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General Forum - The AA and renewing your Breakdown Cover - Page 1
Elite Donator
I'm beginning to wonder how many companies do this, and it's wrong!
I've been a member of the AA for 14 years - in that time, I've only called them out three times, as I regard them as an emergency service. My renewal letter dropped onto the doormat yesterday, and it was £97.50 (I pay for Roadside and Relay, and they give me Home Start as a complimentary extra)
Ooh, I thought, that's getting a bit steep. So I looked up the RAC online for a comparison, and could get the same thing for £71.25. So I rang the AA to complain about the high price.
A very nice lady answered (after about 5 mins of selecting options and listening to a stupid man droning on about their wonderful service), and as soon as I gave her my membership number, she said "Oh, ignore that £97.50 - you can renew for £73.13". I didn't even have to ask!
She told me you should ring up each year, and they'll give you the "real" renewal quote relevant to your account - it's just the standard price that goes out on the computer generated letters. She did explain that it depends on your useage, as if you use them a lot, you don't get any discount (a bit like a no claims bonus, I guess)
It's WRONG, I tell you! If that's the price, that is what they should put on the letter. I've clearly been paying over the odds for the past 13 or so years, but I've never rung them before. She told me to ring each year in future to get my real price before paying.
So now I expect you lot will tell me that you always ring and haggle before renewing anything... 
This item was edited on Tuesday, 11th November 2008, 09:23
Elite
It'll be in their terms and conditions.
Like my wife's insurance, where they state they will simply take her premium out of her account on a certain date every year.
Praying on the lazy, that's all it is.
Which is why I'm always ahead of the game and get quotes before they're due to 'take' the renewal premium.
The energy companies are good at this too.
They will increase your DD amounts with a polite "you don't have to do anything" on their letter.
Their increases are always OTT though, making sure you are always in credit, never just running at a healthy level.
If you call, they will then blame "the computer" and reduce the increase!
Again, praying on the lazy/ill-informed. 
posted by kebabhead on Tuesday, 11th November 2008, 11:00
Elite
£73.13 for Home & Roadside assistance is still too expensive.
I go on a comparison website and see if you can get it cheaper. I only paid £50 for mine which included Home & Roadside Assistance
Loyalty means nothing
Elite
Worth reading Moneysavingexpert.
I'm just looking for another option to the RACs £164.00 and can get essentially the same for at least half price from elsewhere.
Probably going with Green Flag but you can get even better deals with the "you pay for it and reclaim it later" option.
Snaps
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Some days it's just not worth gnawing through the straps
Elite
Can I ask why you feel the need to have breakdown cover?
Is it older cars?
Just curious, as I've never bothered.
I look upon it the same as extended warranties for my TV.
No thanks, I'll take my chances.
*touchwood*, it's never come back and bit me!
Elite
Your probably never going to need your house insured against burning down but I'll bet it is.
Personally my car is my living so even half a day off road costs.
Snaps
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Some days it's just not worth gnawing through the straps
This item was edited on Tuesday, 11th November 2008, 11:09
posted by smurfette on Tuesday, 11th November 2008, 11:56
Elite Donator
Bowfer, in my case, it's peace of mind.
I know that if I break down anywhere, I simply pull my membership card out of my handbag and call the AA, and they'll come and get me. If the car can't be fixed (or the tyre changed or whatever), then my Relay cover will get me towed home or wherever I want to go.
The three times I called them, once my exhaust fell off, once my brakes failed, and once I locked the keys inside the car. So on two of those occasions, I got towed home.
Now I don't know about you, but if I needed to get hold of a recovery company (could be the middle of the night), I wouldn't know WHO to ring, and then I wouldn't know if they were reliable or how much the bill would be.
This way, I know I'll be taken care of, and I always have been. 
Elite
IIRC, can't 'anyone' phone the AA/RAC and join them 'on the spot'???
I stand to be corrected, but I didn't think they just hung up on stranded motorists, just because they aren't already members?
In which case, just pay the fee 'as and when'?
Or what would your yearly fees be, compared with having to call out a garage 'as and when'?
House insurance is a different thing altogether, it's required by my mortgage provider or I don't get a mortgage.
Elite Donator
Quote:
House insurance is a different thing altogether, it's required by my mortgage provider or I don't get a mortgage.
Buildings insurance yes....contents no.
But then I'm sure there are a load of people out there who don't have contents cover, in the same way that you've demonstrated that there are some people who don't require AA/RAC etc. cover.
Its all down to what levels of risk people feel comfortable with and whether they want to insure against that risk.
PS - congrats on the new baby Bowf
"Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
-Terry Pratchett.
This item was edited on Tuesday, 11th November 2008, 14:28
posted by retrogeezer on Tuesday, 11th November 2008, 17:06
Elite
I rang them after my renewal came through at £187.50 for joint membership (breakdown/recovery/homestart) and they dropped it to £100 instantly.
So what would you do if you broke down Bowfer?? You can't work on cars yourself these days with all the electronic gubbins and it's costs a fortune for recovery.
Incidentally, I used the AA to recover my car after an accident at no additional cost to me. If the RTA is your fault then you would probably have to cover the recovery costs yourself.
why take life so seriously..its not like you are going to make it out alive
This item was edited on Tuesday, 11th November 2008, 16:58
