AA and 'gold membership', to think it's a scam!

[TheFlumpFlan]

Right, new member online £34 (roadside)

For me and my free Gold membership as a valued customer, this is upped to £67!

On the phone they could reduce it to £45 when I complained, not not the normal price (I left them)

Gold membership btw gives a load of 'useful' extras eg a few days abroad (no, I don't want to take an £18 banger to France thanks), associate membership for 16/17 year olds (I have none) for my 'free; upgrade'....

I explained I do short journeys, have never in all these years called them out and just want the basic reassurance of not being stranded alone at night. But you can't shed these extras.

AIBU to think it's a scam where they 'reward' you by trying to increase your direct debit each year and hope you don't notice?

YABU. The higher price isn't for Gold membership. It's because the original price of £34 is for new members and has an initial discount applied.

I have Silver membership and find the free European cover very useful.

But if the whole package doesn't suit your needs, you should look elsewhere. As you have done.

But it's not a scam. IMO.

Last year I took out aa cover for the cheaper new member price. When the renewal came in at more than double I phoned up and cancelled, then joined rac for their similarly cheap new member deal. I will not renew with rac, I intend to rejoin Aa as a new member next year. It doesn't pay to be a loyal customer any more. I also was not very impressed by the supposed benefits of being upgraded to a silver membership.

So I agree it is a scam and yanbu

Our membership includes parts and labour on any breakdown, paid for itself many times over (old car).

I LOVE the AA.

Mine includes the breakdown repair - I've had more than my money's worth out if that over a couple of years. Plus I took advantage of the 'free' assistance for anyone who happens to have my children travelling in their car. It was a godsend to get my mum and dc home when she broke down with my children in the car as her own cover wasn't enough (free bank policy).

switch to rac or greenflag and take advantage of their new member discount.

I find that swapping between rac and aa every year is normally the best.

Don't go with Green Flag on their basic policy! We got stung because they'll only take you ten miles if you break down. We were 10.5 miles from our usual garage and 12 miles from home

Just done my usual phone up to reduce the price. This time with aa reduced from £105 to £15. You dont accept the renewal ever. Do the same with car insurance etc although i use a certain meerkat site to find the best price then phone up and say can you match it...... If not i move....simples

Green flag is also very good and getting the tesco breakdown cover can work too.

I had exactly the same scenario a few months ago, OP. Had a protracted discussion with their membership department about addons I don't need, loyalty, new member discounts, etc. Quoted them the current RAC new member price and said that I'd take advantage of that for this year and be back for AA new member price next year. The agent I was speaking to then referred to his supervisor and offered me the 5* membership for RAC price + £1. By this time I had almost lost the will to live, so agreed.

It's so annoying that an annual negotiation has to take place for so many services (insurances, phone tariff, breakdown cover and so on). It takes so much time, patience and effort to achieve a result.

I felt it was a scam due to the huge hike, like they just try their luck upping it. Going to a flat non New members rate is on thing, but it for way beyond that. There's no flat members rate at all.

Agreed, OP - as I explained to them, what I wanted was the no-frills basic product. They kept telling me that in light of my long-standing membership they'd be kind enough to honour the lower price and let me be a Gold 5* member, when in reality the basic product no longer exists. They must think we're all mugs!

I have just received my renewal and been 'upgraded' from silver to gold membership, 'at no extra cost', except it's £30 more! Time to get on the phone I think.