Wok a cock-up!

Published on 28th September 2006 in News

An RAC member from Howden is furious after being arrested and locked in a police cell - all because of a mistake by a call-centre operator.

Andrew Tongue (30) of High Bridge, was led away in handcuffs and accused of stealing another RAC's member identity before police realised he was innocent.

Back in March Mr Tongue, a recruitment consultant, called the breakdown company after his Peugeot 205 broke down.

As he didn't have his membership details with him, the call-centre clerk located Mr Tongue's account - or so they thought - by his name.

Unfortunately, Mr Tongue was mistaken for Mr Thong, another RAC member who runs a Chinese restaurant in the same street.

The error came to light only months later, when police visited a confused Mr Tongue at his flat and searched his home for 'incriminating evidence'.

His fiancee, Julia Gregory (24), watched in tears as officers took him to the police station, where he was searched, interviewed, photographed, fingerprinted and put through DNA tests.

Weekend from hell

Recalling the blunder, Andrew said: "I am absolutely furious - the actions of the RAC and Humberside Police wrecked our weekend.

Dragged off in cuffs and locked in cell

"I had to go through the humiliation of four police officers turning up at my door and taking me away in handcuffs, all because the RAC don't have their own customer records in order.

"I have never been in trouble with the police before, so you can imagine it was all a bit scary.

"I didn't have a clue what was going on. It was like 1984. They marched me out and just kept mumbling something about fraud and deception.

"It is unbelievable that they didn't even put my details into the computer to check," he said.

"Surely, if they had put my car's registration into their system it would have shown that I was a RAC member who shares a similar name with Mr Thong and lives opposite.

"To be honest, they should have taken the details correctly in the first place and this would never have happened. I can't remember exactly what they asked me but surely it is their responsibilty to find the right person.

"But because of their catalogue of mistakes and incompetence I ended up being thrown into a police cell."

Mr Tongue said he was "not bothered" about compensation but wanted a proper apology to his fiancee.

"She was really upset when officers searched the flat and took me away. She has been affected by all this more than me and I think someone at RAC should at least call to say sorry."

He has already cancelled his subscription.

RAC spokesman Jon Day admitted that his organisation had been at fault and apologised for any upset caused to Mr Tongue.

He said: "Mr Tongue contacted us to report a breakdown on March 15, 2006. We deeply regret that an administrative error led to his breakdown being recorded against another member's policy, and that this has resulted in Mr Tongue being reported to the police.

"We are in the process of contacting both members concerned to apologise for the stress and inconvenience this may have caused them."

A spokeswoman for Humberside Police added: "We arrested a 30-year-old man on the suspicion of deception. Further inquiries were made and he was then released unconditionally."