Club Toyota. What The ****?

[shcm]

Can I vent my spleen please ladies and gents?

This is probably one for the general section, but I don't go there much and all my fellow RAVers are here.

So, I'm an existing Club Toyota member, which I think is reasonable value by the way. . I buy a new Toyota, which comes with 1 years Club Toyota membership.

A new card and membership number arrives, which expires 1 year from when I got my new vehicle. i.e. on 06-03-11.

My existing membership expires on 17-11-10. OK, I think. That's easy. I've got 1 years extra membership from the new vehicle, I should be able to combine the two to give an expiry date 1 year on from my present membership - that's 17-11-11.

I ring Club Toyota and talk to a nice lady, who says yes we can do that. She sorts it out and says the membership will now expire on 06-11-11.

Well, I wasn't in a "roll over and take it" mood.

"Oh", I say, "you seem to have taken 11 days off my membership, why is that?"

nice lady: "It's just the way it works"

me: "but clearly it is wrong isn't it? If I buy a vehicle with 12 months cover, shouldn't I get 12 months extension of my existing cover?"

nice lady: "Sorry, no, nothing I can do"

me: "Is there anybody else I can talk to please?"

The nice lady doesn't seem to like this too much, but eventually I get to talk to another nice lady with a southern hemisphere accent (LSHA) and I explain the problem.

LSHA: "Oh, it's done on a pro rata basis, but let's work though this calculation together". "what do you mean by that?" I think. "Probably just some words you've been given" .

me: "Well, it's a fairly simple one. I got 12 months extra cover with my new vehicle, so you just add on 12 months or 1 year to my existing expiry date".

The LSHA rambles a bit, but eventually gets around to trying to do the calculation.

LSHA: "Oh, can I put you on hold a minute" (This calculation is obviously tricky).

me: "Yes, no problem".

Time passes and the LSHA comes back. "Actually, it has only taken a week off you". I'm thinking "what 11 days in a week?", but I let it pass - at least we are making progress.

Anyway, I end up with a new expiry of 06-12-11. Got a bit extra for free :). It would appear they can only add multiples of 1 month to an account and by default they go for the one they can get away with - in this case 06-11-11.

I suggest to the LSHA that they have a look at their system as it seems a little unfair, thank the LSHA for sorting it out and apologise for being a pain. A good example of how being calm but presenting a reasonable argument can pay off perhaps.

Ok, 11 days membership is not a lot of cash, but if they do that to everybody...............

I was beginning to question my own sanity and I still am.

Oh, it would appear they are switching from RAC to AA from 01/04/10.

[bothwell_buyer]

you should move to Aberdeen - I'm told they seek people with good haggling skills!

[pmb]

Oh, it would appear they are switching from RAC to AA from 01/04/10.

I'll let other people reply about your rant shcm. I've not seen anything about moving to the AA and I got a mag through recently. Anyone else know anything about this?

[abraxas]

I now have a mental picture of you haggling like Omid Djalili in that advert "...you're 'avin' a laaaaaarf!" :)

My ClubToyota membership took the best part of 6 month to arrive in post. Dunno if it is up to dealer or CT but I thought that was a bit excessive. The good thing is that it was post-dated when it did eventually come.

Aye, companies get a bit liberal with this kind of thing. Try arguing the merits of "only 11 days" if you need a recovery 1 day after it expires. Good on you!

[stewyinpagham]

As it's question time for Club T, why when you buy a new car with a 3 year warranty does the Club T, last only 1 year, but when you buy a MrT extended you get club T for the full period??

[sywy]

Why is it that Club Toyota is only for 1 year anyway? I'm pretty sure, although I could be wrong, that my last 2 cars (Mazda and VW) came with 3 year breakdown cover?

[shcm]

I've not seen anything about moving to the AA and I got a mag through recently. Anyone else know anything about this?

It was part of the pre-recorded message you get first of all when you phone them.

I now have a mental picture of you haggling like Omid Djalili in that advert "...you're 'avin' a laaaaaarf!" :)

I like the idea, I'll have to try that one! Not sure they'd take me as seriously though.

[hertsnminds]

I could be wrong, that my last 2 cars (Mazda and VW) came with 3 year breakdown cover?

