AAA - Lack of Service - Warning

[Bekeart]

AAA - Lack of Service
Last evening I NEEDED Roadside Assistance.
Stuck in a ditch and needed a tow to get out.
Called for service 5:30. Was told that a truck would be on site by 7:30.

Called local service.
Several minutes later the local truck arrived.
Very professional and highly skilled operator.

AAA called me at 8:00 and said the they were STILL trying to get one of their contract providers to come and help.

I explained that this lack of service was totally unacceptable. (still waiting after 2 1/2 hours)

Was told that they had clients waiting up to 4 hours in some areas. Blamed flooding for long delays.
NO flooding anywhere near me.

I wonder how many member will want to send check for another year after finding out about 2 1/2 or 4 hour wait for service.

Bekeart

 

[jscheck]

While working for my agency it was of course policy to stop and render aid when someone appeared to be broken down. I can't count the number of times I saw people waiting in excess of three hours for assistance. I will never use or recommend AAA.

Edit: After reading the follow ups to this post I should state that a number of AAA members complained to me that they couldn't get the operator to understand where they were (no cross street/mile marker etc. nearby).

 

[steelslaver]

The last 2 times I called AAA the wait times were very long, neither were a big problem and I took care of it myself. But, I am looking around for something else.

 

[jbtrucker]

A lot of companies are short on help or have new inexperienced personnel. Calls are handled by central hub that cover several states and get backed up. Repair request for trucking company I drive for goes through Chicago. I can be parked a a tire shop but have to use a vendor company has contract with .

 

[robvious]

last time it took 45 minutes for the call center to "establish" the cross street for tow.. I was on the interstate.. there are no cross streets... computer would not work without it... I was fuming... then I had to get a ride because covid did not allow the tow truck to take me... I was nowhere near home... thank goodness for really good friends... AAA is not very nice when you need them most.. but trying to find a tow truck in the middle of nowhere on a Saturday evening is worse..

 

[psquarejr]

Wow, sorry to hear of everyone's issues with AAA so far, I have never had an issue with them for over 30 years, I think only one time I waited 2 hrs during a storm when I got hit by someone else who ran a red light. They usually arrive within an hour. I've used them many times for myself, wife and especially the kids when their battery dies from hanging out somewhere listening to music, etc.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My automobile insurance policy provides roadside towing and labor, costs less than $20 per year. Toll-free number on the back of my insurance card, 24-hour live operator service.

I only used this once in about 20 years. I was in a rural area about 30 miles from the nearest community of any size. Took 1.5 hours to get a service truck to me, which seemed reasonable.

I realize that AAA offers other service to members, but I have never felt the need. My (big name) insurance company provides what I need for very little cost.

 

[Ματθιας]

Had bad luck w/AAA. I have reimbursement through Allstate. It already paid for itself when my fuel pump died last month.

I'll never, ever use, nor recommend AAA.

 

[NYlakesider]

We have had to call AAA a couple times over the years. Always seem to work out OK.

The biggest problem up here is giving location information to the person on the other end of phone who many times is hundreds of miles away.

They have strict questions like a house number or mile marker that they want answers to. Trying to explain that we are on a road that does not have any cross's streets or houses for miles. That happened a couple weeks after my knee surgery. I could not change the tire! It was raining we had a flat and we gave the girl a good description.

We were almost dead center on the 2 town lines, even had a big sign that said welcome! Told her any business that got that description would have no problem. Reluctantly she contacted a local company and he showed up in 25 minuets. Told us we gave excellent directions.

We got lucky as in a lot of this area there is no cell service

 

[bigwheelzip]

Last time I needed towing was when I got rear-ended two blocks from home while stopped at a red light on Christmas eve. Called police, then my car insurance company and told them I needed a covered tow to a body shop and a covered car rental for the duration of repair. Tow arrived while LEO was writing report, and rental car was waiting for me.

BTW: My cars are under warranty, with largely the same coverage as auto insurance roadside assistance. I use them first if the vehicle needs a tow due to a warrantable problem, though I'm not restricted to that. They also do all the other stuff, like lockout, flat tire, out of gas, trip interruption, rental car, etc.

