AA Breakdown Cover - Warning/Advise (sorry long)

[jamesrguk]

Hi All,

Sorry long

Not DeLorean related but I thought I would share a recent experience with the AA which made me quite angry and may serve as a warning to others.

1st off I have to say I have always been very happy with the AA's service and despite this recent event I will possibly maintain my membership.

Just before Chrismas (after the snow had cleared) I was driving my Fiesta in a queue of traffic at approximatly 10MPH and they was a clunk followed buy what sounded like bits of metal falling from the car, I pulled over and could see that the front passenger side wheel was tucked up into the wheel arch.

I suspected that the spring had collapsed (pretty common in modern cars according to many automotive publications) and the car was pretty undrivable (wheel was rubbing on the arch).
I called the AA (with whom I've been a member of 7 years non-stop) and told the lady that I had had a problem and when she asked me to describe the symptoms I said that I was driving along and suddenly the front suspension seemed to collapse, almost as if I had run over a pot hole.

I suggested that it was unlikly that it could be fixed by the roadside, foolishly I thought this was actually being helpful .

With out drawing breath the AA operator told me that I had been involved in an 'Road Traffic Accident' and that was not covered under the T&C's and that I would have to pay £104 for recovery. I was shocked but they had me in an impossible situation so I coughed up and a recovery vehicle arrived and took the car to a local garage.

Anyway I was determined that I hadn't had an accident later that evening I walked the road looking for debris or a pot hole and found nothing (I did find the missing half of my spring).

Anyway after a long debate back and forth with the AA who wanted me to prove that I hadn't been in an accident (which is near impossible when you think about it) I today managed to get them to refund my money.

It all hinged on the words in bold above "Almost as if" after much back and forth it came down to the fact that on their recording of the conversation I had said "as if", 2 words which ensured I received my money back.

So in summary

If you breakdown for any reason play dumb and don't suggest any cause for the breakdown.
Ironicly this will actually add to the AA's costs as they will send a patrol to you to try and fix it 1st which if it's major mechanical failure they won't be able to before sending the tow truck / low loader.

All sorted in the end but I am still angry that they effctivly will have had my money for almost 2 months!

James

[Darren C]

Hi James,

I've had plenty a run in with the AA, so much so I went with RAC in protest and they were even worse!

A not widely know clause was if you called them out more than 3 times in a year (different faults, months or cars) they refuse to come out a 4th time!

The "RELAY" service means that your car is like a runners batton.

example.

Callout at 12:30 hrs to dropped rod, hole in crankcase, oil and engine on floor! Explain on phone it's terminal need transporter.
14:00 man in Transit turns up (they have to confirm for themselves that the problem can't be fixed at roadside)
16:00 Transporter turns up, DAMAGES front spoiler winching onto flat bed.
16:20 OFF loads me at his depot, as I'm as far north as his patch goes...have to wait for another wagon.
19:00 Wagon arrives, takes me 50 miles OFF Loads me at a portacabin in middle of nowhere.
00:30 Next wagon arrives (I'm half frozen) winches car on and rips off exhaust box!
02:00 OFF loads me again at next depot.
05:30 Next truck arrives, driver says cars to low to get on the back and will call his office to arrange another truck.
09:00 Truck arrives, man asks me to unbolt whole front bumper to enable him to winch it on the back.
10:30 Bumper in crew cab leave depot.
13:00 Arrive at destination, damaged engine, ripped off exhaust, split spoiler, scratched and removed bumper. Cold Tired and not happy

Distance travelled 110 miles

And the AA response, "my car was unsuitable" It was my fault....and to claim on MY insurance (car was a STANDARD un modified Porsche 911) and it cost me several £1000 to repair their damage.

AGGGGGGGGGGGGH!

[Darren C]

Different 911, several years later,

Coming down a slip road of motorway came to roundabout, stationary at idle, heard timing chain start to rattle.
(common fault on early 911 was failure of mechanical chain tensioners, most now have a conversion done)
I turned engine off straight away to prevent a catastrophic failure. Called AA.
Man turned up, I explained problem and said I needed a Relay home (25 miles). Man said he needed to start engine to listen to fault before he called relay truck. I said fine, as long as you sign a disclaimer, so that if the tensioner fails completely you'll be responsible for any damage to the engine.

Stalemate.

Refuses to even tow me. Leaves me at side of road and bugg*rs OFF.

Called AA operator to explain the situation, they REFUSE to help me as it was recorded by their man that I wouldn't let him do his job.
I tried to explain that starting the engine could cause mechanical failure and more serious damage, but they weren't having any of it.

Great aren't they.

[delorean12uk]

James are you sure you never clipped the curb??? the spring fell off all by itself????

[jamesrguk]

James are you sure you never clipped the curb??? the spring fell off all by itself????

Yep just crawling along at 10mph in a queue and bang, it colapsed, I was pretty shocked, usually I'm doing 70mph on the A12 every morning to work, that could have been interesting!.

Interestingly I was chatting to the low loader driver and asked if he had come across tis before, the chap showed me his work book, he had personally attended 3 Ford vehicles within 2 days all with spring failure.

If you read around in the motoring press this is a well known problem not only with Fords but other cars who breifly in the early 2000's used poorly maufactured springs from the far east which can simply snap without warning.

J

[KMC-DMC]

Thanks for the advice James.

Bit like the instructions I have with my company car:- Never accept responsibility in the event of an accident, even if it was your fault.

[jamesrguk]

Great aren't they.

I think it's like all services, it's luck of the draw whether you get a good call centre person, good patrol man etc...

I broke down in my triumph spitfire in a February many moons ago I was in Great Yarmouth freezing mu ar*e off and needed to get to Colchester, it wasn't going to be fixed by the roadside. the AA arrived promptly and relayed it all the way back to Mersea Island, Colchester, the chap took the car and a mate took me (we'd only just purchased the car and had travelled up in convoy) we met up with the AA and the car at home a few hours later, service was superb.

Also had a couple of good experiences when my Ford Ka packed up.

I've thought of changing but there all as bad as each other and I like to at least have the leverage of 'I've been a member for 7 years' loyalty doesn't normaly mean much to businesses these days but I can sometimes help.

Once the money is back in my account I will of course be re-negotiating my price with the AA.

James

[jerzybondov]

James / Darren -

Unbelievable!

Darren, what did you do in the end with the second 911 with the iffy timing chain? How did you get out of there?

[delorean12uk]

If you read around in the motoring press this is a well known problem not only with Fords but other cars who breifly in the early 2000's used poorly maufactured springs from the far east which can simply snap without warning.

J

JuChunYuan Parnham

[jamesrguk]

JuChunYuan Parnham

I was wondering how long it would take for somone to touch on that