Your roadside assistance is useless

Last week Friday i had an unfortunate incident at night where i hit a pothole and both my front wheels deflated as a result of the pothole and one rim of the car was slightly bended which could've been easily fixed, out of fear because it was late at night and i was driving with my wife and kids in the car and we've been hearing rumours of spiking along the R101 route and that's where we experienced our incident, i then called the roadside assistance for help, they then insisted that the car needs to be towed to an assessment center and i told the consultant and their manager that it doesn't need to be taken to an assessment center, i only need to be towed to the nearest garage or mechanic to fix the one rim and i even explained that I'm with my wife and kids and the area isn't safe and we desperately need assistance. They then told me that if they get towing assistance, i'll have to pay for the towing. Why on earth do you promise to give free roadside assistance and when I'm in need I'm told i have to pay for the towing. It was indeed a horrific experience and to top it all of we almost got ****** and where assisted by a passing motorist who scared off the would be ******s while i was busy trying to change one of the wheels.