Working at AAA Southern California — Reviews by Employees

THIS COMPANY IS SATAN'S SPAWN

First off, let me give you my background. I worked for AAA as a field sales agent in one of the district offices and was recently let go for not hitting my monthly auto policy goals. I am/was definitely bitter about being let go but I have since found another job where i have the opportunity to make more than the $75k I was making with AAA. In my three years as an agent i was always in the middle of the pack in terms of production. I wasn't the top agent nor was i the worse. I worked very hard and did my best to be as honest as possible while trying to write the members quality insurance policies that would really protect them and their assets. Reflecting back on my days at the Auto Club I'm pretty sure that if i had stayed on this same course i could have lasted 20 years working there. My downfall is when i decided to tell upper management my frustrations with the pay plan. I told them that my main goal was to earn high commissions and i wasn't concerned with writing 40 auto insurance policies per month. Our pay was based on quality of business (A, B, or C policies) not quantity. I could write one 5 car (A business) policy and make more than writing ten 1 car (C business) policies. Ask any intelligent sales person and they would tell you they would rather do half the work and make more money than doing twice as much work. Unfortunately- the management team's bonuses are centered around how many policies are written vs. the quality of the business. Obviously- AAA only wants you to write quality business- since the commission incentives are heavily weighted this way. In hindsight, i guess i should have kept my mouth shut like all the other employees, especially considering that AAA is stuck in its old fashioned ways and certainly aren't going to listen to one employee's thoughts on change. I'm thankful for my days with AAA but feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders since i've left. I was constantly pressured to act unethically and had to sit back and watch those who were willing to lie/cheat/steal be heralded as heroes while those who were truthful and honest got left behind. I would recommend AAA as a good starting out point into a career with another company.

I recently interviewed at AAA in Costa Mesa. I was optimistic and hopeful, however, after reading these reviews I have very mixed feelings. First, the assesment struck me as a little odd because the facilitator went on for over one hour about details I felt were unneccesary at this stage in the game - she insisted it was to reduce the companies turnover rate - but it seems like there are greater issues at hand. After the assesment I was offered a chance to interview and the person gave "examples" of employees who come in to "do the bare minimum, just to get a check". While I understood her example, it did strike me as negative comments and I originally dismissed it, but now believe that it could be a sign and perhaps not the type of enviornment for someone that truly has a high work ethic and desire to learn and advance. Good luck to everyone out there - it is truly dog-eat-dog out there.

Pay: Pay is reasonable for what they expect you to do. You really aren't expected to be independent or think for yourself.

Respect: There is not respect for the employees there. Management treats you like you a moron

Benefits: They are supposed to be good, but they are really bad. 401 k doesn't start for a year, health insurance is expensive, and sick pay doesn't start for 3 months.

Job Security: As many others have said, if you are in with the managers you are good, otherwise you are in trouble.

work/life balance: Good, the company is too cheap to pay for overtime, so you are out the door after 8 hours.

career potential/ growth: Want to get promoted? Work for the company for 5 years, then maybe you will be a team manager (also known as a supervisor)

location: good location, although the company is too cheap to pay for janitorial service everyday. Today there was no toilet paper in the bathroom. Gross!!

co- worker competence: There are some competent employees, but most are either uneducated, beaten down, or are just mildly retarded.

work environment: I have 3 great managers in our office and one witch. She runs around pontificating to all about how she knows so much. She is unapproachable and rude. She is always in a bad mood and freqently tells her employees to leave her alone because she is in a bad mood. She sets a poor example and it amazes me she has been with this organization for so long.

All of the managers in my office are old. Most have never worked for another company. Most don't realize they are stuck in 1950's business practices. It is very much "do this because we have done it for 20 years" even though it makes no sense. One manager is trying to change this, but he is the minority.

I always thought AAA was a great company until I worked there, now I just look down on it.

First off want to make sure that all understnd I work for a AAA contracted tow compnay and it is not the tow company I am venting about, it's AAA.
The company I work for has been with AAA for a long time. We have earned respect amoung our customers for our service but AAA over the past few years has made it very difficult to keep that respect. It is obvious that they have contracted other stations to steal our calls. The dispatchers at AAA seem to all be against us, they are so negative and hatefull towards us it's as though they have been threatened and told to be this way.
AAA is a money hungry monster who doesn't care at all about all the little people who do all the work for them.

If you are a younger person with a degree, do not venture to AAA. I have a degree and I regret my two years of employment with this company. They act like 2 years equal 2 months of employment. I feel like I have to be there for at least 10 years to get into a position which doesn't piss you off daily. This is by far my biggest issue with this company and why I am on the market for a new job. I have over 90% on MSI scores, which are surveyes given to insureds after a claim is paid. The surveyes are full of issues. Sometimes is 7-10 days after which is when it is suppose to be done. I have had surveyes done over a month after the claim is done. I am still over 90% so far this year with over 50 surveyes. I have been told I should be promoted by the end of the year but that probably leads to a position which gives you much tougher claims and a few small raise. To get into a position you would like to work, you have to wait for someone to die or retire. Many...most of the people in the good positions started right after high school. So, I suppose if you are willing to see the old people retire or die this is a good place for job growth but the people in there late 40's will have first shots at it.

There is a MASSIVE double standard with dress code. The males have to wear a tie during business dress weeks and the women basically dress the same during business casual weeks. The only real difference most males take between business dress and business casual is a polo shirt. The women will wear black tennis shoes. I brought this up to my unit manager and he basically said they do notice it but they dont want to say anything because it is possibly due to how they cant afford business clothes...lame excuse. I now dont even bother wearing my tie properly and leave my top button undone like I am a stressed out stock broker.

