Please help me get refund from AA

tincat

Hi,

This is partly my fault, but I think really unreasonable of AA.

Last year, I was not covered by AA for my car for about 2 months because my year of membership ran out, and only when my car had problems did I get a new membership in October. (Waiting the obligatory 24 hours before calling them of course)

Anyway, my car was scrapped in September this year after it failed it's MOT and wasn't worth repairing. I haven't replaced the car, and so didn't think I needed to contact AA, as as far as I knew, the membership would run out on it's own.

I also moved house a few months ago, so any correspondence from them wouldn't have got to me as the post office redirect also stopped last month.

On Tuesday night I saw on my online bank statement that they deducted £80 odd 21st October, so I sent an online form from the AA site giving my policy & registration number, stating the car had been scrapped and to please refund my money.

I got a reply today saying that I was outside the 14 day cancellation period, and they couldn't refund. Before I respond further, I was hoping that some of you helpful peeps can suggest a course of action. Is there a new policy of the AA that there is an automatic renewal? If so, I haven't seen anything to this effect.

Thanks

tincat

Just to clarify, I am talking about the AA breakdown service, not any other AA product.

vikingaero

AA membership is an annual contract and cannot be cancelled. It can be deferred if you have purchased a new car with car breakdown cover. You've also had use of their service which probably would have cost you more than your membership fee. Plus you are still covered as a passenger in other peoples vehicles. In effect you are being a bit of a cheeky blighter!

Do you plan to buy another vehicle in the near future? If you do I would call them up and ask for it to be deferred for a year.

pinkshoes

I also had a problem with the AA, as they broke their terms and conditions by renewing my membership without sending any reminder paperwork (as written in their T&Cs), and then they wanted £14 fee to cancel (it was within the 14 days!). After getting nowhere through emails and phone calls, and unbelieveably rude staff, I eventually wrote a letter pointing out they broke their T&Cs, and a few days later got a snotty call from some woman who agreed to send me a cheque for the full refund (no fee!).

BUT... you say you moved house and didn't notify them, so it's your fault and not theirs that you didn't get the reminder paperwork. Could you ask them to "pause" it until you do get a car? I suggest you read through their terms and conditions carefully and find another get out clause!

just out of interest, did their direct debit show up on your bank account ?! I keep a regular eye on all my direct debits, and my AA one was never listed, hence I didn't find out about the money they took from my account until AFTER it was taken!!

Reuters_2

I had a similar problem with the AA and they also took the money for the next years breakdown cover. I complained that this was unfair and that they should ask before taking the money. Their response was that I was given 14 days to cancel the policy. I said (which was true) that I had been travelling in and out of the country during that period and so it was difficult, if not impossible for me to have cancelled during the 14 day window that the AA offer. It took 3 letters and photocopies of my passport visas (showing entry in and out of the countries I was visiting), photocopies of my e-tickets, boarding cards etc. and then the AA finally refunded my money. I would send another letter to them enclosing photocopies of all documents proving when you moved home, copies of the change of address letter you sent then etc. and see if that does the trick.

If I ever use the AA again (and it's doubtful) I would pay them by cheque!

Good luck
R

QQuaver

I noticed my AA is also on annual continous renewal. When should one cancel? Is it like a month before the renewal date?

pinkshoes

QQuaver wrote: »

I noticed my AA is also on annual continous renewal. When should one cancel? Is it like a month before the renewal date?

You can ring up and cancel whenever! I'd phone now and tell them to end it for the following year, or at least cancel the direct debit with your bank, and just write to them telling them you do not wish to renew.

If I ever use AA again, I'll pay by cheque, but I'll probably go with someone else! I hear the people that come out to sort your car out are nice, but the phone staff are utter misery guts!!

C_Ronaldo

With breakdown it car insurance i always phone up a month before hand to eitehr cancel or get a price, never expect said company to let you know when the breakdown cover is due to end or if you want to cancel