Be wary of AA cancellation Policy

GalwayAnnie

I've been with AA Road Rescue for a number of years and the new car insurance I am taking out includes Roadside Breakdown 24 hr cover so decided to cancel AA membership. However I've been told since I renewed in December (but pay by DD monthly) that my membership runs until next December and that I can't cancel. Interestingly all their quotes online are in monthly rates. I'm really fed up.

I wonder what would happen if I cancelled the Direct Debit? Wish I had never taken out policy and I've never even used it.

keithclancy

GalwayAnnie wrote: »

I've been with AA Road Rescue for a number of years and the new car insurance I am taking out includes Roadside Breakdown 24 hr cover so decided to cancel AA membership. However I've been told since I renewed in December (but pay by DD monthly) that my membership runs until next December and that I can't cancel. Interestingly all their quotes online are in monthly rates. I'm really fed up.

I wonder what would happen if I cancelled the Direct Debit? Wish I had never taken out policy and I've never even used it.

Same with most of them. I'm with the ANWB (Dutch AA) and I have to cancel 2 weeks before the policy ends otherwise it renews for a year.

Read the T&Cs when you sign up for something.

Bandara

sounds fair enough to me

You get the full use and benefit of the service from day one and they let you pay for it over a year.

Can't see any problem with that.

Anan1

Hammertime wrote: »

sounds fair enough to me

You get the full use and benefit of the service from day one and they let you pay for it over a year.

Can't see any problem with that.

The problem is that she doesn't want the service any more.

you don't pay separately every month, you are spreading a year's policy cost over the year instead of up front

so yeah it makes sense you can't cancel

Anan1

bluewolf wrote: »

you don't pay separately every month, you are spreading a year's policy cost over the year instead of up front

so yeah it makes sense you can't cancel

I don't see how? You could say the same thing about a motor insurance policy, and you can cancel that mid-term.

wonski

I had this before - cancelled DD (Halifax left Ireland, anyway), and even received new membership card like 7 months later. When i rang them they didn't notice anything was wrong, but maybe i was very lucky. In fairness - if you didn't use any service, i can't see a reason why you can't cancel mid-term, like car insurance, health insurance, or anything else really.

keithclancy

Anan1 wrote: »

I don't see how? You could say the same thing about a motor insurance policy, and you can cancel that mid-term.

Its what she signed up for:

Link

Your right to cancel: You have the right to cancel this cover within 14 days of the
agreed policy start date i.e. date of purchase

Anan1

keithclancy wrote: »

Its what she signed up for:

Link

I'm not disputing AA's t&cs, i'm disputing Hammertime's assertion that it's 'fair enough'.

Bandara

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm not disputing AA's t&cs, i'm disputing Hammertime's assertion that it's 'fair enough'.

my point is you could use their service 50 times in a row in January and feb and then decide you don't want it any more.

They would have come out and done work for you in good faith and given you the service they promised and you are now trying to get out of paying for the service you signed up for.

Its clearly laid out in their literature before you sign.

MugMugs

Personally, I'd write them a letter advising you wish to discontinue your time with them and that you've asked your bank to reject any further DD demands.

I'd be very surprised if they pursue you further

unkel

GalwayAnnie wrote: »

I've been with AA Road Rescue for a number of years and the new car insurance I am taking out includes Roadside Breakdown 24 hr cover so decided to cancel AA membership.

I hope you realise your insurance break down cover is nowhere near comparable with the AA service?

Anan1

Hammertime wrote: »

my point is you could use their service 50 times in a row in January and feb and then decide you don't want it any more.

They would have come out and done work for you in good faith and given you the service they promised and you are now trying to get out of paying for the service you signed up for.

Its clearly laid out in their literature before you sign.

That's a fair point, but couldn't they tie the refund to the degree to which the service has been used? It's equally possible, for example, that the OP hasn't had to call on the service at all since renewal.

coylemj

Hammertime wrote: »

my point is you could use their service 50 times in a row in January and feb and then decide you don't want it any more.

You could knock someone down in a motor accident and potentially have a claim for over €1m but you could still cancel the policy the next day and get a pro rata refund.

How is the AA different?

Anan1

coylemj wrote: »

You could knock someone down in a motor accident and potentially have a claim for over €1m but you could still cancel the policy the next day and get a pro rata refund.

How is the AA different?

Actually, can you? I have a feeling that the refund might be contingent on no claims having been made.

wonski

coylemj wrote: »

You could knock someone down in a motor accident and potentially have a claim for over €1m but you could still cancel the policy the next day and get a pro rata refund.

How is the AA different?

You can't cancel motor policy if you had a claim.

OP however did not claim anything from AA, so they already have free cash from him. I bet if OP cancels direct debit, and send them a letter, they will not push it any further. In worst case scenario - he will have to pay anyway. Nothing to lose really by doing this.

leeroybrown

coylemj wrote: »

You could knock someone down in a motor accident and potentially have a claim for over €1m but you could still cancel the policy the next day and get a pro rata refund.

Motor policy claims are contingent on payment in full of the year's premium.

MugMugs

coylemj wrote: »

Hammertime wrote: »

my point is you could use their service 50 times in a row in January and feb and then decide you don't want it any more.

You could knock someone down in a motor accident and potentially have a claim for over €1m but you could still cancel the policy the next day and get a pro rata refund.

How is the AA different?

No you can't. You're quite incorrect.

nowuckenfurries

coylemj wrote: »

You could knock someone down in a motor accident and potentially have a claim for over €1m but you could still cancel the policy the next day and get a pro rata refund.

How is the AA different?

The OP has mentioned that they have cancelled their AA Rescue, FYI this is not a Motor Insurance policy but AA Membership ... 2 completely different products

wonski

nowuckenfurries wrote: »

The OP has mentioned that they have cancelled their AA Rescue, FYI this is not a Motor Insurance policy but AA Membership ... 2 completely different products

The OP has mentioned that they can't cancel their AA membership. We are only saying that it is a little unfair, comparing it to motor policy, or any other. Still, if you look at gym membership, they do exactly the same. But they do provide some service at discounted price, while AA did not provide any service to OP, and only spread cost of the membership for 12 months.

fasttalkerchat

MugMugs wrote: »

Personally, I'd write them a letter advising you wish to discontinue your time with them and that you've asked your bank to reject any further DD demands.

I'd be very surprised if they pursue you further

The credit agreement may not be with the AA. It would be a bank/credit company pursuing for the credit amount.

Anan1

fasttalkerchat wrote: »

The credit agreement may not be with the AA. It would be a bank/credit company pursuing for the credit amount.

Good point.