The AA

[Mac Dexx]

My tale is this,
Left my house in wellingborough last saturday to go to Taunton in Somerset. Got as far as Oxford and I heard a loud grinding noise from under the bonnet. Imediatley pulled over to have a look, I couldn't see anything obvious so called the AA. They tolled me that they were sending out a local approved garage to have a look instead of an AA van. I wasn't quite sure what to think of this but said ok anyway. The guy came out in a tow truck had a quick look and said nope note sure what it is, we'll have to tow it. As I don't have relay on my AA membership, three kids and SWMBO  in the car I reluctantly forked over the £150 to get home. On inspecting the truck this weekend I've found that it was just the alternator pully bearing at fault, which I could have got home with even if the guy had cut the belt. The guy that trailered the car home kindly informed me that he is actually in the army and only does this as a part time job and he isn't a mechanic in the army.

My question is, do I have a case to try and get some of my money back as I think if an AA guy came to look at it he would have tried harder to find and fix the problem.

I'm in no way slagging off the AA or the guy himself but could have done with spending the £150 on a new alternator rather than lining the garages pocket.

[Thrasher]

Ring 'em and comlain. You won't be any worse off. I seem to recall Darren (Datalas) had a similar issue....

[isle of man]

your wasting your time the aa as we know it has finished, they have just made 430 patrol men redundant including the one and only representative here on the isle of man.
this is all happening on the qt as there intention is to sub contract the recovery side of things. this is what happend to you.

[landraver]

So what did you get for your AA membership? Absolutely nothing! you could have called a local emergency garage and got the same service & for less money I'm sure. You've got to give em hell Macc :!:

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

The kicker is that although the AA have shed lots of jobs, they've still got the vehicles - not only are these not productive, they are costing a fortune in garaging charges (since the current ownership has asset-stripped the companyand flogged off the land and buildings).  Most employees are waiting to be offered a golden handshake

[isle of man]

yes your right, but that is what happens when the bean counters get involved.

so much for the fourth emergency service.


peter henry

i only feel for it as one of my old school friends is one of them.
off my soap box now.

[Colin 009]

I have AA cover basic, they charge me £44 a year and are crap. I now use the breakdown cover provided by my insurance company(also crap).
This cover is £35 a year and they'll come to your house and more.

[Disco Geordie]

This issue needs fighting I used to be employed by the AA :roll:
They advertise and are proud of the fact that 99% of cars are fixed at the roadside use this as your leverage and you may get somewhere.

[Hightower]

They advertise and are proud of the fact that 99% of cars are fixed at the roadside

Every time I've used them they turn up and say "need a computer to see what's wrong with that mate, I'll hook 'er up on the flatbed"  :?
Have to say tho, that we've never had anything but good service from them, even their recovery contractors.  Really.
However, in your case I would write them a very strong letter and fight your corner.  Use the recovery guys admission as evidence that a roadside repair wasn't even attempted.  You've got nowt to lose.

[strapping young lad]

so on the hint that the aa are disbanding... people should jump ship and go to another recovery service? (feeling rather worried now)

[TUFFTEE]

I'me Suprised he did'nt try and flog you a new BATTERY??? :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[drmike]

I have been in the AA for years and I know it's probably not the best value  but they have fixed sundry cars at the roadside and got me home on a flatbed when required.

It can't make any economic sense for them to maintain a ntaional fleet of AA logo flat beds and provided they get and monitor the quality of service their subcontractors deliver I can't see a problem. I have had nothing but first rate service on the 4 times I've been recovered.

Also I can't see how they could afford to lose the AA logo patrol vans as that must be an excellent form of advertising. How many vans do you see with an insurance company's name on?

The RAC were brilliant when they opened those big control centres by busy motorways - how could you miss them?

I'd be surprised if the AA dropped their roadisde staff but then again ...

Mike

[hobbit]

I more rely on friends if I have any probs, one in particular between the two of us we can normally get each other covered, if not in person with a few calls to see who is around locally.

Sometimes it may take longer, but between the use of a car trailer, straight bar for cars, and a towing dolly, we have yet to let each other down

[Wanderer]

Ring 'em and comlain. You won't be any worse off. I seem to recall Darren (Datalas) had a similar issue....

I thought we weren't supposed to talk about it again. You know what he was like last time.....
It took him a fortn ight to get over the flashback.....  :twisted:

Sorry Daz....

[landyman Ash]

Well Ive had nothing but good service from them, maybe Ive been lucky.

I did have an issue with them and refunded me the money.  Generally their customer service has been great to me.

I wrote and got my membership refunded.  Very helpful they were.

Ive been towed from off road sites covered in mud and not a single AA man has even grumbled.

Get on the PC and get writing!!!!  

[the loon]

Again I'm another who has no cause to complain about AA.
Have had a couple of occasions to call them out such as power steering pipe coming off family car while on route to see family in devon
they where there inside 5 minutes (asked for priority as had 3 young kids in the car)first patrol turned up'looked and worked out problem inside 3 minutes but couldnt find a nut to re-secure the pipe called second patrol out who where there inside 5 minutes fixed car by roadside and replaced lost fluid - total to being back on the road 15 minutes max.(25 if you include one of the patrol men going for fluid while the other was working on car)
Theve fixed land rover for me on a couple of occassions including when ignition switch burnt out.

The only complaint I've had was when called them and they would'nt come out as could not give a road number for road I was on even though I gave exact directions to location that a local patrol man would of found easily

Also have heard from a friend that they refused to attend when he broke down on a greenlane as they claimed he was "off road"when he pointed out was on a public byway and it was a road there was a silence from the other end of the line and then voice asking him to hold while checking with a supervisor. A couple of minutes went by and back comes the agent who says that no your off road so sort it yourself - needless to say he was not impressed (vechicle was towed back on road and AA called again)