The AA not helping
Discussion
Afternoon Everyone. Quick one. My Pub Landlady was telling me a story about an elderly chap who the other day had mis-judged a parking space outside the Pub and had accidently got his front wheels stuck on a grass verge.
He came into the Pub, obviously a bit upset. She gave him a coffee and asked if he was a Member of the AA? He said he was and so she gave them a call on his behalf.
They told her that due to the nature of the problem they were unable to help unless they were told the details of his Motor Insurance Policy? He didn't have them to hand.
Thankfully a couple of lads overheard and got him free within a couple of minutes.
AA not helping without Insurance details? Thoughts?
Simon.
He came into the Pub, obviously a bit upset. She gave him a coffee and asked if he was a Member of the AA? He said he was and so she gave them a call on his behalf.
They told her that due to the nature of the problem they were unable to help unless they were told the details of his Motor Insurance Policy? He didn't have them to hand.
Thankfully a couple of lads overheard and got him free within a couple of minutes.
AA not helping without Insurance details? Thoughts?
Simon.
Thoughts? thank goodness old school attitudes of looking after the older generation hasn't been entirely lost, well done the chaps in the pub.
Like any of these big organisations and institutions the problems are usually found in the warm shiny offices, have no doubt the standard AA patrolman would have pulled him out in moments without trying to make an insurance drama from a simple tow off the grass.
Like any of these big organisations and institutions the problems are usually found in the warm shiny offices, have no doubt the standard AA patrolman would have pulled him out in moments without trying to make an insurance drama from a simple tow off the grass.
smokey mow said:
Seems reasonable.
The AA provide a mechanical breakdown service. His car hadn’t broken down so they had no obligation to attend, in agreeing to come out they were looking to recover their costs from his insurer.
Fairly sure on my AA card it says breakdown & recovery? Wouldn't the recovery bit cover that?The AA provide a mechanical breakdown service. His car hadn’t broken down so they had no obligation to attend, in agreeing to come out they were looking to recover their costs from his insurer.
Edited by smokey mow on Monday 26th February 12:17
Simon Bags said:
smokey mow said:
Seems reasonable.
The AA provide a mechanical breakdown service. His car hadn’t broken down so they had no obligation to attend, in agreeing to come out they were looking to recover their costs from his insurer.
Fairly sure on my AA card it says breakdown & recovery? Wouldn't the recovery bit cover that?The AA provide a mechanical breakdown service. His car hadn’t broken down so they had no obligation to attend, in agreeing to come out they were looking to recover their costs from his insurer.
Edited by smokey mow on Monday 26th February 12:17
Simon Bags said:
smokey mow said:
Seems reasonable.
The AA provide a mechanical breakdown service. His car hadn’t broken down so they had no obligation to attend, in agreeing to come out they were looking to recover their costs from his insurer.
Fairly sure on my AA card it says breakdown & recovery? Wouldn't the recovery bit cover that?The AA provide a mechanical breakdown service. His car hadn’t broken down so they had no obligation to attend, in agreeing to come out they were looking to recover their costs from his insurer.
Edited by smokey mow on Monday 26th February 12:17
My breakdown policy specifically excludes recovering a car that has left the road.
Not just the AA, I got a car stuck in mud and the cheap "rescue my car.com" people told me they'd come and pull it out but it'd be chargeable because it's not a breakdown it's an act of stupidity. Couldn't disagree with them.
There is a strong element of risk of breaking a car pulling it out of mud and so forth, I can see why they wouldn't want to take that on...
I've since learned this is fairly common on recoveries, lots of cars have the towing eye connected to an aluminium crash bar.
There is a strong element of risk of breaking a car pulling it out of mud and so forth, I can see why they wouldn't want to take that on...
I've since learned this is fairly common on recoveries, lots of cars have the towing eye connected to an aluminium crash bar.
Do most recovery policies not say something about them not covering recovery after an accident or any recovery that requires specialist equipment, but that they’ll do it for an additional charge? Sounds like the call handler was possibly wanting to get the insurer to approve this particular job as an accident recovery. Presumably craning a car out of a ditch is “specialist equipment”
bigandclever said:
GeniusOfLove said:
I've since learned this is fairly common on recoveries, lots of cars have the towing eye connected to an aluminium crash bar.
You can imagine how people react if a recovery driver does it to their car though.
Smint said:
GeniusOfLove said:
It was quite funny and fortunately quite cheap to fix. If it had been anything but a shed car I'd have been less amused though.
You can imagine how people react if a recovery driver does it to their car though.
Shed car!? its almost brand newYou can imagine how people react if a recovery driver does it to their car though.
Brilliant car though, I don't know why they aren't rated much higher against other cars in that segment because it's miles more fun to drive than a Fiesta. It's quite light for a modern car and it shows, can't recommend one enough.
I worked for a breakdown provider a long time ago, that had a slightly better way to deal with them,
We would cover the cost to send out an agent, but all the labour, any equipment etc, was on you at whatever their rate was. If there was mechanical damage evident after pulling free, we would then recover up to policy limits, or to nearest suitable repairer.
I recall one fella driving off the edge of a parking space and hanging front wheels over a small drop. Stands out because he fronted the cost for a hi-ab crane, as he was concerned at the amount of damage would be caused by using scrap wood, sliders, and a tow, and he was upset because we wouldn't also cover the hi-ab callout cost for him.
I do also remember Mayday policies pretty much covering any eventuality, including one fella with a pick up truck and a stupid huge 5th wheel caravan absolutely demolished his pickup truck transmission towing a massive 5th wheel camper all over. Had to pay our agent to get a local farmer to tow it with his tractors to get it to a point where we could get it loaded onto 2x flat beds. I seem to recall we towed him to a few different camp sites under his cover while his truck was getting fixed. Madness. I should imagine those policies might have been pared back somewhat now, but damn I could've written a book with the weird s
t I used to facilitate.
We would cover the cost to send out an agent, but all the labour, any equipment etc, was on you at whatever their rate was. If there was mechanical damage evident after pulling free, we would then recover up to policy limits, or to nearest suitable repairer.
I recall one fella driving off the edge of a parking space and hanging front wheels over a small drop. Stands out because he fronted the cost for a hi-ab crane, as he was concerned at the amount of damage would be caused by using scrap wood, sliders, and a tow, and he was upset because we wouldn't also cover the hi-ab callout cost for him.
I do also remember Mayday policies pretty much covering any eventuality, including one fella with a pick up truck and a stupid huge 5th wheel caravan absolutely demolished his pickup truck transmission towing a massive 5th wheel camper all over. Had to pay our agent to get a local farmer to tow it with his tractors to get it to a point where we could get it loaded onto 2x flat beds. I seem to recall we towed him to a few different camp sites under his cover while his truck was getting fixed. Madness. I should imagine those policies might have been pared back somewhat now, but damn I could've written a book with the weird s
t I used to facilitate.Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff