American Automobile Association [AAA] review: Towing service

On 6/13 my car had a radiator pipe burst and it was towed by AAA to the nearest AAA repair center (since my regular shop was ~15 miles outside of the travel distance). On Monday 6/15 speaking with the repair shop over the phone, I was quoted prices ranging from $600, with considerable confusion and unproductive call. I was given no cohesive understanding of how replacing an hose could be so expensive. I requested a written estimate, where the price had increased to $1348 with insufficient information to explain what was I would be paying for (my expectation was to pay ~ $100-200 to replace radiator hoses. after 2 more calls I was finally able to determine that the cost was ~ ~$600 to replace the hose and busted water housing plus another $700 of optional fixes.
I left this engagement a great deal of distrust for the shop and decided I was uncomfortable having work done there. After speaking to my regular shop and receiving a price significantly lower, I decided to look into towing options.

On the morning of Tuesday 6/16 I called AAA to see if A tow from one repair shop to another was covered by my plan and I was told it was, because I had 5 tows a year per driver. That afternoon my son (also a AAA member) called AAA to have the car towed to my usual shop. He was never able to connect with the first driver (perhaps my sons phone did not register the call?) so he had to call AAA for a 2nd Tow. After waiting ~ 1.5 hours the 2nd tow truck arrived and picked up the car. The driver told my son someone would need to be at the destination. I was able to meet the driver at the destination where I was informed that the Tow was not covered and I had a bill for $117. I immediately called AAA to reconcile the situation. THis agent informed me that the tow was not covered (since the original shop was capable of doing the repairs). I have no concerns with the policy. My only concern was with the untruth (Being originally told the tow was covered) witch felt deceptive after the irregularities with the pricing.
The agent informed me he could log a complaint but there was nothing he could do until the compliant was investigated. I asked to speak with a supervisor. While On hold I was told by the tow truck driver that I needed to pay the full amount or he would tow the car back to his garage or call the police for theft of services. When the AAA agent came back from hold and informed me he had logged the complaint but had not contacted a supervisor I was irate. He suggested transferring me back to AAA roadside service where I was dropped in the start of the queue (asking what state I was calling from).
I gave up and paid the tow truck driver.

Ed Kozusko
AAA member # 438 212 [protected] 6