Is AAA giving bad service now???

chic

chic

SF VIP
Location
U.S.
A couple of weeks ago I went to start my car and it wouldn't start so I called AAA from whom I've ALWAYS had excellent fast service. When I told the dipatcher the problem, she said someone would be out to look at the car in a half an hour. Ususally they come in 10 or 15 min. Since it was a hot August morning and my car would not start so I had no AC, I went back inside to wait. 45 min later no one had come or called so I called back. Dispatch said "oh he's changing a tire somewhere not far from you, he'll be there in 20 min.".

Another 45 min later, still nothing so I called again and she said he's on his way. A full 2 HOURS later someone finally came and looked at the car, tried a few things then said it needed to be towed to a mechanic. It would take 20 min. for the tow truck to arrive.

45 minutes later I called AAA again. This time I got a recorded message telling me I'd won a free trip for two to the Carribean I would only have to pay port of entry fees. WTH?? They said press one to accept (no other options). Then they said again "Press one to accept. Again I did nothing. Then they said "Your call is being disconnected". 20 minutes later the tow truck came and took the car to a mechanic.

The next day I picked my car up at the mechanic and noticed the shift lock override button on the console was missing. (The shift lock override buttom must be depressed in order to tow a car stuck in the park position). Now I need a new shift lock override button and will have to take a trip to the towing people sent by AAA to service my car that day. AAA never sent me a follow up email to ask how my service was. I was ready to give them an earful.

This is such a mess and I'm wondering if any SF members who are also AAA members have had a really bad experience recently with their service? After this experience I'd switch to another auto club if there was a really good one to join, but everything I see is AAA or people I've never heard of.

Thanks for listening to all of this. Like I said. It's a mess.
 

You certainly was messed about, by your AAA Our similar organisation is called RAA in South Aust..(Royal Automobile Association) we are members which cost us $80.00 a year in case of breakdowns ,however hubby is a retired mechanic so he carries out all our repairs/ servicing of our cars,
We Called the RAA once in 1997 after hubby's brand new car would not start but he had it going before they got there so we phoned them to cancel..
Hope you don't get ripped off some repair places in Aust are known for telling women who have no mechanical knowledge they replaced a part when they have not ( we recently had an artical on a current affair where the TV crew had removed a spark plug lead and taken the car into a repair shop only to be charged to replace an expencive part, when it was only necessary to re attach the spark plug lead ) However they were named and shamed on the program to warn people ..
 
Always good service and great for seniors...
 

I've only had to use my AAA service a couple of times in the 46 years I've been a member,
and the service has always been excellent. In fact the last time (last year) it was SO good,
that TWO of their tow trucks showed up at the same time. (Turned out to be a dead battery.)
I always use them to plan my cruises and also carry my car and home insurance with them.

I sure hope the service hasn't changed as you described.
 
Chic, that's really terrible! I have never joined AAA. The few times I needed jump-start or tire fixed, etc. I used my car insurance coverage which is only a few dollars a year for those services but granted, that coverage is limited to a certain dollar amount. I was always meaning to look into joining Triple A for the opportunity to buy more service, but not so sure now.
 
Depends on the region of the country. AAA has apparently opened new geographic areas to their direct service vs using contractors, that could be the actual issue in your area-a contractor problem. AAA has become expensive along with offering very basic mechanic services. Not sure where they want to go.
 
Our AAA has switched from a smallish office to this super large fancy 'travel agency' model. Lots of clothes being sold and other 'stuff'. They had staff all lurking around trying to look busy and the place was empty. Not impressed with the new model/mode at all. We only use AAA for discounts and their travel books and maps.
 
I used to know how to change a tire before car manufacturer's stopped giving cars the trunk space for a spare.

I'm in the Northeast US and have always had excellent service from AAA (which I use about once a year), until a couple of weeks ago when it was so inexcusably bad I actually wanted to leave. I'm a busy woman who relies upon her car and with all the delays caused by AAA I had to reorganize my day several times. Worse, my swift lock override is now missing and I must get that replaced. I know It was AAA's towal service that was responsible. I just hope they accept responsibility for it.

For those who've asked about AAA's service I can ony say I've had very good service until now which is why I thought I'd share my experience to learn if any others here have been noticed a decline in the quality of their service. Thank you for you responses.
 
I've been a AAA member for more years than I can remember. Granted, I use it rarely, but when needed the service is quick and reliable. Wouldn't be without it !!

