AAA motor club, Houston, TX - Plus RV coverage - service for RV not as expected

# 13 for June 18, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on June 17, 2003:

From: Travis Liles [Email User]

RE: AAA motor club, Houston, TX - Plus RV coverage - service for RV not as expected

AAA Texas in Houston sold me "Plus RV" coverage for my 1986 Bounder 31 foot motorhome at a higher price then regular coverage because quote from them "motorhomes cost more". No biggie of coarse motorhomes cost more they are bigger, everyone knows that. Common sense right? HA HA HA until you actually try to get help from them. I bought this motorhome used and not knowing the gas guage did not work correctly on my first trip out I run out of gas 3 miles from town. I called them, told them what I was driving and they send out (2 hours later) a person with 5 gallons of gas.

Thats right FIVE GALLONS. Now then I call them back because it didn't help. I ran out of gas going down the road, coasted to the shoulder (now I'm leaning off to the right) and what little bit of gas that was at the pick-up tube in the tank is now off to the right as well (physics imagine that). On another call back to AAA they say well thats all we send do you want more? LOL doh YEAH. On getting another 5 gallons and pushed back up onto the road and back into the traffic lane where I'm level it finally starts 4 hours later.

Upon arriving home I call AAA back (by the way there was a total of 4 calls to AAA while sitting on the side of the road in the middle of the night) and talk to 3 people (1 of whom hung up on me and the other two said the RV Plus coverage was NOT really for motorhomes it was only an upgraded coverage for cars to give them extra coverage. Bill and Marabell both at AAA don't own a motorhome or know anything about them, they told me. Connie Sykes the supervisor at AAA I spoke to said she did know what a motorhome was.

Your only allowed 4 service calls per yer and since they had to make 2 trips to bring the 10 gallons of gas (since a motorhome has a 100 gallon gas tank vs a car with a 10 or 20 gallon gas tank) that I am charged for TWO service calls and thus only have 2 left for the year. I tried to explain to them that taking 5 gallons to a car with a 10 gallon gas tank would get them going just fine, even taking 5 gallons to a car with a 20 gallon gas tank would get them going just fine, BUT taking 5 gallons to a motorhome with a 100 gallon gas tank the gas spreads out so thin over such a large area that it is no help AT ALL.

Now where is the extra coverage that I'm paying "more" for because I asked for the "RV PLUS" coverage because I'm driving a motorhome? After 2 saying "I don't know anything about motorhomes and don't understand" and 1 hanging up on me and then a supervisor that says well its up-graded for cars and thats all we do I'm still out all the money I waisted on AAA Texas for roadside assistance.

AND since I bought the policy in Febuary and didn't need it until June (to find out it really doesn't cover motorhomes nor help) they won't even refund my money. Bill offered to "prorate" the policy and since they had to make "two" service calls already it wouldn't be much. "Two service calls" because THEY didn't bring enough gas in the first place shouldn't be my fault, I told them it was a 31 foot motorhome with a 100 gallon gas tank, but I'm the one being laid at fault here because of driving a "motorhome" rather then a "car" and thinking I had "RV PLUS" (motorhome) coverage rather then "RV PLUS" (upgraded car) coverage.

I would NOT recommend anyone waisting their hard earned money on AAA in any state when insurance companies will offer roadside assistance as part of your insurance coverage and their are (as I am finding out now) motorhome insurance companies that offer actual "motorhome" roadside assistance as well.

Travis Liles

Abilene, TX

Comment On This

Oh, I whole heartedly agree with you about AAA. I am a member for over 20 years and never used them. My husband broke down in his Ford Dually in the middle of a busy intersection and when we called for a tow they said that it didnt cover dually's. We had to pay for the tow. Then I got Plus RV so that we would be covered for our RV. Our RV's transmission went down and we were stranded for 5 days at a motel until it was repaired. I called to see if they could help with the motel charges. She said only if it had been stolen or if it was an accident. I had accident insurance, what I wanted was someone to help with the motel charges while broken down over 150 miles from home while the repair was being performed. I thought AAA was a roadside assistance club. If it will cover room charges up to $1500 for an accident, why not then for a breakdown. I am now looking for another roadside assistance service. If I find one, I'll post on line for those who are also dis-enchanged with AAA. We've tried to use them twice in 20 years and each time there is a reason that they could not help. No big surprise is it? If anyone out there knows of a motorclub that will reimburse you for a portion of the motel charges when you are broken down and away from home, please email so I can make a change.