AA Left me stranded for 3 hours - Any advice?

kandi_2

The AA left me (a little lady) stranded on my own in a hot car with no access to water (or services!) on a rural road for 3 hours.

I've got full AA membership and my car overheated this afternoon.
I called them and they said someone would be with me in 1hr and 20 mins.
After 1.5 hours they called to say no-one was on their way and it would take another 1.5 hours for their nearest technician to get to me!

I couldn't wait that long (TMI but ladies will understand... apart from being hot, tired and grumpy - AF was with me and I couldn't risk it!)

I told the AA that I wasn't able to wait and eventually made it to the service center - stopping every 5 minutes to let the engine cool down.

This is on their website: "FAST repairs – we arrive within 40 minutes and fix your car within 30 minutes, on average"
PAH !

3 HOURS - what am I paying membership for?!

There's nothing in their terms of business to say what happens if they don't attend a breakdown.

Just wondered if anyone else has been left stranded by the AA?
or if anyone has any advice before I send my letter of complaint to them?

I'd really appreciate your help...

(Apologies for posting this twice but couldn't find my way back to the motoring section and breakdown is a kind of insurance - you keep paying just in-case you need it and when you do need it they let you down!!!)

Andy_Hamilton

Feel free to send the letter of complaint. I don't know what you will get out of it. On average they will arrive within 40 minutes, someone today will be thanking an AA patrol man for getting to them in 5 minutes.

I have been recovered more than most and I've really struggled to get help before 30 minutes. This year I have moved to AutoAid. £36 for full package and that gives me more of a say in my recovery. Still no guarentees though.

It could be benificial for you to do a basic mechanic course, some car dealers do them and worth an evening of your time

ZootHornRollo

i would say if you aren't happy go somewhere else.

my sister had a similar experience, got left for 3 hours - fortunately not far from our folks house so my dad went and sat with her but they didn't know that. she is no longer with the AA.

There are many companies offering a similar service these days (most probably use the same contractors tho!)

i am with Green Flag, have called them out 4 times and 4 times they have been there within the hour.

tsstss7

I can beat that - I got left stranded for 5 hours once when I broke down in a queue of traffic (fan belt) it was glorious sunshine when I broke down and by the time they arrived it was night and I also had a flat battery (as my blinkers had been on so long). I had had to make do with ONE bottle of water all day as I had been expecting to be home within the hour (I could probably have got most of the way home by then too if I'd started walking and got a bus).

And the best thing was a few weeks later they send me a b***y bunch of flowers as an apology - OH at the time tried for more as he was a bit angry at the poor service but they were having none of it. I don't bother with aa etc now I can get a friend to come out and give me a tow quicker than that and I can do the basics such as a tyre change myself.

mymatebob

kandi wrote: »

The AA left me (a little lady) (as opposed to a large lady - does this make a difference - do they ask your size?) stranded on my own in a hot car with no access to water (or services!) on a rural road for 3 hours. Are the AA somehow expected to supply services while you wait?

I've got full AA membership and my car overheated this afternoon.
I called them and they said someone would be with me in 1hr and 20 mins.
After 1.5 hours they called to say no-one was on their way Why was no-one on their way,? This is where you may well have grounds for complaint, Had they assigned someone to your problem? Why did they call to say no-one was coming? and it would take another 1.5 hours for their nearest technician to get to me!

I couldn't wait that long (TMI but ladies will understand... apart from being hot, tired and grumpy - AF was with me and I couldn't risk it!) No idea what an AF is but must be important - did you tell the AA that an AF is an important thing?

I told the AA that I wasn't able to wait and eventually made it to the service center - stopping every 5 minutes to let the engine cool down. Does that mean you cancelled your request for help from them. What service center (sic) did you make it to?

This is on their website: "FAST repairs – we arrive within 40 minutes and fix your car within 30 minutes, on average"
PAH ! Any idea what "average means"

3 HOURS - what am I paying membership for?!

There's nothing in their terms of business to say what happens if they don't attend a breakdown. Did they not attend or was it that you told them not to attend?

Just wondered if anyone else has been left stranded by the AA? Never been left stranded but had to wait hours
or if anyone has any advice before I send my letter of complaint to them?

I'd really appreciate your help...

(Apologies for posting this twice but couldn't find my way back to the motoring section and breakdown is a kind of insurance - you keep paying just in-case you need it and when you do need it they let you down!!!)

You seem to have been one of the people who were on the wrong side of the average waiting time, unfortunately.
As I say if they suggested that you would be attended to within an hour and a half then told than it would be double that then I do think you have fair grounds for having a go at them

Tell them you are cancelling your membership, after all it is only your money the are after. Nothing else - they are not a charitable organisation.

ALIBOBSY

I believe that AF is a term reffering to a certain "time of the month" for ladies but I could be wrong lol. Don't think you would tell the AA about that.

ali x

tomstickland

It could mean "a f**kwit".

poppy_f1

i had to make a complaint to the AA for leaving me stranded for over 4 hours in the end i told them to come back the next day
anyway i got 25 quid of m&s vouchers and a extra 6 months cover

Sagz_2

AF= ageing father

Barneysmom

3 hours? I'd have had a power nap!
Don't expect to get anything back in compenation off them though, they've had your money and that's why they are in business.

I would never get into a car without my bag, it contains a flask of coffee, bottles of squash, a sudoku book and some chocolate. Experience tells me that you could break down any time anywhere.
Even though you pay for cover, don't rely on them to be there when you need them, especially in times of big floods, or nasty weather. That's when most people break down.

Sagz_2

Barneysmom wrote: »

I would never get into a car without my bag, it contains a flask of coffee, bottles of squash, a sudoku book and some chocolate.

You travel everywhere with a flask of coffee? WOW, and I thought I was the careful type!