AA left me stranded for 3 hours - Any advice?

scbk

You get what you pay for with big breakdown companies. People decide who to take out a policy with on price alone. For the AA to be cheap, they cut corners. They've laid off patrols. They let their patrols break the law.

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If you want fast service, just phone up a local garage

The_AA_Company_Representative

Hello, my name is Deb and I work within the Complaints Department for the AA. I happened to have read your post and thought I would offer a helping hand to resolve your complaint. If you would like to contact the AA on email address [EMAIL="customersupport@theAA.com"]customersupport@theAA.com[/EMAIL] , quoting ref 3092357, we will be more than happy to investigate and provide a response.

kandi_2

BLIMEY !

OK - here's what I have to say...

Thanks to Deb - I wrote a letter of complaint last week but have received no reply - I'll forward the letter to the AA via email and see if I get a response from that. (somthing tells me I might be waiting for a while!)

I'd had my car for 2 weeks old when I broke down - its an 04 reg with 70,000 miles on the clock and a FULL Alfa Service History - (yes yes - an alfa romeo - i brought it on myself!!!) but it had only just been serviced and sailed through its MOT. So there - Boo to you for suggesting breaking down was my fault for not looking after my car!

I don't expect preferential treatment because I'm a lady.
Although I'm little I do like to think that I'm a bit of a "She-Rah" but I was on my way back from an exhibition at Brands Hatch - so I was all dressed-up - suited and heeled. Not ideal clothing to fight and certainly no hope of flight...
OK - so that's my fault - heels are silly and should I fail to run from an attacker then that would be my fault right?
Its not about being a lone female, location or the heat and lack of water,
Its about paying for a service and not receiving that service when its needed.
If my husband had broken down instead of me I'd be just as angry.
I'm glad that some people posted to support me in thinking that the service I received was unacceptable.

If they'd said right from the start that I'd be waiting for 3 hours then I'd have called someone to come and keep me company.
Its the fact that they told me a time and then called to say that they'd made a mistake and I'd have to wait another hour and a half.

And of course I told them that I wanted to cancel my call-out....
Although I was disappointed - I do have some morals - Just as I felt they wasted my time - I wouldn't have wasted theirs by letting an engineer come after I'd left.

Anyway - Like you say... I'm safe, my cars OK (needed a new radiator)
It'd be nice to hear back from the AA - an acknowledgement would be a good start.

They have been good to us in the past though.

If they offer me something - even an apology - then I'll probably stay with them.

And to the guy who said he laughs at women "banging on about equality"
Do you snicker at human rights too and those who fight against race discrimination? You should be ashamed.

And... something I didn't mention in my original post....

I nearly jumped out of my skin when a builder stopped to ask if I was OK.
Turns out he'd seen me just sitting there and wanted to see if there was anything he could do to help!

So there are some decent people in the world...
And even if I was angry at the AA - It was lovely to have a stranger look out for me. Milk of human kindness and all that!

Tony the Builder - THANK YOU

hm71_2

Just a footnote, we have had incidents around here where people have stopped and offered help when broken down, been very kind I'ill give you a tow home etc... and then tried to extort money from the towee. On one particular occasion asking for £200 and threatening the safety of the persons family etc.. these were all in our local paper 4 reported incidents. So I for 1 am happy to have my RAC service who have always been very prompt as I realise that although there are some good people in the world there are also some bad.
I hope tou get a good resoloution to your problem. when I learnt to drive 5 yrs ago my hubby put an emergency box in my boot, that has tyreweld, radweld, a battery jumpstarter, blanket & various other things, it has helped me on more than one occasion and think that really everyone should do it.

TotallyBroke

kandi wrote: »

Although I'm little I do like to think that I'm a bit of a "She-Rah" but I was on my way back from an exhibition at Brands Hatch - so I was all dressed-up - suited and heeled. Not ideal clothing to fight and certainly no hope of flight...

If you were in a rural area then I don't see the danger that you think you were in. Muggers and rapists don't sit in bushes along country roads waiting on the off chance that a little lady will break down. The only danger I would be worried about would be having a sheep bite my backside if I needed a pee in their field.
It was only your radiator that was broke so if a mugger or rapist happened to drive by, you could get in your car, lock all the doors and phone the police.

