The AA have just lost me as a customer.

cormie · 16-09-2008 08:58AM #1

I signed up to the AA last year, got the full package, home start, rescue plus and all that and it cost me about €180. I just got my renewal form and next years premium is €240!

I rang up and asked what the story was and was told the increase is because they now have more units on the road and the wait time is less and have bought new technology to better the roadside diagnosis. A 33% increase is a bit crazy I think, especially since, as far as I know, they don't guarantee any better service. I mean you ring up and you may get seen to quicker.

Since I signed up to them this time last year, I have since changed my insurance company and I'm now offered roadside assistance from the company I'm with. I was going to keep my AA membership for that extra peace of mind, but not with a hike like that.

I only used them once in the year and it wasn't even for my van, but as far as I know, you can call them 5 times a year without effecting your premium for next year.

They wouldn't budge at all on the price either, I asked is there anything you can do on the price? Nope! Is there any incentive to stop customers leaving? Nope! Ah well, they could have got another €180 off me for a year and probably not had to call to me at all. Their loss.

Henry Ford III · 16-09-2008 09:55AM

Just make sure you have roadside assistance cover from somewhere in place Cormie. Your record of mechanical maladies strongly suggests you need it

bmccaff · 16-09-2008 09:56AM

only 132 euro today

https://secure.aaireland.ie/personal-membership/

Gregor Samsa · 16-09-2008 10:08AM

bmccaff wrote: »

only 132 euro today

It's actually €176 when you add the Homestart Plus that cormie had - it's only fair to compare like with like.

Then add €65 for Rescue Plus (new members get this free as an introductory offer - cormie was a renewing member and they wouldn't extend the offer to him), and you get the €241.

vibe666 · 16-09-2008 10:14AM

looks like they're taking existing customers for a ride, figuring people are too lazy to switch.

busman · 16-09-2008 10:53AM

Had AA myself for years but when I was renewing my insurance with AXA I decided to go with their Rescue Plus option. Think it was about 50euro. Haven't had to use it yet touch wood! Might not have all the bells and whistles of what the AA provide but as long as they will get me and my car home I'll be happy.

itarumaa · 16-09-2008 11:30AM

What does roadside assistance actually cover if taken from various insurance companies?

Does it include a delivery to home or a delivery to nearest garage?

There is a big difference in this if you fix you car you self.

Speedy007 · 16-09-2008 11:46AM

My sister got an oil and filter change with 25 point safety check on a 04 Clio plus 12 AA cover with Homestart all for €149 at Airside, few dealers around the place have the same or similar offer. She just got the AA stuff in the post the other day and was delighted with what is covered.

cormie · 16-09-2008 11:49AM

So it seems they reel people in and then pump up the prices once they have them hooked. I'd have no problem paying €180 again so if I have to, I'll let the policy I have now lapse and sign up again. Or else they could just renew it for €180 and save themselves and myself hassle.

Darragh29 · 16-09-2008 11:53AM

cormie wrote: »

So it seems they reel people in and then pump up the prices once they have them hooked. I'd have no problem paying €180 again so if I have to, I'll let the policy I have now lapse and sign up again. Or else they could just renew it for €180 and save themselves and myself hassle.

Fair play to ye for voting with your feet, as Mama harney says, "Shop Around"!!!

:D:D

eringobragh · 16-09-2008 12:02PM

Don't understand why people bother with AA anymore when most the insurance comapnies offer free (or for little money extra) breakdown cover / homestart.

cormie · 16-09-2008 12:10PM

Well I'm waiting to hear back from my broker on the level of cover provided by my insurance company. If it's just as good as the AA, I wont bother to renew, but if I can get AA for 180 and it has other benefits, I'll go for it too.

eringobragh · 16-09-2008 12:21PM

cormie wrote: »

Well I'm waiting to hear back from my broker on the level of cover provided by my insurance company. If it's just as good as the AA, I wont bother to renew, but if I can get AA for 180 and it has other benefits, I'll go for it too.

My broker (aaron) has me fully comp with Allianz (Cheaper than TPFT with Quinn!)

I've homestart, breakdown cover, replacement car, etc.

L1011 · 16-09-2008 01:00PM

I'd be interested in hearing if anyones has any experiences with Quinn's breakdown cover - I've both it (as its with my policy) and AA (as it came with the car) but should the worst happen it'd be useful to know who's better to call.

John Mason · 16-09-2008 01:05PM

they lost me too, a few years ago

it was €120.00 and they increased it to €180.00 on renewal. so i phoned up and they just said the cost had gone up. so i told them i wasnt renewing the policy.

two days later, the car had a flat battery,phone AA and they were refusing to send anyone out because i wasnt renewing my policy, as i pointed out i still had 6 weeks paid time with them - la la la big arguement, but some eventually came out

i have free RAC with insurance company and i have to say, they are brilliant

kdevitt · 16-09-2008 01:38PM

I would never cancel my AA policy - its been a lifesaver on loads of occasions, especially when I've been in someone elses car which has had a problem.

My missus needed to use the breakdown cover from her policy a few months back and it was woeful. She was charged €90 to get the car to the garage we wanted to do the work - they'd only tow a car within 2.5 miles of the breakdown, which negates the point of having it. On top of that, the guy they sent wouldn't attempt to fix a car on a callout - it was tow away only.

cormie · 16-09-2008 01:40PM

Which policy was she on?

kdevitt · 16-09-2008 01:41PM

cormie wrote: »

Which policy was she on?

