Complaint AA Breakdown Renewal without notification

vikingaero

I wrote them a letter cancelling renewal. I specifically stated that they were not authorised to make any further debits. They wrote back today confirming my cancellation. Seems cancellation in writing is better than call centres where the agent tries it on.

mikey72

vikingaero wrote: »

I wrote them a letter cancelling renewal. I specifically stated that they were not authorised to make any further debits. They wrote back today confirming my cancellation. Seems cancellation in writing is better than call centres where the agent tries it on.

Give them a few weeks.
Make sure you cancel the direct debit though.

misc46

Just had £112 taken from my account! I paid for sisters AA membership through my bank.

What happens next? Do they have any legal rights written to take the money without me agreeing?

Can someone tell me what i need to say to word it so i know what i'm saying as this has put me in the red with my bank account.:mad:

Bank will probably think it's all legit as usual as it's a big company.

The_AA_Company_Representative

There are lots of questions and concerns within this thread. Can I invite you to call our Member Relations team on 0845 607 6727 where they will be happy to clarify each point.

mikey72

The_AA_Company_Representative wrote: »

There are lots of questions and concerns within this thread. Can I invite you to call our Member Relations team on 0845 607 6727 where they will be happy to clarify each point.

mikey72 wrote: »

It comes up in a new thread at least once a week, so why not just offer a fair renewal price upfront, rather than load the price for loyal customers?

Well you haven't answered that yet, and as you say, there are lots of questions and concerns in this thread, so wouldn't it make more sense for you to answer publicly, in this forum, rather than have everyone ring an 0845 number?

An answer to my question would be a good starting place, then I'm sure we could debate it further.

jlrtech

yes come on aa rep lets see you do your work in public , seeing as we are a well known brand :rotfl:

okjak

Beware of AA sharp practice. I cancelled my AA membership a year ago to go with a better alternative with whom I have been happy to continue. Today I recieved a 'WELCOME BACK' notice that the AA will AUTOMATICALLY renew my membership and charge my credit card. It advises me to call them for any queries or cancellation but that call is eventually disconnected on the pretext that they are too busy.

The AA was bought up by an agressive private equity company a few years ago. They appear to act as if they can come back and charge you at any time in the future. I have looked at their T & C whcih makes no mention of any such right. I have written and faxed the following:

I refer to your notice dated 27 March 2011 ref membership no. 6356 0181 5294 9273. I cancelled membership last year. No advice or claim regarding any restart of membership was given at that time. You now allege that you are entitled to automatically restart my membership on 29 April 2011 and charge my credit card. I have not contacted the AA at any time since cancellation, have not authorised any such restart or payment by any means whatsoever. Please confirm receipt of this message, that my membership has been cancelled permanently and that no further attempts to restart or collect payment will be made. I have tried to contact you by phone as advise in your Terms and Conditions (p20) on 0800 but have several times been disconnected and told to call back later. If confirmation of this message and action taken is not received I will take it up with the FSA, Financial Ombudsman, consumer and media organisations and claim against you for any costs incurred.
I do authorise you to contact me to confirm cancellation but do not authroise you or any other partner organisation to contact me by any means whatsoever for any product sales related purpose.

Beetle_lover

ive just sent a complaint to the above email, wonder how long it will take to get picked up! fingers crossed for everyone that has a complaint with the AA! think we are going to need all the luck we can get!

Guilefox

Have to say thanks to those of you who posted on the thread.

Last year I took out AA cover because of two reasons.
a) Quidco £50 cash back
b) My AA credit card returned me £115 in points.

I took out their super dooper policy (everything bar international cover on one car at £155 inc breakdown cover) so I actually got "paid £10" to take out the cover!

My renewal letter just came in (the date on the letter was rather early considering I got it 10 days after the date on the letter) And the amount to be automatically taken was now £266!

After reading this thread I got an idea of value and I quickly checked the best price I could get on AA as a new customer and RAC's/Green Flag cash back offer. Armed with this I called AA and pressed option to leave AA.

After some haggling I reduced the breakdown cover after reading the small print had some nasty changes. Initially they dropped it half way then I pushed for more and got it renewed for £105. I can claim back my AA credit card points for another years free cover. :T

I feel sorry less savvy people perhaps my parents generation (I am 35) if I wasnt there to advise them (not that age has anything to do with being a savvy shopper or money saving expert!). Many People often do not know how to "play the game" and rely on old fashioned loyalty, assume they can let membership roll over and/or trust the brand or corporation. Particularly in the areas of business with very sharp practice e.g. any kind of insurance, mobile phone contracts, gas, electric. I guess without those people paying over the odds. There would be no room for discounts. I am a very busy person believe it or not and it is a pain to have to keep an electronic reminder of all these contracts, when they expire and keep pushing for the best deal. Surely there is a better business model out there.

Sorry for those people who have also been stung good luck with your cases.

Agent1013

IMHO The ONLY way to cancel is by letter sent by recorded delivery. I don't trust people in call centres who may by working for multiple organisations (don't know if this is the case with The AA) The dead giveaway being when you know more than they do about the product or service they are providing.

Letter every time for me at least then you have evidence of them receiving the correspondence whether they act on it is up to them of course but at least you are covered.

Reminds me of the time I phoned to add a hire car to my car policy. After driving about in a brand new car for a week phoned to cancel the hire car cover and was shocked to hear that they had no record of it!!! (Should add that this was not The AA)

My renewal for The AA came through today £166, with a 'loyalty discount':rotfl: they will give it to me for £124.50 :rotfl: Quick look online tonight and I can buy the same cover as a new customer for £101, go though TopCashback and I can get it for £50.50. So much for loyalty eh? Suffice to say I wont be renewing and my cancellation letter will be in the post to them Saturday. Same goes for my car insurance I get through them which due for renewal next month if the Breakdown is anything to go by.

I see very little benefit staying loyal to any organisation these days. Unless you are getting a great deal cancel at the earliest penalty free opportunity and go with another provider, this in the long term saves an absolute fortune.