Eh, Eh, AA

Unfortunately I think most companies seem to work like this these days.
I'm now with the RAC, they do at least inform me before taking the money, I think you need to make that clear when you join.

I was with the AA for years, but they, for some reason cant remember what just now, peed me off, so I left.
It was just before they went public, or some such thing, consequently I missed out on few hundred quid payout.

I find insurance companies do similar renewals, but I do usually get a notice a month or so before they take the money.

 

The situation you describe, Armandii, about trying to leave is exactly what I experienced when trying to leave Vodaphone. I had no argument with Vodaphone, I'd just got a better deal elsewhere. Its sad that they only time I got annoyed at them (and I'd had reason to speak to them on a couple of occasions) was when I was trying to leave them.

As for the AA, I nearly joined them once. I was a passenger in a car when we had a minor accident on the motorway. We hit some debris and smashed the two nearside wheels and bent in the suspension - the driver was able to limp the car off the nearest junction and then we found a payphone. We were miles from home, so it only made sense to have the car recovered. I phone the AA first. They said it would be £192 because the car was already in need of recovery at the time of joining. Reluctantly I agreed. I told them where we were, and they replied no we can't be there, there's no such street. I was staring at the street sign, there was an address in the payphone, the postal district was on the street signs, and I know which junction we'd just come off, yet the place didn't exist to the AA. So I told them I was no longer interested. I phoned the RAC, they said it would be £90, got our coordinates within seconds from once I told them what I could see, and were there within half an hour.

Since then I've been with Green Flag, and sacked them because I had to tell the 'mechanic' how to test for likely faults and how to fix my car. He'd dismissed it as a very, very expensive fault, I told him to check various sensors, pointed to them under the bonnet, and told him how to check them. I even told him I'd have done the job myself if I hadn't left my tools at home. So I switched back to the RAC. I needed the breakdown truck once more since then to date. Coolant pump failure meant the car had to retire in some random unknown place just off the main road. It was all so sudden I didn't get chance to note what junction I'd came off. It took about 5 minutes for the RAC to work out where I was, and then they were there in about 40 minutes. They were well organised, they took the car to my choice of garage and then even offered me a lift home from the garage. I said no thanks cos I was near my mam's and I thought I may as well call in for a brew while I was there.

 

A few years ago my Daughter went to work at CERN in Geneva.
Whilst there she bought a car as a run-around.
Because she was abroad and was nervous she decided to join the AA.
She applied on line and they sent the documents out to her home address in Geneva.
At the end of her 12 months placement she was coming home and I went out to help her and drive back with her.
Half way through France the water pump ceased and screwed the engine.
We contacted the AA for assistance and were told that they had not been informed she would be using the car in Europe and wasn't covered.
We were advised to get back to England and then we could be helped once we arrived at Dover.
I hired a car to get to the Ferry, crossed overnight and waited at Dover until the office opened. We then contacted the AA again to get us home.
They advised us that as we had left the car in France we were not elegible for assistance.
I had to hire another car to get home.
First job. Cancel the AA cover.
When she was asked why she wanted to cancel, she described the issue and the operator just said "OK. I'll cancel it immediately"
No offer of recompence or attempts to dissuade the request. Basically it was - just go!
We then had the problem of reclaiming money owed for the unused part year of fee paid - which we eventually got after much argument.

I personally wouldn't give the AA the time of day. I was with Green Flag for a few years and they seemed OK, but until there is a real issue you never know!

Rant over!

 

Huh. Green Flag left me to wait, alone, on the M69, at midnight for an hour. So much for lone female priority. Apparently it's 1 hour from when their operative gets the call, not an hour from when you make the call. Could be two very different things!

RAC, too pricey. So that leaves the AA, as long as you don't give them your direct debit details.

 

They are all the same, and even almost double the price for the renewal
My latest last month went from £80 a year, To the special offer of £12 a month
or two years paid upfront for £275
I am now with Greenflag free inclusive with my bank account, but they do not do
home start, or bring you home

The virgin media package is the same as all others, IF you want to BUY there is no wait time and several operators to take your call, CANCEL and all operators are busy please hold you are in a queue of 58 and the approximate time is one hour ten minutes please hold
Sad but I did hold all that time listening to "Everythings gonna be alright Everythings gonna be OK" On a loop tape

Jack McH

 

I've never had a problem with the AA.

However, a better deal came up with the RAC via an employee package: so, that's who I'm with now.

 

Try ringing "Sky" when you have a problem, same thing no one answers the phone , same as you Armandii rang the "New Customer" yes you guest it picked up after two rings , but "sorry Sir I cant help you with that" please dial ****** .

All these Companies have bargain offers for NEW Customers, but never have anything for existing customers they maybe have had for years.

We all get lazy or forget when we have to renew as so many Companies just automatically "do it for you" I shop around and if I have to change I do, yes its time consuming and confusing at times but hey a £££ saved we can spend on the garden .


Spruce

 

You get the same problem with insurance renewals.
There is no loyalty bonus - just a laziness penalty.

I really loathe and resent the time I have to spend phoning round to get a fair quote, and if it turns out to be underwritten by the same company that gave me a whopping renewal quote I'm steaming.

Even worse when they ask you to tell them your lowest offer so far, and then mysteriously find another "discount" just to bag your custom.

There must be some sort of mass consumer protest that could be staged to put a stop to it. Any ideas?

 

Blimey, he calls the RAC out when his ashtray falls off, that takes a bit of a brass neck, I thought.........until I read it properly.

Great money-saving tip there, FC. I also think you get better value if you ask for discounts when phoning them, for example quoting union membership might get you a tenner off. The other way to get good value is to sign up when they're touting for business at booths in service stations etc, but you'd have to hand over your DD details.

 

Some years ago I had the company car fully covered by the AA

It was the night of the company Christmas do ( I used to cover 93k a year) the car was three months old
We set off and got half way to the venue when zilch nothing broken down on the hard shoulder
Called the AA, who turned up in about thirty minutes, sorry Gov, I will have to take you where you want to go, to get it fixed

I thought err Crimbo do, Take me to my work address, Which he did
We then got a taxi to the do
Overnight stay which was inclusive anyway
Next morning at breakfast a colleague giving us a lift back to the office, Then we had to think of how to get home
The guy who took us said lets have a look, Adjusted the points that were SHUT, and we drove home no problem, and it ran fine for the next 45k miles DUH :-(

Jack McH

 

My car broke down late this afternoon; called Mr Mum - he called RAC - RAC called me - arrived after about 20 minutes. Fixed the problem, then escorted me much of the way home.

Thank you Mr RAC (only complaint? It was brass monkies out there and Mr RAC could have offered me a seat in his warm cosy van while I waited for him to fix mine - after all, I'd already been stood in the cold for more than 40 minutes, while various calls had taken place, and I only had a cardi on )