AAA Problem

[bumbershoot]

I'm the OP for this thread. I asked my DW to look at the call log on her phone and confirm the number she called. It turns out she was calling the number for member services, not roadside assistance. . Our apologies to AAA.

Whoopsie!



That said, we gave up AAA almost 2 years ago. I managed to run out of gas (while going to get gas) while going up a city hill. Ugh. Was pushed out of the way by several men who were hanging out at the corner, but was placed in front of a parking garage driveway. It was winter and raining hard that day, so even though I was in easy walking distance of my condo, I didn't go, because I couldn't just leave my car there AND I had DS (then 3 or 4) with me.

Anyway, I called AAA, and they couldn't come for upwards of 2 hours. They were just too busy. All the guys that had pushed me had disappeared (it's not the best of corners and I was just lucky that they all helped me to begin with). The AAA lady gave me the name of some local service places that are NOT affiliated with AAA...said that I could just pay them, then send the bill to AAA, and they would pay what would have been above and beyond what I would have been covering anyway.

The service guy that came to me (inside half an hour, and he had to get across town in the pouring rain) was super-sweet, and let me know that AAA pays service people almost nothing. That insurance company emergency services pay the people MUCH more than AAA does, and that is why his place had dumped AAA (he was the owner).

I found that to be quite interesting, and it really soured me on AAA. Sure, you get the great maps and (questionable, now that mapquest etc exist) triptiks, but if they aren't treating the tow truck drivers well...I think I'd rather just buy my maps. So we dumped them. I had assistance through my insurance company when I had their gold plan, but once we didn't need GAP insurance we dropped that plan down to a more basic one...guess I should knock wood right now!



As for tires, I've changed my tires many a time (I used to run over any sharp object in my path). But sometimes it's just not safe. Middle of the night, side of the highway, small person out there with nowhere to run or hide...I'd rather have some big company send out some tow truck driver to help me out.

 

[GreatDaneMom]

I've been a AAA member nonstop for over 20 years until last month. My only reason for carrying it has been so my kids would have help if they were ever stranded. A few months ago we called to use the emergency service for the first time in the past 10 years. My son had a flat tire during a heavy rainstorm. When we called they told us they were busy and wouldn't be able to help us. What???? Needless to say, I declined to renew this year and saved myself $166.

 

[PatsGirl]

I don't ever remember NOT having AAA and I've been driving 33 years! I've used them for flat tires, keys locked in car, dead batteries, out of gas, everything but by far the best advantage is the AAA hotel rates I get! I always manage to skim at least $10-25/night or more off any hotel I've ever stayed at, including WDW. Pop Century cost me $68 two years ago with the AAA discount One weekend trip each year and my membership is paid for.

If you look at other perks, Papa Ginos and DeAngelo both offer discounts as does Hard Rock, Six Flags, Universal (great hotel rates there!) and so many others. I buy local theatre ticket books (4-$26) as Xmas presents, which saves about $2/show or $8 by purchasing the four-pack.

Whenever I travel, I go get the travel book and love reading all the pros and cons. I've occasionally used the triptik feature but with mapquest available and GPSs I don't usually do this anymore.

All this for $52/year??? Like I said, I use the value of my membership with just a few nights hotel stay

 

[DawnCt1]

Are you sure that the USAA coverage is the same as AAA? I know that I have towing coverage but that's only if I'm involved in an accident and the car is undriveable. It doesn't cover things such as breakdowns or flat tires.

They have road side assistance.

What services are included with Roadside Assistance?
The following services are available with Roadside Assistance:
Changing flat tires.
Emergency gasoline delivery. (The price of gas isn't covered.)
Lost keys and lockouts. (The cost of the key isn't covered.)
Towing when stuck on or by a public roadway.
Towing disabled vehicle to the nearest repair facility
To take advantage of Roadside Assistance, call USAA at 1-800-531-8555.
If you have already had services provided and need reimbursement, you can submit your claim here, or call USAA at 1-800-531-8622.

https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_utils...dex#faq_4556_PandC_Following_an_Auto_Accident

 

[DawnCt1]

I use them all the time for hotel discounts but the only time I called for roadside assistance they said it would be 3 hours or so before they could come. Now this was in the summer on a workday for a flat tire several years ago. I changed it myself. I read later that a lot of the tow companies around here had stopped responding to AAA calls due to low and late payments. Not sure if that has been improved. Since that I've used OnStar and Hyundai roadside assistance and got prompt response.

I have found that every time I have used AAA for a hotel discount, I have never been asked to show my card which makes me think that unless one books through AAA for a hotel, the discounts are available to everyone.

 

[DVC-Don]

I have found that every time I have used AAA for a hotel discount, I have never been asked to show my card which makes me think that unless one books through AAA for a hotel, the discounts are available to everyone.

Lately I've found hotel websites will not give you the AAA price unless you enter your AAA member number. Not all, but it's becoming more common.

