Vehicle Breakdown Clubs
Many of us are in the AA (AAA in US) or RAC or Green flag etc but are you getting the service you pay for, is your money being spent wisely?
I am a gold member of the AA I have been for nearly 30 years, I don’t call em very often on average once every three years but over the years they usually turn up within the hour and either fix my vehicle on the spot or relay it to the garage of my choice, until recently.
In the winter of 2010 the clutch slave cylinder on the Mitsy died and we were stranded by the side of the road, I called the AA and got through, they told me a patrol would attend. Nearly three hours later a AA recovery truck arrived. THREE hours in mid-winter I was not chuffed, and it was compounded by the fact the driver only came because he was passing by Durham on the A1M as he headed back to Leeds, otherwise we would have waited even longer.
I let it slide this time.
Then last year at 7.30 AM I found the van would not start, a flat battery was to blame. My battery charger was busted and I could not find anyone else at home in the street whose car I could borrow to give me a jump start (Mrs NR already having left for work) So I phoned the AA at 7.55AM, again at 8 AM and again every few minutes until 11.50 AM before they actually even bothered to answer the phone. So that was nearly 4 hours waiting to start with. Then the stressed lady on the phone told me a patrol would be dispatched ASAP, I asked roughly how long I would have to wait , and she said they will be with me by about 2.45 PM nearly another 3 hours before they could arrive. They actually turned up at 2.30 PM.
So consider a few points
(1) What if it had been your wife and child stranded away from home who were left waiting nearly 8 hours in the winter cold?
(2) What if you were trying to bug out or attend a vital appointment when misfortune struck?
We can only go so far in our preps to ensure we are ready for trouble, we can never guarantee 100% that our vehicles will start, gennies fire up, flashlights light up, radios will transmit, and even in normal time we often need a hand for external sources, but if we are PAYING good money for that external backup, surely its fair and reasonable to expect them to honour their side of the deal.
I have just had the AA write to me and phone me asking why after all these years I was not renewing my membership? I replied its rather pointless having AA membership if (A) you cannot get the AA to answer the phone and (B) they don’t come until the day is over and you or your family could have frozen to death.
I’m not saying boycott the AA or anything like that but it sure must be a worthwhile effort into looking at who responds the quickest and deals best with the problem, especially if you are paying for the privilege.
I’m joining Green flag as most of my neighbours have GF membership and are content with the level of service.
Many of us are in the AA (AAA in US) or RAC or Green flag etc but are you getting the service you pay for, is your money being spent wisely?
I am a gold member of the AA I have been for nearly 30 years, I don’t call em very often on average once every three years but over the years they usually turn up within the hour and either fix my vehicle on the spot or relay it to the garage of my choice, until recently.
In the winter of 2010 the clutch slave cylinder on the Mitsy died and we were stranded by the side of the road, I called the AA and got through, they told me a patrol would attend. Nearly three hours later a AA recovery truck arrived. THREE hours in mid-winter I was not chuffed, and it was compounded by the fact the driver only came because he was passing by Durham on the A1M as he headed back to Leeds, otherwise we would have waited even longer.
I let it slide this time.
Then last year at 7.30 AM I found the van would not start, a flat battery was to blame. My battery charger was busted and I could not find anyone else at home in the street whose car I could borrow to give me a jump start (Mrs NR already having left for work) So I phoned the AA at 7.55AM, again at 8 AM and again every few minutes until 11.50 AM before they actually even bothered to answer the phone. So that was nearly 4 hours waiting to start with. Then the stressed lady on the phone told me a patrol would be dispatched ASAP, I asked roughly how long I would have to wait , and she said they will be with me by about 2.45 PM nearly another 3 hours before they could arrive. They actually turned up at 2.30 PM.
So consider a few points
(1) What if it had been your wife and child stranded away from home who were left waiting nearly 8 hours in the winter cold?
(2) What if you were trying to bug out or attend a vital appointment when misfortune struck?
We can only go so far in our preps to ensure we are ready for trouble, we can never guarantee 100% that our vehicles will start, gennies fire up, flashlights light up, radios will transmit, and even in normal time we often need a hand for external sources, but if we are PAYING good money for that external backup, surely its fair and reasonable to expect them to honour their side of the deal.
I have just had the AA write to me and phone me asking why after all these years I was not renewing my membership? I replied its rather pointless having AA membership if (A) you cannot get the AA to answer the phone and (B) they don’t come until the day is over and you or your family could have frozen to death.
I’m not saying boycott the AA or anything like that but it sure must be a worthwhile effort into looking at who responds the quickest and deals best with the problem, especially if you are paying for the privilege.
I’m joining Green flag as most of my neighbours have GF membership and are content with the level of service.
