Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: AA trouble!!  (Read 8708 times)

Sandy

  • Guest
AA trouble!!
« on: March 20, 2011, 12:41:51 am »
I have had a strange week, our car had one too many problems when the exhust fell off!!!!

I was with AA until the end of Oct, but due to lack of money, a wedding, Christmas etc, I thought I would not renew it just yet but had AA cover for many years.  I nipped out in the car to get a few things, it was freezing and pouring with rain, the pups were due to be fed and the exhust fell off just down the road from ASDA, so, my hubby tied it up but it still dragged so I thought I better do something, we have never had heating in the car and we both did not have a coat on, I had no more cash left and little in my bank accound (MUCH LESS NOW) Hubby walked back to ASDA to get a taxi home as our guests were due back and the house was locked and so I rang the AA, and how mad was I????

First the man took ages and ages to check details etc and kept saying hold a min, my phone was running out of battery life and credits, he had to check every detail and did not take my details of where I was etc until the end, in fact it must have used at least £8 on my phone!!!!!!! I was getting more angry as he said he had to charge an extra cost for rejoining and he explained I could cancell minus admin and any work carried out!! I was freezing and needed to get home so I agreed on taking out a policy (why did I not ring a local pick up I do not know) At the end of an extreamly long telephone call I had to waite an hour and a half and had to pay £140, the man came out and slipped under the car and tied what we had done tighter!!!! Home I went!!!!

The next day I decided to buy another car but thought I needed to cancel the policy as we were not going to be getting one for a while and we can use other break down services, so, I rang the AA the next day and after another long conversation, being put on and off hold loads of times, I was told I could only get £12 back!!!! I expected about £50, £12 what a joke!! anyway, I kept the cover, then we bought a car, it was dropped off, we drove it up the drive, loaded it up with the dogs etc and it would NOT start, we were in front of our other car and no petrol can as we saw the petrol was below reserve!!!!!

I then thought!! AA!! I rang and the same thing happened again, conversation went, I joined on Tuesday, here is my old member no, AA man, your are not a member, Me, I joined on Tuesday when I rbroke down, AA man, you broke down on Tuesday and you are only ringing today, me NO, it went on like this for aes, he could not find my details, kept putting me on hold and saying you are not a member Then, he said, Oh , I found it, you are a member!!! THen the crunch came, you are only covered on the other car, I said well I have only just bout it and would change the cover, he re litterated, only the old car, then, you are not covered from your house!!!!


So, I bought cover that is now no  use and I am so short of money I may have to eat one of our pups :) LONG LONG RANT!!!!!!!!!!

Sandy

  • Guest
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2011, 12:44:53 am »
I must add, the car started when we went back out, no problems, I am  not sure what I did but poss the low fuel. I want to add to any people who work on AA phones, please be a bit quicker getting peoples details, I cannot understand why they take so long to ask where you are!! I have had to call them out loads of times and it seems to be the same each time, the AA repair men have all been fantastic, just the phone stuff thats crap, not sure what I am covered for but a real waste of my money!!!!!

bazzais

  • Joined Jan 2010
    • Allt Y Coed Farm and Campsite
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #2 on: March 20, 2011, 01:00:04 am »
In two minds here

One is that I can empathise totally, every break down is an emergency when it comes down to it.

But calling the AA 'loads of times' = do you think they may know you by now?

The AA is effectively an insurance company, they like to assess risk and make profit - the AA do it at the point of use rather than the point of charge = they will try to weasel out of it if you dont have the exact cover.  Sure they will accept you onto the policy, they love the consumer quotes on their adverts - 9/10 people covered blah blah blah - women picked up in an hour blah blah, - 8/10 things fixed by the road blah blah blah.

The thing is with an AA man at every petrol station on the M25 they have to try and protect themselves from deviants who try to take advantage of them and their services, you have to be ahead of the fraudsters by knowing the terms and conditions of your policy - cos you can be sure that any fraudster does.

I am a member of the AA through my bank but they have let me down a few times now.  I got specialist cover now - through a broker who i can blame if s**t hits the fan.

People in call centres are trained to be defensive if they are not they dont have a job long.

BAz

faith0504

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • Cairngorms
  • take it easy and chill
    • blaemuir cottage
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2011, 09:19:26 am »
sandy so sorry you have had such a bad time of it, i had a massive row many years ago with the "green flag" recovery people.

i dont use such companies anymore, i have a local garage that does 24hr breakdown, they are alot more help.

Good luck with everything  :wave:

ballingall

  • Joined Sep 2008
  • Avonbridge, Falkirk
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #4 on: March 20, 2011, 09:27:56 am »
I have membership of the AA too, through a bank account. I have to say I have never had any trouble with them, and in fact that in certain instances they have been absolute saints, though maybe the phone bit isn't the best. I was on the phone to a girl who couldn't understand I was junction one of the m8, she thought I was just saying a junction. But on the plus side, I once had to phone them after a long day at work, when I was working in a very stressful job. I burst into tears when on the phone to the operator, and although she told me it would be an hour before someone got to me, she actually managed to get someone to me within 20 minutes. If you get angry with them they will only get defensive.

