What's made you grumpy today?

[Slim]

I attempted to call the AA to update my contact details when a payment was taken from my account with no notice, and to see if I could get the organisation to come down on price a bit, since the yearly charge had grown significantly for no apparent reason. It's actually more than I spend on petrol now.

The first time I called, I spent ten minutes on hold then was cut off without speaking to anyone. I called back. I spent another ten minutes on hold, spoke to an agent who appeared to be helpful initially, then put me on hold for about 6 minutes. Then I was cut off.

I called back for a third time, quite angry by now. A 15 minute wait on hold this time. Then I got through to my second agent. I freaked him out a bit initially by insisting on speaking to a manager, quite assertively. But he held it together and he was quite helpful.

I joined the AA in 1994 when my MR2 broke down due to a corroded coolant pipe emptying the radiator onto the M1. But the AA's shoddy customer support service this morning had already persuaded me to cancel my membership after 32 years. So I did that, and arranged a refund of the payment that had been taken.

I feel that breakdown cover is a bit too important to be left to a company that radiates incompetence.

[Slim]

I received a text just now: "The AA would love feedback on your recent call with Sabrina". So I provided it.

Firstly, my conversation with Sabrina was my second attempt at contacting the AA. I'd already spent 10 minutes waiting to get through to an agent, only to be cut off immediately. Not Sabrina's fault.

I called back and waited another ten minutes, after which I spoke to Sabrina. I didn't have my customer number handy but I did have a direct debit reference. She didn't want to know what it was. She wanted to contact a different department, so she put me on hold. After six minutes of being on hold I was cut off, presumably by Sabrina.

I called back for a third time, by now intent on cancelling my membership because - let's be honest - your customer service is pathetic. I wouldn't trust anyone at the AA to sit the right way round on a toilet, let alone help out in an emergency. The agent I spoke to on my third call was able to derive my membership number from the direct debit reference. Sabrina should have tried that; she put me on hold for six minutes then cut me off instead. Not exactly useful.

I sincerely hope this helps.

[Matt2112]

Sounds similar to my experience with Scottish Power a few years ago, which I had to escalate to the point that I - successfully - took them to the Glasgow Sheriff Court.

[The Picnic Wasp]

My sister's RAC renewal just arrived and the cost has risen considerably. She was considering trying the AA in any case as the RAC failed to attend the breakdown she had with her previous car until the following day, after she had hung around for 7 hours.

I had a quick look at reviews online yesterday and only the smaller outfits got some praise although Green Flag seemed the best of the larger companies. Good to know about the AA. I'll pass it on.

[dom]

We had an issue with the AA as well. We had to call them to the house a couple of times when the battery ran down and on another occasion when my son's car broke down. When the renewal came through it was over €1000 euro. We didn't renew and left it for a month or 2 when an offer appeared in my Gmail. Back with them for a third of that excessive fee

[David L]

We had an issue with the AA as well. We had to call them to the house a couple of times when the battery ran down and on another occasion when my son's car broke down. When the renewal came through it was over €1000 euro. We didn't renew and left it for a month or 2 when an offer appeared in my Gmail. Back with them for a third of that excessive fee

Greedy f**kin' chancers 

[Nickslikk2112]

I was hoping to sink a few celebratory cans of Um Bongo tonight, but alas it was not to be 

[Nickslikk2112]

The BBC's obsession with potential upcoming nuptials for Taylor Swift.
Who?

[David L]

The BBC's obsession with potential upcoming nuptials for Taylor Swift.
Who?

The biggest selling music artist on the planet at this moment in time
(I know, I know  )

[Matt2112]

The BBC's obsession with potential upcoming nuptials for Taylor Swift.
Who?

Imagine a Pound Shop Lady Gaga.

[The Picnic Wasp]

Usual broadband/TV appalling service rant, so I'll be brief.

EE TV packed in today. Tried the usual remedies but nothing worked. Contacted EE. Spoke to a decent, knowledgeable young guy who talked me through the process. Tried twice and couldn't help so kicked it upstairs as I held. Sent me to Argos to buy a TP-Link AV1000. £39.99. He assures me this will come off my next bill. We'll see.

53 minute call.

Got home and connected it. Nothing, waste of time and money.

Phoned EE again. Notes allegedly put on the system earlier not available. Young woman, less easy to understand than the previous guide put me through the same precess twice, despite my polite protestation and request for an engineer. Issue kicked to a higher level again and dreadful music once more.

She returned apologetically to inform me it required an engineer visit and announced there was a large problem in the Glasgow area, therefore it would be a couple of days until service was resumed. Why didn't they realise this earlier today?

Her next statement almost pushed me to the brink of losing my rag but I kept as composed as I could. "I'll send you a link to contact if service isn't resumed in 8 days". An untidy exchange occurred where we argued about the word couple and why that could possibly mean more than a week. I had to keep it cool as I think she was hovering over the button to cut me off.

35 minute call. Just infuriating but we're not permitted to be furious anymore as only the customer can be abused.

[Fishy]

The BBC's obsession with potential upcoming nuptials for Taylor Swift.
Who?

So she got married.. no one gives a fuck love..

[Slim]

"Welcome to limbo land. Unless a meteorite crashes to earth, Scotland wins the World Cup after all, or the ravens leave the Tower, in just over a fortnight, Andy Burnham will walk up Downing Street as the 59th British prime minister".

Sloppy from Kuennsberg. First off they're only meteorites after they've landed, and secondly they hit the Earth all the time.

And that's before you consider Scotland's chances of winning the World Cup.

[pxr5]

Tennis players taking a break every 2 games - it's always pissed me off that.

[Nickslikk2112]

Tennis. Just pisses me off full stop.

All this about pubs opening Monday morning and kids starting school late is getting on my tits too. The majority of people in the country aren't that bothered. I don't recall watching any of Mexico '70 and England were reigning champions. I have a hazy memory of watching the Mexico Olympics in '68 though.