RACV service.

Now the RACV dont issue these tags any more, probably for cost reasons. So the RACV service guy needs to check the registration with their centre each time. Seems to me the proof of registration with the person who called has therefore now become very unclear.

Brazen · 13-09-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Gee there are some knobs in this thread, you Aussies are getting more like the Yanks everyday with your "sue them" & "I want compensation" mentality.

Poor old codger makes a mistake, then large organisation makes a mistake and all hell breaks loose, get over it.

Sad & pathetic about sums it up.

Spot on!! Get over it, a simple error was made. Mistakes happen all the time, there was no malice involved and no way this could of been avoided. RACV does not have access to rego information.

If I was the girl I would have a little sympathy for the old bloke who obviously must have been confused and anxious.

geckoGT · 13-09-2010, 11:18 AM

Unlike Fiery, I have not read the whole thread, just the first page and then I got bored with some of the dribble.

First off, what is it with the elderly bashing? Did we all forget that this is a new car? He probably does not even know his rego number, I know I don't usually remember it in the first few weeks of ownership. Secondly, I bet at least half the members here have forgotten where they parked their car in a shopping centre at least once in their life, I know I have a few times. It is not hard to get in a bit of a muddle and forget which entrance you used in some of these larger shopping centres. Added to that he has a car that is pretty common so there may have be a dozen similar cars in the area. These are all mistakes people half his age have and do make on a daily basis. The fact that he is 80 does not mean that he is not able to drive, I have been to many 80 year olds that are mentally more alert than the average 30 year old and no doubt just as competent to drive. This decision needs to made on an individual basis and there are processes for that, not made based on age alone. I see many drivers out there that are 17-50 that if they got tested every few years would not retain a license.

As for the towie being held responsible, lets think about that. What do you want him to do? Do you want him to ask for the rego papers? I know I do not have my rego papers in my car and if they were it would be no good because the car is locked. Should we all start carrying our rego papers in our pocket just in case. The towie has no right nor ability to do a police rego check either so that is not an option. Yes they could have called the police out to run the rego check but I am sure the police have better things to do than attend 2000 tows a day to ensure the right vehicle is being towed.

As for the membership, the man is 80 years old and has probably been a member since Noah was a little boy playing with wooden boats. He probably has gold membership that has not been transferred to his new car yet. Gold membership covers him for any car that he is driving at any time. At least this is the case with my parents gold membership. So a membership check may not help except to confirm he is a gold member and any car that he states he was driving is covered.

As for the university parking sticker, how many people involved in anything to do with motor vehicles can honestly say they notice things like windscreen stickers? I bet not many. It is not impossible that a car an 80 year old gentleman is driving could have such a sticker, perhaps his daughter or grand daughter uses it to get to uni when the old boy does not have it. I often go to houses in my job where there are three or more generations residing there, this is a situation that is not unlikely. Yes he could have asked if he noticed the sticker, but I would think that 99% of the time that he asked such a question, the response would be "of course it is my car you fool, do you think I am an idiot, just tow my car so I can get it fixed or I will be calling your boss". I do not blame him for not asking, I have often received similar responses for similar well meaning questions, some people can be really difficult, particularly when they are stressed like the old boy would have been.

Now for the really silly part, stealing the car. It is not theft, the towie towed the car as part of his job under good faith that the owner of the car had authorised it. The fact that the owner made a mistake is not the fault of the towie. Therefore the towie did not steal it. The owner authorised the tow believing it was his car, in order to have the key fixed and regain use of his car. He did not arrange the tow with the intent of taking illegal possession of the car, use it for illegal activity or strip it. Therefore it is not theft, it is a mistake. To suggest otherwise is crazy and if the true owner of the car tried to report it as a theft the police would probably advise her that it is not a theft as the intent of the incident was not to illegally acquire the car. I am sure no magistrate would be pleased if such a complaint made it to his court.

Think of it in this scenario. Under the QLD Ambulance Services Act I have right of entry in to any premises, vehicle, building etc for the purpose of the conduct of my lawful duty. To gain entry I am legally allowed to force entry using destructive methods to part of the structure, vehicle etc (break a lock, smash a window etc). That is the law and that is without question, most states are the same. Imagine I am called to a property for a collapse of a person, whilst in pain they called 000 on a mobile (can not be traced to an address), but during the call they accidentally got their address wrong (it happens frequently). After giving the address they become unconscious and further attempts to call back are unsuccessful. I arrive and based on the information given I decide to force entry because I can not enter without doing so. On entry we find the house is empty and it is either a hoax call (it happens) or a wrong address. Should I then be charged for break and enter because it turned out the information was wrong and I did not have a duty to perform in that house? I should hope not, I acted in good faith based on the information I was given, not my fault. At the first moment I hear of a paramedic being charged in such a circumstance, I will then no longer ever force entry again, no one can ask me to perform what is potentially an illegal act and if they do I do not have to comply. Legally, I did not commit an offence and could not be charged, nor should I. In this situation the owner of the house would be compensated for the damage to the property by the service and security would be provided by the police and then the government builder until satisfactory repairs can be made. Is the owner of the house entitled to $1000's of compensation, no they are not and nor should they be.

Now before you all jump up and down and say that situation is different because it is a medical emergency and the car incident is not, perhaps it is not so different. Perhaps the elderly gentleman is a type 1 diabetic (well controlled) but needs to return home for his insulin, that is reasonable and would cause him to have a need to resolve the situation quickly. Perhaps he may need to return home for cardiac medications, medications that as long as he takes them he is fit and competent to drive. My point is there may be perfectly valid reasons why he needs to get home, there are for people a quarter of his age, or perhaps the 20 year old with a condition requiring medication should hand their license in too.

Does this make sense or do we now have to call out the police (who will get there when they can because it would be a very low priority case) to confirm ownership and also an ambulance to ensure the welfare of the old boy while they are waiting? God I hope not, I have better things to do.

The point to my example is sometimes there are a combination of strange problems that lead to a genuine and well meaning mistake. Should those people lose their job, of course not. If so, please do not make any errors with my change at the shop, servicing my car, painting my walls etc because I will be after your job.

I think a few people here need to get in touch with a bit of reality and realise that to make an error is to be human, no one is perfect.

As for the compensation, they have returned the car and made the repairs, that is reasonable. Out of good will for the mistake they have offered an insurance discount, something they are not legally required to do, that to me sounds reasonable. Perhaps if the owner of the car truly believes that is not reasonable, they should go through proper methods talk to RACV management or file for compensation rather than use the "trial by media". I am sure if they mentioned this the offer from RACV would be a year free insurance. Now they will probably get the answer of "if you are not happy, see a lawyer". RACV now have little need to settle this out of court as the public image damage has been done, now it is likely they would just get bigger and nastier lawyers to defend it.

I think the owner of the car needs to grow up and think back to the many times they have made an honest mistake. Forgiveness is a quality that seems to be strangely lacking in todays society.

By the way, sorry for the long winded rant.

geckoGT · 13-09-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 302 XC

Full noise,
You say some 81 year old should hand is licence in cause he had a bad judgement (obvious an age thing ) ???

Yet you sir cant tell your truck from another
SO maybe you should hand your licence in,cause you had a bad judgement !!!

Hypocricy at its best !!!

Absolutely, I am 38 and have jumped into the wrong ambulance at hospital many times, I must be demented.

Anyway, I am off to the local cop shop to hand in my license.