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AAA Roadside AAA AAA Damaged my tires and refused to pay for it Saint Louis Missouri
Comment: On June 8, 2018 I called AAA Roadside because I noticed that the air in my front passenger tire was a little low. I did not want to cause damage to my tire by adding air, so that's why I made the call. The driver, Josh came to my home and I explained to him the amount of air that was suppose to be added. After adding air, Josh, proceeded to check the air in the rest of my tires. I explained to Josh that the only tire that needed air, was the original one I called for. Josh proceeded to add air in my passenger rear tire, saying that it was "really low". After one hour of driving, my rear passenger tire had a blowout with my 10 year old daughter and groceries in the car.
I called AAA again to explaining how I had a blowout just under an hour after their driver over-flatted my tire. I put in a claim and had my car towed to the tire shop for a replacement (that I paid for). The 2nd AAA driver who towed my car, Tim, explained that it was clear that the reason the tire blew was because of over-inflation. He even took pictures for me, showing me that the tire even rubbed against the walls of my car. He was extremely nice and sympathetic to the situation.
I just received a call from Josh, employee number 406134, who stated that they would not pay for the tire because it shows that the tire was rubbing against the wall of the car. I explained the reason it was rubbing because of over-inflation and that I have never had a blow-out before with any of my tires. He came up with every excuse except acknowledging that it was their fault. I asked him several times, how can my tire get inflated and an hour later, cause damage with it being my fault? He could not explain.
If you google AAA roadside, you will see there are many damages caused by the company that they refuse to pay for. How many times do we rely on a highly reputable company to help us out in dire situations only to cause more damage? They pride themselves in caring for the customer, but that's not true. They are only there to do a quick job no matter what damage they do in the process.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Robert
Irvine,United States
Thanks again
#6Consumer Comment
Fri, June 15, 2018
Once again thank you for the good laugh. As one constant on this site is that when someone makes a weak claim, their story tends to "evolve" as people post alternatives to the real situation. This is no exception.
You originally stated the following..
I did not want to cause damage to my tire by adding air, so that's why I made the call.
and Secondly I’m not trained in tire inflation
Now, one would think based on that you don't come within 50 feet of an air hose. Yet in your latest update your story changes once you are called on those outlandish statements.
I did go to the gas station that morning to add air on my own but unfortunately the machine was down. So instead of driving around town to search for other stations I drove home and called AAA
So now even though you are not "trained" in tire inflation or didn't want to cause damage you are now going to a Gas Station to add air on your own, only to have the machine broken. Not only that but instead of stopping right there and calling AAA you decided to further cause possible damage and call AAA from HOME.
What would you have done if the air hose was working? Would you have asked around and hope someone who just happened to be at the gas station was trained in tire inflation? Would you have gone inside and asked to see the clerk's credentials to make sure that they are certified to put air in tires?
You do see where this is going...Right?
Had you originally just stated that you called AAA to add air that would be one thing(still odd but could get a pass). But you specifically called out that YOU did not want to do it, you specifically called out that you are not "trained" in Tire Inflation. Both of those statements were made to attempt to turn the blame back to the "expert" once something went wrong.
Either your original post or your revision was let's just say an exaggeration, but only you know the truth.
Look I get it. You take his explanation because it puts the blame on someone else. So of course to you that will always be the most logical and nothing else pointed out will ever make any sense. But it doesn't mean that you are right...of course it doesn't mean your wrong either. The only thing I am posting is on how it may not be as you seem to believe it is from an "outside" perspective.
Chi
saint louis,Missouri,
United States
You’re right
#6Author of original report
Thu, June 14, 2018
Robert you’re right. I did go to the gas station that morning to add air on my own but unfortunately the machine was down. So instead of driving around town to search for other stations I drove home and called AAA. That’s what I pay for right? And again, there is no way the tire bursted and THEN left markings. As soon as we heard the burst, I immediately pulled over because we were on a residential street.
Shouldn’t the markings appear on the top of the side wall and not the inner side wall if we were to agree to your hypothesis? And because I have specialty tires, I know the psi of the front tire. Doesn’t make me an expert, just someone who asks lots of questions at the tire shop, especially since they were just replaced. Again, you are right. Tim probably won’t side with me because why should he put his job in jeopardy. I didn’t think to record his statement because "to me” it makes logical sense to not deny the claim.
