AA are taking advantage of young drivers

royzor

Hi All,
My 19yr old son is having trouble with the AA. He took out breakdown cover with them last year and paid the balance in full via his debit card. The cover was due to expire last month and have taken a further annual fee from his account (leaving him with bank charges). I didn't think theywere allowed to keep details of payment cards unless the card owner gave permission to do so.
He noticed the money had gone from his account when he tried to get money out of the cash machine to pay for his car tax. He had to borrow money to pay the tax and will have no money to live on for the next 2 weeks.
When he realised were his money had gone he phoned AA straight away (The day after they had taken the money) to ask them to refund the money as he did not want and could not afford the cover this year.
They told him he cannot cancel and he would not be getting a refund as they sent a renewal letter. He did not receive the renewal letter but they said it was not their problem and he needed to get in touch with royal mail to sort out his mail problem. I was under the impression it was for them to prove they sent the letter, not for him to prove he did not receive it.
I am furious as he is a 19yr old apprentice and doesn't earn much, He is paying for his car finance and the disgustingly high cost of insurance as well as the running of the car.
I feel that they are taking advantage of him because he is young, I am so annoyed with them. I would appreciate if anyone could advise were he stands.

Roz

Laz123

There is this problem with some insurance companies that when you sign for the first year the annual payment is automatically taken every year unless you cancel.

I assume this is what happened. It isn't fair because you can't remember a year later that that was what you signed for. Unfortunately, if this is the case, it is perfectly legal, albeit unethical. That's why they send a reminder letter.

It could be the case that Royal Mail lost the letter in which case you can fill in a lost letter form and see if they can trace it, but don't hold out much hope as there is a huge warehouse full of lost letters being sorted by untrained workers.

Also, under 25's do pay a higher rate of car insurance as they are considered to be higher risk.

Sorry I can't be more help but there is an insurance ombudsman to whom you could appeal.

Torby

Part of the T&Cs when signing up for the AA or RAC are the recurring charge bit...up to you(or son) to remember to cancel...I enrolled my daughter in the RAC first year, got £20 from Quidco, knew to contact them a month before renewal to cancel, signed her up with the AA for this year (£19 cashback), a month before renewal next year will do the same and swop again....just started my son on the path with RAC this year (£19 cashback) basically each year they get cover for £8 or £9, its worth making a note of these things...

custardy

royzor wrote: »

Hi All,
My 19yr old son is having trouble with the AA. He took out breakdown cover with them last year and paid the balance in full via his debit card. The cover was due to expire last month and have taken a further annual fee from his account (leaving him with bank charges). I didn't think theywere allowed to keep details of payment cards unless the card owner gave permission to do so.
He noticed the money had gone from his account when he tried to get money out of the cash machine to pay for his car tax. He had to borrow money to pay the tax and will have no money to live on for the next 2 weeks.
When he realised were his money had gone he phoned AA straight away (The day after they had taken the money) to ask them to refund the money as he did not want and could not afford the cover this year.
They told him he cannot cancel and he would not be getting a refund as they sent a renewal letter. He did not receive the renewal letter but they said it was not their problem and he needed to get in touch with royal mail to sort out his mail problem. I was under the impression it was for them to prove they sent the letter, not for him to prove he did not receive it.
I am furious as he is a 19yr old apprentice and doesn't earn much, He is paying for his car finance and the disgustingly high cost of insurance as well as the running of the car.
I feel that they are taking advantage of him because he is young, I am so annoyed with them. I would appreciate if anyone could advise were he stands.

Roz

newsflash: the AA dont set this just for "young drivers"
did he not get the renewal or just think it was one of the junk letters the AA send out regualrly?
when he set it up he agreed to the renewal in 12 months time

Hintza

Set up a reminder on your computer to cancel these sort of things.

juno

The AA wouldn't cover my car unless I went for all the extras which cost nearly £100 :eek:

So I went for the RAC instead, and got cashback with Quidco.

Mark_Hewitt

I get AA cover through my Lloyds account. £5 extra per month covers myself and my wife.

pinkshoes

The AA tried this one with me too, so not just young drivers!

I specifically made sure the 1 year breakdown cover was a 1 off payment for just 1 year (so not a contract), as I knew very well that the renewal would be expensive, and cheaper to go elsewhere.

I was very p*ssed off when they took a much larger payment for the renewal, without even bothering to send a letter! I think I wrote to them recorded delivery, asking them to prove sending the renewal letter, as well as proof of contract (as I didn't sign anything), and said that if they failed to supply me with these details within 14 days, I'd take them to court for the money back. Sure enough, a few days later I got a cheque for the full amount...

I gave up talking to them on the phone as everyone I spoke to was rude and arrogant.

wealdroam

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

I get AA cover through my Lloyds account. £5 extra per month covers myself and my wife.

£60.00 a year.

Is that a bargain?

Mark_Hewitt

wealdroam wrote: »

£60.00 a year.

Is that a bargain?

When it's for both of us, it's not bad.

royzor

Thanks for your replies.

juno wrote: »

did he not get the renewal or just think it was one of the junk letters the AA send out regualrly?

No he didn't get the renewal, and even if he did they would still have to prove it.

juno wrote: »

when he set it up he agreed to the renewal in 12 months time.

Oh was it you that signed him up? Unless you did I cant see how you know with such certainty what he agreed too

juno wrote: »

The AA wouldn't cover my car unless I went for all the extras which cost nearly £100 :eek:

So I went for the RAC instead, and got cashback with Quidco.

I am shocked at some of the prices you are all quoting. My son has just paid £165 to these robbing swines for his cover.

Roz