CANCELED My AAA Premier Road Side Assistance - Think You're Covered? Think Again

[TheCodeMonk]

As mentioned, I've had AAA roadside assistance and been a Premier Member for well over 10 years. Anyone who knows me knows, I have always highly recommending their services if only because they had been so helpful in the past. Now that I know their help is not guaranteed, that they'll allow their drivers to extort me or be denied service on the grounds that it's "unsafe" to tow my Jeep and stand by them, I no longer see a need to keep paying for their so called service.

It's easy to get a tow truck to come out and help you even if you don't have roadside assistance. Even if I had to pay the $600 that the driver in question was extorting me for, that still would have been cheaper than paying for Premium Roadside Assistance for as long as I have.

Thanks for clarifying...I hadn't checked on the thread for a few days until I got the notification on the update via email so I missed the earlier mention. I'll be looking more seriously at other options too, knowing this. (I was left stranded once in a parking lot (paved lot and paved up to the lot but since it was the parking lot for the local off road park, they said they wouldn't even come out and I was left fixing a busted transmission line until dark). I figured it was probably an anomaly but my confidence is fading.

 

[fiend]

Apparently they go through the Comcast Customer Service Training Program at AAA

Or Chase Bank. [emoji37][emoji379]


Sent from my iPhone using WAYALIFE mobile app

 

[BillTheCat]

Not a problem in southern Utah

January 2017

 

[Tozovr]

AAA Gold for 17 years...towed modified Jeeps, Rovers and Land Cruisers many times. Even had them pick up trucks I'd purchased and not registered yet. Never, ever any issues.

 

[CTarna]

Now that we know AAA is stalking the thread, hope they hear this:

With this apathy toward long-standing members, I cannot continue my AAA service and have just cancelled my membership as well.

 

[wayoflife]

Thanks for clarifying...I hadn't checked on the thread for a few days until I got the notification on the update via email so I missed the earlier mention. I'll be looking more seriously at other options too, knowing this. (I was left stranded once in a parking lot (paved lot and paved up to the lot but since it was the parking lot for the local off road park, they said they wouldn't even come out and I was left fixing a busted transmission line until dark). I figured it was probably an anomaly but my confidence is fading.

That's just stupid but at least, they told you up front and didn't try to extort you.

I've been doing this Jeep thing a long time and have seen plenty of built up Jeeps getting towed by really nice drivers and without any issues. Hell, what part of this looks safe?

I've even seen one tow truck driver come out on a trail, get stuck and have to get pulled out by another Jeep and he was totally cool about it.

Again, my specific problem with AAA is that they are standing behind one of their drivers who clearly was trying to extort $600-$700 out of me and when I refused to pay it, he left me stranded claiming that it was "unsafe" to tow my Jeep.

 

[BananaJeep]

Now that we know AAA is stalking the thread, hope they hear this:

With this apathy toward long-standing members, I cannot continue my AAA service and have just cancelled my membership as well.

I am hoping they are reading this thread, still.

I hope they know that they lost me as a potential customer. If Eddie had posted up that AAA saved him instead of leaving him stranded out in the middle of nowhere unless he paid more money on the spot, I would have bought a plan immediately as I am in the market for a roadside assistance plan. Instead, they choose to defend the asshole tow truck driver who is probably screwing everyone else out of their hard earned dollars.

And with that, my one final message to AAA: Get bent and pound sand.

 

[wayoflife]

January 2017

AAA Gold for 17 years...towed modified Jeeps, Rovers and Land Cruisers many times. Even had them pick up trucks I'd purchased and not registered yet. Never, ever any issues.

Like I said, they have helped me and my friends plenty of times in the past and without issue. The problem here is that it only takes the one time that you really need their help and the guy they send will only do it if you pay $600-$700. If you're unwilling to pay it, your Jeep will be determined to be "unsafe" to tow and they will stand behind his decision.

 

[SJ21XDC]

I'm glad you guys were able to limp home. Sucks to pay for an insurance policy and not be able to use it when needed. Anyway, this story will probably cost them way more than the cost to flatbed your Jeep.

 

[vgullotta]

I am hoping they are reading this thread, still.

I hope they know that they lost me as a potential customer. If Eddie had posted up that AAA saved him instead of leaving him stranded out in the middle of nowhere unless he paid more money on the spot, I would have bought a plan immediately as I am in the market for a roadside assistance plan. Instead, they choose to defend the asshole tow truck driver who is probably screwing everyone else out of their hard earned dollars.

And with that, my one final message to AAA: Get bent and pound sand.

Geico offers it if you need an alternative =)

 

[wayoflife]

Now that we know AAA is stalking the thread, hope they hear this:

With this apathy toward long-standing members, I cannot continue my AAA service and have just cancelled my membership as well.

I seriously doubt that they're still following this thread even though they should be.

I am hoping they are reading this thread, still.

