AA Rip-Off

[Mich the Tester]

Well they only need to know enough to get the car going, anything complex and it gets sent to the nearest garage. I don't think the AA hire the best mechanics.

Patrol - On the Road - Jobs - The AA Careers

First-class vehicle diagnosis is one of the things the AA is famous for. Using our expertise and state-of-the-art technology to get motorists back on the road safely and quickly are what we stake our reputation on. And we want to put you right on the front line.

Responding to calls from AA members, you'll be on hand with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to find faults and get vehicles back up and running, where possible. This calls for a City & Guilds part 1 and 2 in motor-vehicle-craft studies or an equivalent NVQ Level 3; not to mention great customer service skills, a courteous, professional approach and an in-depth, practical knowledge of the mechanical and electrical workings of a wide range of motor vehicles. This will come from at least three years in motor-vehicle repair or five years in engineering.

[Troll]

Modern diesel should be fine

My diesel is 13years old (gawd bless Mitsy 4x4s!) and would need priming /air bleed (like radiators) from empty -do later diesels self bleed ?

[Mich the Tester]

Not normally. But running out of petrol because you're a dumb **** deserves a call out charge.

Double if you're a BMW driver, and treble if you're a cock in an Audi.

[MarillionFan]

Patrol - On the Road - Jobs - The AA Careers

First-class vehicle diagnosis is one of the things the AA is famous for. Using our expertise and state-of-the-art technology to get motorists back on the road safely and quickly are what we stake our reputation on. And we want to put you right on the front line.

Responding to calls from AA members, you'll be on hand with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to find faults and get vehicles back up and running, where possible. This calls for a City & Guilds part 1 and 2 in motor-vehicle-craft studies or an equivalent NVQ Level 3; not to mention great customer service skills, a courteous, professional approach and an in-depth, practical knowledge of the mechanical and electrical workings of a wide range of motor vehicles. This will come from at least three years in motor-vehicle repair or five years in engineering.

You don't need to work in motor vehicle repair though to know that cars need fuel to run.

[sasguru]

At the weekend, took the family to a halloween party in a remote part of the country, I realised I was running low on petrol, but the party was near a town with a petrol station (the only one for miles though).

To my horror the station was closed, and with my beemer reporting that it could only manage another 4-5 miles I was in trouble.

I called the AA which I am not a member and had to join for a year, which I though was OK, might come in useful and I go the most basic which was £69.

By the time the guy got to the end they had added another £80, which applies if you use the AA within the first 3 days!!!

The AA guy was out within the hour, but he also charged me for the 2 gallon of petrol (£14).

Feckers!

Looks like the AA charge a stupidity tax.
Fairy nuff in my opinion.

[kandr]

Anyway short of visiting every petrol station I pass to make sure its always topped up, and phoning ahead to petrol stations that should be open, but somehow close for no apparent reason, I think the AA screwed me, and I will get my money back somehow.

[Mich the Tester]

You don't need to work in motor vehicle repair though to know that cars need fuel to run.

No, but if the AA send a patrol, they have to assume that there might be something else wrong. Maybe the customer sees a low fuel gauge, when actually something else is wrong; the mechanic still needs to be able to help. Besides, they're not going to employ a legion of fuel-filler-uppers with no skills on top of their skilled mechanics unless they're some corporate moloch that's rediscovered Taylorism.

[shaunbhoy]

One of the conditions of that role is that they have to wear very very large chequered trousers, a red nose, size 19 shoes and a lapel flower that squirts water

So much the same garb as a Social Worker then?

[CheeseSlice]

So £80+£69+£14 = £163 for annual breakdown insurance with AA including a callout and some fuel.
Not bad considering my renewal fee this year was over £200

[TimberWolf]

No doubt the majority of their work involves the same kind of stuff: alternator, battery, fuel, tyres.

I'd probably not even offer someone a tow these days, as doing so can ruin some I gather and the same may be true of jump staring a car using jump leads or even push starting it.