I have had AAA for years: car, home and roadside service. Every time I called for svc I got recordings asking me if I lived in a certain state which was 8 yrs ago. Odd bc I have all my policies here in CA, and pay for them here. Don't know why they're not updating. Battery died so called AAA & got recorded options, questions & prompts until someone finally got on the line. Don't know abt you but typically a svc is needed bc you have to be somewhere. Then wait too long for someone to come. They're always pleasant tho when they do so that helps. Battery died again same week & went through same thing again. This time he tried to sell me a new battery... until I told him I had purchased one from AAA 6 mos prior (had to, was in a jam). Hmm, suddenly battery was ok, just needed a good charge. Huh? They were trying to sell me a battery I didn't need. Ended up getting alternator replaced so all was good but was bothered by the attempt to push a sale I didn't need. Not ok AAA.
Same week was downtown at night when my tire blew (bought that year & don't drive a lot of miles. It was a Bad week for me & my car). This time it happened in an area I didn't know, was very dark, unsafe place 10 pm., Called roadside svc. Recorded msg asking if I was calling from (old state)? Not in the mood. Number of recorded prompts again until someone finally answered the phone.
20 minutes later! Seriously? You're calling at 10 pm & they don't think it might be an emergency?? Isn't that what they're called, Emergency Svcs.??? She asked if I was in a safe place? " NO! I need someone right away." Described the area & that I was alone. Sorry, she couldn't get someone there for an hour. WHAT? How is that even freakin possible! This was San Diego not the boonies. Again said it was very unsafe & there was nowhere safe to go & begged & pleaded for help. Oh well, not for an hour. Why did she even bother asking me if I was safe if she wasn't getting someone there for an hour? I was trying hard not to freak out but lost that battle when soon after homeless men began to come out of what seemed to be nowhere. They began walking up to my car, knocking on my windows, looking in my windows, looking at me. Somehow I played calm in my car, by the grace of God, but not on the inside. I didn't know what they might do. Female there alone, nowhere to go, & knew no one in the area to call. Can't tell you how scared, & angry, I was. I was at the mercy of triple freakin A.
If it were necessary I was ready to drive on a blown out tire, that would've ruined the trims, wheels which I had bought same time as tires. Was trying to avoid expensive fix so was trying to avoid, was hoping roadside would show up sooner. I really didn't want to ruin them but was on the ready.
Almost an hour later tow truck came. Had literally been watching the minutes on my watch. He apologized & stated it WAS a dangerous area (no shoot Sherlock), that at night all the homeless come out of a riverbed close by. Can't tell you how grateful I was when he arrived. But I have to tell you, and AAA, that in no way, shape or form was that acceptable. I'm not litigious but did they want to get sued? If something had happened to me? Advertise a svc but don't provide that svc in a Safe & Timely manner?
I wish I'd had the peace of mind to get that operators name.
Here's the deal: I've been with AAA for Years. For the most part I've been pretty satisfied & I rarely needed the svcs. But the last 2 yrs I have and they've been horrid. They need to be able to get someone on the phone immediately! Put a prompt on there stating if in an unsafe place press this number. How hard is that!? If not enough workers then hire some!!!! Something really bad could have happened. Thank God it didn't. My renewal comes up in 2 mos; do I renew or find somewhere else? Anybody know of somewhere? I can't risk that happening again. AAA you got a "failed" report. Would give you Negative stars if I could. People need to be aware. How do you rationalize all this? read more