Mud-club
Chat & Social => The Bar - General Chat => Topic started by: Thrasher on November 03, 2005, 13:57:13
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Apparently, if you use the AA 5 times in 1 *or* 2 years, they double your renewal fee.
I was unaware and have paid nearly £180 for a basic service. I am going to go with Britannia or Green Flag now.
What a joke. Read your smallprint.
They have fixed the coil once, misdiagnosed my immobiliser once, recovered me once (g/box), scratched their heads and Tim recovered me (g/box) once and towed me with a Rascal (and failed to fix the problem) once...
Success Rate - 20%.
That's not what I call service.
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yeh kinda
i got recovered in 2002 (january) from work on a flatbed
speaking to the driver, they expect 3 recoveries per member per year, if you have more you get charged more next time.
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Thankfully I have not needed mine all year (sit back and await disaster now! :evil: ).
I'm thankfully not with the AA though, that sounds awful, they will penalise you for using them, but do they offer a no claims discount?
I suspect not......
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I've been with the AA for well over ten years - we got some deal years ago at work. Thankfully, I've never had to personally use them (used the work AA membership a couple of years back), and as a 'thankyou', we get 'homestart' added FOC - something for nothing, can't be bad !!
Jimm
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They also told me they won't recover vehicles over 2300KG. I didn't check in the documentation, but I did notice the Discovery is 2280KG in theory. If you have a heavier 4x4 it'd probably be worth checking.
I now have RAC cover, because of the 101 - as I'm a Caravan and Camping Club member I'm covered for up to 7500KG, at a price.
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Oh...er....Owl isn't covered either then! Waaah!
Weights
Item
Td6 (kg) V8 (kg)
Total (EEC kerb) 2570 2570
Front axle 1200 1200
Gross vehicle weight 3050 3050
Max front axle (non-additive) 1530 1530
Max front axle (non-additive) 1850 1850
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I'm insured with Adrian Flux and their rescue service (included in the premium) also only covers recovery up to 2500kgs.
Never thought to ask if I'm covered whilst towing the caravan !!!
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Not to mention the AA have laid off around 450 of their roadside staff and are "Sub Conning" it to local garages.... if I wanted green flag I'd have bought it in the first place. My AA is up for renewal this month... I'll be going to RAC. (three cars so vehicle policies work out expensive)
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If you bank with barclays and sign up for their 'additions' bank account you get foc green flag recovery.
Had this account for 3 yrs and didnt realise!!!!!
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Hmmm.. I am a Premier customer ... I wonder if I get it too?
/me looks
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I saw AA in the thread title and thought Neil had hit the bottle :wink: :lol:
I have AA cover through my bank account but wouldn't subscribe to their service as I've heard about the fee increase issue in the past :roll:
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i was with britania rescue with my old suzuki, they doubled my policy becuse i called them out a couple of times :wink: including xmas eve because my alternator fell off :shock:
now with adrian flux so is included on my insurance
Steve
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A few of the recovery companies do this, the way they look at it if they keep recovering you then you are not keeping the vehicle well maintained. Might seem harsh but then would you want to pay more becuase someone else is having 5 recoveries a week?
However, as TimM pointed out, it would be nice to see a discount for those who do not use their cover aswell.
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However, as TimM pointed out, it would be nice to see a discount for those who do not use their cover aswell.
Some do...
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Barry,
I understand that - however - AA cover is personal - and not all the call outs I have made have been from my own vehicle.....seems harsh IMHO.
The thing that riles me is that I had no letters indicating this doubling of my fee for TWO years running - and I've ONLY called them out for Piglet a total of 5 times..... :(
None of those times have been down to poor maintenence either :(
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Barry,
I understand that - however - AA cover is personal - and not all the call outs I have made have been from my own vehicle.....seems harsh IMHO.
The thing that riles me is that I had no letters indicating this doubling of my fee for TWO years running - and I've ONLY called them out for Piglet a total of 5 times..... :(
None of those times have been down to poor maintenence either :(
I am sorry to hear that. Hopefully I will never need to use my cover, but from renewal I will switch my cover anyway.
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I'm insured with Adrian Flux and their rescue service (included in the premium) also only covers recovery up to 2500kgs.
Ignoring your bit about the caravan, if you pay for recovery with your insurance, then surely they can't refuse you on weight, as you specified the vehicle when you insured it so they know what they are covering.
