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AA Problems Can I Sue
[Personal details removed by Forum Team]
To whom it may concern
My name is [Personal details removed by Forum Team] and my AA membership number is [Personal details removed by Forum Team] I have been a member on and off for 20 years, I feel compelled to write to you as me and my friend were severely let down on the 21/4/12 at around 7.30pm, on the 21st of April 2012 we were travelling northbound on the M11 near Bishops Stortford when my vehicle broke down, I managed to pull over onto the hard shoulder and immediately called the AA, to my dismay the operator that answered the phone said my membership had expired (I knew this was incorrect as I had recently renewed my membership from the previous year)
I explained this to the operator and explained we were on the hard shoulder and it was dark, I was told my membership had expired and that they would not come out (a similar thing happened a couple of years back and it turned out the operator was looking at the wrong screen)
I thought the operator must be looking at the wrong screen and I asked her to double check, she said the membership had expired and the only way they would come out was if I paid to join again.
I reluctantly agreed as we were in a very dangerous situation but then the operator said the payment had to be done on a credit or debit card but I had no money on my cards but told the operator I had cash, but she insisted the payment had to be done on a card, I now had to end the phone call as I was very angry, cars and lorries were speeding past my van it was dark and we were now stranded on the hard shoulder and left to fend for ourselves!
Me and my friend [Personal details removed by Forum Team] tried to flag other motorists down so we could get some help, I even called the police but they never turned up, a couple of cars parked up on the hard shoulder 200 yards in front of us so I sent [Personal details removed by Forum Team] up to try and get help from the driver but they wouldn’t help! Later on this motorist actually caused a crash but no one was hurt,
I called the AA again to try and reason with them and to ask if they knew a local garage I could walk to to try and get help but she refused to help and just said no, I said I would pay the membership but I only had cash on me, again she refused to help, neither my friend or myself had any money on our cards.
We were left on the hard shoulder for hours trying to flag motorists down, my van and our lives were put at risk and nobody would help us! Then my friend [Personal details removed by Forum Team] had an idea, he said he would call his brother and ask him if he could transfer money onto his debit card via online banking, it worked and I was then able to join the AA AGAIN! Eventually a truck came out and we were taken to a nearby garage where we received the help we needed.
Over the next couple of days I called the AA again and spoke to a gentleman in the complaints department, I told him what had happened and upon further investigation he said there had been a computer clinch and that I was indeed a member and that it was the AAs error, I was quickly given a refund of the money that was paid and an apology was offered. I asked why the horrible heartless woman I had spoken to when we broke down couldn’t sort this out there and then and he said the operative in question that night would not have been able to see the same thing he could see on his system.
I’m very sorry but this just isn’t good enough! I feel duty bound to take legal action now as our lives were put at risk! Hundreds of people die each year on the hard shoulder, if this has happened to us it is happening to others and eventually someone will die, I would like to discuss changing your system so this can never happen again, myself and my friend were also extremely traumatised that night as we were left stranded, abandoned, ignored and our life’s were put at risk so we would both like to discuss a compensation package something that we both feel is fair as well as having your system changed which is the main thing, I’m hoping I do not have to go down the route of the small claims court, newspapers, television etc. I have in fact already written to watchdog and the trading standards about this fiasco so you should be hearing from them soon.
I keenly await your response.
Signed
To whom it may concern
My name is [Personal details removed by Forum Team] and my AA membership number is [Personal details removed by Forum Team] I have been a member on and off for 20 years, I feel compelled to write to you as me and my friend were severely let down on the 21/4/12 at around 7.30pm, on the 21st of April 2012 we were travelling northbound on the M11 near Bishops Stortford when my vehicle broke down, I managed to pull over onto the hard shoulder and immediately called the AA, to my dismay the operator that answered the phone said my membership had expired (I knew this was incorrect as I had recently renewed my membership from the previous year)
I explained this to the operator and explained we were on the hard shoulder and it was dark, I was told my membership had expired and that they would not come out (a similar thing happened a couple of years back and it turned out the operator was looking at the wrong screen)
I thought the operator must be looking at the wrong screen and I asked her to double check, she said the membership had expired and the only way they would come out was if I paid to join again.
I reluctantly agreed as we were in a very dangerous situation but then the operator said the payment had to be done on a credit or debit card but I had no money on my cards but told the operator I had cash, but she insisted the payment had to be done on a card, I now had to end the phone call as I was very angry, cars and lorries were speeding past my van it was dark and we were now stranded on the hard shoulder and left to fend for ourselves!
Me and my friend [Personal details removed by Forum Team] tried to flag other motorists down so we could get some help, I even called the police but they never turned up, a couple of cars parked up on the hard shoulder 200 yards in front of us so I sent [Personal details removed by Forum Team] up to try and get help from the driver but they wouldn’t help! Later on this motorist actually caused a crash but no one was hurt,
I called the AA again to try and reason with them and to ask if they knew a local garage I could walk to to try and get help but she refused to help and just said no, I said I would pay the membership but I only had cash on me, again she refused to help, neither my friend or myself had any money on our cards.
