RAC Renewal - Crazy quote followed by less than half price offer

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
In brief - ALWAYS dispute all renewal quotes for EVERYTHING

I just received my RAC renewal quote: £293 PLUS an 'arrangement and administration fee' of £73 - total £366. An increase of £40 on last year.

I phoned to give them ****, and they re-quoted £146 - less than half price.

They claimed that this was because they valued my membership and were now choosing to ignore the computer's weighting of previous call-outs. I reminded them that what was really going on was that their business model relied on 80% of customers unconsciously paying wildly inflated prices. I also asked for a 50% refund on the previous year's premium, which surely they must now admit was wildly inflated, too - without success.

Given the very attractive new quotation, we had a long debate about whether it was right for a consumer to stay with a business that offered good service at good prices (eventually), even when it's automatic renewal pricing model was clearly deceptive and unfair, and bordering on the dishonest. And also whether it would help to expiate the shame I felt at having foolishly overpaid by about £160 last year by accepting an automatic renewal, by moving to Green Flag this year. I didn't make much progress, and in the end succumbed, even though I think the words 'criminal conspiracy' did escape my lips at one point.

ALWAYS dispute all renewal quotes for EVERYTHING
 

rockits

Member
Messages
9,167
Same old speil theyve been spouting to me for years....must be in the script! It always was about 150 then doubles to 300 on renewal to drop back down to 150 when questioned.

I question everything. I know I'm one of the most annoying classroom students in any training session!
 

jasst

Member
Messages
2,313
Couldn't agree more, always shop around for everything come renewal time, and it really gets my goat when Co you are already with jacks up prices in the hope you will just auto renew, I have actually moved to a different provider on occasions as a matter of principle even if it has cost me a few quid
 

dgmx5

Member
Messages
1,142
Every year we sign up as a 'new' member for AA and RAC alternately which, together with cashback from Quidco, usually brings costs downs to around £100 from memory. I agree though that it smacks of not valuing their existing customers.

Thankfully only had to call upon their services once in the last 10 years. As with all things warranty (as opposed to insurance where you are either required by law to have it (car insurance) or it would not make financial sense to risk not having it (buildings and contents insurance)), you should always consider what if I didn't take it out.

Based on one call out for recovery in 10 years, I would be quids in if I had just paid a recovery truck for that one time. But I would not relish being stuck at the roadside, over a barrel as to how long/how much to be recovered.
 

Devonboy

Member
Messages
1,289
Yup same with me - never agree to the automatic renewal - AA and RAC are monsters for this - I was surprised by Green Flag though who don’t seem to behave like this....yet
 

Contigo

Sponsor
Messages
18,376
They live in hope that people won't question the renewal or forget about it, it automatically renews and they are quids in.

I've also called some in the past who have point blank refused to do better. Ok don't renew then there will be hundreds more who want me as a new customer and quote way cheaper.
 

atreyu1

Member
Messages
183
I was insured with the AA last year and it was approx £325 including my wife and 29 year old son. When the automatic renewal quote came this year it was something in the order of £2,350 ! Not a typo £2,350. After I recovered myself I queried it with the AA and was told "What do you expect with a car like that" At this point I have to say that I've never had a claim and I've never had any points on my licence. Needless to say I didn't accept their offer.
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
RAC have now written saying that "some details were not sufficiently prominent" in their renewal letter, and this time highlighting the old price vs the new price. B'stards!
 

Attachments

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bigbob

Member
Messages
8,952
RAC have now written saying that "some details were not sufficiently prominent" in their renewal letter, and this time highlighting the old price vs the new price. B'stards!

I like your method of redaction. Looks like you were taking it out on the letter.
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I might ring them up, I just pay a rolling direct debit each month to cover me and Alex in whatever car we are in wherever in Europe. (26 quid a month).
I guess I might be paying too much.
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
Took out AA roadside about a month ago.
With Quidco comes to £14.
There is an auto renewal though

Isn't roadside where they only take you to the nearest garage if they can't fix it , my AA renewal came up at £245 any vehicle, my wife and I , home start, relay and breakdown cover , it said I'd paid £138 last year so I moaned on the phone and got them down to £145 which considering I've just bought a fiat van could be the bargain of the decade

I question everything. I know I'm one of the most annoying classroom students in any training session!

