Aa,don`t Bother

[johnswlondon]

my sister had an engine fire while driving along the m2 a couple of years ago.

the fire brigade put the fire out and the aa towed her into the services at about 2am in midwinter,it was about minus 4 that night.

she only had roadside assistance not relay so the aa man....left her and the car at the services on the m2.

i had to drive round the m25 /m2 to rescue her and tow the car back.

i think it is just common decency not to leave a lady at a motorway service station in the middle of the night with a car which could never run again(the fire brigades words).

so before you are too quick to join the aa,think of this tale....when you see the adverts saying ...its cheaper than you think to join the aa...just 39 pounds.

yes,if you like your family stranded in midwinter at the motorway services.

if someone reading this works for the aa...great work

[mumof4]

Ive never been with the AA.......heard too many horror stories, my breakdown is through my insurance...no idea what is included with it..know it costs me 75 quid a year..and i must admit i was pretty impressed with the quickness of the recovery truck when i broke down and i got towed back to the garage i specified where i wanted the car dumping.

[Bigjeeze]

I hold no brief for the AA never having been a member- but surely someone should have complained about that? Even if theyhad given her the option of upgrading there and then and then taken her somewhere would have been preferable to being left on a Service Area. You can't be sure they wouldn't have done that if you had asked - If you di and they refused thenj OK> I would always ask.

[insider]

"You get what you pay for"

"It's a business not a charity"

etc., etc.

 

How would she have managed if she hadn't been a member? I suppose you have to think carefully about what you might need out of the service before you buy it and weigh up the risk of not having it against the chances of the worst happening.

Although I'm surprised like Bigjeeze that she wasn't offered an upgrade - any opportunity for more money!

 

(I'm not a member of the AA either, by the way)

[mumof4]

Unfortunately the person who towed her was only doing as he is told to.When i was yakking to the driver who towed me for 4 hours back to the garage, he was telling me that depending what cover you have..they either have 30 mins or 1 hour to try and see if they can repair the vehicle to get it going again.Also that when he went to give roadside assistance to one guy..he didnt have relay but was given an option for relay to where ever he wanted to go..he was on his way to leeds and wanted to go there...cost him over 700 quid though!

[Dave-G]

I have to agree - ya gets wot ya pays for.

 

If the lady's husband had really wanted her to be looked after while out and about alone he should have paid for a higher level of care.

 

Imagine this... run your car into the ground and when you break down try to get ANY motoring organisation to deal with you there and then the same way someone takes a gamble and gets cover for when it's needed - if ever.

 

Think of it like break down insurance.

 

 

 

Sounds more like an oportunity for them to make less money to me when they take into account the costs of transporting her car onwards - in the winter when they are busier.

Edited August 16, 2007 by Dave-G

[gregers]

i used to be a member of the rac,i joined them when i was having a rare holiday in cornwall and was told that to get relay i would have to wait a few days b4 i could take advantage of it,think this was to stop peeps taking the p... and get towed back to where you came from f.o.c,a friend of mine was coming back from alton towers with his family on board and his cam chain snapped(rover sdi)he didnt have any cover but managed to get a free tow off the motorway to the nearest services,he asked how much to be towed home and the reply was 180 quid,i went up there the next day with the missus and got him relayed home because the missus was also a member of the rac and the same chap turned up to do it <_ he knew we were pulling a fast one but couldnt do sod all about it now never go with out breakdown cover home etc purley for peace of mind i agree there in business to earn money could put this situation virtually everything life is free lunch anywhere :p .>