AA membership - thoughts?

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qwertee

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#1367712 17-Aug-2015 08:00

I have been a member with the AA for about 11 years and have used it many times for a flat battery.

It came in really handy when my car broke down on the west coast. Free call out

and a tow to the garage.

I have my car insurance as well with the AA, but I do shop around for better deals when it comes to renewal time. Even if my insurance company offer road side assistance, I would prefer still to keep my AA membership going.

johnr

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#1367714 17-Aug-2015 08:05

The AA Smart fuel saver card is a rip and has pushed up fuel prices at BP and Caltex

Geektastic

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#1367722 17-Aug-2015 08:36

johnr: The AA Smart fuel saver card is a rip and has pushed up fuel prices at BP and Caltex

I preferred their original idea that got me money off my AA membership every year.

We have BP & Z fuel cards because it makes the accounting easier and because they have standard pricing regardless of where in NZ you fill up - so we get no AA points anyway for fuel because you cannot use that if you use a fuel card.

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#1367724 17-Aug-2015 08:42

The main advantage I see is that the AA membership follows the member not the vehicle so you can use it regardless of what or whose car you are in.

Their European cover was brilliant; I had a vehicle blow a rad hose en route home from Le Mans one year and they arranged for the vehicle to be collected, a taxi to take me to the nearest town where there was a main dealer, hotel accommodation (paid by them direct) until the car could be repaired and incidental expenses for meals etc.

As an aside, the ferry I caught home after that (which I recall well because I had missed my booked one and had a slightly pleading discussion with the ferry operator not to charge me again!) is now the Kaitaki sailing the Cook Strait!

hangon

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#1367764 17-Aug-2015 09:47

Thanks everyone... several of you made the good point that the membership goes with the driver and not just the car. Although in my case, my own car, work car and any rental car I have used, all have some sorts of road assistance.

After a bit of struggling I renewed my membership... partly because I'm sticking with AA for my car insurance. Tried to get a quote from youi but they wouldn't give a straight answer on their web site but wanted to call me - even after I had to provide a cell phone number to receive a verification code - which now looks more like a sales technique rather than for "verification".

AA car insurance worked well for me in the past, make a call, drop off car (5 min from work) and grab a key to a free rental, wait for pickup call and fill the rental up. Had a quick search on youi in here and OZ, not convinced I'd get the same easy claims in case I do need them.

But with new car sales up and more offering free roadside assistance, the main attraction of the AA membership is getting thin. So couple of us here "sitting on the fence", and I reckon AA could use clever thinking there.

E3xtc

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#1367859 17-Aug-2015 12:06

Geektastic:
johnr: The AA Smart fuel saver card is a rip and has pushed up fuel prices at BP and Caltex

I preferred their original idea that got me money off my AA membership every year.

We have BP & Z fuel cards because it makes the accounting easier and because they have standard pricing regardless of where in NZ you fill up - so we get no AA points anyway for fuel because you cannot use that if you use a fuel card.

Yeah I agree; the old method of giving cash back was far better, at least there some something tangible from it....I have stopped using my AA card, as I can often get fuel at other stations at the same rate without having to specifically use that card...so waste of time and no longer support it.

I would like to think that AA wake up to this, but I think that is overly optimistic (and also sense that have committed to it too much at this stage), so wouldn't expect anything at the end of the day.

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Stu

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#1367874 17-Aug-2015 12:30

The better method is no discounts or cash-backs at all. Then price of fuel wouldn't have that buffer added in to it, and prices would (should) come down.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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nzkiwiman

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#1368460 18-Aug-2015 10:43

johnr: The AA Smart fuel saver card is a rip and has pushed up fuel prices at BP and Caltex

I know in areas that Gull are in (Upper North Island) that there used to be petrol price wars
Down here in the Dunedin though, every place at the same price so the fuel discounts have not pushed the price up.

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#1368488 18-Aug-2015 11:15

nzkiwiman:
johnr: The AA Smart fuel saver card is a rip and has pushed up fuel prices at BP and Caltex

I know in areas that Gull are in (Upper North Island) that there used to be petrol price wars
Down here in the Dunedin though, every place at the same price so the fuel discounts have not pushed the price up.

SWAMBO was buying it in Takanini at $1.60 a few months ago when I was paying $2.10 or so down here.

Jaxson

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#1368540 18-Aug-2015 12:27

Wife joined recently as we switched insurers to AA and they don't offer road side assist as a package add on, but instead offer the AA membership with a few free callouts.

Rather a personal choice if you want to keep it, or if it stacks up financially, or even as a bit of insurance.

Scott3

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#1368948 18-Aug-2015 22:45

I oppose many the AA's lobbing activities, (despite the fact I spend a fair chunk of time driving, drove about 500km today).

One that particularly annoyed me was when the AA (In a press release encouraging the Auckland Council to be more lenient those who illegally drive in bus lanes) said that the money from Bus lane fines should be ring fenced and spend on road safety projects.

Firstly: I oppose ring fencing, as it leads to less efficient outcomes compared to all projects being biased on their own merits.
Secondly: What do bus lane fines have to do with road safety anyway?

Generally their lobbying seems quite anti-Public Transport, despite good public transport being know to reduce congestion, and the views of their own Auckland members: Link

I have a roadside rescue package with my insurance company (State)

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Geektastic

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#1368953 18-Aug-2015 23:00

Yes, their lobbying is far from their best feature.

I'd expect them to lobby for motorist interests but sometimes they stray off into areas they ought to avoid.

I have AA with my insurance and with the car warranty, but I maintain my own personal membership in case I am in someone else's car when I need help!

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