AA Membership

[Scrums]

Just had our annual renewal through - up to a whacking £149 !!

That includes the normal roadside, joint (for the Mrs) and relay + complimentary homestart...but still a bit high in these penny-pinching times.

So I rang them and got a quote, without telling them I was already a member - about £8 cheaper !.....came clean, told them I was a member and they knocked that £8 off.

Thought about it a bit, phoned them up again and asked them to drop the Relay element (£55.50).....the upshot was that we now have an annual bill of £86 - Roadside and Joint membership + free homestart + free relay !

OK, so I've been a member for 22 years, but it pays to whinge a bit.

Chris.

 

[LeeElms]

I had a somewhat similar experience on the last renewal.

I actually called to let them know that I wasn't entitled to a discount that I received through my previous employer. The person I spoke to said I could keep the discount, and then passed me a colleague that deducted a further significant amount because I had been a member for a long time -- without me asking for anything at all !

 

[Dibs-h]

I tried that last yr & didn't get anywhere. Wife's had her's with the RAC for yrs and I'd been with the AA for the last 20yrs, along with my old man. An initial **** up meant he ended up as the main member and me as the joint member even tho I was paying for it. Go figure.

It worked out cheaper taking me off the AA and going on as a joint member on her RAC. They do a no-call out discount which knocks off 25% or something - whereas the AA don't.

HIH

Dibs

p.s. bit annoying paying up - but a damn site cheaper than getting fleeced some random recovery folk.

 

[andy king]

Been there, done that!
This year my renewal was up to some figure that I can't recall, and this has been the case for the last 3 years.
Each time I look on line and they have excellent discounts for the first time member, so I call and each time ask why, as a long term member who hasn't called them out for at least 9 years, is penalised with higher premiums?
Each time they promise 'to put a note on my file' so that I will be offered the same big discount, but of course it never happens!
This year they offered to discount about £10 above the web offer, so I said no, but match it and I will remain a member, which they did, saving me about 50-60 quid if I recall!
I keep meaning to see about loading breakdown cover onto my car insurance, but the renewal dates of that and the AA are a few months apart and it would be just my luck to break down in the uncovered months while I wait for my insurance to catch up so I can sort it...
Any thoughts on the insurance/breakdown combo's anyone?

 

[Anonymous]

i get the all singing all dancing AA policy free with my bank account!!

got picked up in Poole and dropped off in Brum last year as my van broke down all free of charge, i moaned a little a they took so long, and they sent me a free full service voucher.

I think the AA are superb

 

[matt]

I pay £37 for roadside repair/recovery and home start etc - policy covers both me and my wife, any car we're driving (i.e. we're insured - not the car). They also cover trailers and caravans too which is handy. The only difference between this company and most others is that you pay and then claim back the cost. Sounds a bit risky but I've yet to find a single member who's ever had a genuine problem.

Auto Aid

 

[SVB]

Matt,

I use autoaid also and have claimed once - no problems, very easy.

S

 

[AndyT]

I used to have a Toyota, and thought it was a good deal when joining 'Club Toyota' gave me comprehensive AA cover for about £60 a year.

Then I bought a Mazda and found that their equivalent is only £10 a year!

Maybe because they don't break down very often! So worth checking if there is an equivalent scheme for your car.

 

[lurker]

We (family of 4, 5 cars) have the RAC "full monty" which we buy with our tesco vouchers - we have been doing that for years.
- I think its £70 worth


No.2 son wrote his car off on the M5 last year at 2am - RAC sorted him, Car & 2 passengers out with no hassle. Worth every penny!!

 

[RogerS]

How do Auto Aid make their money? Is there a limit as to age of vehicle?

Is their coverage as good as the AA geographcally ? What's the attendance time like if you're out in the sticks, for example.

They do look good...almost too good!

AA renewal quoted £199. Online signing up as a new member for the same cover is £129. That is seriously taking the p*ss

 

[matt]

How do Auto Aid make their money? Is there a limit as to age of vehicle?

