AAA-Chicago Motor Club

We had a car lockout last weekend at our house and had a terrible experience with AAA. We called at 2:30 pm and after multiple transfers were told we were "in the queue" and would be contacted when a service company was assigned. No word from anyone until we were woken by a call at 5:30 the next morning saying we would be contacted shortly. We then received a robocall saying the service provider would arrive in 19 minutes. After an hour, with no one showing up, we received another robocall saying we were "in the queue," still no estimate of timing.

We gave up and called the rental car roadside assistance 18 hours after our first call to AAA. Their service provider arrived within 40 minutes. Just as that service person was leaving, a AAA service person called and said he could come out. We told him we were just about to cancel the request online after waiting more than 18 hours. He was very annoyed with the AAA dispatchers, said he'd been available all the previous afternoon.

The only conclusion I can draw is that AAA stalls service requests until the caller gives up and pays for someone else to address the problem. This certainly has the desired effect of reducing their roadside assistance expense but leaves me canceling a worthless service after 30 years of membership.

TL;DR: AAA roadside assistance is a joke. Call West & Sons Towing in Addison, instead.

Before last weekend I considered AAA membership to be one of those things you have if you drive a car: insurance, a reliable mechanic, and AAA. But after the fiasco we dealt with last weekend, never more.
Our daughter got into a fender bender on a busy road; car was drivable except for a flat tire. Fine. She doesn't have a spare with her (compact car) so we called AAA to tow the car to Just Tires nearby. That was about 7:15 Sunday night.
An hour passed. Two. A follow up call got assurances that the first driver had a breakdown but that a second driver had been dispatched. Another hour. Told the driver would be there at 10:15 pm. 10:45, called again, customer help person said he didn't know why we were given a specific time, the account he's looking at on his monitor doesn't indicate anybody's been dispatched on the call at all, ever. But now he's checked with the towing service and they were on the way.
By this point the businesses around where my daughter was stuck (off the busy street) had closed, and she was waiting alone. Her dad joined her so they could wait together.
Another hour. Called again. Got the same runaround. Told them to keep the call open but we were going to try another towing service (at this point it's midnight). If they kept the call open, I wouldn't know because we never heard from them again.
They did tell me they were contracted with Yaffo Towing in the south suburbs. That didn't make any sense to me because our situation was in the northwest burbs, but whatever, it's their contract. Then I read Yaffo's reviews and what a mess!!! Why would an organization like AAA be doing business with such a shady operation?
AAA operators were nice, and completely unhelpful. They clearly have NO authority to actually *do* anything, but are trained to tell callers whatever they need to to shut them up.
Ultimately we contracted with West & Sons Towing and couldn't have been more impressed. The towing fee was worth every penny; our annual membership in AAA, not so much.

I received a renewal letter from AAA Chicago Motor Club thanking me for being a member in good standing for 30 years. The service that I received right after I moved out of Chicago nearly cost me my life. I had notified AAA about my move and had given the support staff billing information about one month before this incident. I experienced a complete right rear tire blowout on I 65 just south of Nashville. I pulled off to the right shoulder. Called AAA. I was refused service. The club had failed to bill me and told me that they could not provide service and they abandoned me. I changed the tire myself and had the good fortune that a minute man stopped to help shield me from autos whizzing by at 80 mph. I no longer belong to AAA.

I had no idea that Sams Club where I had purchased the tires offers limited roadside service for tires purchased at Sams Club. I found that I when I purchased a new tire at Sam's Club.

*** Beware, AAA is NOT to be trusted ***
I have been a very long time AAA member, multiple decades.  
Today I received a letter from AAA to alert that they have chosen to "Non-Renew" my membership because, get this, I had the audacity to actually fully use the services that I paid for.  
The letter from AAA stated exactly... "Upon reviewing your membership, we have elected to non-renew your AAA Membership at the end of your current membership term because of disproportionate use of services"
Buyers beware, there are other options out there and my positive early experience with AAA over the years has fully deteriorated.  
Thankfully, no more waiting over 6 hours for a tow for me!