It looks like I’m SOL. It’s not fair, but it’s life I guess. The driver knows what he did. He has to live with that guilt and I have to live with being out of $170. I definitely won’t renew next year and neither will my friends and family. That probably won’t hurt AAA at all. But eventually if they keep treating customers this way, it will catch up to them. Good day Robert.
Robert
Irvine,United States
LOL
#6Consumer Comment
Thu, June 14, 2018
You can't have it both ways. On one side you are trying to come off as some "expert" who knows exactly what each tire should be inflated to because you have "speciality" tires. Heck, you won't even move your car if you even think your tires are low. But then you make a silly claim that you are not an "expert" in tire inflation. Although I do thank you for the good laugh for that statement.
Unless the tire blew out and you stopped the millisecond it happend, the tire continued to rotate. When a tire blows out it can rub against the car as it continues to rotate, the other tire didn't blow out so of course it won't show the same markings. Sadly I know this by tires "blowing out" in other situations(not over inflation)
If you knew your tire was 3 lbs light of the recomended 30psi(which with most cars is still 2 lbs less than the recomended 32-35PSI in most cars) you could have easily have made it to a gas station to have the tire inflated, that is not a catostrophic level in the short term. Or do you seriously call AAA every time you need to put air in your tires?
In the end as I stated if you have a sworn statement from "Tim" that states the tire blew from over-inflation and they don't compensate you..then go ahead and file a suit against them. Because that is probably the only way they will compensate you. However, don't be shocked if once you get a hold of him that he backtracks just a bit and doesn't really want to make that claim anymore.
Chi
saint louis,Missouri,
United States
Ask questions before assuming
#6Author of original report
Wed, June 13, 2018
The tire bursted because it was rubbing against the inside wall. If you noticed the pictures it is obvious the tire was rubbing against the inside wall of the car. Fresh markings. So explain to me how in the world do fresh markings occur on the inside walls of the tire and the car wall AND magically happens to burst an hour after him adding air. Shouldn’t all my tires have the same markings? Secondly I’m not trained in tire inflation. I checked the psi of the front passenger tire which was at 27 and should have been at 30. I told the drive the proper pressure for the front. My back tires are different sizes, which I told him as well. If he didn’t know what he was doing, he shouldn’t have touched the back tire to begin with. You are right, my gut told me to only let him put air in the front tire. But I assumed he knew what he was saying and doing. When AAA comes to assist, you expect them to be knowledgeable. All of my tires were new and replaced earlier this year with receipts to prove. Never have I ever had a blow out. This tire cost me $170 ( it’s a specialty tire). It’s not my fault and therefore a complete Ripoff.
Robert
Irvine,California,
United States
Very unlikely
#6Consumer Comment
Wed, June 13, 2018
Your tires are not the only things that failed..this story is just as big of a blowout.
I am glad that no one was injured when the tire blew out, but you seem to be losing a bit of a grip on reality.
The way you make it sound, if you put 2-3 PSI more than the recomended amout that the tire is going to go nuclear and destroy life as we know it. Tires are not that sensitive. In fact under-inflation is a bigger issue and can cause much more catostrphic results than Over-Inflation ever will. It is virtually impossible to Over-Inflate a tire that is otherwise in good shape to the point of failure. Now, over time it can be detrimental in ways such as increased and uneven wear, but not over an hour of driving.
You made a big issue about them only inflating ONE tire, and that is all you wanted to do. Yet when he over-inflated the tires what did you do? Did you purge the air yourself to get them where you wanted? NO...you apparently just drove off on them. That is really your biggest point of failure. As you claim even though he Over-Inflated the tires and you knew it was bad you still drove on them without fixing the issue.
If you get them to end up reimbursing you..then good for you. But if not it is not a RipOff. Of course if you can get "Tim" to be a witness in court or at least write a Statement under oath that the reason the tire blew was because it was over-inflated then if they don't reimburse you go ahead and sue the Roadside Assistance company that Over-Inflated your tires.
As for one final suggestion..get yourself a good tire gauge and learn how to use it. That $5-$10 investment will probably be worth while in the long run.