Not on Toll Highways

I try at all cost to avoid toll roads anyway!

sfla2,

Thank you for your post. Regarding law enforcement and toll roads, please note the following from the Good Sam Roadside Assistance Member Benefits Brochure:
“At their discretion, law enforcement officers may radio for a non-program emergency service provider. If this happens, please call for reimbursement information. Towing or disablement service charges may also be eligible for reimbursement when a law enforcement officer requests those services from a non-program provider in the event that a Member’s vehicle breaks down on a limited access or toll road.”
If you would like to discuss further, please send me a PM.


Thank you for your membership.


Frank
Good Sam Roadside Assistance

Thank you for your post, rockhillmanor.
Our objective at Good Sam Roadside Assistance is to provide our members with a broad variety of communications channels to address your questions and comments, including: (1) Member Benefit Brochures and FAQs available at goodsamroadside.com, (2) E-mail contact with a Service Representative available at goodsamroadside.com, (3) Member Services Agents available 24 hours daily, 7 days a week at 1-800-601-2850, (4) U. S. Mail address available at goodsamroadside.com, and (5) MarcusVIP@goodsamfamily.com.
Additionally, I will respond to requests for one-on-one communications via RV.Net Open Roads Forum private messages.
Thank you for your membership.
Frank
Good Sam Roadside Assistance

The easiest way for the customer would be for the fulfillment service that Good Sam uses to contract with each tow company separately. But the practicality of this is that the tow companies would be asked to negotiate a rate with the company. The tow companies having a monopoly would lose money under this scenario. There is no incentive to the tow companies. Now a responsible company would contract at the going rate with these companies and eat the cost but save their members aggravation. The tow companies may be responsive to this then again they may be happy with the Status Quo. This is not a simple problem but I think if motivated enough the problem can be solved. GS is not the contracting company with the tow company BUT THEY CAN BRING PRESSURE TO BEAR on the company they contract with to remedy the situation.
I am generally happy with GSRA and they respond appropriately for me.

PS TO GSRA I think I know how to solve the problem. Make an agreement with the tow companies to accept a credit card number direct from the fulfillment place. Tell the customer to call A SPECIAL NUMBER WHEN THE TOW DRIVER ARRIVES AND GIVE THE DRIVER THE NUMBER ( NO PROMPTS SOMEONE ANSWERS A PONE QUICKLY 24-7). This has to be agreed on in advance and WILL need the involvement of the toll authority to cut through the BS. It is something done every day giving a CC over the phone.

Will this happen Probably not as it is not a big problem just an aggravation to certain members

Sfla2 wrote:
I don't see why Frank from GSRA didn't explain their policy Whats the big secret????

IMHO I do not think it is a 'secret' as you call it. It's called good business to direct info privately to a member of a service.

If I had a problem with a membership issue I would want it resolved via an email direct to the GS representative as posted. NOT on a public forum.

What I don't understand is why GS provides this forum address (which is plastered all over on every site owned by GS) for members to post their issues INSTEAD of providing the direct link email address to the rep. Which seems to only appear 'after' they post their complaint here.

Seems to me providing the direct contact email would eliminate all the negative complaints on a public forum and all the following posts agreeing they had the same problem also.

I don't think I have ever seen such a worse business decision that advertises publicly all the negative aspects of their company.

I don't see why Frank from GSRA didn't explain their policy Whats the big secret????

powderman426 wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Part of the way Toll roads are financed is by the granting of monopolies to towing companies. They pay for the "privilege", and in return, no one else is allowed to service the road involved. There's nothing Good Sam, AAA, Coachnet, or anyone else can do to overcome such a contract.

Sounds like most will reimburse, though.

I fail to understand the statement "there is nothing they can do". If indeed they are going to reimburse, they could contact the tow company and pay it up front. Thats the reason I have the service, so I don't have to carry enough cash to pay up front.

The problem is State Law in most places do not allow GS, AAA, CoachNet, National, AllState, or any other Tow Company to pay for it upfront, nor will they take a dispatch from them. I travel for work and had a flat on the NJ Turnpike, the Tow Company would not take my Corporate Card even with my name on it, said it had to be mine and one that I was legally obligated to pay for, said some legal jargon and reason. I expensed mine on my expense report and received it all back, but I wish they would allow 3rd party payments.

Francesca Knowles wrote:
Part of the way Toll roads are financed is by the granting of monopolies to towing companies. They pay for the "privilege", and in return, no one else is allowed to service the road involved. There's nothing Good Sam, AAA, Coachnet, or anyone else can do to overcome such a contract.

Sounds like most will reimburse, though.

I fail to understand the statement "there is nothing they can do". If indeed they are going to reimburse, they could contact the tow company and pay it up front. Thats the reason I have the service, so I don't have to carry enough cash to pay up front.

Part of the way Toll roads are financed is by the granting of monopolies to towing companies. They pay for the "privilege", and in return, no one else is allowed to service the road involved. There's nothing Good Sam, AAA, Coachnet, or anyone else can do to overcome such a contract.

Sounds like most will reimburse, though.

sounds to me like this is not AAAs or GSs fault. can't argue with "policy".
bumpy