I have been a AAA member since 1987 when I began driving. My grandfather U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Paul Krofchik had me on his account until I got my own AAA account on August 15, 2001.
I upgraded to AAA Plus on July 7, 2008 and when I was hit by a drunk driver who destroyed my car and nearly killed me on July 8, 2008 in Deland, FL I immediately called AAA for roadside assistance. They told me they could not be out to the site until two hours later, maybe an hour an a half at best. Deland policed removed my car against my will and towed it to an auto body shop.
When I called AAA the next day to come pick up my car, they refused to honor my newly purchased AAA Plus account telling me I must wait 3 days for it to be approved. Meanwhile I had to pay an extra $25 a day while my car waited at the salvage yard to be picked up.
Ironically, after I called today to get the roadside assistance (that after a 3 day wait) I was told my father-in-law’s credit card had to be re-authorized. After going through that grueling process with two AAA reps, my call was forwarded to what was to be a supervising dispatcher to get me a tow truck to transport my car from Orange City to Orlando.
As if I had not gone through enough hell already getting me to the membership rep 7044 Aurora Marinta who wonderfully took care of the membership issue telling me I did not need to pay any more and that the other rep was incorrect….then I got Mr. Gene Ford who asked me the same questions before processing my Friday morning July 11th, 10am appointment to tow my car. Gene after digging deeper in his trusty computer realized Aurora had already dealt with and handle the matter of concern and proceeded to book me a tow truck for 10am Friday morning.
Then after all that aggravation, 5 minutes later I received a phone call from Heathrow, FL rep Faye Morgan who informed me the appointment would not stand because AAA only makes appointments on Tuesday thru Thursday, not on busy days such as Friday. Hence my long awaited appointment for a tow truck was canceled.
What is the moral of the story? Use another company other than AAA because their employees are not communicating properly nor accurately with one another. The consumer is being falsely promised services, contracts are being breached, services withheld, and lies with deception being fed the consumer.
The fact I am in pain physically and stress emotionally after being nearly killed by a drunk driver does not matter. As Mr. Ford said he has to first confirm my membership is current. As I told him it’s all about money, not serving people.
Unless you like such a gruelling experience, I advise you to look elsewhere than AAA. I was to have service for both me and my wife, after 2 days of hell signing up. Than on the 3rd day when I attempted to use their service, they raised their fees suddenly and now want to charge me another $28 to get my wife on the policy.
AAA stinks and your complaints should promptly be filed at the Better Business Bureau immediately.
To file a class action lawsuit against AAA, send your complaints to Paul F Davis and post them here by a comment.
Paul F Davis – consumer advocate
Paul F. Davis is a world-changing leadership & diversity speaker who has touched over 50 countries & 6 continents building bridges cross-culturally and empowering people throughout the earth to live their dreams!
Paul is the author of 14 books. Paul has appeared on numerous internationally broadcast radio shows from Oprah & Friends to Fox News Radio to talk about conflict resolution, peacemaking, foreign policy, and diplomacy. Playboy Radio’s Afternoon Advice host Tiffany Granath calls Paul an “awesome” relational coach and recommends his books on love, dating, and sexuality.
Academically outstanding Davis was trained in transformative mediation & conflict resolution (Hofstra Law School); strategic negotiations (Harvard Business School & U. of Washington); advanced interrogation (Reid & Associates founders of the polygraph); and NLP & Life Coaching (NLP & Coaching Institute of California).
Paul humorously and elegantly transforms individuals and organizations.
Paul’s organization Dream-Maker Inc. builds dreams, transcends limitations, & reconciles nations.
Paul worked at Ground Zero in NYC during 9/11; helped rebuild a home at the tsunami epicenter; comforted victims of genocide in Rwanda; spoke to leaders in East Timor during the war; inspired students & monks in Myanmar; promoted peace & reconciliation in Pakistan; and has been so deep into the bush of rural Africa where villagers had never before seen a white man.
Paul empowers people to love passionately and live fearlessly.
I’m prepared to sue AAA for lies, deceit, breach of contract, unfair billing practices and punitive damages.
Please report to the Better Business Bureau immediately any similar problems with AAA.
Paul F Davis – consumer advocate