It was with Eaglestar - just the standard one which came with the policy.

unkel · 16-09-2008 02:12PM

eringobragh wrote: »

Don't understand why people bother with AA anymore when most the insurance comapnies offer free (or for little money extra) breakdown cover / homestart.

Good luck to ya if you ever need it.

kdevitt wrote: »

I would never cancel my AA policy - its been a lifesaver on loads of occasions, especially when I've been in someone elses car which has had a problem.

+1

cormie wrote: »

as far as I know, you can call them 5 times a year without effecting your premium for next year.

6 times

You're charged for any subsequent call out

eringobragh · 16-09-2008 03:14PM

unkel wrote: »

Good luck to ya if you ever need it.

Mates with quinn and they were out within the hour. I'd prefer to keep 180euro for a tow if needed rather than forking out that every year .I've only ever needed a tow once.

TheBigLebowski · 16-09-2008 04:12PM

MYOB wrote: »

I'd be interested in hearing if anyones has any experiences with Quinn's breakdown cover - I've both it (as its with my policy) and AA (as it came with the car) but should the worst happen it'd be useful to know who's better to call.

I had to use it there a while ago. Never really considered the fact that I even had it until I broke down at 2AM on the N4 near Kilcock. Gave Quinn a ring and they were there in 20 minutes. The guy dropped us home and offered to take away the car and do the repair. I was happy with the repair work that they done so all in all, a positive experience.

What else would AA do for me, are their mechanics topless girls or something?

January · 16-09-2008 05:24PM

You do know the AA covers YOU and not the car.

If you take out home insurance/travel insurance/motor insurance out with the AA you get membership to the break down service for €67 euro a year, this does not include Home Start or Rescue Plus though.

If they are deff not budging on the price, let your policy lapse and then take it out again, sign up online the day your policy lapses even.

I got mine free

January · 16-09-2008 05:25PM

TheBigLebowski wrote: »

I had to use it there a while ago. Never really considered the fact that I even had it until I broke down at 2AM on the N4 near Kilcock. Gave Quinn a ring and they were there in 20 minutes. The guy dropped us home and offered to take away the car and do the repair. I was happy with the repair work that they done so all in all, a positive experience.

What else would AA do for me, are their mechanics topless girls or something?

Most of their callouts are fixed at the roadside...

L1011 · 16-09-2008 05:42PM

adrieanne__x wrote: »

You do know the AA covers YOU and not the car.

Unless it comes with the car, that is. My policy is attached to the reg plate of the car and paid by Fiat Auto Ireland, not attached to me...

Elessar · 16-09-2008 06:09PM

I really don't see the point in the AA. Most, if not all insurance policies have breakdown cover now on par with the AA. Mine with Axa has home start/roadside assist etc. so why should I sign up to the AA?

unkel · 16-09-2008 06:18PM

eringobragh wrote: »

Mates with quinn and they were out within the hour.

That was fairly good goin'. I reckon he was lucky. Mind the AA have been there for me within 15 minutes on most occasions

But I'm the first to admit the AA is a premium service. It's not cheap but the service is second to none. That said, if I drove brand new cars, I probably wouldn't be a member.

TheBigLebowski · 16-09-2008 06:30PM

unkel wrote: »

That was fairly good goin'. I reckon he was lucky. Mind the AA have been there for me within 15 minutes on most occasions

But I'm the first to admit the AA is a premium service. It's not cheap but the service is second to none. That said, if I drove brand new cars, I probably wouldn't be a member.

What are you basing this on? When I called them, they were out within 20 mins.

TheBigLebowski · 16-09-2008 06:30PM

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Most of their callouts are fixed at the roadside...

My repair could not have been fixed at the roadside, otherwise it would have been...

Esel · 16-09-2008 10:27PM

irishbird wrote: »

i have free RAC with insurance company and i have to say, they are brilliant

What insurance company are you with? Just so I know who to ring at renewal time!

L-M · 16-09-2008 11:17PM

MYOB wrote: »

I'd be interested in hearing if anyones has any experiences with Quinn's breakdown cover - I've both it (as its with my policy) and AA (as it came with the car) but should the worst happen it'd be useful to know who's better to call.

With Quinn. When the car broke down about 30 miles away from home i complete forgot about their breakdown cover. After tryin a few other ways i rang them and they said the would send a mechanic out to check the car for me, i said "The timing belt has snapped, it won't be going anywhere from here". After this she said they could tow the car to a local garage for free, where a mechanic could fix it, but as i was going to do it myself i needed it home.

Long story short, it encoured a charge of €100 cash or €130 credit card etc. (pressuming Quinn make commision on it.)

Got the car home with only a bit of damage to the bumper when they were putting it on the truck. Also it took over three hours for the truck to arrive from a ten mile spin(don't know the stand times so this could be the norm).

Ah it was a mixed bag really, i'm not too up on towing prices but it seemed grand at the time. Don't know whether to vote it good or bad.

unkel · 16-09-2008 11:25PM

TheBigLebowski wrote: »

What are you basing this on?

Nothing much concrete, I'll grant you.

We've been doing these threads for years now and this is the first one that I remember that has some positive comments about breakdown cover from insurance policies

And as well as my own positive experiences, I've rarely heard anything bad said about the AA. But as I said, it's a premium service - it ain't cheap

The AA have just lost me as a customer.

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