Last year I slipped up and the auto renew of my AA membership went through unchallenged and I paid dearly. I usually manage to knock off £50 or so from the price.....
This year I think they must have rubbed their hands together thinking I would make the same mistake again...….I couldn't believe the hike in the price if it auto renewed.
After a rather stroppy phone call to their renewal department it was quickly reduced by £113.59 without any reduction in cover or loss of the Gold status or freebies they add on. That is a huge mark up and one that makes you question the ethics of these companies...…
There must be so much more profit in ripping off people come renewal time that don't check the prices, than the business lost from cancellations.
Some bean counter must have done the sums on retaining loyal customers as not worth it...Churchill lost all my insurance business this year due to their constant price hikes despite never claiming come renewal time…….that was 2 cars and a van!. Just 3 years ago they had my 3 bikes and house insurance as well, today they have nothing...…….not sure how their business model works, but I would have thought that someone that pays in and doesn't take out for over 20 years is the type of customer you want??------------------------------
"Ruby"
Rimini Red 06MY TDV6 S
Xenons, Bright Pack, Climate Pack,
BAS Magic Box and Remap
ITG Air Filter
ERG's Blanked (Woody32)
Huge Permagrin
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13550
I've also noticed that the NCD on car policies isn't what it once was: I've seen 30% NCD for >10 years claim free motoring. Back in the day, that sort of history could get you 70% NCD.Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
18th Feb 2019 5:34 pm
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
There is a massive difference between auto renewing the AA and simply going via a cash back site, swapping your name for the wife’s name on the policy.
Off the top of my head £260 to auto renew, but with cash back and a reduced price £109 on line with the wife’s details. Then next year, swap it back again.
18th Feb 2019 6:38 pm
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7441
If it’s anything like the motor insurance business, if everyone got the new business price at renewal, they’d all be out of business. Unfortunately I don’t have a link still, but remember reading an article that explained that, on average, a motor insurance policy doesn’t break even until after the second renewal, meanwhile the cheap introductory offers on comparison websites just devalue the product and leave people to assume that that must be the real price and that everything else is just profiteering.
Having said that, I play the game like the rest of you and leave it to the auto renewers to provide the finding to subsidise what I’m paying And I’ll do the same when I need to pay for AA membership again 2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: 2 x FL2 as “second” cars 🙄
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
18th Feb 2019 6:52 pm
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
I detest the AA we were with them for years, then one year cancelled and it was non stop calls and emails trying to get us back, I had a proper slanging match with the last guy and that was the end of that, never again.
Been with one of the cheapies for years now, used them once and no problems, 40 quid annually Iirc.
The AA are like British gas/Virgnin etc avoid like the plague
18th Feb 2019 8:05 pm
Ceekay
Member Since: 17 May 2009
Location: Bury
Posts: 2089
As Ive said before I think they make it up as they go along. They certainly change their minds over what type of customer and vehicle they want to cover from year to year.
Ive just got cover from the AA and as my wife is already with them and we are both breakdown members (well they are LR’s) they were around £200 cheaper than the next best quote.
No brainer really but will be watching the renewals closely D4 HSE Lux MY16 Club Waitomo
D3 HSE MY06 missing her still…
19th Feb 2019 10:31 am
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6910
lynalldiscovery wrote:
I detest the AA we were with them for years, then one year cancelled and it was non stop calls and emails trying to get us back, I had a proper slanging match with the last guy and that was the end of that, never again.
Been with one of the cheapies for years now, used them once and no problems, 40 quid annually Iirc.
The AA are like British gas/Virgnin etc avoid like the plague
But the cheapies often exclude older cars (more than 16 years) which the AA cover, vital on defenders that are getting on a bit.Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
The only reason we stay with the AA is because we are both "Personal Members". So it doesn't matter what vehicle we are in, we are covered. Car, van or motorbike, friends car, hire car etc etc. 8)------------------------------
"Ruby"
Rimini Red 06MY TDV6 S
Xenons, Bright Pack, Climate Pack,
BAS Magic Box and Remap
ITG Air Filter
ERG's Blanked (Woody32)
Huge Permagrin
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Dave T wrote:
But the cheapies often exclude older cars (more than 16 years) which the AA cover, vital on defenders that are getting on a bit.