Do you know the AA are crying out for female mechanics as some women will not have a male come out to them if it is dark!!!! I would love to do it but with a young DS the shift pattern would be hard.

hewhoisnotintheknow

kandi wrote: »

BLIMEY !

OK - here's what I have to say...

Thanks to Deb - I wrote a letter of complaint last week but have received no reply - I'll forward the letter to the AA via email and see if I get a response from that. (somthing tells me I might be waiting for a while!)

I'd had my car for 2 weeks old when I broke down - its an 04 reg with 70,000 miles on the clock and a FULL Alfa Service History - (yes yes - an alfa romeo - i brought it on myself!!!) but it had only just been serviced and sailed through its MOT. So there - Boo to you for suggesting breaking down was my fault for not looking after my car!

I don't expect preferential treatment because I'm a lady.
Although I'm little I do like to think that I'm a bit of a "She-Rah" but I was on my way back from an exhibition at Brands Hatch - so I was all dressed-up - suited and heeled. Not ideal clothing to fight and certainly no hope of flight...
OK - so that's my fault - heels are silly and should I fail to run from an attacker then that would be my fault right?
Its not about being a lone female, location or the heat and lack of water,
Its about paying for a service and not receiving that service when its needed.
If my husband had broken down instead of me I'd be just as angry.
I'm glad that some people posted to support me in thinking that the service I received was unacceptable.

If they'd said right from the start that I'd be waiting for 3 hours then I'd have called someone to come and keep me company.
Its the fact that they told me a time and then called to say that they'd made a mistake and I'd have to wait another hour and a half.

And of course I told them that I wanted to cancel my call-out....
Although I was disappointed - I do have some morals - Just as I felt they wasted my time - I wouldn't have wasted theirs by letting an engineer come after I'd left.

Anyway - Like you say... I'm safe, my cars OK (needed a new radiator)
It'd be nice to hear back from the AA - an acknowledgement would be a good start.

They have been good to us in the past though.

If they offer me something - even an apology - then I'll probably stay with them.

And to the guy who said he laughs at women "banging on about equality"
Do you snicker at human rights too and those who fight against race discrimination? You should be ashamed.

And... something I didn't mention in my original post....

I nearly jumped out of my skin when a builder stopped to ask if I was OK.
Turns out he'd seen me just sitting there and wanted to see if there was anything he could do to help!

So there are some decent people in the world...
And even if I was angry at the AA - It was lovely to have a stranger look out for me. Milk of human kindness and all that!

Tony the Builder - THANK YOU

You do know what an MOT is?

mspig

My hubby works for the AA and being female on a rural road in the middle of the day is not a top of the list situation, those on the motorway(some who have not made it to the hardshoulder) would get more priority, those who have locked their keys in the car and have their babies sat in them have more priority(it happens quite alot), those stuck on crossings(pelican, puffin, zebra) would have more priority, those in dangerous situations. I could go on.

I'm not saying that you should of been left for 3 hours but they may of had a very dangerous situation they had to deal with which was put ahead of your situation.

Take a deep breath and calm down and put it down to one of those days.

sarah_elton

I'm with Green Flag. Never had a breakdown, but they do say that if they take longer than an hour to reach you they'll give you a tenner. That's better than a kick in the teeth, and I suspect incentivises them to reach most people in exactly 59 minutes.

Cover was just over half the price of the same level cover with The AA too. Unlike AA and RAC, they actually quote you, insurance style, based on age of car etc. When it comes to AA renewal, try getting a Green Flag quote as they may well be cheaper since you have a new-ish car (mine's a 2002).

Reggie_Rebel

I'd be hacked off if I'd had to wait 3 hours as well regardless of gender and fighting ability.

JonathanA

I don't think anyone - male or female - would be happy to wait 3 hours to be recovered, irrespective of where they are or what their circumstances are. It must be down to a lack of available patrols in the area at that point in time, or a prior job taking longer than expected. I've never had occasion to use the AA, but have had to call out the RAC before - who arrived within 50 minutes - and we're now covered with Direct Line (who use Green Flag I think). When our car broke down on our driveway and we called them out, they were there within 20 minutes, and their service was excellent.

As with all companies, there will be good and bad experiences, the test now is what they do to restore your confidence in their service.

Hope you get it resolved.