Toyota Roadside Assistance (AA)

The_Biff

My 60 reg Yaris broke down at some traffic lights last week. This had never happened before and turned out to be the battery (stop/start).

I called up the Toyota Roadside Assistance (which I had never used before) only to be told my policy was not renewed in April last year.

I had not cancelled it nor cancelled the direct debit / standing order.

The result was I had to pay £99 for a non-member visit from the AA plus I took out a new contract directly with them for £7ish per month, in case I broke down again. The new battery cost £199 plus £42 to open up the parts warehouse.If my membership had been valid I believe I could have had the car dropped off at my Toyota dealers and got a ride home, and probably saved a lot of money.
It's hard to cancel magazine subs- what's going on here?

Le_Kirk

Were you on Auto-renew? f not, did you receive an invitation to renew with a new quote for this year? Have you moved recently and not told Toyota?

The_Biff

Must have been on Auto renew as I was covered up to April 2016. Have not moved for 11 years.

macman

£199 for a battery?! I do hope that is a typo. Online they're about £45, even Halfrauds will only charge about £65.

Aylesbury_Duck

macman wrote: »

£199 for a battery?! I do hope that is a typo. Online they're about £45, even Halfrauds will only charge about £65.

Perhaps not. The RAC quoted £99 for a new battery for a Yaris when mine failed, and I was already a member. I declined, they got me going and I drove straight to a parts place after reserving one online for £48.

facade

macman wrote: »

£199 for a battery?! I do hope that is a typo. Online they're about £45, even Halfrauds will only charge about £65.

Not for the stop-start.

They use a heavy duty deep discharge battery, about £100 from the cheaper suppliers.

The_Biff

Toyota Roadside Assistance have agreed to refund the £99 AA callout fee.
I'm really pleased with this response.