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....