You belong to Triple A, or better
yet, Triple A Plus, so if you have a breakdown on the highway
you will be OK, right?You belong to Triple A, or better
yet, Triple A Plus, so if you have a breakdown on the highway
you will be OK, right?
Better have a backup or a good jack. On March 30, 2001 our new Subaru with 4,000 miles had a blowout on Route 11, right in front of the Route 20 exit in Ashtabula Township. This wasn't a good time. Daughter Megan was waiting for us to pick her up about 5 p.m. at the Ashtabula campus of Kent State University. She was there for Model U.N.
We were going to University Circle in Cleveland for a play and had to be there by 7:15 p.m.
My wife used the cell phone and called Triple A and explained the circumstances. The respondent was so slow, my wife had to ask if he was still on the line. She said we were on Route 11 northbound, between the routes 84 and 20 exits. Cars were speeding by and it was dangerous to try to change it on the freeway. Plus AAA said a tow truck would be out by 5:32 p.m., perhaps earlier.
Well, at 5:35 no tow truck driver, we weren't sure Megan got the message we would be late, we had given up on dinner and were just hoping to get to Cleveland on time. A second call to AAA and we were informed they couldn't find us. A red Subaru on Route 11 near the 20 exit, off the road, lights flashing and the tow truck could not find us. So they said they would try again.
In the meantime, I got the jack out, eventually changed the tire myself while worried about traffic, got dirty and we were on our way. This was an hour wait and no sign of AAA.
The kicker: We called to say forget it, we got the tire changed. AAA's line was busy for several minutes, while a recording told us how important our call was. We were livid. And we were paying primetime cell rates too.
We would have been better off just changing it ourselves, but then, why pay for AAA? We were considering AAA-plus. No way now.
Somehow, we got to Cleveland only a few minutes late. It didn't make for a wonderful evening.
Is this an isolated incident? Not really. A few years ago a hose went on our car while my wife was on her way to Youngstown. She gave specific instructions, again on Route 11. The AAA gave the tow truck driver the wrong directions. Thankfully, that time he persevered and found her.
So if you have Triple A, better have towing through your insurance special coverage with a new car as backup.
Oh, and if you want to complain at the AAA web page, don't bother to try. Most of their links don't work, including how to contact the organization.
Have other AAA horror stories? Tell them here instead. E-mail them to me and I will include them on this site.
Thanks for reading. Happy motoring.
I was put on hold by a recording for 45 minutes. The AAA person on the phone was not familiar with Cleveland Muny lot or Rt 2 (the Shoreway). I had spend another 45 minutes telling this person where I was located and convincing them that there was no street address where I was located (my car died on me in Muny lot).
While I waited for a tow truck, I called a friend to come down and meet me and wait with me for the tow truck. (Muny lot can be a dangerous place to be alone at night.)
After 1hr and 15 minutes Ecke's Towing showed up. My car was
on a slight incline and when the tow truck driver hooked my car
up and raised its front end the tow truck and the car started
rolling backwards down the hill! My friend' car was parked behind.
My friend ran for his car and luckily got it out of the way in
time. Also the truck driver luckily got into the tow truck and
stopped it. Whew! He could of killed someone. Why wasn't the brake
on in his truck and why
didn't he have it gear.
Anyway, after the tow truck driver was ready to take off, I
asked my friend if we could follow him over to Steve Barry Buick
(the place my car was being towed). My friend agreed and felt
that after that incident it would be a very good idea. So, we
follow the truck over to Steve Barry Buick watching my car waving
back and forth accross lanes on the highway. When he got to
Steve Barry Buick he backed my car into a parking spot and broke
the rear passenger side tailight of the car and scratched the
bumper. Luckily for me there was a Lakewood Policeman parked in
Steve Barry Buick's parking lot. I asked the policeman to make
a report. The tow truck driver could not produce proof of insurance.
So, the policeman had him radio in to Ecke's and ask them to have
someone bring proof of insurance to the accident location. Another
tow truck
driver showed up but he had no proof of insurance. I don't know
why the Lakewood policeman did not have the tow truck towed away
and impounded. The State of Ohio requires by law that anyone
driving be able to provide proof of insurance. If it had been
me, my car would have been impounded. Anyway, I called AAA back
that night and told them that their AAA approved tow truck had
damaged my car and was unable at the request of police officer
to produce proof of insurance. They said they would make notes
of the incident and that I should call Paul Mihalak the Road Service
Manager at AAA. I called my insurance company had my car fixed
and paid my $250.00 deductible. The insurance company contacted
Ecke's towing and they refused to share the name of their insurance
company with them. My insurance company is in the process of
trying to collect from Ecke's for the damage in the meantime I
am out of $250 for the deductible.
Ecke's is an AAA approved towing company! It could not produce proof of insurance! Ecke's sent an incompetent driver! And I have had to shell out $250.
Paul Mihalak has not yet done anything on AAA's behalf of this
incident. He should at the very least remove the AAA approval
from Ecke's.