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[bob.dent]

I have a joint AA membership with the ex-missus that includes homestart, roadside assistance and relay. I recently had my renewal documents through and the renewal price had gone up yet again, this time to £194.00 which they take in full by direct debit in January. Fed up with the price hikes each year I had a look at other organisations such as RAC, Green Flag and even got another quote online from the AA that was around £50 cheaper than my renewal cost for the same level of cover!!
Soooo, I got on the phone and had a good old rant at them and said if they couldn't give me a better price I would cancel immediately. They immediately said that as long standing members they didn't want to lose us and said they could offer a discount. Within seconds they came back with an offer of £130 for the same package or if I wanted to pay monthly, £12.62 per month. Although you pay an extra annaul pemium of around £20 a year for paying monthly, I opted for the monthly payments (which they had never previously offered). So now I will only have £12.62 leaving my bank account this month instead of £194.00!
As the title says.......it pays to moan!!

[Hannah Judes Dad]

Glad to see that you stood up to the profiteering buggers and got a result.Well done to you but this begs the question why couldn't they have offerd you this price in the first place? oh yes greed and that most people will just see a price and accept it.

[Andy B]

.....Within seconds they came back with an offer of £130 for the same package or  .......

But why did you have to ask? Why couldn't they have quoted the lower figure in the first place? Insurance companies are the same, why should you have to phone to say you've got a better/cheaper quote from elsewhere before they reduce their quote? 

[bob.dent]

.....Within seconds they came back with an offer of £130 for the same package or  .......

But why did you have to ask? Why couldn't they have quoted the lower figure in the first place? Insurance companies are the same, why should you have to phone to say you've got a better/cheaper quote from elsewhere before they reduce their quote? 

They know that very few renewals they send out will be questioned which is why they can instantly give a hefty discount to those that do. As you say, they do it because (as with insurance companies) they know they can get away with it and they are still quids in as the percentage of people that phone up and moan is relatively low.

[Andy B]

.....Within seconds they came back with an offer of £130 for the same package or  .......

But why did you have to ask? Why couldn't they have quoted the lower figure in the first place? Insurance companies are the same, why should you have to phone to say you've got a better/cheaper quote from elsewhere before they reduce their quote? 

They know that very few renewals they send out will be questioned which is why they can instantly give a hefty discount to those that do. As you say, they do it because (as with insurance companies) they know they can get away with it and they are still quids in as the percentage of people that phone up and moan is relatively low.

and you get the letter saying ....
Your recovery/insurance is due on xxxxx & you need do nothing....... because they set you up with a continuance renewal unless you say otherwise. They have the b4lls to say that most people prefer it! If that was true, why don't they ask you first?  :-/

[STMO999]

Nice one Bob It is, of course, exactly the same with insurance companies. It pays to change your provider every year.

[johnnycboy]

I have a joint AA membership with the ex-missus that includes homestart, roadside assistance and relay. I recently had my renewal documents through and the renewal price had gone up yet again, this time to £194.00 which they take in full by direct debit in January. Fed up with the price hikes each year I had a look at other organisations such as RAC, Green Flag and even got another quote online from the AA that was around £50 cheaper than my renewal cost for the same level of cover!!
Soooo, I got on the phone and had a good old rant at them and said if they couldn't give me a better price I would cancel immediately. They immediately said that as long standing members they didn't want to lose us and said they could offer a discount. Within seconds they came back with an offer of £130 for the same package or if I wanted to pay monthly, £12.62 per month. Although you pay an extra annaul pemium of around £20 a year for paying monthly, I opted for the monthly payments (which they had never previously offered). So now I will only have £12.62 leaving my bank account this month instead of £194.00!
As the title says.......it pays to moan!!

Nice one big Bob .  Pisses you off though as others have said to you have to phone and moan to get what should have been sent out in the first place .

[MickAP]

Long established (loyal customers) pay for the huge discounts given to new customers.
Works for everything from loans, credit cards, bank accounts club memberships etc etc.
Yep have a good moan, shouldn't have to though.
Directline ins do this, hike the price up then you ring up and they reduce it. Then asked why don't you give a lower price to start with, they have no answer :-?

Mick

[TheBoy]

I have the same annual argument with the AA every Feb.

[Andy B]

I have the same annual argument with .....

but you enjoy it!   

[jereboam]

I had exactly the same with my car insurance a few years ago - hefty hike on renewal, 15% discount just by asking.  Told them what they could do with their discount and their insurance and went elsewhere.

I don't like being taken for an idiot

[Turk]

I had exactly the same with my car insurance a few years ago - hefty hike on renewal, 15% discount just by asking.  Told them what they could do with their discount and their insurance and went elsewhere.
I don't like being taken for an idiot

Same here on my last renewal.