(UPDATE AT END OF ORIGINAL OPINION)

~ ~ In the days before massive breakdown wagons, capable of lifting and carrying complete cars, the old AA patrolman, on his distinctive motorbike and sidecar combination, was a familiar sight on our highways and by-ways.
The AA, and motoring in general, has come a long way since then, and nowadays it is an enormous organisation offering the motorist far more than just the basic “breakdown” service of old.

~ ~ The basic function of the AA is still, as it always has been, to assist members in the event of a breakdown.
Since joining back in the 1960’s, I have used this breakdown call-out service on more occasions than I care to remember, and overall it has been of an exceptionally high standard.
The patrolmen (I think they still call them that) are very efficient and extremely courteous, all being highly trained mechanics in their own right. They are even able to call on the assistance of more expert knowledge, in the rare cases where they are stumped for an answer, by radioing in to their head quarters and asking for assistance on specific problems.

~ ~ So what is this run in I had with them over Christmas, as I mentioned in my introduction.
As regular readers of my opinions are aware, I now drive a taxi for a living here in Dublin, Ireland.
On the 23rd December of last year, I was taking a fare from the city centre to an outlying suburb, when I was flashed by a fellow taxi-driver while sitting at some traffic lights. My rear lights had decided to give up the ghost, so I immediately pulled in to the kerb, and after organising another taxi for my passengers, (and checking my fusebox) got on my mobile phone to the AA.
On being informed that there would be a delay of some two hours due to them being very busy, I told the fellow on the phone to forget it, and that I would make my way home and then telephone again from there.
This wasn’t as dodgy or dangerous as it sounds, as I still had my number plate lights, and was able to turn on my rear fog lights as well, so I could still be easily seen by other motorists.
On reaching home, I called them again, and after supplying my membership number, was then informed that I wasn’t eligible for assistance, as I only had basic cover which didn’t include “Home Start”. This means you must be a minimum of a quarter of a mile from your home address before they will attend a call out.

~ ~ I very forcefully pointed this out to the fellow on the telephone, asked them to check their records again, and to provide me with the help I required. I also let him know I was a member of 30 plus years standing, and that I wasn’t happy with his explanation.
But there was no moving this guy. The “office was shut” for Christmas, so there was no way he could check my claim that I actually was covered, and my (polite) request to speak to someone more senior was met with a blank refusal, as was my request for his own name. (In fact, he hung up on me at this point)

~ ~ That said, and the “rant” over, I am prepared to give the AA a second chance despite this incident, as it has been a one off in all the years I have used the service.

~ ~ As I mentioned earlier, the AA offers their members far more these days than just the basic breakdown service.
One of these that I have personally used to great advantage is their “Car Checks and Inspections” service.
This is where a qualified AA mechanic will inspect a car or vehicle that you are thinking of purchasing, and supply you with a report on any faults or defects it may have.
I used this service when purchasing my current taxi from a garage in Northumberland in August, 1999. So confident was I after receiving the OK from the AA, that I actually bought the car sight unseen, and flew over from Ireland to collect it. The report was spot on, and it has been an extremely reliable and super car for the past two years.
I paid £90 for this service, and I note from the AA web-site that this price has now increased to £94, but I would still consider this very good value. (For more details, see my opinion “So You Want More Choice”….. plug, plug)

~ ~ This is a service I have never had to personally use, as the cost of petrol here in Ireland is NOWHERE near as expensive as in the UK. (Our average price per litre for unleaded is around 65p (Irish), equivalent to about 50p Sterling.

“Other” Services
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OVERALL
~~~~~~~

UPDATE 30/9/2001
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~