Also use AAA for home/auto insurance. Rates are comparable or less to any other agency. There again, any need to use those services, quick and reliable.
 
Rocky said:
I've been a AAA member for more years than I can remember. Granted, I use it rarely, but when needed the service is quick and reliable. Wouldn't be without it !!

Also use AAA for home/auto insurance. Rates are comparable or less to any other agency. There again, any need to use those services, quick and reliable.
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Expect AAA will discontinue service with unsatisfactory suppliers when notified.
 
Omg…they sent a guy to unlock my car because i had left the keys inside. He jimmied the lock which apparently wasn't easy with my car (Lexus) security, he opened my door, I got in, he walked back in his truck, and then I realized that I was locked IN the car with all the windows up and nothing would open! It was 103 degrees outside! By the time I realized there was no way out of the car, he was climbing in his truck to leave. I started screaming HELP and banging on the inside of the windows. Thankfully, he heard me. I don't know what he did to make it locked on the inside but he told me all I had to do was turn the engine on and it would unlock everything. I was totally traumatized by it all.

Otherwise, AAA has been great with roadside assistance but I've heard twice that their mechanic shop is to be avoided at all cost…that might be different where you are.
 
Lara said:
Omg…they sent a guy to unlock my car because i had left the keys inside. He jimmied the lock which apparently wasn't easy with my car (Lexus) security, he opened my door, I got in, he walked back in his truck, and then I realized that I was locked IN the car with all the windows up and nothing would open! It was 103 degrees outside! By the time I realized there was no way out of the car, he was climbing in his truck to leave. I started screaming HELP and banging on the inside of the windows. Thankfully, he heard me. I don't know what he did to make it locked on the inside but he told me all I had to do was turn the engine on and it would unlock everything. I was totally traumatized by it all.

Otherwise, AAA has been great with roadside assistance but I've heard twice that their mechanic shop is to be avoided at all cost…that might be different where you are.
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That sounds like a scary experience Lara. Once when I was shopping and got back in the car my key wouldn't turn in the ignition so I called AAA and the women who answered told me to give my steering wheel a twist. It worked! Key slid into ignition and car started. This is a good trick to know because a few months later one of my neighbors had the same problem and we solved it the same way. :D
 
Yes, I've had that happen before to me too. The steering wheel does lock sometimes like that. This time the wheel wasn't locked though. I had checked that. The tow guy had triggered the security system somehow when jimmying the lock. I'm guessing it was something akin to when your car alarm goes off and you can't stop it unless you put your key in the ignition.

But, chic, that is a good reminder for those who are unaware of what to do when their steering wheel locks up.
 
I was a member for years. Like most of you I rarely used the service. Once, years ago, I was in a snow bank and they got me out. The other was about a year ago. I slid off an extremely slushy road. When I called I was told the tow truck driver would demand cash??? I then called "The Gecko" and they sent a tow truck for me. The lizard charges a few dollars for the service vs. $60. With the money I saved probably equals the loss of the AAA discounts.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I was a member for years. Like most of you I rarely used the service. Once, years ago, I was in a snow bank and they got me out. The other was about a year ago. I slid off an extremely slushy road. When I called I was told the tow truck driver would demand cash??? I then called "The Gecko" and they sent a tow truck for me. The lizard charges a few dollars for the service vs. $60. With the money I saved probably equals the loss of the AAA discounts.
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Without AAA it costs $90 for a towal where I live. Then add to that the cost of getting transportation back from the mechanic as well as what the mechanic will charge and AAA sounds like a pretty good deal. I do use AAA probably once a year. It's a great thing to have when you break down out on the highway or in a parking lot somewhere. I didn't like my service last month, but overall they have been beneficial for me.
 
I sort of glossed over my problem with AAA the last time. I slid off the road. I called AAA and asked for a tow. She told me that they "don't do that anymore". WHAT! THAT WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. She said they would send a tow truck but the driver would take only cash. She must have repeated the words "cash only" 10 time. As I'm off the road in a snow storm, so what else could I do. She connected me to the driver. He didn't know what would it take for him to drive "all the way up " to me. Gee I wonder what that would be-$$$$. Then I remebered Geico. I was angry and called AAA's local office, which totally ignored me. I callled the main office in Fla. I sent them letters and they never responded. Since then, others reported the "cash only" thing.
 

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