Green Flag vs AA

Odyssy

We've just received the renewal (£87) for my wife's Option 200 AA membership and I am considering dumping the AA, as our daughter who has AA roadside assistance cover through her Lloyds TSB bank account was badly let down by them. She skidded on snow and hit a stone wall at 1am in the wilds of Derbyshire. Her and a female friend (fortunately both unhurt, very low speed) were stuck as one of the front wheels was damaged and the car was undriveable.

With a very poor and intermittant mobile signal she called the AA and explained the circumstances, and was told that they would come and collect her but only if she paid them £104 in cash. With no problem in the assertiveness department, she argued through the static that she didn't have that much cash with her and there was no handy cashpoint she could visit but she had a debit card, but apparently only cash would do.

The upshot was the AA said that as the car was not repairable at the roadside they could (or would) not help.

Two girls stranded in the snow with the car unmovable at the apex of a dangerous corner (so not safe to remain in it), sheltering under a nearby bridge.

She then called the Police who were wonderful (thankyou Buxton Police) who had the car uplifted. All covered by her comprehensive insurance.
Also several very kind passing drivers who stopped and offered various levels of help

Now while the terms of AA roadside assistance were probably adhered to, I thought the AA had promised not to leave women stranded.

Can any one give me a good reason to renew my wife's (never yet needed) membership or suggest a better alternative - Green Flag/RAC etc.

foreverskint

Well we have been with Aa for about 10 years, and have alays found their service excellent. we have always found their mechanics more than helpful, one even escorted me 25 miles home in his van behind when I was pregnant incase i broke down again.

Once we called them out with a staarting problem at home and the mechanic even helped by doing an extra job the the garage had messed up.

We stopped using them last year for financial reasons but miss the security of the service and so after comparing all of the available services and knowing that the AA for us have always been value for money we are just about to resign with them

jaimeo

Hi all, i know several people who have had probs with the AA but have to say that they were AMAZING for me. I paid for option 300- about 110 a year or something like that but covers nearly every eventuality.

I had 7 call-outs in 10 months (did get a polite fair-play letter by the end of it!)- had 110 mile tow, 3 others tows, keys locked in car, oh and another tow (both times Birmingham to Northampton). They even fixed my exhaust once! Often the mechanic will go above and beyond what he was supposed to do. I did have one !!!!!! mechanic, but of course, !!!!!! to me meant not getting a load of free mechanic time...

Have stopped AA men on petrol station forecourts and asked their advice- they have always been really helpful.

One of them even explained to me exactly what to ask for at the breakers yard to get my car fixed- saved me approx £500.

The service centres are expensive, but most of the mechanics really know their stuff- the vans are always well equipped and you do feel "secure" when you know you have them covering you.

bridiej

In the end I opted for RAC, as they cover you and not your car so any car you travel in gets the cover.

FJSRiDER

FJSRiDER wrote:

Wife has already needed to use them when her alternator failed on the M5 on Wednesday night! Service was fine - although we haven't claimed for the refund yet!

The cheque arrived yesterday.

Nice.

mystic_trev

I've changed to Green Flag - I drive a three year old Merc which I've had from new which is regulary serviced only goes out 2 or three times a week, when I'm not abroad. The policy is for "the car" which dosen't bother me and only costs £22 a year!