AA renewal

nick323f

Hi Guys,

just thought I'd share this little beaty with you.

me and 'er have AA cover, inc home start and realy etc. The renewal letter arive last week. £199 !!

So I cheacked on the AA website, £121 for the same service.
Also checked the RAC website, £140 for the same service

I call the AA and ask why I would want to renew my membership when I can have the same deal on line for £80 less.
The guy on the Renewals line tells me that this is an introduction offer for new customers only.
But, he says, as I have not made a call in the last year I can have a discount, which brings my renewal down to £140.

I piont out that all he is doing is matching the RAC price. Then tell him to cancell the membership as I will sign up on the web in 2mins and get the same cover for £121 instead.
He insists that I can do this.

I have done this! .....Goons!


Not only Have I done this, but I also had to call them again to check which level of cover we have, the guy on the phone (this time the New Customers Line) was quite happy to sign me up as a new member.
Nice to feel like a valued customer eh!

Horizon81

This is nothing new. Direct Line do the same but I'm sure that if an existing policyholder logs on their website posing as a 'new user' that it won't give you the preferential rate.

Obviously the AA website isn't as advanced.

motorguy

Why dont you read the article on the main site about how to get the best price - there are many other organisations out there offering a similar or better service to the AA / RAC for much much less.

I got recovery and homestart for any car i'm driving for something like £65, including recovery to a place of my choice. Used them once already - no issues at all.

foofi22

pgilc1 wrote: »

Why dont you read the article on the main site about how to get the best price - there are many other organisations out there offering a similar or better service to the AA / RAC for much much less.

I got recovery and homestart for any car i'm driving for something like £65, including recovery to a place of my choice. Used them once already - no issues at all.

Who are you with? Thanks

motorguy

foofi22 wrote: »

Who are you with? Thanks

Start Rescue.

smcaul

or you could go to http://www.quotelinedirect.co.uk/breakdown/ and get a per car policy for £59, which gives you recovery, homestart, and european cover!! And it is now backed by Britania Rescue!! Have used this for the last 3 years, saves a packet over other European cover!!!

calvincamel

That looks pretty good, although the one reservation that I have is that you'll only get non-local recovery if they can't repair your vehicle within 24 hours ("...or to a destination of your choice if we cannot repair your vehicle within 24 hours"). Sometimes I'd rather get home and sort it out there, rather than be taken to some village garage that I don't know and which will doubtless charge me a fortune because I have no choice and because there's no local competition.
Having said that, they are open to common sense negotiation - they'll pay for repairs (labour & reasonable incidental costs) at a garage, if it'll work out cheaper for them than transporting you (& your car & passengers) a long way way home. I'm always a fan of common sense, especially when it's written down in black and white. Also, at £59 all in (recovery plus & european), that's pretty unbeatable for a non 'pay & reclaim' type policy. RAC are currently doing free recovery, if you choose Personal, Rescue & At Home options, but that's still £82. Despite them over charging loyal customers, as all breakdown providers now seem to do (the usual 'New customers get discount' scam - why don't they use the insurance method of gradually reducing your premium), they've always given me top customer service and excellent patrol work (rescue, recovery and at home), so I'm torn.

Yes, I'm aware of AutoAid but as a student, I'm not completely certain that I'll be able to pay at the time of breakdown, so I'm going for the prepaid option. Yes, I still have to pay for parts but the RAC have always been happy to invoice me in the past. Hopefully that won't change.

motorguy

Heres the link from the main MSE board

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/roadside-recovery

Theres a link on there to get basic RAC car cover for less than 5 pounds, after cashback.

puc

its a game. every year the aa send me a renewal letter, i then phone up to complain/cancel. they then drop the price by 30%, i'm still not happy so they drop it a bit more (35-40%). i then agree to this new cost.

yesterday, my renewal came for breakdown/homestart/relay at £116. after a phone call, this was dropped to £75, which i think is a fair price for that service. also i think a lot depends on your member history (length of membership\no. of breakdowns etc).

Kavajo

Thanks for all this. I didn't realise you can haggle AA membership costs! Renewal letter came asking for £199. Checked RAC price online £99 for similar cover, Homestart, Breakdown & Relay. The wife phoned AA (it's in her name with me as an extra) and they matched the RAC price instead of losing a customer. Fantastic!

I know some people have found cheaper providers but I want a company I've heard of and would only consider AA and RAC.

[Deleted User]

I've had my AA roadside renewal in and it's £52. It was only £28 when I signed up last year.

Looks like I'll have to go to RAC or Green Flag on their cheap deal.