Our Planet > Transportation > Businesses
Better World Club
Auto club that provides Nationwide Roadside Assistance and environmentally sensitive Travel products and services.
866-238-1137
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Very satisfied
I've been a member of BWC for 3 years now, and have always been very satisfied with their service. I quit AAA to join, and I've never regretted it. I like the gas rebates and the fact that they offer bicycle service.
I've never had an unpleasant experience with them.
Lea's keywords: bicycle, service, gas rebate
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Better World Club is great!
I have recently had two occasions to call Better World Club: one for a flat tire and the other for a dead battery. In both instances the Better World customer service people on the phone were very nice and helpful, and in one instance the representative made several calls to service providers in order to find the quickest possible response time. I was very impressed.
The service providers were also excellent. They came quickly, did their job professionally and were also very nice. I couldn't have asked for better service nor more friendly people to deal with.
In addition, Better World Club offers gas rebates every quarter that over the year add up to 75% of the cost of membership. You can't get any better than that!
Better World Club rocks!
Molly's keywords: roadside service, AAA alternative, gas rebates
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works
works as well as AAA with good policy: pro-bike, supports reduced car use
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Check this out!
I was a member at BWC and loved the fact that I could support a club that actually cared about the environment... I was telling everyone I knew - I thought it was such a great thing! So I bought the premium service and cancelled my AAA, which I'd had for years... and a long time went by with me just loving and touting the benefits of BWC. Then one day I needed to use my service - no problem, then a few months later I had to use it again, and then shortly after, I had to use it again... so it was a string of bad luck for me, but imagine my surprise when, during my last call, a supervisor came on the line and told me he was exercising his right to cancel my membership because I had used too many services in too short a period of time. Never mind that I had something like 5 services left, or that I didn’t use any service calls for a long time before that… I was cancelled, no ifs ands or buts. Now this was completely out of the blue... I had paid all my bills on time; I wasn't having a difficult time with anyone... I was in the middle of a nice pleasant experience with customer service when this guy picked up the line and told me I was cancelled. I was stunned, and all I could do was ask why, after all the time and money I had spent, and given my current bank of services, they would cancel my account. This young guy simply and arrogantly explained that if I continued to use all my services each year they could not remain profitable. Unbelievable. Now since this happened I've gone back to AAA and have not used a single service and don’t plan to, but at least I know that if I need to use the services I'm actually paying for, I won't have to worry about losing my roadside assistance. Shame on you Better World. You turned an ardent and vocal fan into a very unhappy (and still vocal) supporter of your competition. Supporting the environment is supposed to be a bonus in addition to good, reliable service, not a substitute for them, and I think you guys suck.
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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LOVE them as an alternative
Very pleasant to deal with; really like the $40.00/year gas rebate, and the fact that they are not a mouthpiece for the auto industry.....
Brian's keywords: BWC, gas, rebate, alternative, auto maintenance
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Inferior to AAA
OK under most circumstances, but they have one BIG policy flaw: the member has to be with the vehicle, unlike AAA, which did tow vehicles when I was not with the vehicle.
This could cost you lots of time, trouble, and/or money if someone else borrows your vehicle and it breaks down, or if you have to get somewhere else, can't "babysit" the vehicle, and want the vehicle towed when you are elsewhere.
Rating is admittedly deflated to compensate for overly high ratings from people who haven't dealt with the fallout from this glaring flaw in the service.
Frank's keywords: AAA, Better World Auto Club, eco-travel, carbon offset
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.
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User Comments:
Connie W. says:
Hi Frank!
It has been a long time since I've used AAA, but I was pretty sure my policy with them had the same clause - you had to be with your vehicle. One advantage of that way of doing things is that the coverage... more »
Roxanne V. says:
I do recall AAA requiring the insured person to be near the vehicle. Of course, if the borrower has a plan, they could use it in that circumstance. more »
Good service, strong ethics
I have been a member of BWC for years and can attest to both their quality as a reliable business, as well as their strong steps towards promoting a more sustainable transportation system.
Brad's keywords: BWC, sustainable transportation
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Frank J. and better world club
Dear Frank,
Did you ever join Better World Club?
" an overly intrusive, overpriced business that hides behind a cloak of environmentalism and peoplefriendlyism, much like the overpriced long distance service from which its management graduated. "
What does that statement mean Frank? Don't you think that specifics are in order when you make negative claims like that?
Is your point that the world sucks so don't bother trying to change anything?
I've been a member of Better World Club for 2 years now and I really don't get what your trying to say.
My personal experience w Better World Club has been very good and I will continue to be a member and encourage other people to leave AAA.
Brian's keywords: long distance service, Better world club, AAA
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AAA SUCKS BUT BWC IS NOT COMPETITIVE
I have been a member of AAA since it was actually a club devoted to simply helping motorists. It has morphed into a disgusting parody of its once self. But so has America in general.
Case in point is BWC, which is not an improvement over AAA, but an overly intrusive, overpriced business that hides behind a cloak of environmentalism and peoplefriendlyism, much like the overpriced long distance service from which its management graduated.
