AAA - Michigan Fraud, Theft, Dishonesty, Poor Investigation, No Resolution, Aweful Customer Service. Ripoff OFFENDERS: Steven Hindes & Michelle Monteith Dearborn Michigan

Well this is an old one for me as it happened over a year ago. It all started when I called AAA to make my scheduled monthly payment over the telephone. Mr. Steven Hindes answered the phone, apparently he was a temp of some sort. The branch manager, Michelle Monteith, had hired this shady individual to take payments and handle others clients personal information. Long story short, Mr. Hindes stole my credit card information and used it to purchase a bunch of computer equipment on-line (where else right?)

I went through the heart ache of wondering whether or not my identity as a whole could have been compromised as well, this guy had access to all my records, even my family was insured through this agency. I also had the pleasure of most greatly embarrassing myself in dealing with recovering the lost funds and explaining bounced checks. What a nightmare!

Fast-forward to about a week and a half later. AAA has concluded their investigation, with much thanks to me, I provided them the I.P. address from which the purchases were made. This is where the story gets ASTOUNDING!!! I dealt with a gentleman in AAA's internal investigations department. He seemed empathetic, but more than that, he was worried about mopping up the situation on behalf of AAA. The conclusion the investigation overturned was that yes indeed Mr. Hindes used a AAA computer on AAA work time to make an internet purchase with a AAA customers debit card (that would be me), that he had obtained from processing a monthly payment.

As you can imagine I am pretty upset at this point, and a feeling of betrayal is looming over me everyday I am insured with this JOKE of an INSURANCE COMPANY. The branch manager, Michelle Monteith calls me the next day to offer her apologies, and ensure me that my family would not be put in harms way, and that my SSN and other personal information was "more than likely" not compromised. RIGHT! And I believe you why???

I'm sorry Michelle... TOO LITTLE TOO LATE on the half hearted apology. I'll tell you what, take your foot out of your mouth and admit that you can not effectively manage a secure insurance agency. Michelle claimed that Steven Hindes wasn't even an employee!!! THAN WHY IN THE HECK WAS HE THERE??? I had very little demands for AAA and they are as follows:

1. Ensure that that individual would have charges against him. (I could not charge him as he did not directly steal from me, rather that he stole from AAA)

2. Write a formal letter of apology on behalf of AAA, outlining some sort of corrective action to ensure that this would not happen again.

3. Provide me with monthly credit reports to ensure that my personal information was not compromised.

I filed a claim with the BBB, however I had moved out of state, and I had to actually work, and could not afford to spend the required time to ensure that action was taken on AAA's part.

Here's the kicker... AAA actually has a customer retention center that employees several people. I tried to contact them to see that some of my requests were honored and... NOTHING! BIG SHOCK!!! The lady I was working with was on a 365 day paid vacation thanks to AAA, and that's what I call a subsidy job! NASTY AAA NASTY!!! NASTY BUSINESS... SHAME ON YOU ALL.

Fallout:
As a result I dropped my vehicle and homeowners insurance policy. I also informed ALL of my friends and loved ones, and as a result my parents dropped their 10+ year multi-car policy and homeowners insurance, likewise so did my best friend, his girlfriend, and her parents; basically everyone I knew that had AAA was advised that AAA had been up to some very shady business. Being a friend who offers up sound advice, none of the afore mentioned groups has ever returned to AAA. TRY TO CAPTURE THOSE $$$ LOSES. (Plug here for State Farm)

Hindsight being 20/20:
All AAA really had to do was send a letter of apology and they wouldn't be on this site... WAY TO GO MICHELLE, you continue to represent your company well!

Carl
Farmington, Michigan
U.S.A.