You weren't in Egypt in 1995 were you

We went on a tour of the Cairo museum which was followed by a trip to Giza , the guide was constantly interrupted by a family of 3 from Dahn sarff who wouldn't shut up with the constant questions , eventually the guide just ignored them and carried on addressing the group.

We left the museum and were waiting for the bus on a dirt car park when it pulled up right in front of me , the door opened, some got off and I stepped aboard but as I did I felt something go pop under my foot, this was followed by a woman saying ere what was that, it looks like pepper sauce

I turned to look and all 3 of the annoying family were coated from the waist down with a pale brown goo , I looked down and the contents of the plastic bag were spread in an arc which headed in their direction, I then realised when the door opened and people exited somebody had dropped a bag of vomit which I'd managed to send their way, the aim couldn't have been better, I got on the bus with them having no idea what'd just happened.
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
I use Nationwide Flex Plus as I'm with Nationwide for breakdown cover, £10 a month for any car, me and mrs, anywhere in EU, along with other benefits such as no ATM charges abroad, mobile phone and travel insurance, and other stuff too I can't remember.

Been great, used it for breakdown about 5 times, mainly with the QP when I first got it with it's garage queen to daily driver issues....
 
Messages
6,001
Isn't roadside where they only take you to the nearest garage if they can't fix it , my AA renewal came up at £245 any vehicle, my wife and I , home start, relay and breakdown cover , it said I'd paid £138 last year so I moaned on the phone and got them down to £145 which considering I've just bought a fiat van could be the bargain of the decade



You weren't in Egypt in 1995 were you

We went on a tour of the Cairo museum which was followed by a trip to Giza , the guide was constantly interrupted by a family of 3 from Dahn sarff who wouldn't shut up with the constant questions , eventually the guide just ignored them and carried on addressing the group.

We left the museum and were waiting for the bus on a dirt car park when it pulled up right in front of me , the door opened, some got off and I stepped aboard but as I did I felt something go pop under my foot, this was followed by a woman saying ere what was that, it looks like pepper sauce

I turned to look and all 3 of the annoying family were coated from the waist down with a pale brown goo , I looked down and the contents of the plastic bag were spread in an arc which headed in their direction, I then realised when the door opened and people exited somebody had dropped a bag of vomit which I'd managed to send their way, the aim couldn't have been better, I got on the bus with them having no idea what'd just happened.
Yes AA roadside is fix and or go to nearest garage
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Isn't roadside where they only take you to the nearest garage if they can't fix it , my AA renewal came up at £245 any vehicle, my wife and I , home start, relay and breakdown cover , it said I'd paid £138 last year so I moaned on the phone and got them down to £145 which considering I've just bought a fiat van could be the bargain of the decade



You weren't in Egypt in 1995 were you

We went on a tour of the Cairo museum which was followed by a trip to Giza , the guide was constantly interrupted by a family of 3 from Dahn sarff who wouldn't shut up with the constant questions , eventually the guide just ignored them and carried on addressing the group.

We left the museum and were waiting for the bus on a dirt car park when it pulled up right in front of me , the door opened, some got off and I stepped aboard but as I did I felt something go pop under my foot, this was followed by a woman saying ere what was that, it looks like pepper sauce

I turned to look and all 3 of the annoying family were coated from the waist down with a pale brown goo , I looked down and the contents of the plastic bag were spread in an arc which headed in their direction, I then realised when the door opened and people exited somebody had dropped a bag of vomit which I'd managed to send their way, the aim couldn't have been better, I got on the bus with them having no idea what'd just happened.
After a 1-1 draw at home to West From one winter, we returned to the carpark covered in snow and frozen door locks, we got into ours cos we had remote locking, wasn't very common then.

Next us the old chap was struggling to get into his car and we offered to help. My mate James took the lead, and started blowing via his cupped hands on the driver door lock. No luck so he tried directly lip application and blowing right on the keyhole itself. Ten mins later no luck.

So we all stood looking at the problem thinking of solutions and I said to the doddery old chap 'We could try pi55ing on it...'

He said, no point, already tried that.......
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
Had to call the RAC yesterday as the battery was suddenly flat. Guy came quickly and said that his test showed the battery needed replacing. As it was an RAC battery and only 18 month sold, he went off to get a new one for free. So that was a win. I think part of their problem is that their diagnostics are set up to report 'you need a new battery; buy one from me now', but that works less well for them when it turns out the battery they are testing, and saying needs to be replaced, is still under their warranty!