We were left on the hard shoulder for hours trying to flag motorists down, my van and our lives were put at risk and nobody would help us! Then my friend [Personal details removed by Forum Team] had an idea, he said he would call his brother and ask him if he could transfer money onto his debit card via online banking, it worked and I was then able to join the AA AGAIN! Eventually a truck came out and we were taken to a nearby garage where we received the help we needed.
Over the next couple of days I called the AA again and spoke to a gentleman in the complaints department, I told him what had happened and upon further investigation he said there had been a computer clinch and that I was indeed a member and that it was the AAs error, I was quickly given a refund of the money that was paid and an apology was offered. I asked why the horrible heartless woman I had spoken to when we broke down couldn’t sort this out there and then and he said the operative in question that night would not have been able to see the same thing he could see on his system.
I’m very sorry but this just isn’t good enough! I feel duty bound to take legal action now as our lives were put at risk! Hundreds of people die each year on the hard shoulder, if this has happened to us it is happening to others and eventually someone will die, I would like to discuss changing your system so this can never happen again, myself and my friend were also extremely traumatised that night as we were left stranded, abandoned, ignored and our life’s were put at risk so we would both like to discuss a compensation package something that we both feel is fair as well as having your system changed which is the main thing, I’m hoping I do not have to go down the route of the small claims court, newspapers, television etc. I have in fact already written to watchdog and the trading standards about this fiasco so you should be hearing from them soon.
I keenly await your response.
Signed
0
Comments
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Think you should take all your personal information off that as soon as possible!
Edit - thanks forum team.0 -
Although exceptionally poor service, i'm not sure what grounds you have to sue them or how you would quantify this? After all they never caused the breakdown.0
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What are your grounds for sueimg them?
They have apologised for their error and refunded you.
Ask them to compensate you for your inconvenience on the night, but all you can hope for is a bunch of flowers or equivalent.
Certainly not worth going to the cost of a court case when you have no loss to pursue!0 -
Smells fishy.................
"Me and my friend Glynn Davies tried to flag other motorists down so we could get some help, I even called the police but they never turned up, a couple of cars parked up on the hard shoulder 200 yards in front of us so I sent Glynn up to try and get help from the driver but they wouldn’t help! Later on this motorist actually caused a crash but no one was hurt,"
Some form of psychic powers.
"We were left on the hard shoulder for hours trying to flag motorists down,"
Try that for 10 minutes and the cops arrive as its illegal.
"we were in a very dangerous situation"
so you stood on the hard shoulder and flagged cars and trucks down.
And his last attempt
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/30919640 -
Please edit out your personal details!!
What financial loss have you suffered that you think you can sue for? What "could have" happened is irrelevant.
Send the letter, get a nominal goodwill gesture, and switch to the RAC or Green Flag next year.
p.s. Your friend isn't very bright if it took him "hours" to think of asking his brother for some funds.0 -
I feel duty bound to take legal action now as our lives were put at risk! Hundreds of people die each year on the hard shoulder, if this has happened to us it is happening to others and eventually someone will die, I would like to discuss changing your system so this can never happen again,
I remember the cops pulling me on the M11 (failure to display VED on a motorcycle - it was actually in my wallet). I told the cop if he saw me run towards the ditch it was because we were about to be killed. Wonder if I could sue............0 -
When I was a kid, my parents broke down in the outside lane of the M25. Now that was brown trousers time.0
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Erm ....
What help do you actually want from the MSE forum, I can't see that you've asked a question.
And ...
Why post now when the incident was six months ago? Has it taken you that long to write the email or is this a delayed post?:heartpuls Mrs Marleyboy :heartpuls
MSE: many of the benefits of a helpful family, without disadvantages like having to compete for the tv remote
Proud Parents to an Aut-some son 0 -
Why didnt you just use the Emergency Phone on the motorway, that is what they are there for?
Once you have used that you are supposed to remain behind the crash barrier or up the bank to keep you safely away from anything that strays onto the hard shoulder without seeing you or your car.IT Consultant in the utilities industry specialising in the retail electricity market.
4 Credit Card and 1 Loan PPI claims settled for £26k, 1 rejected (Opus).0 -
I’m very sorry but this just isn’t good enough! I feel duty bound to take legal action now as our lives were put at risk!
You're totally right. Of course you can sue just because you *might* have been hurt.
I'm currently suing my doctor as i had a cold and i *might* have died yet all he has told me to do is take paracetamol.
I'm also suing Michelin as last winter i had their winter tyres on i came within three feet of hitting another car at a junction as their tyres lost some grip. I *might* have died!!
Seriously - you had some crap customer service from someone. You phoned them, complained, got an apology, now move on.
!!!!ing claim culture britain. No wonder the country is in the state its in.0
This discussion has been closed.
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