I am writing today to relay my experience with their roadside service on Monday, August 30, 2021. I experienced a battery failure on my 1997 Honda Shadow Ace. That Monday morning (approximately 11am) I had run a few errands and stopped at a 7-11 convenience store for a soft drink. When I came out I found the battery to be dead. I spent an hour or so checking the fuses in the parking lot but all of them were all okay. I then began calling AAA roadside assistance for help.
My records show a call at 11:55am and it lasted 34 minutes. During the call I spoke with your representative and she took all my information to set up a tow to my home four miles away. I requested a jump start, but she explained that they don't do that with motorcycles. During my time on the phone with her (at 12:17pm) I received a AAASERVICE Alert which gave me my request number #61291. Your rep then gave me a two to two and a half wait time for the truck to arrive. We eventually ended the call and it was 12:29pm.
At 1:48pm I received a text message and it read:
"We apologize for not meeting our response time goal on your AAA service request. The request will not count against your allotment. Reply STOP to Cancel txts."
I thought what does this mean? But, I continued to wait outside in a parking lot and it was 85 degrees.
At 2:57pm I called back to find out what the status of the tow truck driver. I spoke to another representative and she too was puzzled at first why it was taking so long. Then she took quite some time to review my request. She then began to say that I had a Classic Membership and that motorcycle towing wasn't part of my plan and I would have to pay out of pocket. I was not happy, but I asked when the driver would be coming? Evidently, I found out that there would be no service for me! Over three hours from the initial call!
AAA set up an appointment with me and then cancelled and did not contact me! I have been a member on and off since the nineties and your service has helped my family in the past, but our relationship is OVER! Even my experience with your automated call system had me wondering if your company was still competent! It obviously is NOT!
I retired from the automotive industry years ago, but I have many old contacts. This letter is not just for you and your "managers" to scrutinize this encounter and to then reach out to give a hapless apology. No, I plan on reaching out to these influential members I've known in the auto industry to give them a window into where the AAA program has fallen to! I am also a member at YELP and I will pass on the review to their readers.

Remember, when your membership is complete do not renew! Your insurance company has a comparable service and they actually want you to be satisfied!

Beware!

P.S. There is no ZERO STARS!

I hit a giant hole in the pavement and my truck was not drivable. I called AAA(which I have been a member for 4 years). They told me that my membership expired. I didn't understand because it was supposed to be on autobill. They told me that I could take my payment for a renewal but to have any service today would be an ADDITIONAL $50! They wouldn't budge from that. I didn't have time to research other motorclubs in my disabled vehicle on 935pm on a Sunday. But this will be the LAST money they ever get from me. THEY REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE IN A VULNERABLE TIME! Give your business to someplace else!

Horrible non-service for a company that's supposed to make you feel secure in an emergency. Was fine the runaround and ultimately got a jump from a passerby

Got hit by somebody with AAA it's such a joke. They take the claim they give you a number and they don't reply. It's so much easier to go with Progressive they're ready to handle the claim within minutes!

After being assured I would have roadside assistance within 50 minutes of my original call....I have now waited nearly 2 hours. 3 phone calls to AAA later and I've just been told it will be another half hour! I was promised update calls and have not received a call or text yet!!!
Not happy!!!!! It's getting dark and I am also now beginning to feel unsafe.
Very disappointed in the lack of service!!!

I joined AAA last year. Low and behold, I had engine troubles and my vehicle stalled in Darien, IL. I called AAA, the agent was nice and sent a tow truck that towed me to Crest Hill, IL. The two truck drive was excellent. Kinda wish I had his name and the tow service company, so I could give them a plug on here too. The whole experience was delightful. Renewal has come due and they want way more money than I paid last year, but it was likely a promotion that I got through the mail. Still trying to get close to that original fee I paid. That said, all you need to have is one issue....locked out of your car, run out of gas, need a tow, dead battery, etc, etc and it will pay for itself. And the peace of mind I have (had) my wife and daughter on the membership makes me feel good someone will be out there for them when I can't be.