Roadside Assistance Shops

Hello. Just applied for the roadside assistance shop in my area. I happen to have the insurance and roadside assistance so the its a no out of pocket shop for $48.00. A nice way to start July--I hope. Has anyone done these? How is the report?

Just be cool folks.

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Not bad at all.
I've done three and always was happy with the pay rate once I added it up.

I did one years ago and had them jump start my car. They never even checked if my car would start without the jump. Easy money.

I did a few back in California. I haven't seen any since I've been here in Alabama.

I have done several. Except for the call to AAA, every other call (regardless of what service was being used or the in-warranty service) was answered by the same contractor and even the same service person. The first visit took 4 hours before arrival. The other five (?) were 1 to 2 hours for arrival with the exception of AAA which was about 15 minutes (twice). It convinced me to keep paying for AAA. Very easy report, but be sure to take the required photo of the service vehicle (may no longer be required).

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2022 12:52PM by myst4au.

Thanks guys. Hope I get it!

Just be cool folks.

Wow I’ve never had AAA arrive any earlier than 45 minutes anywhere (real life, not shops). My car is too unreliable to use one of my allowed service calls on a shop, unfortunately. As it is I have only 1 left.

I've done a few over the years. Depending on what scenario you pick, they're easy-peasy and pay well. Report isn't bad at all. You just have to be careful not to use up your allotment of service calls on your roadside plan!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

Do you know yet if you got the shop? If not, these come around pretty often. There's a long rotation, but sometimes different companies are offered that you can still do.

I've done several and agree with all of the above. My only problem was one I did for a third party app. I spent a total of 2 hours at my library awaiting service. After the time window came and went and I followed up with the company's customer service, they basically said, "Oh yeah, we don't have any drivers to dispatch to you." Grrr, but the report went fast and I was paid in full.

I always do the scenario of keys locked inside. I don't want anyone fiddling with my battery, and it is a VERY quick interaction.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2022 11:31AM by Threemom.

I was assigned an AAA shop. I can't really do the "keys locked inside the car" one because my car is so smart that it won't lock the door if the key fob (actually just an actuator since there is no ley) is inside the car. If I touch the panel on the handle to lock the car, it won't lock with the actuator inside the car. Has anyone thought of a way around this? The dead battery scenario is very quick since of course my battery isn't dead and as soon as they attach their jumper cable, it starts.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

@myst4au wrote:

I was assigned an AAA shop. I can't really do the "keys locked inside the car" one because my car is so smart that it won't lock the door if the key fob (actually just an actuator since there is no ley) is inside the car. If I touch the panel on the handle to lock the car, it won't lock with the actuator inside the car. Has anyone thought of a way around this? The dead battery scenario is very quick since of course my battery isn't dead and as soon as they attach their jumper cable, it starts.

Sounds to me like you need a Jeep.. i have one I'll sell for cheap..

@myst4au wrote:

I was assigned an AAA shop. I can't really do the "keys locked inside the car" one because my car is so smart that it won't lock the door if the key fob (actually just an actuator since there is no ley) is inside the car. If I touch the panel on the handle to lock the car, it won't lock with the actuator inside the car. Has anyone thought of a way around this? The dead battery scenario is very quick since of course my battery isn't dead and as soon as they attach their jumper cable, it starts.

My husband and I both have Nissans and key fobs. I lock his in my car and tell them I locked my keys in ???? you could also remove the battery from the key fob which will probably allow you to lock the key fob in the car.

Those are both good suggestions. I actually had to change the battery in the fob about 6 weeks ago (2 months shy of 3 years). The battery was something of a nuisance to get at (I have a Ford). Out of curiosity, how do they open your door for you? Do they still use something that does down inside the door? I would be afraid of them breaking something. Maybe better to stick with the "dead" battery?

@foodluvr wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

I was assigned an AAA shop. I can't really do the "keys locked inside the car" one because my car is so smart that it won't lock the door if the key fob (actually just an actuator since there is no ley) is inside the car. If I touch the panel on the handle to lock the car, it won't lock with the actuator inside the car. Has anyone thought of a way around this? The dead battery scenario is very quick since of course my battery isn't dead and as soon as they attach their jumper cable, it starts.