The pay is decent especially if you are willing to "pay your dues" basically. The managers CONSTANTLY take the good days off for example, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. 3 of the 4 took this day off where as only 3 employees out of 30 of the non-managers can take the day off which you need to ask for 6 months prior...no joking.

If you have decent attendance, you'll be fine. The only time they find out if you are sucking at your job is if you go on vacation for a while and the lead reps will work your files then tell you how much you suck at your claim handling. If you don't, it'll take them about a year to notice you suck at your job. They will try to help you out for a few months but if you continue to suck, they will fire you. They are pretty fair at trying to help not because they care but because they dont like training new people.

The co workers at my office for the most part are somewhat useful but many people at other offices are completely useless. They will make you call people they should have called. They will take a few days to reply to time sensitive emails. When I bring this up to a manager, it rarely gets anything done. The offices continiously drop work onto each other as if we are different companies. Major disputes between offices do and often occur which piss off insureds for good reason.

The locations are in good locations BUT if you young like me, living close to many of the offices will cost alot in rent. I am looking to own a home especially in these times while the market is low so I am looking at an hour commute each way now.

The morale usually sucks. Mondays are very busy days. If you constantly call in sick on Mondays, this is when you will get fired. Workloads are usually doubled on Mondays. The managers make committees to improve morale but the committees are treated like an optional as the managers will still give you same amount of work even though you are in meetings for events.

The computer systems in claims are DOS based...DOS based!!!!!!! They always say, a windows one will be made soon but I highly doubt that since most of the managers still type with using only 1 or 2 fingers. The managers are usually cooler than your co workers so I cant say the managers don't realize the place sucks and realize why you are unhappy. Many of the older co workers and told me to get out while I can because this is a trap.

In short, if you are young...don't apply unless you are ok with little job growth. If you are experienced, the way AAA handles claims will make you laugh. Still using DOS and paper files instead of an online database.

AAA has a really good rep in Southern California...I have no clue why. The roadside assistance and claims are completely different agencies and have NO contact with each other which creates issues for insureds. Coworkers act like insureds should know this and treat them like idiots. Most insureds have awful policies and then bitch at you about it saying the sales agent never told them about rental or a deductible waiver. You tell them, sorry but I cant do anything about that so you need to pay out of your pocket now.

Out of a 10, i give AAA a 3. I sit at my desk everyday asking myself, i went through 4 years of college to do this!!!???

The Long Beach ER unit is a great place to work for women if you prefer a casual dress code. The unit manager there allows women everyday to wear:

Jean skirts
Dark colored full length jeans
Sleeveless blouses
Tennis shoes
Open toed sandals
Shorts

**Dress code for men is fully enforced at this location and you will be sent home if not dressed in full business attire.

i would'nt tell ANYBODY to work for this lame company!!! there'a a supervisior in the L.A call center she is ruthless and a snake, she hardly comes to work and when she is there she's out to find anyway to get hard working employee's fired..and even her own co-workers.....she's no joke if the auto club made her take a drug test trust me she would'nt be there.....u can't grow with this company if u don't keep a "brown nose" they have a crazy dress code for there call center when u don't work with the public @ all, u can't go to the restroom for to long without being grilled for it u better have account for yourself whenever ur not answering aaa phones!!! there is always a huge turnover most of the hires quit while going thru the sloppy training class, u r constanly over worked and wayyyy under paid

The company is very conversative since it's basically an insurance company and makes its money from insurance policy holders. Lots of old timers at the company and it's probably one of the largest privately held company in the US (approx 10K people). Most managers have been there for at least 10 years and senior management can extend their grip by changing the rules as they sees fit. Senior management is almost invisible from the regular employees unless they are getting food from the cafeteria.

They hires smart people but then dumb them down to follow all of the rules and regulations. Job security is ok as long as you're doing what you're told. People are fearful of challenging the rules or bad practices so everyone just keep their mouth shut to get their pay check. These are some of the reasons why it's called "The Club" when they speak about the company.

Most employees are good people who wanted to do their best but there are many incompetence or back stabbers in the mix.

The Automobile Club of Southern California is the worst company ever. I am appalled that it has been around for over 100 years. The management team lacks experience and there is a lack of opportunity for growth unless someone retires or dies. You have to kiss butt in order to get anywhere in the organization. Only people in the "in crowd" move around in the company. I would not wish my worst enemy to work there.

Many managers at the Auto Club have only ever worked at one company and do not understand that times have changed. The dress code is ridiculous - pantyhose for women? What company requires that anymore?

It is a cutthroat environment where you cannot trust anyone. Every employee is out to backstab each other. The work environment is stressful as you always have to watch your back and what you say. You never know who is related. Favoritism is so obvious. Different rules are set for different employees based on if they are popular or not.

A company this size should provide some sort of tuition reimbursement but it does not. The leadership team is afraid that this would foster change and innovation. Change and innovation are a threat for the leadership team because they do not like to be challenged. Any employee who challenges management is penalized by their manager. They will be singled out for the duration of their employment.

I would advise anyone who is interested in working there to choose not to. It's a company full of bitter people with chips on the shoulders. The executives are far removed from the employees in the "trenches". They do not care about the employees or staying current with technology. The company technology is equivalent to the technology other companies had in the 1980s.

Also, my favorite thing is that their is a separate parking lot for managers. The peons have to walk half a block to get to their desk. There is a carpool lot that is empty half the time. Not a good use of space. They should build a parking structure. The walk in the from the parking lot is the only exercise most employees get.

The cafeteria is awful. There have been numerous times where I have eaten food there that has made me feel sick to my stomach. Also, you can buy the same thing every day for lunch but the price will vary based on which cashier you get. Gloves are not used by the cafeteria workers. It is a major health violation. Just walking through the cafeteria makes me feel weird.