American Automobile Association

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I've been a member for 50 years this year. When I joined in 1970, I was informed that after 50 years the annual membership fees would be waived. Today I received a bill for dues. I called the local office and they didn't know anything about that policy. Then I stepped up to the regional office and was told that I would have to take that up with the local office. Back to square one. To me it seems like a "bait & switch" gimmick. Ever try to get info out of AAA? Their web site is confusing and it only kept referring be back to the local club.
 

debodun said:
I've been a member for 50 years this year. When I joined in 1970, I was informed that after 50 years the annual membership fees would be waived. Today I received a bill for dues. I called the local office and they didn't know anything about that policy. Then I stepped up to the regional office and was told that I would have to take that up with the local office. Back to square one. To me it seems like a "bait & switch" gimmick. Ever try to get info out of AAA? Their web site is confusing and it only kept referring be back to the local club.
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I've been with AAA for 42 years. Never heard of that policy, but it might have been a regional promotion.
 
I went right to national headquarters (1-800-564-6222). They said they did have that policy up until a few years ago, but phased it out. Just when I qualify! The little driving I do now, I am thinking about giving AAA up. I could probably get roadside service added to my auto insurance. Moot anyway since I don't have a cell phone and couldn't call if I broke down in the middle of nowhere.
 
CAA, the Canadian arm of AAA, has made more money out of me than I’ve used in services. The couple of times that I did, it was worth it.

50 years is impressive. Too bad that you’re not grandfathered in. You really should be. Just because they don’t offer it anymore, doesn’t mean the original offer they made to you shouldn’t be kept.

How much do you pay per year?

It would be worth it for you to get a pay-as-you-go cellphone for security. Just be sure you have it in your car & charged up.
 
debodun said:
I went right to national headquarters (1-800-564-6222). They said they did have that policy up until a few years ago, but phased it out. Just when I qualify! The little driving I do now, I am thinking about giving AAA up. I could probably get roadside service added to my auto insurance. Moot anyway since I don't have a cell phone and couldn't call if I broke down in the middle of nowhere.
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Check with your auto insurance company.

GEICO includes it in my policy at no additional charge. It takes care of the basics but it doesn't include some of the perks of AAA.

I was thinking of joining AAA because the repair shop that I use gives a 10% discount on labor for AAA members.
 
The folks that signed you up 50 years ago are all retired or sumthin'. The youngsters never heard about it.

I worked there seasonally in the 1990s, and I never heard about it.
 
I guess sometimes it pays to be a gripy whiner. I received this email this morning. My complaints must have reached someone in the know:

We have updated your membership to show that you are a Fifty Year Member and have removed the balance due (please disregard the bill you received). Going forward you will get a notice with your new card attached and showing that your membership balance is zero. Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with.
 
A 50 year guarantee? I'm not sure even Sears with their Craftsman tools would back that up. Every AA employee alive when that was issued is now retired or deceased. Good luck.
 
To begin with, I am totally biased against AAA. I was a member for decades. And they did help me out on one snowy day. But a few years ago, I was in a snow pile near my house. When I called for assistance, I was told "we don't do that anymore"???? But, they could connect me with a tow truck operator. When he called back, it was a long, long, long way for him to drive, and it was very, very, very cold. Gee, what would entice him to come ALL that way on this very COLD night- maybe hard cold cash, and lots of it? I told him to pound sand, which kind of sounded like 'truck off'. I called my insurance company-Geico. They sent a tow truck-free of charge. Before long, I heard others complaining about calling AAA, and having to pay a tower for their services. I did contact the main office of AAA. The way I got brushed off made me realize they had a problem, and they didn't care about it, or didn't believed it. Either way, why pay for AAA, when Geico did the same for free..
Again, I'm very biased against AAA.
 
debodun said:
I've been a member for 50 years this year. When I joined in 1970, I was informed that after 50 years the annual membership fees would be waived. Today I received a bill for dues. I called the local office and they didn't know anything about that policy. Then I stepped up to the regional office and was told that I would have to take that up with the local office. Back to square one. To me it seems like a "bait & switch" gimmick. Ever try to get info out of AAA? Their web site is confusing and it only kept referring be back to the local club.
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Shame on them for offering such a thing in the first place.

To ensure that no members enjoyed waived membership fees, they should have made it after 100 years.