My husband and I both have Nissans and key fobs. I lock his in my car and tell them I locked my keys in ???? you could also remove the battery from the key fob which will probably allow you to lock the key fob in the car.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Edit: much better actually to just put the fob in a Mylar bag in another bag or purse. Then you can pull out the fob without showing Mylar bag to driver when they open your door.
Yes it’s something that goes down in the door. I’d be much more worried about doing needless jump starts.
I think that a service call is a service call for AAA, so that a tow isn’t worse for your membership. Are you allowed to do a tow? Just say you’re not comfortable driving it because the brake did something funny and you want a tow to x place (if I’m right that there’s not a separate limit of rows).

@myst4au wrote:

Those are both good suggestions. I actually had to change the battery in the fob about 6 weeks ago (2 months shy of 3 years). The battery was something of a nuisance to get at (I have a Ford). Out of curiosity, how do they open your door for you? Do they still use something that does down inside the door? I would be afraid of them breaking something. Maybe better to stick with the "dead" battery?
@foodluvr wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

I was assigned an AAA shop. I can't really do the "keys locked inside the car" one because my car is so smart that it won't lock the door if the key fob (actually just an actuator since there is no ley) is inside the car. If I touch the panel on the handle to lock the car, it won't lock with the actuator inside the car. Has anyone thought of a way around this? The dead battery scenario is very quick since of course my battery isn't dead and as soon as they attach their jumper cable, it starts.

My husband and I both have Nissans and key fobs. I lock his in my car and tell them I locked my keys in ???? you could also remove the battery from the key fob which will probably allow you to lock the key fob in the car.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2022 12:15AM by Notme2021.

The only allowed scenarios for the shop are the two mentioned: 1) key locked inside the car and 2) car won't start necessitating a jump start. There should not be any need for a tow, and I would not want them to tow my car anyway.

@Notme2021 wrote:

Are you allowed to do a tow? Just say you’re not comfortable driving it because the brake did something funny and you want a tow to x place (if I’m right that there’s not a separate limit of rows).

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

@myst4au wrote:

Those are both good suggestions. I actually had to change the battery in the fob about 6 weeks ago (2 months shy of 3 years). The battery was something of a nuisance to get at (I have a Ford). Out of curiosity, how do they open your door for you? Do they still use something that does down inside the door? I would be afraid of them breaking something. Maybe better to stick with the "dead" battery?
@foodluvr wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

I was assigned an AAA shop. I can't really do the "keys locked inside the car" one because my car is so smart that it won't lock the door if the key fob (actually just an actuator since there is no ley) is inside the car. If I touch the panel on the handle to lock the car, it won't lock with the actuator inside the car. Has anyone thought of a way around this? The dead battery scenario is very quick since of course my battery isn't dead and as soon as they attach their jumper cable, it starts.

My husband and I both have Nissans and key fobs. I lock his in my car and tell them I locked my keys in ???? you could also remove the battery from the key fob which will probably allow you to lock the key fob in the car.

They use a opener that goes between your window and the door frame to unlock manually and pop the door.

In my scenario, it immediately set off the car alarm but thankfully I had a key fob to turn it off???? it would be a bit of a pain if you had your battery removed!

The dead battery scenario is much easier. They don't even check your cables. They simply do a quick battery check about 50% of the time and then they have you start the car. And voila the car starts!

I did not know that AAA was shopped.. I guess their are none in my area

They are shopping car "repair" services that open doors and start cars. I don't know who is paying for it. I don't think it is AAA. It might well be some company such as JD Powers or even Consumer Reports which then rates these services. There are more of them than I would have ever imagined. Some are "clubs" like AAA, some are part of new car warranties, and some are "on-demand" (you have a problem, you Google a solution, and you buy a one-time service call).

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

I did not know that AAA was shopped.. I guess their are none in my area

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

@myst4au wrote:

They are shopping car "repair" services that open doors and start cars. I don't know who is paying for it. I don't think it is AAA. It might well be some company such as JD Powers or even Consumer Reports which then rates these services. There are more of them than I would have ever imagined. Some are "clubs" like AAA, some are part of new car warranties, and some are "on-demand" (you have a problem, you Google a solution, and you buy a one-time service call).
@Isaiah4031a wrote:

I did not know that AAA was shopped.. I guess their are none in my area

They're shopping a whole bunch of roadside assistance companies of which AAA is one, cell phone roadside assistance is another, insurance-based roadside is another, pay as you go roadside is another...

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