AAA Subcontractor Ripoff Alert

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

All,

I recently had the displeasure of having to use AAA due to my own stupidity. My wife and I normally run the gas tank down, but Wednesday I ran out of gas. Thankfully I was local.

I called AAA. I had the sense to ask how I would be charged for the gas and how much it would cost. The customer service rep informed me I could pay cash, check or credit card, and the price would be market pump rate.

AAA contracts with a local service. The guy showed up in a AAA marked truck about 45 minutes later, and threw some gas in the tank. I offered my card, and he said they don't take credit. I informed him AAA told me they would take credit. He supposedly called in, came back to my car, and said no.

I asked him how much it would cost me, and he told me $9. I didn't have enough cash. The driver then told me he would meet me at a cash machine so I could pay cash. I got a $10 out, and he said he didn't have change.

At this point I should have called AAA again, but I was in a hurry and didn't think about it.

I then went to fill up the rest of the tank. I put 14.5 gallons into a 16 gallon tank. I immediately called AAA and asked again if they took credit for gas, to which they replied they did. I then asked if they charged market price for gas, to which they replied they did. I asked where in the US market price at the pump is over $7/gallon, since that is what I paid.

AAA credited me the call and the money, but I am still pissed. If this asshole driver did this to me, he has done this to others, and it was likely unreported.

I already got one response from AAA. They said they spoke with the owner of the towing service contractor and he said they take credit and the driver is new. I informed AAA they were lied to, since the driver made like he called in to ask. Either he faked the call, called in and was told not to take credit, or was told to take credit and lied to me. And this still doesn't answer the $7/gallon question.

I am waiting until next Friday, and then I am notifying the local media.

DBDB

[BrotherBuzz]

1. What club? What state?

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

2. Sorry...West Penn AAA Pennsylvania

I am in Pittsburgh. Had I had more time and not had my youngest boy with me, I could have parked the car and walked for gas.

Stuckert Towing is the subcontractor.

DBDB

[graywarrior]

3. Got this from AAA website.

Fuel supplied when you're stranded. Actual pump price of gasoline will be charged. Up to 2 gallons FREE.

[Dr Batsen D Belfry]

4. I think this depends on the membership level

I just looked again, and the free gas is for the Plus level of membership. Basic says pump price for gas.

DBDB

[graywarrior]

5. Ah !

Sorry about that.

[BrotherBuzz]

6. I don't think the contractor lied to AAA

Be mad, as you should, and make a formal complaint to your club so they can officially follow through with it, but I'm inclined to suspect this is nothing but a small scam run by the driver. The towing business is infested with gypsy types (apologies to honest gypsies), and scams abound. In reality, your sting sounds extremely minor from what I've heard of. Consider yourself lucky.