AA membership - long term customers lose out

bertiebear_3

Just had my AA membership renewal come through. The price seems to have shot up over the last couple of years, so I was moved to check it out on the internet.

Well, I am currently being charged £90.50 for road side and relay (with allegedly complimentary (i.e. free!) home start. The price on the internet is around £67 for roadside and relay. Phoned the AA to rant, and discovered that the internet price is for new members only (this is hidden in the very very small print at the bottom of the page, which is rather sharp practice).

However, the AA will match the price for old customers if you whinge BUT you are likely to lose the complimentary relay, although if you never wanted it in the first place this isn't a big deal. So I then pointed out that the so-called complimentary relay isn't really free, then, and that loyal customers are being penalised. Chap got very hot under the collar and tried to argue it the other way round. :wall:

So I then checked out the RAC - similar deal there, similar prices (for new customers again hidden in the small print) and similar penalties for loyal customers. It therefore strikes me that we should all switch from one breakdown service to another other each year, saving about £30 each time, if these companies reward customer loyalty by charging us more than new customers.

Troubleatmill_2

Autoaid.
For about £32 you get full UK cover - if you are married it covers your spouse as well - for me that's 2 cars for £32.

Best
Troubleatmill

ariba10

Why not change to R A C this year and back to A A next year.

That is what I intend to do when mine comes up for renewal.

There is no such thing as loyalty in business today

Poppycat

I agree loyalty rarely excists in buisness its a dog eat dog world we live in. Itsa shame but thats life. Last year I didnt reweal my NU insurnace and went back as a new customer via cashback and saved a small packet with cashback and bonus as a new customer and I dont pay a lot for insurnace as car is old and I am a careful driver with 5 years no claims

I shop around now for insurnace, and recovery I went with green flag thsi year.

hjb123

I had a similar problem with the AA. My renewal was up beginning of September and I got the letter through mid August to say that the renewal price for me was going to be £46 (this was for personal membership), I saw on the internet that it was alot cheaper and rang them. The person said that that was internet prices and new customers, I asked them could I cancel my membership and then I could sign up to the new internet prices. They said I couldnt do that but that they would price match it. I also upgraded to joint membership for less than it would normally cost anyway.

bonvonnie

i've been with AA for about 6 years, and every year the renewal come through, I always think thats expensive, and forget to shop around.
will change next year, once I've got house moving out of the way

need to save more money !!!

lemontart

I wonder if you canceled membership - then take out new policy online if that would work - hassle though.

At the end of the day I will prolly stay with them as I have always found them reliable and quick.

Beth
xxx

hjb123

lemontart wrote:

I wonder if you canceled membership - then take out new policy online if that would work - hassle though.

At the end of the day I will prolly stay with them as I have always found them reliable and quick.

Beth
xxx

Thats what I asked them when I rang them to see if I could cancel and rejoin at the online price - they then said that they would price match the online price for mel so I was quite chuffed with that - if they hadnt I would of taken my custom elsewhere!

peter_the_piper

We use Brittannia Rescue, Me and OH for any car use and DD for her own car, all for about £100.00. We've had to use it twice in 4 years and they were there in less than an hour. They'll try to get you going or take you home/on to your destination. Havn't used them very far from home yet.

wolfehouse

same here- my OH is disabled so we phoned and AA matched the rac blue badge scheme price with no argument. but this is the second year running we've done that. (OH didn't want a claim back service even for cheaper)

I will have to remember to do this every single year now- just one more chore for my calendar.

if you do switch companies remember to go through a cashback site.

deanos

If you want cheap RAC cover then go through Norwich Union as the breakdown is provided by RAC as they are all part if the same company