I hope they know that they lost me as a potential customer. If Eddie had posted up that AAA saved him instead of leaving him stranded out in the middle of nowhere unless he paid more money on the spot, I would have bought a plan immediately as I am in the market for a roadside assistance plan. Instead, they choose to defend the asshole tow truck driver who is probably screwing everyone else out of their hard earned dollars.

And with that, my one final message to AAA: Get bent and pound sand.

Ask anyone who knows me personally, any of my friends that have known me for a long time and I guarantee that ALL of them will tell you how I've been a big advocate of AAA in the past and how I've encouraged them to sign up for their services. Not any more.

 

[vgullotta]

I'm glad you guys were able to limp home. Sucks to pay for an insurance policy and not be able to use it when needed. Anyway, this story will probably cost them way more than the cost to flatbed your Jeep.

I bet they had to pay that scamming tow truck driver for going out there, too. AAA u failed hard :doh::doh::doh::banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[Tenways]

Sounds like you got a hard-headed tow truck driver. I was really surprised that AAA wouldn't try and make amends instead of hiding behind a caveat. I guess it's luck of the draw with the towing company. Not a gamble I want to take when I'm broke down in the middle of nowhere.

Don't believe I'l be renewing my membership.

 

[shawninpaso]

From my perspective, AAA can go screw themselves. Any time I get the opportunity I will be sure to let my friends know of this situation, which from my read goes like this:

1. AAA and the tow outfit are happy to help under their terms as they all make a bigger profit using the smaller (non-flatbed) two truck and a short distance.
2. The tow truck driver has no idea about customer service, and AAA does nothing about their bad attitude and tone.
3. The tow-truck drive and AAA (even after some time to think about it), cannot specify why it would be unsafe to haul your particular Jeep.
4. The tow truck outfit would be happy to tow you for a huge out of pocket fee, which apparently now makes it safe to tow your Jeep.
5. AAA stands by their story because they did the math and figured they will not profit from this single request, completely neglecting all the other vehicles you have and the many years you have paid them for service.

Am I missing anything? AAA has a whole different meaning now, which I will refrain from spelling out here.

As an aside, about a year ago I was touring around the east side of Bishop. Just as a I returned to pavement, a side wall blew out. When I went to change the tire, two of the lug nuts simply wouldn't budge for me and I had no on-board impact tools to loosen the offending lug nuts, so I phoned a towing outfit in Bishop. They asked if I had AAA, which I did not (and never will). Regardless, they hustled out with a cordless impact gun and I was on my way. Later I recalled I had a small line item in my auto insurance which covered the expense for the help, so I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[wayoflife]

It's official...

From: Larsen, Annette
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2017 10:20 AM
To: Eddie
Subject: Re: The response I received:

Eddie, I'm sorry to lose you! I wish I had more power to help you. Your membership is cancelled as of today and a refund check should reach you in 7 - 10 business days.

Thanks ;o(
Annette

 

[3800chris]

I've had good experiences with AAA many times, and it sounds like most of us have. The problem I see here, which is a major one, is that AAA decided to let one of their drivers extort money because he didn't feel like bringing the proper tow truck which was requested. That is totally unacceptable and AAA should have dropped that driver immediately. I would be furious if I was in the same situation.

That driver should have been able to get the other truck, covered under the AAA plan. What if the request was called in saying all 4 wheels were locked up. Then he would HAVE to use a flatbed, and it would be covered under the AAA tow plan. The driver was just a seedy extortionist who didn't get reprimanded for his terrible service at all.

 

[lordlochwood]

AAA towing

Heck, they even came out with a flatbed and towed my 2001 Harley Davidson Roadglide!

 

[BananaJeep]

It's official...

So now it's official, who are you going to go with as far as roadside assistance? Like I mentioned, I'm in the market for a plan but definitely don't want to go through AAA.

 

[wayoflife]

I bet they had to pay that scamming tow truck driver for going out there, too. AAA u failed hard :doh::doh::doh::banghead::banghead::banghead:

I'll bet they did. I can assure you that the driver couldn't give two shits about leaving me stranded.

Sounds like you got a hard-headed tow truck driver. I was really surprised that AAA wouldn't try and make amends instead of hiding behind a caveat. I guess it's luck of the draw with the towing company. Not a gamble I want to take when I'm broke down in the middle of nowhere.

Don't believe I'l be renewing my membership.

And that's just the thing - AAA chose to stand by their driver and hide behind policy. Doesn't matter if most of their drivers are good guys that are willing to help out, it just takes one to leave you high and dry or at least, unless you're willing to fork out $600-$700.

 

[Tenways]

So now it's official, who are you going to go with as far as roadside assistance? Like I mentioned, I'm in the market for a plan but definitely don't want to go through AAA.

Your insurance provider usually has good discounted rates. I have Geico and can't find any caveats mentioning modified vehicles. I'll have to dig around some more.