Defender and seriss on the same classic insurance policy with free european breakdown for an all in sum of 245 gbp
19th Feb 2019 8:29 pm
Kilovolt
Member Since: 29 Jun 2015
Location: South Derbyshire
Posts: 1067
On a slightly different tack with the AA.
Got an insurance renewal coming for the 6th March with the AA for a lease car.
Last year £523 (zero no claims as that is on the Disco). Group 38F for the car so I just paid it as I could not beat it.
This year's renewal with the AA £669
Had a check on the internerdle and got it down to £570 without too much effort.
Rang AA to cancel and after appearing to waste 20 minutes of chatter the lady said "Just a minute........"
Wait for it..............
"On this occasion we can match last year's price"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Makes me spit
I just let them have it at that............. I win.............. I think
No such thing as loyalty any more......... ALWAYS challenge.
Back to work................"Track day running - Don't put your foot back on the accelerator until your absolutely sure you don't have to take it off again"
Current Ride: D4 XS Commercial Baltic Blue SDV6 fully loaded with heated everything
Track Days: BMW E36 M3 Evolution MY 1996 (3.2 Litre 377 BHP sat in 1,250 Kgs of car, with a pro safety cage and some serious braking power)
20th Feb 2019 7:12 am
Andy500
Member Since: 27 Aug 2018
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 228
Mike40 wrote:
The only reason we stay with the AA is because we are both "Personal Members". So it doesn't matter what vehicle we are in, we are covered. Car, van or motorbike, friends car, hire car etc etc. 8)
I was tied to the RAC for exactly this reason! However we moved our bank account to Nationwide and pay for the premium account. It’s £13 a month so £156 per year but we get full breakdown, homestart, recovery, onward travel and courtesy car etc. On a personal level so even if we are passengers in other peoples cars they cover to the same level and it covers the Caravan as well! That plus the travel insurance and all the other benefits makes it a pretty good deal! Also don’t have to fook around ringing up to complain and get my bill reduced every year at renewal!! The cover is with Greenflag.
PM me if anyone wants to move across to Natiowide and I will send you an email so we get £100 each! Donations can then go to the forum as well😀
I don’t work for nationwide but wanted to share as I think it works out pretty good!
Cheers
20th Feb 2019 9:05 am
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4522
Mike40 wrote:
The only reason we stay with the AA is because we are both "Personal Members". So it doesn't matter what vehicle we are in, we are covered. Car, van or motorbike, friends car, hire car etc etc. 8)
I've got the same with Britannia Rescue. SWMBO and I, personal cover, Discovery as the registered vehicle (so they are not surprised when I say it needs a flat bed transporter!) all for about £80. Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
20th Feb 2019 9:27 am
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 6910
Not sure how you get £80, I just did a quote, personnel cover without Europe cover was £139?Joined the BMWX5 45e group
1994 Defender 90
2015 RRS Corris Grey/Black roof
2016 D4 Graphite Santorini Black
2012 D4 XS Orkney Grey
2005 D3 S Maya Gold
Convoy for Heroes 2011
20th Feb 2019 12:38 pm
rrhool
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4522
Having been a member for 30 years (CSMA) Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
20th Feb 2019 12:43 pm
defector
Member Since: 23 Feb 2009
Location: Greater Manchester
Posts: 1471
Received renewal from AA about a month ago, £399 when last year it was £189.
Now , our cover is for 4 drivers with full personal cover, nationwide recovery etc etc which when shared between 4 isn't bad, and considering there has been a few callouts through the year for minor things away from home.
I went online and the same cover for newbies is £199 but without the benefits of Gold membership.
I rang them this morning and as per every year it went down gradually from £399, to £350, but wait a minute, we will do a special as you are such a longstanding member to £239 and finally when i pointed out the online pricing, down to £199.
Thank you, that will do.
Now to get £50 of each of the kids is the easy bit - i disable their car for a day and the money is in my account within minutes of trying to fire it up . How do i get it off the mrs?
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And I’ll do the same when I need to pay for AA membership again 
