AA membership refund

nickdj

Hello. I hope someone can give me some advice before I call and/or complain.

I broke down yesterday and had no option but to call someone to help me. I decided that I would call the AA and see if they can help get me going.

When I called I got through to someone who sold me AA membership for £140. He didn't sound too happy to be working and gave little information.

I was not provided any alternatives even though I said it was a bit pricy. No 'terms' were mentioned, fees, or cancelations. I felt I had no option but to pay for 'membership' in order to get some assistance.

Anyway, 1 hour later the AA turned up and gave my car a push to get it started. That was it. Car still not fixed but at least I got home.

When I got home I looked on the internet to check terms etc. It says you can get a full refund "minus and assistance". It then says (only in the PDF) that the minimum assistance fee is £130. None of this mentioned on the phone.

Added to this it stated that you can only have 5 callouts per year so basically £30 per callout. I could have got the same service with the £30 membership so feel I wasn't given an informed descision. Admittedly I was on my own and in a blind panic.

Considdering that I only did this last night and all I got was a 'bump start' do you think I should ask for a refund? I don't think I was given all the information and I haven't recieved any paperwork.

Thanks in advance.

opinions4u

I could have got the same service with the £30 membership so feel I wasn't given an informed descision.

You were a non-member. The £30 membership fee isn't an option for you when you have already broken down.

It really naffs me off when people think they should be able to get membership at normal rates after the event.

Do you think you could get retrospective contents insurance after you've been burgled?

Take the hit. It's a risk you take if you don't have breakdown cover.

nickdj

I wouldn't have minded so much if I was given more information. I was just told £140 with no other option. I also wouldn't have minded so much if I'd actually been towed away or something fixed. Instead it was just a push which anyone could have done. I am not sure why I 'had' to join in order to get assistance. No 'callout' option was given.

Had I been able to phone a garage and they came out and gave me a push I am sure they wouldn't have charged me £130.

Inactive

nickdj wrote: »

I wouldn't have minded so much if I was given more information. I was just told £140 with no other option. I also wouldn't have minded so much if I'd actually been towed away or something fixed. Instead it was just a push which anyone could have done. I am not sure why I 'had' to join in order to get assistance. No 'callout' option was given.

Had I been able to phone a garage and they came out and gave me a push I am sure they wouldn't have charged me £130.

Nobody asked you to call the AA, they got you going again, you were not a member so they charged you accordingly, good for them I say.

custardy

nickdj wrote: »

Hello. I hope someone can give me some advice before I call and/or complain.

I broke down yesterday and had no option but to call someone to help me. I decided that I would call the AA and see if they can help get me going.

When I called I got through to someone who sold me AA membership for £140. He didn't sound too happy to be working and gave little information.

I was not provided any alternatives even though I said it was a bit pricy. No 'terms' were mentioned, fees, or cancelations. I felt I had no option but to pay for 'membership' in order to get some assistance.
the alternatives are numerous.however you chose to call the AA
Anyway, 1 hour later the AA turned up and gave my car a push to get it started. That was it. Car still not fixed but at least I got home.
and now can get to a garage and get it fixed.is the servicing up to date?
When I got home I looked on the internet to check terms etc. It says you can get a full refund "minus and assistance". It then says (only in the PDF) that the minimum assistance fee is £130. None of this mentioned on the phone.
did you want a full breakdown(no pun) of T&Cs over the phone.why would you expect any refund?
Added to this it stated that you can only have 5 callouts per year so basically £30 per callout. I could have got the same service with the £30 membership so feel I wasn't given an informed descision. Admittedly I was on my own and in a blind panic.
yes you could have had it for £30.if you had been a member.thats how breakdown membership works.you pays your money or takes the gamble
Considdering that I only did this last night and all I got was a 'bump start' do you think I should ask for a refund? I don't think I was given all the information and I haven't recieved any paperwork.
last night? so an out of hours call out?
Thanks in advance.

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flimsier

nickdj wrote: »

I wouldn't have minded so much if I was given more information. I was just told £140 with no other option. I also wouldn't have minded so much if I'd actually been towed away or something fixed. Instead it was just a push which anyone could have done. I am not sure why I 'had' to join in order to get assistance. No 'callout' option was given.

Had I been able to phone a garage and they came out and gave me a push I am sure they wouldn't have charged me £130.

It happened to me. I rang Green Flag. It was about £85.

MarkyMarkD

You could have called a local garage. But not many offer out of hours service.

There are many cheaper means of getting breakdown cover, but as others have said, if you choose not to insure the risk, you have to pay the price.

dacouch

Did you break down on the motorway ?

nickdj

I broke down in a car park at about 5pm. Near to Cheltenham.

No terms were provided and I thought that whenever you take out an agreement or service you should be advised of terms especially in regards to cancelation. I couldn't find out what I had signed up for until I got home.

I am not sure why I was forced to take out a full membership just to get stated. Wouldn't have minded if I'd paid about £60 for the callout but feel I have been signed up to something that wasn't what I expected.

To add insult to injury all the prices for memebership are much less and come with 'immediate cover'. And there is an offer of 40% off.

It all feels a bit wrong and had I been able to make an informed descision I probably wouldn't have agreed.

molerat

Last time I needed a jump start it was £65. That was in a town during the daytime and was probably at a contract rate as I have a pay and reclaim service with Autoaid.

You called a company that only serves members. You could have had started a normal membership but they would not have come out for 48 hours. You failed to insure for the occurance and paid the going rate for the service supplied. You could have always contacted a local garage.

dacouch

Reminds me of this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2945886