UK/RAC Carnet Delays

[Chancer]

I am interested to find out if anyone else if having trouble getting their carnet sent to them from the RAC in the UK.
My carnet lapses on 3rd September and as sod's law dictates, the cargo boat leaves from Malaysia to Indonesia on the 4th and the shipping guy was adamant that I would not be let into Indo without a valid/in-date carnet.

I contacted the RAC on 27th July to arrange a new one to be sent and after numerous emails chasing this up I eventually got a reply almost one month later on 24th August with the forms and details/payment that I had to complete.

I sent all this info back on the same day and again have followed this up with more emails and phone calls but have had no response and have no idea if or when I will receive this.

So is this affecting others here too and on another topic, any ideas if or how how I can get my bike into Indo without one.

Cheers
Trev

[Bundubasher]

This is the only contact I've got, he's supposed to be the dedicated contact point for Carnets:

Paul Gowen

PKGowen@rac.co.uk

Chase him up

[idf000]

Hi,

Paul's a good bloke and once he was back from his hols (he seems to have been away the first week or two of August the last two years) he's been very efficient. Once he'd generated the quote I had the carnet in a little over a week (sent to a UK address).

Cheers,

Ian

[beddhist]

I second the remarks about Paul. Reading some posts it seems that when he is not there carnet processing slows down or stops. We had ours sent to Thailand and it was very efficient.

I wouldn't attempt to ship to Indo without a valid carnet. Just take a holiday in Malaysia. Meet the local bikers, they love to meet travellers. Like here.

[Chancer]

I met Paul at Ripley a couple of years ago and agree he is a really nice guy but to be honest I would rather deal with a complete and utter git as long as I could get my carnet in under 5 weeks.

I appreciate that everyone needs their holidays but for this whole process to collapse when one person takes time off is pretty shoddy from the RAC.

After spending 6 weeks in Malaysia I agree it's a great country and I got some brilliant advice from the Malaysian Bikers board for a good mechanic for chain, sprocks and tyres but when I am stuck to move on when it could have been easily avoided is pretty frustrating.

I fear your comments about not trying to get into Indo without one may be too late beddhist the bike should be arriving there around now and I get over there tomorrow morning, I guess I will know for sure if this was a wise move or one of impatience when I get to customs on Monday morning.

Will let you know how it goes

Cheers
Trev

[Chancer]

So armed with an out of date carnet and a smile I managed to get my bike out of customs in Belawan yesterday morning. 3 different customs officers completed the paperwork and they chose to either ignore it or more likely, just didn't check the expiry date.

Maybe I was just lucky that nobody noticed it but if I was in a similar situation again I would probably do the same thing

Anyway, back to the RAC....

[user4796426]

Have you tried phoning up rather than emailing? Wasn't sure from your post if you had. When ever I've called, have got through and got questions and things sorted promptly.

[MikeS]

I got my carnet couriered out to Malaysia in very good time. Don't waste your time emailing and waiting for a reply from Paul, he's always very busy so just phone him (which is his own advice anyway) and things will happen more quickly.

[grizzly7]

Paul has been very helpful in my chats with him, and from the start said it would take six weeks from applying.

[Chancer]

Yep, As I said I did try calling a number of times but the line went straight through to voicemail promising of a return call which never happened. Whether it was by email or phoning it was the same response.

So hopefully this was a glitch, I got my carnet last year in the space of 2 weeks with no problems at all and I have now got my new one being sent to me in Indonesia however I dont buy it that if one person goes on holiday then it is ok for the issuing process to be ignored

[mcgiggle]

easy bud, glad ya sorted. Just got back. cya over the road.

P & C x

[snoopy]

I'm unimpressed by the RAC's service. Clearly they don't have anyone in the office to answer the phone, it would appear somebody goes in after lunch for a few hours.

I bought my scooter for £1,400, declared the value at £1k because I'm about to hammer the mileage (and probably the bike will get a bit wrecked) before the Carnet is due to start and they are disputing the value and want an independent inspection.

Then there's the paperwork which they say was missing a key page or two. I printed off exactly what was on their website and filled it in.

I'm sure I could get it sorted quickly IF they answered the phone.