AA - Is this right?

Annieuk75

I have a £100 policy with the AA. Yesterday, when i arrived at a toddler group with my Son, I relaised I had a flat tyre. Take into account I am 32 weeks pregnant and my husband is visually impaired. We phoned the AA and when my husband checked the boot (we have recently got this car second hand after a nightmare time...another story) there wasn't a jack and something else. When my husband phoned the AA, they told us they couldn't help. I then had to pay £72 to be towed to a tyre centre and then had to pay for a new tyre. When my husband complained to the AA he was told they don't deal with flat tyres. Would the RAC have helped? Thanks

giraffe69

When my husband complained to the AA he was told they don't deal with flat tyres.

That sounds nonsense to me. Both the AA and RAC would deal with any breakdown including a puncture if you were a member.

thelawnet

Annieuk75 wrote: »

I have a £100 policy with the AA.

That's expensive. What kind of policy is it?

Yesterday, when i arrived at a toddler group with my Son, I relaised I had a flat tyre. Take into account I am 32 weeks pregnant and my husband is visually impaired. We phoned the AA and when my husband checked the boot (we have recently got this car second hand after a nightmare time...another story) there wasn't a jack and something else.
When my husband phoned the AA, they told us they couldn't help. I then had to pay £72 to be towed to a tyre centre and then had to pay for a new tyre. When my husband complained to the AA he was told they don't deal with flat tyres.

That doesn't sound right to me:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/07/01/when-we-heard-birds-of-115875-22373833/
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/breakdown_advice/top_ten_causes.html

The fact you were missing the jack (and the locking wheel nut?) is not a problem, the AA will be equipped with their own.

I would ask for a refund of your £100 policy and the £72 as well.

forgotmyname

Does not sound right to me, But what policy do you have?

Only exclusions i can see are the age of the car and distance from home and when you took the policy out
14 day clause.

Not seen anything on the website stating does not cover punctures, Not a lot of info to be honest.

Above post re: locking wheelnuts, That may have been a reason not to replace the wheel but they should have
taken the car to a garage.

Unless you were close to home & do not have home cover. Or took the policy out within the last 14 days.

HiTo

Depends what else was missing, did you have a servicable spare wheel? The AA carry limited tools for removing locking wheel bolt if the key is lost.

mikey72

Did they come out, and find you didn't have a spare?
(Assuming the car should have one)


From their t&c's

d. [FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light][FONT=Frutiger 45 Light,Frutiger 45 Light]Failure to carry a serviceable spare[/FONT][/FONT]Any additional charges resulting from Your failure to carry a legal and serviceable spare wheel or tyre, except where this is not provided as manufacturers!!!8217; standard equipment. The AA will endeavour to arrange on your behalf, but will not pay for, assistance from a third party

If they wouldn't come out at all, complain to customer services in the first instance. (unless you told then you didn't have the spare)

MatyMoo

I got AA cover free with my Reno, when I got a flat tyre I found out they wouldn't come out unless I upgraded my membership.

Rang the RAC who cover me via my bank account and they were pleased to help

HiTo

MatyMoo wrote: »

I got AA cover free with my Reno, when I got a flat tyre I found out they wouldn't come out unless I upgraded my membership.

Rang the RAC who cover me via my bank account and they were pleased to help

Pretty much the normal now, anything that is self induced like lost keys, out of fuel, punture etc isn't covered as it isn't a fault with the car that caused the breakdown.

If you have a car doesn't come with a spare wheel as standard they do normally come out.

giraffe69

anything that is self induced like lost keys, out of fuel, punture etc isn't covered

I wouldn't have thought most punctures were self induced. Last time I had a puncture (early in 2010) the AA a. came out b. arrived promptly c. could not have been more helpful

Crabman

HiTo wrote: »

Pretty much the normal now, anything that is self induced like lost keys, out of fuel, punture etc isn't covered as it isn't a fault with the car that caused the breakdown.

Just checked my AA Terms & Conditions and it does not appear to exclude any of these items.

HiTo

I was talking about free breakdown cover as provided by vehicle manufacturers, not personal membership. Always check the small print when buying a new car.