Who is in the AA ?

[Mekk]

There sure was. He rung the AA and explained the situation, which was straightforward and a request for the simple recovery service he had been paying a subscription for. Two vehicles arrived over the four hours, neither of which could handle his bike. It was the AA and their contractors that failed to communicate and deliver the service.

Michael

So what happened with the complaint? There's usually decent compensation for any major screw ups.

[Pampera]

So what happened with the complaint? There's usually decent compensation for any major screw ups.

Dunno. He was a friend of a friend so have no idea where it went for him.

All I know is that I had been telling myself for some years that I would be "cutting my nose off to spite my face" to quit an organisation I had joined simply to make sure I had an option to turn to, if I found myself stranded by the side of the side of the road, but caused me concern because it seemed to think that it had a right to take political positions on behalf of all the people who joined it for no such reason and gave them no such mandate.

However, as soon as I saw in front of my own eyes that in fact I had been paying this "insurance" money for 21 years but if I ever needed the help it would probably not be forthcoming - what was the justification to stay a member of an organisation with a political position opposed to my interests?

Anyway, praise the lord for cell phones - almost the most useful item in a motorcycle toolkit, after all else has failed!

Regards,
Michael

[Mekk]

However, as soon as I saw in front of my own eyes that in fact I had been paying this "insurance" money for 21 years but if I ever needed the help it would probably not be forthcoming - what was the justification to stay a member of an organisation with a political position opposed to my interests?

It is the part in bold that I take exception to. A hazy anecdote from a friend of a friend that apparently didn't get the service once is a very weak reason to end something. I mean there are stories for things like that for most, if not all products and services.

People complain about everything.

--

It amazes me that people will join an organisation to represent their interests and sit there without actually sharing their interests or being a part of it. It's like they expect everything to be done for them.

One would also expect bikers wanting representation would join BRONZ. But of course there are complaints for that too.

[Pampera]

It is the part in bold that I take exception to. A hazy anecdote from a friend of a friend that apparently didn't get the service once is a very weak reason to end something. I mean there are stories for things like that for most, if not all products and services.

People complain about everything.--

I was THERE. THERE when he broke down. THERE four hours later when we found him at the side of the road still not recovered. THERE when he explained first person what had happened to him. This was not some rude and aggressive young man in a hurry but a late fifty something year old on a BMW F650!

I get it you believe your employer delivers a great service to motorcyclists. That is fine. But understand that the customers may (and are allowed to) see it otherwise, they don't have to wait until the service fails for them personally and that it is not their responsibility to improve things. They can decide to simply cease buying the service and make other arrangements.

It is up to the individual to chose - pay their subscription to the AA (who will use it to help lobby against motorcycling and point to the size of the membership as a mandate when influencing politicians) and try and change the organisation from inside, or to make the call that it would be better not to provide financial and numbers support for these activities. I chose the second.

Regards,
M

[Mekk]

I was THERE.

That's irrelevant if you don't know the reason for the delay or anything else about it.

But understand that the customers may (and are allowed to) see it otherwise, they don't have to wait until the service fails for them personally and that it is not their responsibility to improve things.

Of course they're allowed to see otherwise, plenty do! What I am questioning is the logic behind basing everything on what other people have experienced, a mob mentality type of thinking. Especially without the full story.

It doesn't personally affect me whether you're a Member or not, this is not about employer loyalty because I agree their policies are or at least seem quite anti-bike.

This decision for me was even simpler as the organisation concerned was using the money I paid to lobby against my interests. Without any trust that I would be recovered after a breakdown, why would I keep paying to do this!

Regards,
M

I agree with the lobbying part, but I am also saying that not enough people complain about it.

The second part I'm not so sure about. The AA's reputation is built around trust and they're very paranoid about it. There is no way they would have as many Members as they do without the trust.

[cs363]

AA have been pushing for this behind the scenes.

They are sereiously ideologically opposed to bikes, want them off the roads.

I regard them as bigger bastards than ACC, ACC at least have a valid reason for wanting to shaft us.

I agree.

Never had a great opinion of the AA and hearing/reading some of the tripe that George Fairbairn and more recently Mike Noon have trotted out over recent years has only reinforced that opinion.
As has my brief though less than impressive dealings with them through the Holden Roadside Assistance program and now their vehemently anti-bike stance.
I cannot for the life of me understand why any right thinking motorcyclist would have anything to do with them, let alone contribute to their coffers.

That's my opinion to which I'm entitled, and I don't give a rats arse what any of their misguided supporters on here think.


Rant ends.