Roadside Assistance - Can i fight this?

mazza111

Oh I'm not having a go at anyone for getting AA to change their wheel, just said it's not something I would do. Probably might call AA on the motorway tbh. The reason is asked the OP was that she said she didn't know how to change a wheel, which I find astounding.

AbigailStaffs

I take on board your point about it being my decision to pay the £49, but as I do not have the skills let alone the strength to change a tyre then IMHO there is no decision to make. I had to pay it.

My car is new and had on the factory fitted tyres there is no way even if I did have the skills that I could have undone the bolts on the tyre and then removed the wheel the chap who sorted me out had to lie on the floor with a hammer to do this. Impractical in my skirt suit.

I have ordered a copy of my agreement with them and will see if it is personal or vehicle specific.

However, I would point out that if it is vehicle specific then surely £49 is over the top and certainly not value for money on top of the sum I have already paid. A sum of £15 say would have been far more reasonable.

I certainly seem to have caused some debate here, and feel that this was very bad customer service especially after have been with them for so long years in fact without a call out.

Perhaps the warning for everyone is to check their policy and ensure the AA do have your correct vehicle details. As I seem to have learnt an expensive lesson.

I would say the man they sent was an angel, cool professional and friendly it was the head office call centre I have issue with.

Another quick point does anyone here give the chaps they send out a tip after getting you back on the move?

mazza111

Personally, I've paid it and never needed to use it. I wouldn't tbh, I would imagine they are on quite good money.

Yes, I do totally see your point, is £49 what they would have charged if you weren't a member? If I was in your position I would definitely make a complaint, an oversight but a costly one.

Can I just say to you that removing a wheel doesn't actually require that much strength. I think if you give it a go you will be surprised at what you will achieve. I also take on board about u wearing a skirt suit, not really practical to change a wheel in a skirt suit, I know, I've done it :rotfl: Pretty sure people got a laugh at me trying to do it too. But that's probably just me, I don't mind getting my hands dirty and mucking in when it's needed, I'd rather have a go than wait for an hour on a call out.

Hope you get something sorted, expensive for a genuine mistake, but alas, you don't really have any comeback if it was the car that was sorted

mazza111

Oops, when I said I wouldn't, i meant I wouldn't tip them. Guess i shouldn't read this when cooking dinner

wealdroam

AbigailStaffs wrote: »

I would say the man they sent was an angel, cool professional and friendly it was the head office call centre I have issue with.

Surely all the call centre person did was just what he was told to do.
I.e. check that the enquiring motorist has cover for the vehicle in question.
If that check fails, as in your case, he explained that and still offered you a service... at £49.00.

I really think that the AA have done nothing wrong here.

You make the point that £49 is expensive, especially when you consider that you are already paying them money.

Bear in mind that the AA probably do not check to see who is the owner of a particular car.
So if you are still paying for your old car, then that money is providing cover for your old car.
Why should the AA suddenly find that they are expected to cover two vehicles for the price of one?

Of course, what it all really means is that you suddenly wanted someone to change your wheel... now.
In that situation, the AA, and most other breakdown companies or garages, will offer a service at a higher than normal price.

I think £49 is not unreasonable.

CrazyRatLady_2

starrystarry wrote: »

I know how to change a tyre but I can't do it. I'm not disabled, frail or particularly weak but I'm not physically strong enough to undo the bolts. I think most women would say the same. That's why I have breakdown cover, so I don't have to ruin my nails attempting to change tyres.

I have stupidly weak muscles in my hands (sometimes I get defeated by food jars) but even I can change a tyre - it's all about having the right tools and using your feet, thus putting your body weight on it, to loosen the bolts.

(I have a '94 VW Golf if anyone thinks that makes a difference).

Oh and if anyone wants to see it - I got bored when waiting in my car a few weeks ago and went rummaging in the glove box - I found a booklet in there from 1992 entitled something along the lines of 'Driving for women' and was produced by Vauxhall. It's quite amusing and contains a section on how to change a wheel (including informing you that it's probably a good idea not to wear high heels).

starrystarry

CrazyRatLady wrote: »

I have stupidly weak muscles in my hands (sometimes I get defeated by food jars) but even I can change a tyre - it's all about having the right tools and using your feet, thus putting your body weight on it, to loosen the bolts.

I have tried in the past but I couldn't do it. What's the point in paying for breakdown cover and doing it myself anyway?

CrazyRatLady_2

starrystarry wrote: »

I have tried in the past but I couldn't do it. What's the point in paying for breakdown cover and doing it myself anyway?

Yeah I mean if you've got break down cover by all means use it. I don't have break down cover, luckily I know someone with a tow truck if I ever suffer a major break down.

If you are capable of changing a tyre though, I think it's much better to do it yourself - I'd much rather spend 10 minutes outside swapping my tyres over and get to work just a tad late, than spend potentially a couple of hours twiddling my thumbs while I wait for the AA/RAC etc to come and do it for me.

starrystarry

CrazyRatLady wrote: »

Yeah I mean if you've got break down cover by all means use it. I don't have break down cover, luckily I know someone with a tow truck if I ever suffer a major break down.

If you are capable of changing a tyre though, I think it's much better to do it yourself - I'd much rather spend 10 minutes outside swapping my tyres over and get to work just a tad late, than spend potentially a couple of hours twiddling my thumbs while I wait for the AA/RAC etc to come and do it for me.

They don't take that long nowadays. I called Green Flag out to my house a few weeks ago to change a tyre, they were there within 30 mins.

vicmorrow

starrystarry wrote: »

They don't take that long nowadays. I called Green Flag out to my house a few weeks ago to change a tyre, they were there within 30 mins.

Both my wife and daughter would have easily been able to change the wheel in less than half that time.