You are not wrong about Mazda, my wife drives one and they do come with 3 years breakdown cover. But then again Hyundai's have a 5 year warranty and Kia's a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty. I still don't see how this matches the fact that Toyota are supposed to make the most reliable cars in the World, if this were the case they should be able to offer a longer a warranty and extended breakdown cover with far fewer claims on either.

[Lordy1]

Bought the wifes new Yaris last June and my RAV with extended warranty last May from a different dealer.

Only last week did I receive my first Club Toyota Mag for the Yaris-never seen one for the Rav (I take it that I get 2 as the cars are registered in different names).

They clearly have their finger on the pulse !

[anchorman]

I've never seen a club magazine either despite numerous requests. In the end I gave up. I've just suspended my CT subscription until the one with the blue'n runs out but never really paid any attention to when they said it would expire. I might give them a call and make sure justice has been done.

[vivianM]

Can I vent my spleen please ladies and gents?

This is probably one for the general section, but I don't go there much and all my fellow RAVers are here.

So, I'm an existing Club Toyota member, which I think is reasonable value by the way. . I buy a new Toyota, which comes with 1 years Club Toyota membership.

A new card and membership number arrives, which expires 1 year from when I got my new vehicle. i.e. on 06-03-11.

My existing membership expires on 17-11-10. OK, I think. That's easy. I've got 1 years extra membership from the new vehicle, I should be able to combine the two to give an expiry date 1 year on from my present membership - that's 17-11-11.

I ring Club Toyota and talk to a nice lady, who says yes we can do that. She sorts it out and says the membership will now expire on 06-11-11.

Well, I wasn't in a "roll over and take it" mood.

"Oh", I say, "you seem to have taken 11 days off my membership, why is that?"

nice lady: "It's just the way it works"

me: "but clearly it is wrong isn't it? If I buy a vehicle with 12 months cover, shouldn't I get 12 months extension of my existing cover?"

nice lady: "Sorry, no, nothing I can do"

me: "Is there anybody else I can talk to please?"

The nice lady doesn't seem to like this too much, but eventually I get to talk to another nice lady with a southern hemisphere accent (LSHA) and I explain the problem.

LSHA: "Oh, it's done on a pro rata basis, but let's work though this calculation together". "what do you mean by that?" I think. "Probably just some words you've been given" .

me: "Well, it's a fairly simple one. I got 12 months extra cover with my new vehicle, so you just add on 12 months or 1 year to my existing expiry date".

The LSHA rambles a bit, but eventually gets around to trying to do the calculation.

LSHA: "Oh, can I put you on hold a minute" (This calculation is obviously tricky).

me: "Yes, no problem".

Time passes and the LSHA comes back. "Actually, it has only taken a week off you". I'm thinking "what 11 days in a week?", but I let it pass - at least we are making progress.

Anyway, I end up with a new expiry of 06-12-11. Got a bit extra for free :). It would appear they can only add multiples of 1 month to an account and by default they go for the one they can get away with - in this case 06-11-11.

I suggest to the LSHA that they have a look at their system as it seems a little unfair, thank the LSHA for sorting it out and apologise for being a pain. A good example of how being calm but presenting a reasonable argument can pay off perhaps.

Ok, 11 days membership is not a lot of cash, but if they do that to everybody...............

I was beginning to question my own sanity and I still am.

Oh, it would appear they are switching from RAC to AA from 01/04/10.

Hi Lordy,

Are you sure about the switch to AA from RAC? I was about to cancel my AA subscription this year as there was no point in keeping both on.

On fuel MPG, recently filled up with Anchorman's favorite blend and MPG seems to have dropped below 30 mpg for the first time!! Will have to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

Guy

[anchorman]

Ther is absolutely no doubt that the AA will take over from April 1st.

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/generic_editorial.jsp?edname=RoadsideAssistance&fullwidth=TRUE&wtValue=accnav36

[shcm]

I've never seen a club magazine either despite numerous requests. In the end I gave up.

We very often get two of the same issue. In fact they used to be subtly different. There were one or two articles that were different. Seemed to be targeted at different buyers. i.e. in our case Yaris or RAV. They seem to have stopped that now.

Thanks for posting the AA thing confirmation link. I don't know, I go to the trouble of telling other people (I don't mean you Anchs) something and they don't believe me? Perhaps it's an April fool.

