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AAA dead battery or lock out shops

October 20, 2024 01:28PM
Has anyone done one of these? What screenshots are required? Thinking of doing one not great with cell phone apps so not sure about screenshots. Thanks for reply
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October 20, 2024 02:48PM
I did one and felt quite anxious about it but it ended up being way easier than I thought. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I took a screenshot of every screen just in case but didn't need them. I'm pretty old and not great with technology but as I said it ended up being pretty easy.
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October 20, 2024 05:05PM
Screenshots of every message?
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October 20, 2024 05:35PM
What happens when the driver arrives and the problem is suddenly no longer a problem? how would you fake a problem? curious
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October 20, 2024 08:41PM
Actually a few years ago when I lived in another state I went to a of all places Five Guys on a shop. When I came out my car would not start. Hit push to start about 10 times and nothing. Called my neighbor who came and tried it- no luck. Called AAA and then they came they got in and vola it started. So It does happen.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/2024 08:41PM by Fatlady.
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October 21, 2024 12:35AM
Those mystery problems that the tech can't duplicate. Or don't happen when the tech goes on a test drive with the customer. I have spent days trying to diagnose a problem that a customer says “happens every time“ when they are driving..
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October 21, 2024 01:47AM
The lock out ones are easy..."I'm such a ditz..."
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October 21, 2024 03:22AM
I used to do them with an older vehicle. Stopped when I got a hybrid. Not sure how I would lock myself out when the car knows if I have my keys or not.
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October 21, 2024 03:43AM
It is not possible for me to look myself out of the car with keys inside. But, I do the scenario that the car won't start. They never check, but instead just attach a jumper battery. Amazingly, it starts right up. My car is a 2 years old Kia Sportage. Before that, I did it with my 2018 Ford Escape (which aldo made it impossible to lock the keys inside). Only one photo (of the service vehicle) is required as well as a description of what the driver was wearing. The remainder of the questions involve time for service to arrive, whether you got updates etc. Very simple.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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October 22, 2024 10:33PM
Well I don't know, it wouldn't start before......... Apparently it happens all the time. The driver doesn't care. He still gets paid.
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October 23, 2024 11:58AM
@BarefootBliss wrote:

What happens when the driver arrives and the problem is suddenly no longer a problem? how would you fake a problem? curious

They don't even bother to check most of the time. I've done the battery one a bunch of times and they just immediately come in and jump the battery and have me start the car and off I go.

And the lock the keys in the car is pretty easy. What I've done in the past with that one is use my husband's car key fob and lock that in the car because they don't know. I can't lock my own keys in because it's a key fob.
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October 24, 2024 04:46AM
I am just trying to understand what is possible. If I put my key fob in my car, I would then be able to lock the car using another key fob? I will have to try that.

I will assume for the moment that it is possible and that you have had them come to unlock your car. I am curious how they do that. Is there a safe (not harming the car) way for them to do that? Could you tell me how they do it?
@foodluvr wrote:

@BarefootBliss wrote:

What happens when the driver arrives and the problem is suddenly no longer a problem? how would you fake a problem? curious

They don't even bother to check most of the time. I've done the battery one a bunch of times and they just immediately come in and jump the battery and have me start the car and off I go.

And the lock the keys in the car is pretty easy. What I've done in the past with that one is use my husband's car key fob and lock that in the car because they don't know. I can't lock my own keys in because it's a key fob.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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October 24, 2024 10:48AM
I haven't done one yet but have a question. The overviews says comments must be in bullet point style. The example narrative has the first sentence in that style, followed by a long, run-on paragraph. So, just one bullet point, then no divisions after that? Or, is this just another case of them misleading shoppers, sloppy guidelines or them just spewing BS without knowing what they're saying?
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October 24, 2024 10:55AM
so, where do you meet the driver at? can you be parked anywhere? in your own driveway?
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October 24, 2024 12:52PM
10-foot pole for me. I don't want to eat into my allotment of free AAA calls.
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October 24, 2024 10:21PM
I just signed up for the service figuring I can use two or three calls, if the program lasts long enough, and save one for myself. The membership is then a business expense as it is needed for the assignment. And it was less than even one shop pays so win-win.
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October 24, 2024 11:17PM
Hmmm. I only saw the statement that T-Mobile customers can get a free membership. I don't have that.
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October 25, 2024 01:55AM
@myst4au wrote:

I am just trying to understand what is possible. If I put my key fob in my car, I would then be able to lock the car using another key fob? I will have to try that.

I will assume for the moment that it is possible and that you have had them come to unlock your car. I am curious how they do that. Is there a safe (not harming the car) way for them to do that? Could you tell me how they do it?
@foodluvr wrote:

@BarefootBliss wrote:

What happens when the driver arrives and the problem is suddenly no longer a problem? how would you fake a problem? curious

They don't even bother to check most of the time. I've done the battery one a bunch of times and they just immediately come in and jump the battery and have me start the car and off I go.

And the lock the keys in the car is pretty easy. What I've done in the past with that one is use my husband's car key fob and lock that in the car because they don't know. I can't lock my own keys in because it's a key fob.

You can lock any key other than the one for your car in there. My husband has a similar model vehicle that has a similar looking key fob so they don't know the difference. I do know people that have accidentally locked their own key fob in the car when the battery goes dead and they've ignored it or there's been a mechanical issue. I just keep my key fob out of range when they come to pop the door.

Yes, they have a way of opening the door safely depending on the model of the car, they'll either use pop lock with an airbag or they'll use a thin metal stick that goes into the window jam.

You can also completely remove the battery from your key fob.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2024 01:55AM by foodluvr.
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October 29, 2024 10:18AM
Here is a real scenario for you to use. We went on vacation back in 2013 and my Toyota Corolla sat all week. It would not start when we arrived home. I called AAA and they had me push down on the gas pedal while I cranked the engine and it started up. You could use that scenerio and when the car actually starts say, "ah-ha!" I have no idea what happened, but thank you! The Road Rangers who do these calls around my city are usually no older than 20. I don't think they think too deeply on anything. *edited for typo

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2024 10:20AM by gigishopper.
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October 29, 2024 06:51PM
I almost had a scenario yesterday..

We got out of the car at a truck stop to use the restroom on our way to pick up some things I'd purchased in GA. We stepped out of the truck stop, and the key fob wouldn't unlock the car. And they sold me the car with a fob that the key had been removed from, so I have no key to my car. (there is a long story that goes with this, and it may end up in court) But after several tries the fob decided to give me one last umph, and it unlocked the car. The next place we stopped was an auto parts store for a new fob battery.
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November 17, 2024 11:21AM
Me again lol.
So ok, I think I can figure out a scenario and I get that you can do one in your own driveway
but I was looking at the Pin locations on Presto and there doesn't seem to be any pattern to them?
you could be at a nearby restaurant or hotel for example?
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November 17, 2024 07:51PM
nevermind
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