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Apparently, if you use the AA 5 times in 1 *or* 2 years, they double your renewal fee.
Should have bought a Toyota then!!
The only time I used Green Flag loads (or National Breakdown as it was then) was when I drove a Rover product.....
....expect I'l break down on the way home now!!!!
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None of those times have been down to poor maintenence either
just being a little over zelous instead?? :wink: :wink:
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used to work for the AA and I believe but my memory is shocking If you call six times or more in 1 or 2 years they'll either cancel membership or charge a call out fee
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Got a letter this morning fromm RAC, saying i only had one call out left before they start to charge, im allowed 6 per year, that considering i pay £16 a month for this service. All call outs after these six will be charged at £59. Its all in the fine print they say, is this the same with all?. Its just another type of insurence company wanting their cake and eating it.
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yes, i was with AA up until renewal this year, i had to use them 5 times last year (usually trusty 90 2.5 problems) and i got a letter stating that if i called them again before my renewal i may incur a call out fee, i believe it was in the region of about £65.
i got free cover from some bloke in his back bedroom this year with my insurance??
Andy
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I was looking into joining the AA but I have seen varius post about people who not happy with them. May be goto green flag or somyhing. I need to do something as I drive an old series. LOL
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Is everyone aware that the AA does not cover Road Accidents either??
A few years ago I was involved in a head on on a nice little back road in Gods Country (Wales :) ) . My nice 16v Astra got "taken out" by a Skoda (how embarasing) I called the AA as I had no contact number on my person for the insurance. They basically refused to come out to me until I provided them with a Credit Card number for the sum of £120.00.
Me not owning a Credit Card ended up having to phone friends and family to try and borrow a card to get me home.
After that I went with the RAC who covered RTA's also. And now I am with my insurance companies recovery (Endsleigh) as its SOOO much cheaper.
They all seem to have limits to call outs.. but also the RAC had adverts on a while back that said the less you call them out, the cheaper your renewal will be.
I got the money back from the Skoda blokes insurance... but the initial outlay on top of the Excess I had to also initially pay for repairs until I got it back from his insurance... its a lot of money when you dont have much.
AA = Boooo !!! :evil:
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8) We use Tesco clubcard points to pay for RAC cover! works out at £28 in clubcard points per annum for 'Roadside & Recovery & Spouse' for personal cover from RAC.
I was a 'bit disgruntled' to get a letter from them telling me that due to my heavy usage of the service I had only 1 'free' callout left before i would be charged! :shock: I only had one event... ACE problem that required the vehicle to be recovered - probably phoned them 3 times to get it organised! :roll:
But anyway seems the cheapest way to do it...
Mick :D
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Eviled was on about sub-contracting with AA RAC do same after 10PM, AA is after 6PM, so you just get the nearest garrage who will deal.
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and on the other hand,,, Ive been a member of the AA for 4 years and never used them !
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and on the other hand,,, Ive been a member of the AA for 4 years and never used them !
Judging by your avatar I'm shocked that you're old enough to drive :?
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LOL updated ;)
I joined the AA when i had old Jap Import cars, expecting them to blow up and fall to bits all over the place.
What people forget is when joinign the AA - How much would it have normally cost to be recovered that amount of times.
The AA is like any other business, they have to make money.
If there are people using them on a regular basis, im not surprised they will charge more. Woulnt you ?
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What people forget is when joinign the AA - How much would it have normally cost to be recovered that amount of times.
The AA is like any other business, they have to make money.
If there are people using them on a regular basis, im not surprised they will charge more. Woulnt you ?
Yes, but there are ways and means of doing so, to be clear and open about it would be nice, or at least to casually mention it rather than (as I believe was the case here) taking twice the amount out of the customers account without so much as a bye or leave...
Just to be argumentative, the quotes are basically insurance against you breaking down, if they have to dramatically change pricing or charge for some recoveries and not others, they aren't doing their initial assesment properly :) Alternatively, if they trained their staff to be able to fix 90% of the problems they encounter as they claim perhaps they'd have more of a chance. So far in my life I have been recovered because of dirty points, a snapped alternator fan belt, a broken alternator. Now, arguably only one of those required any form of recovery, specifically when the reported fault (before el patrol bod turns up) details not only the problem, but the vehicle and in some cases the part number of the bit required to fix it :)
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Ahh i didnt realise that the Extra money was just taken out of teh account :(
Thats not on at all, i would be fumming.
