DO NOT Book AA European Holiday Cover

AA Breakdown Cover
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IJP1's review of AA Breakdown Cover

“DO NOT Book AA European Holiday Cover”

★☆☆☆☆

written by IJP1 on 22/09/2011

Paid £68 for full AA European Cover including parts & labour for a nine day holiday in France. Two days before we were due to come back the wiper motor broke but as we were only 15mins away from where we were staying and the rain was not hat heavy we continued on.

MISTAKE NO 1 : If you break down do not drive any further. Call there and then.

When I called the AA I was told that as I was 'safe' and no longer at the roadside they would not send anyone out. 'When it is not raining drive the car to this garage..... 1hr 15mins away'. Not what I wanted to hear. I said that I could not see the point taking the car to a non main dealer as they would never have the part. I was told no this was 'the closest garage'. I had a little look on Google and found a main dealer 30mins closer. Rang back the AA and was really surprised to hear them say 'Oh really -we didn't know'. Is not part of why you book someone like the AA because of their local knowledge? I then rang the main dealer who asked when we were going home as he would not have one in stock and would probably take at least 48hrs to get one which was after we were due to leave.

MISTAKE NO 2 : You should take the car there, leave it, let the AA hire you a car, drive home and let them ship the car back.

I rang back the AA and said this was all madness if the forecast was good we would drive home and with no rain we would be fine and the repair could be done in the UK saving us hassle (and loss of holiday time sorting it all out) and the AA £1500-2000. The girl thought that was a good idea and agreed that we would call from the roadside if it rained.

MISTAKE NO 3 : You won't be covered in the UK

Got home rang the AA to say I would take it to the main dealer and guess what - you have no cover in the UK when you have the European Cover for parts & labour.

I have now spent the last four weeks complaining and had what the AA have said is "there final response....take it up with the Ombudsman" this morning. No apology, no refund and have just gone to cancel my UK AA policy and even though there is 8months left to run guess what - "unless sir you cancel within 14 days there is no refund".

It's incredible that I felt I was doing the best by everyone and now feel like I have been truly let down by adopting that policy.

My advice - do not book with the AA. What was there advertising strapline 'Britains 4th Emergency Service'.

Absolute twaddle!

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Dingding1's Response to IJP1's Review

Written on: 12/06/2012

Such is life. AA cannot fix the hassle you will undoubtably have if you have the bad luck to break down on holiday. In fact, they probably bank on the fact that 50% of failures never get claimed because the policyholder just doesn't want the hassle. Personally, I would probably have just lived with the broken wipers and saved myself the high blood pressure. I don't think they would have hired you a car either - check the small print.
What would be nice is if the garage identified the part, ordered it, and had it shipped to you (at home) with the cost being paid by the insurance you had. Then the fitting by a local dealer also covered. Its never that easy though is it.

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