Is their coverage as good as the AA geographcally ? What's the attendance time like if you're out in the sticks, for example.

They do look good...almost too good!

AA renewal quoted £199. Online signing up as a new member for the same cover is £129. That is seriously taking the p*ss

No idea how they make their money. Perhaps the pay and claim back concept makes a difference somehow. I'm not aware of an age limit to vehicle. Their coverage should extend to wherever there is a breakdown recovery service because they use 3rd parties (or you can contact your own 3rd party and they'll cover the cost). Give them a call - they're very helpful and straightforward to talk to. Similarly, do a search on the Money Saving Expert site for Autoaid and read what other have to say. I think you'll also find mention of them on the UK Campsite forums too.

 

[RogerS]

Thanks for the info, Matt. Seems to me a no-brainer and so I'll be going with them. The AA kind of nudged me along the way by their sharp practices.

Annual renewal £199. New member - same cover - £129. When I asked them why the difference they said that 'for legal reasons they have to offer that renewal price'. Que?

Then the next. Ever tried cancelling? You wait and wait and wait on the phone. Sending an email didn't work because they point you at their policy document that says you can only cancel by speaking to them on the telephone. Which never gets answered. Catch 22? Unfair contracts clause? Both?

 

[theartfulbodger]

After having been an AA member for 14 years I'll never put any business their way ever again.

Tried the usual rip off come renewal time, then when I phoned up to cancel they price matched the offer for new customers. They sent new cards through and a letter confirming membership, but forgot to take payment. I didn't notice.

The missus broke down and phoned them to be told "membership? what membership?"

£200 quid to be recovered :evil:

The RAC gets my business now. Not put them to the test yet though. Touch wood!

 

[PeterSk]

How do Auto Aid make their money? Is there a limit as to age of vehicle?

They'll make quite a bit of saving from garages charging people normal person prices instead of the usual "We know the insurance are paying so we'll fleece them" rates

 

[RogerS]

True. Also thinking a bit more about it, they don't have to support a fleet of mobile service engineers.

 

[Ironballs]

Used to be a member of the AA but didn't feel I was getting value for money, lately I've been getting cover via my co-op bank account which works out cheaper.

Had call to use it the other day as well when the Focus packed in during the gales, not only that but I was a bloke on my own (ie no kids) in a supermarket car park so expected to be there all night. Turned up in 30 mins, took me home and then recovered the car later when their truck became free - it was a busy night for them

 

[Gary]

Sorry to drag and only one up but,

It's my time to renew, cost this time £241.50 last years price for the same cover £57. :shock: OK it was at a discount.

Just rung em up and they can now do it for £156. Green Flag can do the same cover for £84.

Anyone a member with Green Flag?

 

[Dibs-h]

Sorry to drag and only one up but,

It's my time to renew, cost this time £241.50 last years price for the same cover £57. :shock: OK it was at a discount.

Just rung em up and they can now do it for £156. Green Flag can do the same cover for £84.

Anyone a member with Green Flag?

Nope - last time I looked into Green Flag the car had to be less than X yrs old (don't recall the exact age limit), whereas our cars were older at the time.

HIH

Dibs

 

[Steve Jones]

I'm a member with Green Flag mainly because I tow a caravan so I do the membership through the caravan club, the other thing I needed to take into account was that I'd heard stories of both the AA & RAC charging extra to recover the caravan if you brakedown while towing where as Green Flag don't.

I had to use Green Flag back in September to change a wheel on my caravan, the service I received both on the phone and from the technician was excellent. Had to wait about 35/40 minutes from call out to technician arriving.

I wasn't told about the age restriction of the car when I joined all they asked me for was the registration of the car, as it's the car what's covered not the person.

Steve

 

[tsb]

I'm just had my renewal with the RAC. I've been with them for over 25 years and the price renewal was £30 more than if I was a new customer. So much for loyalty. I did some shopping around and have now gone with the AA. Another company worth looking at is "Autoaid". the price is £37 for cover which includes roadside and recovery.