Beth

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
    • ABERDON GUNDOGS for work and show
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Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2011, 09:43:43 am »
My son and I have both had very bad experiences with the AA.  Both very long stories.  I had a similar experience to Sandy - had to pay the call out charge as well as  renewal because cover had lapsed by 2 days.  They couldn't figure out where we were despite telling them the layby number, took them half an hour to figure that out, it was after 6 when the guy eventually arrived, and when he did he told us he was just sitting down to his tea when the call came, spent 5 minutes then told us what we already know and had told the operator - that the wiper motor was defunct, told him to follow him back to Perth and he'd find us somewhere to park the caravan overnight.  It was bucketing rain, took us 10 minutes to turn and drive across to the other side of the carriageway by which time he had disappeared.  We gave up going on holiday and it too us 7 hours to get home - usually a three hour journey - we had to stop at every layby to clear the screen.  I complained about having been abandoned and got the call out fee of £75 back.
My son was told to leave an expensive boat (which he had just bought and was towing home, hub on the trailer had burnt out) in a public layby and go home (5 hours away, mind you!) and they'd pick it up in the morning! Luckily for them it wasn't ransacked or stolen!  Their answer was that no-one would have the capability to tow a trailer with only one wheel!!!   ::)
They will never egt membership from either of us again.  I am with green Flag and have had a good experience with them, have used RAc also with good results, my insurance cover has Green flag attached otherwise I'd have stayed with RAC.
I thought AA cover was with the driver not the car?  or you had a choice?
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

ambriel

  • Joined Jan 2011
  • Kinlochbervie, NW Sutherland, Scotland
  • Mad, bad, and dangerous to know!
    • Harbour Cottage
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2011, 10:01:06 am »

We're with Autohome and have been for many years. They've been excellent.

Not only do they give you a 'no claims bonus' but they also give you a discount if you get someone else to join.

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
    • ABERDON GUNDOGS for work and show
    • Facebook
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2011, 10:03:43 am »

We're with Autohome and have been for many years. They've been excellent.

Not only do they give you a 'no claims bonus' but they also give you a discount if you get someone else to join.
Never heard of them - do they cover all vehicles?  The name sounds like it's just for motorhomes and might put people off. ::)
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

Sandy

  • Guest
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2011, 10:28:21 am »
I only have problems with the phone bit, they always keep leaving me on hold before they get any details, thats the bit I do not like, I think they should get details first, then all the rest of the bumf, the service men have always been brilliant, friendly and helpful but I do wish I had not had to re buy as I do not go that far in any car, only to the forest, shopping and a few trips out now and then.

Quote
But calling the AA 'loads of times' = do you think they may know you by now?

You got that bit out of context, I had a few 1972 VW camnpers over the years, they often had little problems etc, they would not know me, I have changed the car and the last car I only called them out once when the exhust spit and caused the power to drop, that was due to going down a large pothole in a shopping complex. Its the phone thats the problem, one day I will be stuck somewhere dangerouse and they will take so long to get my details my phone will go dead...I have pay as you go and that car had no charger for phones, no cig lighter, radio, fan etc, this car is another story, not so bad if I get stuck. When I got home on the Tuesday I was shivering for hours litrualy as the car was wet inside and it was pouring with rain!!!!!!!!!

ambriel

  • Joined Jan 2011
  • Kinlochbervie, NW Sutherland, Scotland
  • Mad, bad, and dangerous to know!
    • Harbour Cottage
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2011, 01:36:50 pm »
We're with Autohome and have been for many years. They've been excellent.
Not only do they give you a 'no claims bonus' but they also give you a discount if you get someone else to join.
Never heard of them - do they cover all vehicles?  The name sounds like it's just for motorhomes and might put people off. ::)
Yep! If it's got a motor they'll cover it! I'v had cars, Landrovers, and motorbikes on it over the years.

They're one of the smaller companies - started out in Northampton - but well worth considering.

Sylvia

  • Joined Aug 2009
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2011, 04:13:35 pm »
I have been with the A.A. for years and have always found them to be unfailingly kind, patient and helpful. The person who takes your call can only be matter-of-fact, they have to get all the details right but the actual mechanics---- well, I could marry one! :)

Sandy

  • Guest
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2011, 06:35:45 pm »
Aa the mechanics I have met in the AA have been brilliant, I suppose if you wanted a nice man you should join the AA (I already have one) The one that came out to do nothing to my car as Steve had tied the exhust up, he chatted to me for ages and I was freeeeeeeeeeeeeezin and just wanted to go home   :( Sadly, I have no money to ring them again to transfer the new car, not too sure just what I am covered for but I bet its minimal, like loads of other people I did have the one from our bank but felt that was not enough as I had the old girl 72 VW camper so needed some better recovery and the other things that went wth the package for something like £12 a month, were usless to me, I have a cheap pay as you go phone and never go abroad or on holiday......maybe one day!!!

shetlandpaul

  • Joined Oct 2008
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2011, 08:37:34 pm »
we don't have any of them up here they all contract to a local garage. the wifes pickups clutch pipe burst and she pulled up a few hundred feet from the garage that does the work. they would have had to charge us to recover it. so they told the wife to phone the rac which she did. they were shocked and quite annoyed that she had been to the local agent. it took a while to convince them that the local agent could find it as they could see it from there window. it still took them nearly 3 hours to contact the agent. the time before the rescue truck broke down trying to tow it. both times the agent were very good but the call centre was less so.

Sandy

  • Guest
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2011, 09:03:32 pm »
See I think it is the call center, I used up so much of my credits and time was running out on my batterly life before they actualy took the details, thats happened a lot of the times I have rang over the years, in contrast, I set up insurance etc and my details were taken etc like 1 2 3, easy peasy, quick and effective no "i'll just find out or hold a moment""" I think they go through a lot of staff and they leave before they learn thier jobs properly!

northfifeduckling

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Fife
    • North Fife Blog
Re: AA trouble!!
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2011, 11:03:46 pm »
Sandy, such a shame. Don't you have a cool-off period of 14 days and can cancel the membership ??
we were with Autonational Rescue for many years, until Tesco started offering the RAC on clubcard points - well worth it. I had to call them out twice and they call you back, so however long it takes it's not on your phone credit!Green flag is offering a good deal in a TV ad :&>

 

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