AA renewal

[Smiley]

Just got my AA renewal through. Had joint membership for several years only ever called them out once in all the time. The premium for this year was £130.50. It is on Direct debit so normally I do nothing - but something made me look on line - guess what special offer new AA members same cover - about £97. Two pounds more than the RAC cover would be.

So I called the AA to cancel my DD - they immediately said that they can reduce it to £90.

What a way to treat your loyal repeat business customers - you have to "complain" to get the same [close] price as the new customer.

I am tempted to switch away from them anyway but I guess the RAC is just the same.

 

[Dryce]

I am tempted to switch away from them anyway but I guess the RAC is just the same.

Flip between them.

Same with insurers.

Same with utility companies.

Same with mobile phone providers. Phone them up ands ay you're leaving and the retentions department will often put together a much nicer package for you.

Same with banks. If you want to take advantage of the best deals on ISAs they'll not always allow you to transfer you old ISAs into the new accounts - but they will usually allow you to transfer an old ISA from another institution. So you open up accounts with alternate providers in alternate years and flip them over every so often.

Customer loyalty is an odd thing. Service providers want you to be loyal but screw you over every way they can as a reward for that loyalty.

 

[neilrr]

Go on ebay & buy Tesco Clubcard vouchers to the value of whatever deal you want from http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/browse.aspx?N=4294967150&bid=HMotoring .

Works out about 50% cheaper than the list price.

 

[hawk20]

Just got my AA renewal through. Had joint membership for several years only ever called them out once in all the time. The premium for this year was £130.50. It is on Direct debit so normally I do nothing - but something made me look on line - guess what special offer new AA members same cover - about £97. Two pounds more than the RAC cover would be.

So I called the AA to cancel my DD - they immediately said that they can reduce it to £90.

What a way to treat your loyal repeat business customers - you have to "complain" to get the same [close] price as the new customer.

I am tempted to switch away from them anyway but I guess the RAC is just the same.

Have your basic services at an MB dealer and there's free Mobilo breakdown cover -any driver unlike the AA and in Europe unlike the AA unless you pay extra. T's and C's apply of course.

 

[SilverSaloon]

yep did exactly the same with the AA last year - phoned up and got the renewal at their webprices.

next year i will probably be going for another service

 

[A210AMG]

Mines part of our bank account deal along with many other benifits.

It covers me in any car / towing the van and in Europe.

Pretty good especially with all the other deals they include. Recently had my camera repaired with the 'gadget' cover and that alone was £100 to fix.

Worth looking at?

 

[del320]

Perhaps worth pointing out that they do state on their website that:

a) "Price shown applies when purchasing online. It is available for the first 12 months of Membership and thereafter the renewal price will be the standard price (at time of renewal) for the chosen level of Membership."

and

b) Vehicle cover - "Roadside (the minimum level) is only available if your vehicle is less than 10 years old." They will however continue to cover an older vehicle from date of original membership registration as long as you renew annually.

So, in my case, they wouldn't offer me their minimum service if I attempted to cancel and re-apply in order to save £13.25.

 

[Smiley]

Have your basic services at an MB dealer and there's free Mobilo breakdown cover -any driver unlike the AA and in Europe unlike the AA unless you pay extra. T's and C's apply of course.

Thanks but I am afraid I gave up on the MB main dealer servicing about 4 or 5 years ago - there were too many "try ons" with you need this and that replacing. To begin with I just trusted them, paid the bills and did not check up, then I gradually wised up to what they were doing and then started to check for myself whether the brakes or the steering damper or the poly v belt (just three examples) really were u/s - and then once I had my own proof I voted with my feet - never been back - and as a direct result have decided to run older cars (so that I avoid the dilemma with the service history) - and actually enjoy it more than having new ones.

So the AA or the RAC are the only real options I guess - I will probably just stump up the £90 - which for both of us with recovery and for all cars the oldest of which is 14 years old now (and over 200k miles) is not so bad.

 

[Smiley]

Perhaps worth pointing out that they do state on their website that:

a) "Price shown applies when purchasing online. It is available for the first 12 months of Membership and thereafter the renewal price will be the standard price (at time of renewal) for the chosen level of Membership."

and

b) Vehicle cover - "Roadside (the minimum level) is only available if your vehicle is less than 10 years old." They will however continue to cover an older vehicle from date of original membership registration as long as you renew annually.

So, in my case, they wouldn't offer me their minimum service if I attempted to cancel and re-apply in order to save £13.25.

But it is a bit of a joke isn't it? Loyal existing customer = £130; new customer =£95 same level of cover.

One [polite] phone call = instant £40 reduction. It is hardly making me feel loved by my supplier - more like they are out to fleece me if I dont check up on them. O well best to stay calm and just play them at their own game and check up each year; disturb their call centre; hello me again looking for a discount.......

 

[Smiley]

Mines part of our bank account deal along with many other benifits.

It covers me in any car / towing the van and in Europe.

Pretty good especially with all the other deals they include. Recently had my camera repaired with the 'gadget' cover and that alone was £100 to fix.

Worth looking at?

Now you have me thinking I have seen something about that in the blurb from the bank.....do you have to pay a monthly fee to get the one with the breakdown cover?