AAA in the Cleveland area
See... It really ain't all about food! This one has to be told, though.
I have been a "member" of AAA for approximately 18 years, give or take a few here and there, and they have most often been my savior in unfortunate times. This time, however, they were absolutely, RIDICULOUSLY horrible. Of course, I must preface this by saying that the people I spoke with at the AAA office were all very polite and apologetic, BUT that does not mitigate the difficulties I encountered.
I noticed a strange driving sensation this morning, 8 January 2008, at about 7:35. I knew, but hoped against the fact, that it as a flat. It was all the more annoying because I was no more than a five minute drive from my destination, if the tire had not blown. I know from past stupidity as a much younger person that one does NOT drive on a flat unless it is unavoidable, so I called for assistance, after discovering I had neither jack nor spare. After all, that is the reason one pays for AAA is it not?
I called, I am going to say, about 7:45 and spoke with the first person, I did not records the names though I should have. She assured me that my tow would arrive by 8:30something. Well, that did not happen and an electronic voice called to tell me the driver had been "unavoidably detained" and would be there in about 20minutes. I called in twenty five and was told he would be there in twenty MORE. This, if you are following is more than 45 minutes AFTER the original 45 I was told. I called AGAIN in another 25 and was told he was actually en route. Twenty minute after THAT I called again and was told he was, "on site." That would have been difficult to miss as I was there with the vehicle the entire time and gave them the EXACT address of where I was sitting. If you have been adding this you will see that I was there for nearly 3 hours waiting for a pick-up and tow. Mind you, I had been listening to the traffic reports all morning and knew there was nothing going on AND it was one of those VERY rare 65 degree winter days, even with sunlight. He finally made it about ten minutes AFTER he was supposedly on site. In fact, he turned down the wrong street even though I gave them superb directions, down to the number of lights, and stop signs.
My first number was 87 and I used it until I finally arrived at work about 10:25 which was incomprehensible. The driver was very friendly and courteous, so I do not know where to place the blame, BUT someone dropped the ball in a major way on this. There is NO way I should be charged a tow from this fiasco. Then, you guys at AAA (and it was you guys not the tow operator because he said he could have found me any number of better and cheaper places to go) gave me an option of places to have the tire fixed. I do not know much about such places in the city so went by your word, BUT I did question the suggestion. She told me, "Conrad's on Chester." I actually knew where that was and said, "There has to be something closer than downtown." She said, "That's not downtown." Bullshit!!!!! The damned place was at East 17th and Chester, DOWN fucking TOWN. Get a clue you imbecile. If you are going to work for a place like the American AUTOMOBILE Association, you maybe ought to know your city.
Anyway, they were supposed to call me at some point during the day, it was only a damned flat tire. I finally got the chance to call them at about 2pm. They said they didn't know if they would have the chance today to get the tire fixed. They had had it since maybe 11 and it was only a damned TIRE!!!!!. I said that was unacceptable and called AAA back. I had the thing towed back to the NTB in Mentor and it was fixed in less than 30 minutes. The driver of the last run was Bryan from Madison Avenue Auto Service. He was there as I arrived, within fifteen minutes of my call, and drove myself and my vehicle back without question. The ticket number on the last one was 827 and there was one in between that was something like 707.
Another thought or two: I asked what company would be arriving during my first 3 hours and was told they did not know. I was passed by at least six different tow trucks while waiting and two asked if I needed help. If they had been unscrupulous in any way, they could have said they were AAA, and took off with my vehicle. You, as AAA should ALWAYS let your customers know what company will be there to take their vehicle. This is a safety factor as well as a property saving one. One of the people I spoke with even argued saying that they, "weren't allowed to give out that information." I honestly told her something like that sounded impossibly idiotic. What company would not want its customer to know its name?????? I wish to God I could remember who told me that but she was the only one who was bitchy in any manner. I think she was the third person to whom I spoke this morning.
I have been a "member" of AAA for approximately 18 years, give or take a few here and there, and they have most often been my savior in unfortunate times. This time, however, they were absolutely, RIDICULOUSLY horrible. Of course, I must preface this by saying that the people I spoke with at the AAA office were all very polite and apologetic, BUT that does not mitigate the difficulties I encountered.
I noticed a strange driving sensation this morning, 8 January 2008, at about 7:35. I knew, but hoped against the fact, that it as a flat. It was all the more annoying because I was no more than a five minute drive from my destination, if the tire had not blown. I know from past stupidity as a much younger person that one does NOT drive on a flat unless it is unavoidable, so I called for assistance, after discovering I had neither jack nor spare. After all, that is the reason one pays for AAA is it not?
I called, I am going to say, about 7:45 and spoke with the first person, I did not records the names though I should have. She assured me that my tow would arrive by 8:30something. Well, that did not happen and an electronic voice called to tell me the driver had been "unavoidably detained" and would be there in about 20minutes. I called in twenty five and was told he would be there in twenty MORE. This, if you are following is more than 45 minutes AFTER the original 45 I was told. I called AGAIN in another 25 and was told he was actually en route. Twenty minute after THAT I called again and was told he was, "on site." That would have been difficult to miss as I was there with the vehicle the entire time and gave them the EXACT address of where I was sitting. If you have been adding this you will see that I was there for nearly 3 hours waiting for a pick-up and tow. Mind you, I had been listening to the traffic reports all morning and knew there was nothing going on AND it was one of those VERY rare 65 degree winter days, even with sunlight. He finally made it about ten minutes AFTER he was supposedly on site. In fact, he turned down the wrong street even though I gave them superb directions, down to the number of lights, and stop signs.
My first number was 87 and I used it until I finally arrived at work about 10:25 which was incomprehensible. The driver was very friendly and courteous, so I do not know where to place the blame, BUT someone dropped the ball in a major way on this. There is NO way I should be charged a tow from this fiasco. Then, you guys at AAA (and it was you guys not the tow operator because he said he could have found me any number of better and cheaper places to go) gave me an option of places to have the tire fixed. I do not know much about such places in the city so went by your word, BUT I did question the suggestion. She told me, "Conrad's on Chester." I actually knew where that was and said, "There has to be something closer than downtown." She said, "That's not downtown." Bullshit!!!!! The damned place was at East 17th and Chester, DOWN fucking TOWN. Get a clue you imbecile. If you are going to work for a place like the American AUTOMOBILE Association, you maybe ought to know your city.
Anyway, they were supposed to call me at some point during the day, it was only a damned flat tire. I finally got the chance to call them at about 2pm. They said they didn't know if they would have the chance today to get the tire fixed. They had had it since maybe 11 and it was only a damned TIRE!!!!!. I said that was unacceptable and called AAA back. I had the thing towed back to the NTB in Mentor and it was fixed in less than 30 minutes. The driver of the last run was Bryan from Madison Avenue Auto Service. He was there as I arrived, within fifteen minutes of my call, and drove myself and my vehicle back without question. The ticket number on the last one was 827 and there was one in between that was something like 707.
Another thought or two: I asked what company would be arriving during my first 3 hours and was told they did not know. I was passed by at least six different tow trucks while waiting and two asked if I needed help. If they had been unscrupulous in any way, they could have said they were AAA, and took off with my vehicle. You, as AAA should ALWAYS let your customers know what company will be there to take their vehicle. This is a safety factor as well as a property saving one. One of the people I spoke with even argued saying that they, "weren't allowed to give out that information." I honestly told her something like that sounded impossibly idiotic. What company would not want its customer to know its name?????? I wish to God I could remember who told me that but she was the only one who was bitchy in any manner. I think she was the third person to whom I spoke this morning.
posted by johnathan e at 3:11 PM
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