To expect the AA to arrive quicker then this....

[Justtobeslim]

first call to the AA was at 11:00 this morning because my car was over heating, I was about 25 miles from home. I was told someone would be with me in about 60 to 90 minutes... than at 90 minutes i receive a phone call to say some from a local garage will be with me in 30 minutes. Finally about 14:30 a person from On Time turns up to check my car, he tells me there nothing wrong with it just needed water. I explain that the water and oil were checked two days ago and they were both fine. But he just topped it up with water and told me there was a air lock, I drive off less the 3 miles later I am at the traffic light when my car over heats again but this I have smoke coming from the engine and the engine light comes on. I pulled over and phoned the AA again, was told again 60 to 90 minutes but had to wait for over two hours again. This time I get a real AA man, who does lots of different check, he tells me it could be a few different things but I cannot drive the car and he made arrangements for me to be towed home...by this time I just sit in my car and cry, Off he goes and I am left waiting again, I receive another call to say someone would be with me within 30 minutes but I had to wait another two hours until the next AA man turns up to tow me. I finally got home at 20:30. Is NINE and HALF HOUR the longest time anyone had to wait for the AA?

[sleepdodger]

Tweet and fb them for an explanation it'll be way quicker than a standard email reply...

[SantasRooftopFanjangHoHo]

That is really pants! Complain! It's not the level of service you paid for.

[deleted203]

That is HIDEOUS! I would be phoning up tomorrow and creating hell with the AA. Ask them what they intend to do about your complaint and say you are intending to take it as high as you have to for you to get satisfaction. That is far below acceptable standards. I would also be telling them that you are very concerned that the appalling advice from On Time has caused permanent and expensive damage to your car. (Sounds like a blown head gasket to me).

[Vix07]

YANBU. My car died yesterday and the chap who turned up to have a look at it was a total twat. I'd come out from work to show him where the car was and said I was going in to get something warmer on (just wearing a thin work top & v pregnant) and he yelled at me that I 'MUST NOT LEAVE THE CAR!' tbf he did turn up fairly promptly but they always used to be nice. Will renew with the RAC I think...

[Tomorrowslookingfine]

I would be fuming, what a waste of a day! YANBU that is shit customer service.

[Justtobeslim]

I have spoken to their night manager who was very apologetic to the extent where I had to ask him to stop saying sorry...and I declined his offer of sending me a cheque for £25 angry: He advised me to ring back Monday morning.

[cumfy]

Stop driving a Honda ?

[ProtegeMoi]

That's awful.

Will certainly not be buying cover from AA now!

[IllEagle]

Yeah I think this is the way with the AA these days. Competition to cut prices means lower service standards....

[GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy]

I've had the AA put twice in the last month. Both times they've been with me well within the hour and been lovely blokes. The one on Friday was adorable and offered me a cup of tea from his flask :).

Sorry you had such a bad experience.

[bradywasmyfavouritewiseman]

AA left dh and ds (who was 4 months) in a car at the side of the road in the middle of winter a couple of years ago. They were there for 4 hours.
even though they had told us we had priority as there was a small baby.

[DozyDuck]

I'm with the RAC and the AA due to motorbility car. I ring the RAC who were amazing and just got on with it while I
Looked after DS in the house

[CarpeJugulum]

We've had the AA out to the house a couple of times, and they have been unfailingly courteous and helpful; the RAC on the other hand.

They have always arrived within time stated; although on one occasion they did call to delay their time as thy had a priority case on the motorway which understandably took priority over my knackered battery.

I suspect that, as with much in life, it depends on who you get!

[HKat]

That is a shame and I would be fuming. On the flip side, my battery ran down last weekend after my DP had the ignition on to listen to music whilst I had nipped into the shops and he looked after snoozing dd in the car, and after calling AA they arrived within 10 minutes. I expect we would have been prioritised because of 6mo dd (who wailed at exactly the right time when I was calling them :)) and must have been lucky with a van nearby, but couldn't fault the service really. Unlucky OP, see what they say on Monday, hope you've recovered now!

[FivesGoldNorks]

I called the rac out yesterday for a non emergency (and made that clear - my seatbelt was fully extended and would not retract but I was at home, no desperate need of car), they were here within 90m and fixed it then and there!

[Backtobedlam]

I'm with the RAC-I've had them out about 3 times and always been a great service. They came out last week, and arrived within 40mins to sort the problem.

[schoolgovernor]

I had two very long waits with the AA, then changed organsation. I've got Start Rescue now, who are as cheap as chips and have given a much better and quicker service both times I've used them. The only criticism I have is that after an accident they didn't take my word for it that the car needed to go on a low loader rather than being towed, so I had to wait for a second vehicle.

[RedHelenB]

Join the RAC!!!

[chris481]

AA guys do vary, but they do usually turn up within an hour or so and do usually do something useful to resolve the problem, in my experience. So you should definitely feel short-changed.

[Justtobeslim]

Just a quick update: I have been on the phone about five times today talking to the claims department and customer complaints department. They have offered me a hire car for 3 days but the garage can not look at my car until Thursday and say they don't think it will be ready for this side of Xmas... I have ask for a manuscript of all the calls I made Saturday and the mechanic reports. After the years I have been with the AA I feel really let down by a company that I trusted. I will be taking the matter to further, I have emailed watchdog.

[Glitterknickaz]

As others have posted have a go via social media.

[ginmakesitallok]

You were not being unreasonable originally - but what do you want them to do for you now? I think the offer of paying for a hire car for 3 days isn't a bad one - it's not their fault the garage can't fix your car before then. What could they do that would make you happy?

[JellicleCat]

Personally I have always had good service from the AA. Once they even followed me home after fixing the problem just to make sure I got there OK. Over the years I have called them for everything from keys locked in the car to running out of petrol as well as more serious problems. And had great service last time I called them out which was about a year ago, the guy actually turned up ahead of the scheduled time!

Sorry you have had problems OP, and you should definitely complain, but just because you had a bad experience doesn't make them a totally crap organization.