TERRIBLE dispatcher wouldn't send for help!

[jodifla]

So, this is my second rant of the day, but here it goes:

My car overheated (my Honda by the way-- our American car is still running) and just died as I was coming off the Interstate in Michigan to take my son to an appointment. It's like 25 degrees or so at 4:40 p.m.....so, after a nice man helps me push it to the side of the road, I call AAA.

This IDIOT (OK, maybe she was just new) kept me on the phone for 25 minutes as she made me pinpoint where I was. I had told her the cross streets, but my description wasn't good enough for her, and she kept putting me on hold (meanwhile the snow is falling, and the temperature is dropping, and DS is getting panicky in the back seat.)

I finally said LADY, if you send the truck to this intersection, I'll be the green car pulled over on the side of the road with the flashing lights! How hard is that to figure out??

I had to get a supervisor on the phone to finally get any help.

When I told the tow truck driver, he said she was going to have a heckuva time when the person calling has flipped over on 1-95 and doesn't have any idea where they are.

 

[Loverly]

How come it says you live in South Florida on your avatar?

 

[golfgal]

The last 2 times I called AAA I had a similar experience. The last time I was out in the middle of nowhere and had a tire blow out. I told her I was about 5 miles from the last town. She kept wanting to know what the closest cross street is. I kept telling her there ISN'T one. She insisted there had to be one--I told her to hold on and I would ask the deer playing in the field next to my car . It took FOREVER to convince her that if the tow driver just kept driving along the highway he would eventually find me.

 

[jodifla]

How come it says you live in South Florida on your avatar?

I'm a Floridian in exile! (I married a Detroiter. What can I say?)

 

[treeface]

I have had similar problems with AAA in IN when I had flat tires (not all at once) so I started calling ONStar and they are much nicer, not to mention the response time is much less. I realize this isn't an option for everyone, but it sure is nice if you have it.

 

[jodifla]

I have had similar problems with AAA in IN when I had flat tires (not all at once) so I started calling ONStar and they are much nicer, not to mention the response time is much less. I realize this isn't an option for everyone, but it sure is nice if you have it.

Of course the upside to AAA is the towing is paid for, and we have the upgraded free 100 mile towing.

Does ONstar have a service like that?

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I had a similar issue with AAA when I hit a deer on a rural highway. My friend and I were on our way to a Renaissance Festival and were standing out on the highway at the butt crack of dawn in our garb. They were asking me about landmarks and I kept telling them, "I see a field and a barn. There are no cross streets or mile markers." We kept telling her we were abut 7 miles south of La Plata, but they couldn't find it in her computer. They put it in as an emergency, but it still took them 45 minutes to dispatch a driver because they couldn't figure out where we were and who was closer!

 

[treeface]

I'm not sure what the towing limits are with OnStar, I've never had to have it towed more than 5-10 miles (and hopefully won't have to). I do get nervous driving the car very far though by myself, just because we've had so many problems. Even with AAA, OnStar and Roadside Assistance, it is still inconvenient (and sometimes scary) to have to call for assistance (and it usually happens in the am when it is dark and I have to get DS to school). The only good thing is it hasn't happened in inclement weather yet.

 

[Val]

DH's car died on the way to taking DS13 to school on Friday morning....he called AAA and actually had the dispatcher call the tow truck. For once the dispatcher was good, BUT the tow driver was terrible......unfortunate event in our little town, but two weeks ago the "good" tow driver was murdered in a bar fight. He was probably in a motorcycle gang, may not have been the most "upstanding" young man by many people's standards, but the three times in the last year one of us in our family has had an issue (flat tire, stalled car, etc.) was has a saint to us. Never realized how important that was.....the new guy has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide.....

.....funny how such a little thing like being an empathetic dispatcher or tow driver can be SO very important. Makes things less scary and makes you feel safe!

Hope your car was okay...that was scary, especially given the weather!

 

[jodifla]

DH's car died on the way to taking DS13 to school on Friday morning....he called AAA and actually had the dispatcher call the tow truck. For once the dispatcher was good, BUT the tow driver was terrible......unfortunate event in our little town, but two weeks ago the "good" tow driver was murdered in a bar fight. He was probably in a motorcycle gang, may not have been the most "upstanding" young man by many people's standards, but the three times in the last year one of us in our family has had an issue (flat tire, stalled car, etc.) was has a saint to us. Never realized how important that was.....the new guy has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide.....

.....funny how such a little thing like being an empathetic dispatcher or tow driver can be SO very important. Makes things less scary and makes you feel safe!

Hope your car was okay...that was scary, especially given the weather!

So true! Sorry you lost your good tow truck driver. How tragic!

And yes, it does make a BIG difference when people are helpful. This AAA person was so focused on the PROCESS instead of actually getting help out ASAP.

I'd probably still be on the side of the road if I hadn't asked for a supervisor.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

AAA cost us $79/year for two vehicles while OnStar cost $199/year for just the one vehicle. We gave up OnStar after the free year.

 

[jodifla]

AAA cost us $79/year for two vehicles while OnStar cost $199/year for just the one vehicle. We gave up OnStar after the free year.

Yikes. that is expensive......Our AAA is more than 79, I believe. We always have AAA plus with up to 100 miles of free towing.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I'm a Floridian in exile! (I married a Detroiter. What can I say?)

I'm so sorry. No, really I am!(the Detroit part, not the marriage!) LOL Add to that, I think its going to be a LONG LONG winter.

 

[jodifla]

I'm so sorry. No, really I am!(the Detroit part, not the marriage!) LOL Add to that, I think its going to be a LONG LONG winter.

Yes, I believe you are right! It is going to be a long winter.

But Michigan has such neat things.. the DIA, all the lakes, Greenfield Village and the Museum, Frankenmuth, etc... but these WINTERS!

 

[Tess]

I am a bit miffed with AAA at the moment. We (also a Michigander here) live in a small town with only one towing service. The guy is a peach and extremely reasonable and trustworthy. AAA in its infinite wisdom has decided it will not renew its contract with the gentleman's business. Now we have no one within 30-45 minutes available for roadside assistance. Makes no sense to me--bad business for AAA to keep a customer stranded in our area and waiting when there is a perfectly capable, efficient, experienced, and reasonable guy right here!

We had to have our kids' car towed recently. We did not have time to wait for an out of towner to get here. Thankfully, we also have coverage through our insurance company. The agent is also local and he is still able to contract with our local towing guy! Double coverage is sometimes a good thing!

Welcome to MI--enjoy the winter. While I'm a downstater now, we used to live in Gaylord where the snow is already beyond 3 feet deep! Makes me very happy to live down state these days although I still hate the winter!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Two months ago, we had a flat exiting I-55 onto N. Lake Shore Drive at the oh-so-reasonable hour of 12:30 am. AAA put us on the "high priority" list. They then called us and told us they should have someone to us by no later than 3 am. God bless the IDOT truck that came by and helped us.

 

[clori]

Once dh's van ended up getting water in the engine going thru a puddle and stopped running in the middle of a street. Someone stopped to help him get to the side. Dh called me and said his cell phone battery was running low and for me to call AAA. I knew right where he was but it was right in between two cities. I told AAA it didn't matter that the street name didn't change and he was about two feet away from the city border even if they sent the truck to the wrong city. I think AAA finally took pity on me when they asked me about shelter. It was around 335 degrees out and raining.. There was a playground on one side of the street and a cemetary on the other side. Dh didn't have to wait too long. Oh to make it better dh was on his way home from work early because we had water in the basement.