If there's one thing I've learned about policies and such in today's day and age, it's all about take, take, take, with little to zero give.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
To begin with, I am totally biased against AAA. I was a member for decades. And they did help me out on one snowy day. But a few years ago, I was in a snow pile near my house. When I called for assistance, I was told "we don't do that anymore"???? But, they could connect me with a tow truck operator. When he called back, it was a long, long, long way for him to drive, and it was very, very, very cold. Gee, what would entice him to come ALL that way on this very COLD night- maybe hard cold cash, and lots of it? I told him to pound sand, which kind of sounded like 'truck off'. I called my insurance company-Geico. They sent a tow truck-free of charge. Before long, I heard others complaining about calling AAA, and having to pay a tower for their services. I did contact the main office of AAA. The way I got brushed off made me realize they had a problem, and they didn't care about it, or didn't believed it. Either way, why pay for AAA, when Geico did the same for free..
Again, I'm very biased against AAA.
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ROFLMAO!

Thank you for this, Fuzzy! It's my laugh of the day! :ROFLMAO:
 
And with the AAA here, you only can make one service call in a calendar year. My mom found out the hard way, too. It seems every local branch can run things their own way - there's no consistency. When I joined I was in what was termed "Hudson Valley" branch. Somehow over the years I was switched to the "Northway" branch. Now the Hudson Valley has the longevity policy; the Northway does not. AAA is a rat's nest of miscommunication.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
To begin with, I am totally biased against AAA. I was a member for decades. And they did help me out on one snowy day. But a few years ago, I was in a snow pile near my house. When I called for assistance, I was told "we don't do that anymore"???? But, they could connect me with a tow truck operator. When he called back, it was a long, long, long way for him to drive, and it was very, very, very cold. Gee, what would entice him to come ALL that way on this very COLD night- maybe hard cold cash, and lots of it? I told him to pound sand, which kind of sounded like 'truck off'. I called my insurance company-Geico. They sent a tow truck-free of charge. Before long, I heard others complaining about calling AAA, and having to pay a tower for their services. I did contact the main office of AAA. The way I got brushed off made me realize they had a problem, and they didn't care about it, or didn't believed it. Either way, why pay for AAA, when Geico did the same for free..
Again, I'm very biased against AAA.
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I,on the other hand, have found AAA to be a godsend on several occasions.
 
debodun said:
I guess sometimes it pays to be a gripy whiner. I received this email this morning. My complaints must have reached someone in the know:

We have updated your membership to show that you are a Fifty Year Member and have removed the balance due (please disregard the bill you received). Going forward you will get a notice with your new card attached and showing that your membership balance is zero. Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with.
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It will be interesting to see if AAA provides the free fifty-year members with the same level of service as they do to the younger paying members.

images
 
debodun said:
And with the AAA here, you only can make one service call in a calendar year. My mom found out the hard way, too. It seems every local branch can run things their own way - there's no consistency. When I joined I was in what was termed "Hudson Valley" branch. Somehow over the years I was switched to the "Northway" branch. Now the Hudson Valley has the longevity policy; the Northway does not. AAA is a rat's nest of miscommunication.
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This where it pays to be a small country. Our AA ( Automobile Association) rules are the same everywhere...
breakdown-news.jpg
The AA has always been the crème de la crème of the rescue services in this country, but sadly they've gone the way of the less for less... and the higher and higher cost doesn't equate well with their service. Last year for the first time since I learned to drive, I changed over to another very well known rescue service, the RAC . I got 5 times the amount of cover services for 1/2 the price...
 
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hollydolly said:
This where it pays to be a small country. Our AA ( Automobile Association) rules are the same everywhere...
breakdown-news.jpg
The AA has always been the crème de la crème of the rescue services in this country, but sadly they've gone the way of the less for less... and the higher and higher cost doesn't equate well with their service. Last year for the first time since I learned to drive I changed over to another very well know rescue service the RAC . I got 5 times the amount of cover services for 1/2 the price...
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In the US, the letters AA is for Alcoholics Anonymous!:oops:
 
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debodun said:
And with the AAA here, you only can make one service call in a calendar year....
Somehow over the years I was switched to the "Northway" branch.
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I just checked the So Cal AAA website - the policy is up to four service calls per year. Curious as to why a national organization would have such different regional policies, I checked the Northway, NY office site. Same policy. Up to four service calls per year.
https://www.northway.aaa.com/membership

Like @Butterfly, I've found them to be a godsend over the years. Flat tire, dead battery or other vehicle problem? They come quickly and sort it out. Totally worth it to me.

With the exception of driver's license transactions, I manage DMV business at the AAA office (5 miles from my home). No charge to do so. I just pay the standard DMV fees and AAA handles the paperwork. Faster and easier than the DMV, that's for sure.

I also take advantage of hotel and car rental discounts offered to AAA members.
 
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