I see your point, ITs a matter of the Customer Bieing informed and it has not been done here.
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The thing that annoys me is, as has been said, I rareley use the RAC membership because I'm on top of my car's maintenance but I still pay as much as someone who calls them out to change a wheel (to avoid getting their suit dirty). In fact the last callout I had was to take the Micra (brand new micra I add) in to the dealer's as it was stuck in neutral.
However, if I call them, they should take my word for it that the problem is serious, but they don't.
And how often do you end up having to tell them how to fix it when they get there?
TBH the first time you get towed off the motorway you've got your money's worth, as you have to be recovered within 30 minutes now or it's £100plus for whoever the police call out.
Now just to throw an iron in the fire, as a bloke I pay more for car insurance as I'm a higher risk, so I'm told. When it comes to breakdown cover I pay the same, despite the fact that I'm more likely to be able to change my own wheel (check the dipstick etc) and more annoyingly I get worse sevice. Now I understand that if a women is on her own she may feel vulnerable and god knows if julie breaks down I don't expect them to leave her at the side of the road for longer than is really necessary, but should I pay the same when I'm expecxted to wait longer.
Discuss.
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And how often do you end up having to tell them how to fix it when they get there?
aint that the truth, i even had to explain how to fit the fan belt when i had one go?
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recently had trouble with them myself :evil: shant be renewing
used them twice in about 8 years both times they have been awfullllllllll
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recovered me once (g/box), scratched their heads and Tim recovered me (g/box).
Surprised they came out twice for gear box woes, usually they refuse to attend or charge you if it's the same type of fault within a month.
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best one ive heared so far was AA called out to a V8 with a serpentine front belt & the tensioner had seized so was stopping the belt turning,AA guy came out & told the guy his engine was scrap & he would tow him to the local landrover dealer,instead of that took it to an independant who on arival got his penknife out & infront of the AA guy sliced the belt,jumped in & tried to start it,you know what??
drove it of the back of the wagon into the workshop :lol: :lol:
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Littlepow,
First time was burnt fluid.
Second time, 3 months later, was totally wrecked box.....
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Second time, 3 months later, was totally wrecked box.....
Yeah, but the AA were *brilliant* in that case, weren't they :roll:
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Oh yes - I asked for a flatbed - they sent an escort van......and the guy concurred the box was scrap..... :roll:
Like I needed them to tell me that! Most of the fluid was on the engine/road!!!
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only had 3 breakdown in the last 19 years, it comes down to knowing what your motors faults are you dont tend to need aa or rac cover if you keep on top of the known faults that occur and have spares in hand
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Oddly I had no spare serpentine tensioner and pullys when mine exploded.....didn't have 15litres of ATF when the g/box burnt it....didn't have a spare gearbox with me (but it WAS close)...and didn't have a spare immobiliser when mine failed.
I should have had a spare coil.So that is 1 out of 5 I could have sorted....
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One of our club members is AA and he gets us an amazing rate!!! Well cheaper than the head office rate.
I have to say I use them alot and my premium has only gone up a few pounds a year.
I used them 5 times once and they said if you use them 6, they charge you and even then its only £35.
I dont agree with all your grumbles, I have had great service for nearly 10 years now and Ive used them now about 20 times at least.
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Similar story to Thrasher.
I used to own a mini and the clutch master cylinder seal went bye bye. So rang AA said I was a qualifyed mechanic and the garage I worked/and I also for did sub contract breakdown and recovery for the AA and I needed front end lift or transported to home as it was over 2 miles.
After waiting 1.50 hours quess what a "escort van turned up" I went to town on the driver "poor man" " I know what the problem is etc etc"
He rang his control and passed the phone to me and I passed on my grevance to the controller and a flatbed "from the garage I worked at" was there within 20 minutes.
I do/will not use the AA anymore.
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Its like banks and insurance companies.
You'll here stories of great service and stories of terrible. Nothing is perfect.
The AA have taken me off off road sites, picked me up when Im 6" deep in mud, flat tyre, broken diff etc etc and all from off roading. Never a grumble, never a problem and most times they have fixed it. Even put a new clutch cable in my Nova once free of charge!
You pay your money you take your chance :?