 

[JH1951]

Seems AAA has seen their best days pass by. Poor service has been their standard for years, at least in my area. I gave up a long standing membership years ago. It is somewhat sad to see an institution like that pass away, but times change, and if a business cannot look ahead, or at least keep up, it will become nothing more than a fond memory. It all boils down to which service providers will accept their payments for services rendered. With reimbursement levels comparatively low, adequate service will not be provided. Many with whom they contract will accept 'paying' assignments before responding to one of their needs. There was a time years ago when service stations and towing operations waited in line to become a AAA provider and proudly displayed their association with the organization. Those days have passed.
I understand that some auto insurance policies provide a roadside assistance rider.... may be worth looking in to.
Getting old, I guess, but it is sad to see some things struggle and fade away.

 

[VaTom]

Had to use AAA this past Memorial Weekend Saturday when traveling from Va. to SC. Going to beach and my son's van (we had two vehicles) overheated with a radiator leak. Called AAA. It took 2 1/2 hours for the tow truck to arrive but seemed ok on a heavy travel weekend. We were at a Rest Stop so easy wait while wife, daugther in law and grand kids headed onward to beach. Driver was very nice, called me and gave ETA as he was finishing another tow. Company out of Mt Pilot, NC. First class equipment (roll back-brand new Dodge truck) and nice young man. Even though AAA rep. said no riders in the tow truck he allowed me to ride the 91 miles back to Salem, Va. Had 100 miles free towing so everything worked out.

Have had no complaints with AAA when I have used them mostly in Va.

 

[pawngal]

It all boils down to which service providers will accept their payments for services rendered. With reimbursement levels comparatively low, adequate service will not be provided. Many with whom they contract will accept 'paying' assignments before responding to one of their needs. There was a time years ago when service stations and towing operations waited in line to become a AAA provider and proudly displayed their association with the organization. Those days have passed.

Exactly, years ago there were AAA providers in every town around. I call recall 6 within 30-40 miles, now there is 1.

 

[paplinker]

When my girlfriend renewed her AAA she was able to get me a free 6 month tryout. Had a battery quit and truck died in the middle of a road. Called AAA and got a recording that they were too busy and try back later. Got the truck off the road with help from a guy driving by. Tried calling again 30 or so minutes later and got the same recording. Found it appalling that I couldnt even speak to someone. What if it was a freezing cold day with a mom and a car load of kids or something.

They have no chance of ever getting a nickle from me.

 

[sigp220.45]

I have roadside assistance from USAA. Towing, flats, jumps, lockouts, outta gas - they’ve been great.

I liked AAA back in the day when you could call them to plan a trip and they would send a package with highlighted maps. Now I just yell my destination into my phone.

 

[LVSteve]

The location thing is a 21st century problem that afflicts the emergency services as much as it does AAA. The over centralization of services just adds to it. I had a CHP dispatcher ask me to give them a junction number or mile marker on I-15 one night. Well, the junctions are few and far between, and I might recall the name of the junction, but not the number. People are not wired that way. As for the mile marker, they are real hard to see at night from the left lane with a wall of trucks in between. Them not having a clue what the exit names are is a failure of their system and training, not me.

AAA got somebody out fairly quickly when my XJ quit on I-40, but we did have the exit dance with them, too. Those who have traveled that highway between Flagstaff and the CA border will know why.

 

[Fishinfool]

AAA was never that great, period. Back in the 1980's, when I was a CT Trooper, I don't know how many hours I sat behind broken down cars on the Interstate, waiting for AAA to show. We eventually got to the point where we would leave a disabled motorist on their own, as long as they were in a safe location, as we couldn't stay out of service that long. I would think it has to have gotten better today, with smart phones, and the various tow programs offered by dealers and insurance companies.

Larry

 

[bigwheelzip]

As for the mile marker, they are real hard to see at night from the left lane with a wall of trucks in between.

If you have a smartphone, you can go to "Street View" on the map App, and the Mile Markers are clear to read.

 

[Absalom]

It‘s news to me that AAA operates tow trucks. I‘ve paid for AAAplus ever since my first car, a VW bug and a real breakdown queen, several decades ago, and the response has always been from a local tow truck service.

There have not been a lot of years where I haven‘t gotten several years’ worth of annual dues back through the 100 miles of free towing. Out here it‘s usually not just a few miles to the next shop.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I've been an AAA member since 1962, making it 59 years now. Never had a serious problem - but usually had an address they could come to.

If you have a GPS, you can know what your geo-coordinates are; I suppose AAA has the same technology. Should not be a problem if you are both so equipped.

John