 

[daisyx3]

We have AAA plus. Until this car, I have had spare tires up underneath the vehicle, etc. Once when I was pregnant and had my oldest (then 2 1/2) in the van, I got a flat tire. No way I could have changed it and I was 45 minutes from home. DH also called them one night we got a flat in his truck at the movie theatre--it was 10 degrees.
It's been very useful for my oldest now that we have a crappy car for her to drive (96 plymouth breeze). She's used it for jump starts (before we knew she needed a battery), out of gas twice, and keys in the car once.
Since we have plus we have unlimited towing too. We used it to tow my FIL's truck to a local HS auto program to have it looked at before we paid a mechanic--we knew what needed fixing and didn't get ripped off.
Interestingly enough, state farm called the other day about their roadside assist plan. We don't even have state farm insurance. I told him no thanks, we have AAA, but he said there plan was (in his words) WAAAAY better. Didn't listen anyway.
Daisyx3

 

[DVC-Don]

...............
Interestingly enough, state farm called the other day about their roadside assist plan. We don't even have state farm insurance. I told him no thanks, we have AAA, but he said there plan was (in his words) WAAAAY better. Didn't listen anyway.
Daisyx3

Good thing you didn't listen. Just before I got laid off (from a State Farm agent) we got a memo about people being called for this. It's a hoax. The only way to have that type coverage with State Farm is with a auto policy. They were trying to get your credit card info.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Well, granted AAA charges more than $9, but they provide much more than just road service. They do, by the way, provide that service for any vehicle the member is driving or in which the member is riding (see my "locked out on the west coast" experience on page one - that was a rental).

My Insurance program offers more than just roadside service. It also follows the driver and not the car. I never used AAA for hotels, so why pay for something I don't use.

Suzanne

 

[RitaE]

Interesting to see this thread today as I just got back from rescuing my husband from a car breakdown.

We will not be renewing our AAA membership when it is due.

Over the winter I had a car with a flat and I could not get the lug nuts off to change it myself. It took over 3 hours for them to get a truck out to me and it isn't like I was out in the boondocks or anything. This morning my husband called me because his car broke down on the way to work. He called AAA right after he called me and they told him it would be over a 2 hour wait for the truck, even after he told them his car was stuck in the middle of the road in traffic and they couldn't get it to shift into neutral so they could push it off to the side. I got there and told him to just call the garage in town and we'd pay for the tow. They had a truck to us in 20 minutes.

So .... I don't know. I might keep it for my teen son just because it makes me feel safer to know he can call that number. I'll have to think about it. But for the rest of the family, forget it. It just isn't worth it. What's the point of "emergency assistance" when you have to wait for hours and hours?

 

[LuvOrlando]

I've always had AAA and never had any problems like he ones you describe. I suppose that the extreme weather might have been a factor where more cars broke down that caused a backlog. Still, I would think an organization like AAA would think ahead and make sure enough people were available to take the calls so members wouldn't end up deserted like that. I would totally complain, AAA isn't cheap so if they can't do the job you are paying for them to do it deserves to be addressed.

I still don't think I would drop AAA though. The service has been very helpful to me in the past like when my kids were little and kept leaving the lights on in the minivan which would drain the battery so I'd need a jumpstart. We've used it for all sorts of other things, including my DH being in the car with a DF when his car stalled and using his card to get the vehicle towed. AAA will care for any car a member is using, not just ones registered to the member.

To those who change their own tires, I think it's great that you do it, but it's just not for me.... I'm more like the Op's wife I think. I am way too fru fru to go dragging out my spare on a highway and heaving it onto my vehicle. I'd have to be in a horrible situation that looks like a bad 1 star horror movie to even attempt it and think it was wonderfully chivalrous for the OP to help his wife like that. Good man in my book

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Over the winter I had a car with a flat and I could not get the lug nuts off to change it myself.

This is the problem that I had with my car's tires. The lug nuts are locked on and we couldn't find the "key" to get them off. (In our case, my DH tried to change the tire himself but could not because of this. The tow truck came right away and he didn't have a key, either. Therefore, we had to tow it to a Tire Center and even they didn't have a key; as a matter of fact they said they might have to "hammer them off". ) So as a PSA to those reading here, if your car has locking lug nuts it'll behoove you to find out before you have a flat or blowout where the key is to get them off, as even the tow truck probably won't be able to help you.

 

[4greatboys]

We have been members for a few years and luckily never had that issue. I did need service once and we had had a lot of bad weather and flooding and they told me they could not tell me when they would have someone available but that I could use an outside wrecker and be reimbursed so that is what we did.
We did have to pay upfront but then sent in our receipt to AAA and they sent me a check.

 

[KAMLEM]

They have road side assistance.

Quote:
What services are included with Roadside Assistance?

The following services are available with Roadside Assistance:
Changing flat tires.
Emergency gasoline delivery. (The price of gas isn't covered.)
Lost keys and lockouts. (The cost of the key isn't covered.)
Towing when stuck on or by a public roadway.
Towing disabled vehicle to the nearest repair facility
To take advantage of Roadside Assistance, call USAA at 1-800-531-8555.
If you have already had services provided and need reimbursement, you can submit your claim here, or call USAA at 1-800-531-8622.

Thanks, Dawn. I am going to have to look at my insurance more closely.

 

[WDW*Dreamer]

it was wonderfully chivalrous for the OP to help his wife like that. Good man in my book

Thank You....that sure was nice of you to say. However, I can't imagine ANY husband leaving his wife stranded on the side of the road to fend for herself.