[Skip]

I was with a friend a few years back in another city in Florida. His car would not start. Called AAA at 2 PM. Was told an hour wait. 2 hours went by. No AAA service yet. Called again, AAA said he's on his way. Another hour went by. Called AAA again. Said they would expedite it. Waited another hour.

Finally the AAA tow truck showed up about 6 PM. Said he just got the dispatch a few minutes ago. [Who's lying?] Could not jump start it. It was the starter. Gave the AAA card to the driver, he wrote the tow slip and my friend signed it (got no copy) and had it towed to the nearest dealer. Called the dealer the next day. They can replace the starter $$$ that day, ready at 2 PM. We went to pay for the repairs and there was a $150 charge for towing on the bill. My friend explained it was a free AAA tow, "here's my AAA card". Dealer said you have to take that up with the tow company, here's their number. Called the tow company - no answer. Dealer would not release the car without paying for the tow too. So he did. Next day my friend drove to the tow company and demanded the $150 back. The tow company said, "not my problem, you called, we towed, you pay. Take it up with AAA."

So my friend (furious by now) called AAA and they told him to make a claim with the receipts. They would investigate and reimburse him. He sent in the claim and dealer receipt with summary of conversations with tow company and heard nothing from AAA. A letter to AAA Customer Service also went unanswered. He was ignored.

After 40 years with AAA, he cancelled his membership. $150 is not enough to sue the tow company or AAA. Each year he gets a notice from AAA "your membership has lapsed". He sends it back with "call me to find out why". But never hears from them.

This is not hearsay. I was there with him.

After that, I canceled my AAA membership too.

Maybe you might think about it also. Membership is worthless.

If you have service done by a dealer or local repair shop, ask them who to call. Some shops will split the tow cost with you. The tow may be less than the membership cost.

End of story.

Skip