Actually, from 01/04/10, Club Toyota recovery service is provided by members of the "Mongolian Tiddlywinks Polishers and Orangutan Fanciers Society". That's more plausible isn't it? :D

[anchorman]

I've never seen a club magazine either despite numerous requests. In the end I gave up.

We very often get two of the same issue. In fact they used to be subtly different. There were one or two articles that were different. Seemed to be targeted at different buyers. i.e. in our case Yaris or RAV. They seem to have stopped that now.

Thanks for posting the AA thing confirmation link. I don't know, I go to the trouble of telling other people (I don't mean you Anchs) something and they don't believe me? Perhaps it's an April fool.

Actually, from 01/04/10, Club Toyota recovery service is provided by members of the "Mongolian Tiddlywinks Polishers and Orangutan Fanciers Society". That's more plausible isn't it? :D

Hey I was thinking of switching to them. Maybe it will save me some dosh?

[jedi134]

I could be wrong, that my last 2 cars (Mazda and VW) came with 3 year breakdown cover?

You are not wrong about Mazda, my wife drives one and they do come with 3 years breakdown cover. But then again Hyundai's have a 5 year warranty and Kia's a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty. I still don't see how this matches the fact that Toyota are supposed to make the most reliable cars in the World, if this were the case they should be able to offer a longer a warranty and extended breakdown cover with far fewer claims on either.

Exactly!!!! Maybe there not reliable anymore and they know it!!!!

Made in China on the label is always a worry.

[Lordy1]

Guy,

Down to 28 mpg for myself at mo, keep me posted. Is it just the fuel or do you think its something else ?

Lordy

Can I vent my spleen please ladies and gents?

This is probably one for the general section, but I don't go there much and all my fellow RAVers are here.

So, I'm an existing Club Toyota member, which I think is reasonable value by the way. . I buy a new Toyota, which comes with 1 years Club Toyota membership.

A new card and membership number arrives, which expires 1 year from when I got my new vehicle. i.e. on 06-03-11.

My existing membership expires on 17-11-10. OK, I think. That's easy. I've got 1 years extra membership from the new vehicle, I should be able to combine the two to give an expiry date 1 year on from my present membership - that's 17-11-11.

I ring Club Toyota and talk to a nice lady, who says yes we can do that. She sorts it out and says the membership will now expire on 06-11-11.

Well, I wasn't in a "roll over and take it" mood.

"Oh", I say, "you seem to have taken 11 days off my membership, why is that?"

nice lady: "It's just the way it works"

me: "but clearly it is wrong isn't it? If I buy a vehicle with 12 months cover, shouldn't I get 12 months extension of my existing cover?"

nice lady: "Sorry, no, nothing I can do"

me: "Is there anybody else I can talk to please?"

The nice lady doesn't seem to like this too much, but eventually I get to talk to another nice lady with a southern hemisphere accent (LSHA) and I explain the problem.

LSHA: "Oh, it's done on a pro rata basis, but let's work though this calculation together". "what do you mean by that?" I think. "Probably just some words you've been given" .

me: "Well, it's a fairly simple one. I got 12 months extra cover with my new vehicle, so you just add on 12 months or 1 year to my existing expiry date".

The LSHA rambles a bit, but eventually gets around to trying to do the calculation.

LSHA: "Oh, can I put you on hold a minute" (This calculation is obviously tricky).

me: "Yes, no problem".

Time passes and the LSHA comes back. "Actually, it has only taken a week off you". I'm thinking "what 11 days in a week?", but I let it pass - at least we are making progress.

Anyway, I end up with a new expiry of 06-12-11. Got a bit extra for free :). It would appear they can only add multiples of 1 month to an account and by default they go for the one they can get away with - in this case 06-11-11.

I suggest to the LSHA that they have a look at their system as it seems a little unfair, thank the LSHA for sorting it out and apologise for being a pain. A good example of how being calm but presenting a reasonable argument can pay off perhaps.

Ok, 11 days membership is not a lot of cash, but if they do that to everybody...............

I was beginning to question my own sanity and I still am.

Oh, it would appear they are switching from RAC to AA from 01/04/10.

Hi Lordy,

Are you sure about the switch to AA from RAC? I was about to cancel my AA subscription this year as there was no point in keeping both on.

On fuel MPG, recently filled up with Anchorman's favorite blend and MPG seems to have dropped below 30 mpg for the first time!! Will have to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

Guy