Beyond the call of service

The concept of fully covered roadside assistance took on a new meaning for one Mondial Assistance Technician when he was called to a job... on a nudist camp.

Aidan George is one of 4 British Multitechs who worked abroad this year, providing beyond the normal roadside assistance for Mondial’s UK customers holidaying in Europe. But the call last month from a campsite in St Tropez was a little different.

Aidan explains, “I spoke to the customer to arrange the rescue and just as the conversation was ending, he said you can’t miss the campsite, it’s the only nudist one in the area! Well, absolute panic would be a good way to describe my instant reaction - should I point out that I would be arriving fully clothed or was I expected to join in? If this was the case, where on earth would I clip my ID badge?”

“When I arrived at the gated complex, I was relieved to be greeted by a clothed security guard. So far, so good. I duly spotted the car parked beside the activities area and glanced over to see a naked man, with only his sandals on, waving at me. I waved back as he trotted over to my side. I then did what any professional, trained Mondial Multitech would do – I cleared my throat, fixed my gaze firmly on the customer’s face, introduced myself and shook his hand.

“He thanked me for attending promptly, handed me a set of keys and returned to his game of boules. As the customer often stays with you, chatting away, I have to say this was a bit of a relief.

“I soon had the car running smoothly again and I was thanked by the customer and by now, his equally naked wife.”

Based throughout France, British Multitechs assisted nearly 200 stranded UK holidaymakers last year. Mondial Assistance offers a high level of emergency service, often eliminating the need for repatriation and ensuring that Mondial’s clients’ costs - and their customers’ stress levels - are kept to a minimum.

Robert James, Technical Services Director at Mondial Assistance comments, “We launched this service six years ago when our customers informed us they were uncomfortable asking for help in a foreign country, though I am not sure that was a problem for this couple who appeared perfectly relaxed.”