AA Underhand Sales Technique

daivid

As above this is standard practice across many companies.

With regards to 0845 search for the number on saynoto0870 for the geographic number that will be included in your call plan.

Also be prepared for them to try and put you off. I cancelled m RAC auto-renewal last night, took a couple of minutes to get through all the press 1 for... options then I was played a message telling me to expect a long wait why not phone another day. I spoke to a human within 10 seconds of that message so have decided its nothing more than tactic to make people give up or procrastinate until after the renewal date.

wiogs

tightasafish wrote: »

Reply to roonaldo, AdrianC, wiogs, and jimjames.
Think you missed the point.
They gave me something free for the first year - WHICH I DID NOT NEED, DID NOT ASK FOR, AND DID NOT USE.
Twelve months later I have to pro-actively go out of my way to make sure that I am not charged for a service that I STILL DO NOT NEED, STILL DID NOT ASK FOR, AND STILL DO NOT USE.
To avoid said charge I am firstly relying on Royal Mail to get the letter to me (not always a given), then for me to actually read the small print of something which could easily be mistaken for junk mail, then to ring an 0845 number to tell them to cancel something that I DO NOT WANT, DID NOT ASK FOR, AND WILL NOT USE.

If you see nothing wrong with this practice I can only assume that you work in sales, and for that you have my commiserations.

It is a shame you don't seem to understand how businesses work, however nothing underhand in what happened.

And your assumption is incorrect too. (as least in regards to me)

AdrianC

I'm just intrigued as to how the AA are meant to have known the OP didn't need and wasn't going to use their breakdown cover (as opposed, of course, to wanting/needing it, but just not actually breaking down)

Crabman

AdrianC wrote: »

I think somebody has. But I don't think it's us.

It may be standard procedure for them but it's still underhanded. Naturally there will be consumers who don't have the opportunity to see the letter and are therefore unaware.

If the AA/RAC are confident in their customers' desire to continue cover, why don't they ask the customer to actively opt-in to the product after 12 months?

facade

AdrianC wrote: »

I'm just intrigued as to how the AA are meant to have known the OP didn't need and wasn't going to use their breakdown cover (as opposed, of course, to wanting/needing it, but just not actually breaking down)

I would imagine in a telephone conversation that went like this:

"mumble mumble mumble And it includes a years free roadside assistance."

"I don't need it, I'm already in the RAC/Greenflag, is it cheaper without it?"

"No sir, it is part of the package and it is free"


But strangely, no mention of the recurring charge in the telephone conversation.

Only on page 18 of 45 of the T&Cs in 3point type.;)

tightasafish

Thank you Crabman and facade. You have restored my faith in human nature!! :T

facade

Actually, I got caught years ago by allowing my late father to sign up with Homeserve, they write and tell you that it will cost thousands of pounds to fix a leaky water supply pipe (not true, the water board fix it for nothing, what they don't do is put the dirt back in the hole) but for only £12 a year they sell water pipe insurance.

I read every word of that letter twice, and agreed that it would be a good idea for him for peace of mind. (and me, as he won't have to 'phone me at 10pm on a Sunday with a water pipe leaking)

(Seemed reasonable price £1 a month, he never needed it in 50 years so the chance of needing it now is very slim)

Fast forwards to after his death, and I'm winding up his estate, when I find that Homeserve are direct debiting £30 odd a quarter! (Remember, I read every word of that "offer" letter, and nowhere did it say this in English)

Turns out it automatically upgraded to an unbelievably expensive "household emergency" after 12 months and he just paid it.

Filled out one of those unfair charges claims forms from them, never got a penny back, probably as he had passed away.

roonaldo

tightasafish wrote: »

Reply to roonaldo, AdrianC, wiogs, and jimjames.
Think you missed the point.
They gave me something free for the first year - WHICH I DID NOT NEED, DID NOT ASK FOR, AND DID NOT USE.
Twelve months later I have to pro-actively go out of my way to make sure that I am not charged for a service that I STILL DO NOT NEED, STILL DID NOT ASK FOR, AND STILL DO NOT USE.

I dont think you looked at the website or read what you signed up to, it is there as a extra when you sign up for the home insurance so you must have chosen it.

iainscomputer

tightasafish wrote: »

Reply to roonaldo, AdrianC, wiogs, and jimjames.
Think you missed the point.
They gave me something free for the first year - WHICH I DID NOT NEED, DID NOT ASK FOR, AND DID NOT USE.
Twelve months later I have to pro-actively go out of my way to make sure that I am not charged for a service that I STILL DO NOT NEED, STILL DID NOT ASK FOR, AND STILL DO NOT USE.
To avoid said charge I am firstly relying on Royal Mail to get the letter to me (not always a given), then for me to actually read the small print of something which could easily be mistaken for junk mail, then to ring an 0845 number to tell them to cancel something that I DO NOT WANT, DID NOT ASK FOR, AND WILL NOT USE.

If you see nothing wrong with this practice I can only assume that you work in sales, and for that you have my commiserations.

Tightasafish, I agree with you this is a underhand technique, they did it on my brother who has a company car. He threw away the junk mail they sent with his house insurance & found he was signed up to unnecessary breakdown cover the following year. Collected by a sneaky CPA aswell.

roonaldo

iainscomputer wrote: »

He threw away the junk mail they sent with his house insurance & found he was signed up to unnecessary breakdown cover the following year. Collected by a sneaky CPA aswell.

1. It wasnt junk mail. It was policy and renewal information.
2. It was his fault for throwing it away.

Not sure where the fault of the AA lies in customer stupiditity!