I have over the decades heard all the stories about AAA being late with tows, etc. and do not exactly doubt the stories but can say that after living in about 20 states and several foreign countries (AAA has reciprocal agreements with other national auto clubs), I have never had to wait so long for a tow that I started pulling out my hair. Yes, AAA is a bunch of profiteering pigs and the articles in its glossy magazine we are forced to pay for are self serving, often misinformed, garbage.
But when I need maps, or in some regions, travelers checks, I can simply go get them.
And the price of AAA is basically the same as that for BWC.
In comparison, BWC is simply not a good buy.
Unfortunately anyone who drives a vehicle of any kind except maybe a bicycle is a member of the cult of earth destroyers. Any other pose is exactly that. It is hypocrisy of the highest order to pretend otherwise.
FRANK's keywords: AAA, club, motorist, BWC
2 of 3 people thought this review was helpful.
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100x better than AAA.
I love BWC so much more than AAA, which I had for years. I always had to wait around for AAA, had terrible issues with their "travel" service, and hated their anti-environmental policies.
With BWC I received $$ off for buying a hybrid, and their gas coupons make the membership fee very affordable. Their online newsletter contains useful information, and I'm so happy I found an alternative to AAA!
R's keywords: alternative to AAA, environmental
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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BWC
I like the ideology of BWC. I can't rate their service because I've fortunately not needed assistance in the 2+ years I've had coverage, but I like the security of knowing that I'm covered when I'm on my bicycle as well as in my car. They even send 4 coupons, each for a $10 refund on gas, which was a nice surprise. I appreciate their getting the word out that AAA is lobbying hard for roads, car production and keeping Americans in their cars. Of course it made sense once I thought about it, but before reading BWC's newsletters I'd never thought about how un-green AAA would have to be.
Jane's keywords: better world club, BWC, AAA alternative
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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Better World Club best alternative AAA
I am so glad I found this company because I no longer pay dues to an auto industry lobby!
I don't use their gas coupons because I want to help the company prosper but my cheapskate sister does and loves this benefit. I actually read every issue of the newsletters because their tips and advice is always timely and funny. I really read it because they can actually make me laugh while they give me bad news (corrupt behavior on the part of the establishment).
The fact that I had to register for sustain lane newsletter in order to vote is one of the many ways they support other small green businesses together forcing the big untouchable industries to start changing some of their dinosaur philosophies of doing business all over the planet.
(psst BWC .... remember me later when I need a tow)
Just kidding ... just kidding
Hannah's keywords: green businesses savings
1 of 1 people thought this review was helpful.
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A great alternative to AAA
A great alternative to AAA. The services are the same, but Better World Club supports environmental organizations and initiatives. Friendly customer service and competitive rates.
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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User Comments:
Brooke M. says:
Services are not the same.
Try the BWC travel department.
Or, better yet, don't... because you'll waste your time. more »
R P. says:
Actually, I haven't had to use BWC's travel department yet, but I did use AAA's travel department years ago when I had them - and it was a NIGHTMARE.
BWC is, in my opinion, 100x better than AAA. more »
Better World than AAA
I switched over to Better World Club two years ago. They have great service and $40 in mail in rebates for gas fill ups throughout the year. It almost pays for the membership. I was in a buddy's Jeep that went over a snow embankment and need a winch to get out. The entire winch and tow cost us $35 and we were a great distance from any major town.
Brad's keywords: Better World Club, AAA
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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Great Green Club
I've belonged to the club for a year and a half now and I'm very satisfied. I've had the chance to use them once and they came in a timely manner. I also like how they offer discounts to hybrid cars and offer bike road service. Very cool!
Gabrielle's keywords: club, hybrid cars, bike, road service
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Better world club
I left Triple AAA & went over to BWC because I care about the environment in which we all
live. It was the best thing that I ever did! I have needed them 3 times and unlike Triple AAA waiting hours for help the guys from BWC came quickly & were very helpful. Between great roadside assistance and all that they stand for I give BWC a 5+ review!
Dianna's keywords: BWC, roadside, assistance
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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BWC has been great for us
We've been with BWC for about 3 years and have only had to call them once. It was great! Like many members, I heard of them from Car Talk on NPR. Perhaps because of listening for many years to that show, when I called I described my problem in detail (couldn't get the car out of "park" as the brake safety switch was stuck). They called back a few minutes later to say they'd found a service provider. Shortly after we got a second call. They'd passed on the details to the shop, and the shop had told them how we could easily fix the problem ourselves- there's a little porthole, not in the owner's manual, where you can stick a screwdriver in and manually trip the switch. I was impressed with both parties for actually thinking and communicating, instead of just putting us on the list, which would have taken up a lot of our time (even if the tow is prompt, you still have to wait your turn at the shop!) and saving us a minimum hourly service charge at the shop. Instead, we were on our way about 30 minutes after we called- no $, no paperwork, just good advice.
We also have the bicycle coverage because my husband commutes to work on his bike when the weather is fair. He's yet to use the service, but he is biking about twice as much since we joined, just because of the peace of mind. He's always happier after biking and is advocating bike commuting (and BWC) to others.
The hotel discounts are also better than expected. We didn't really look into it until the last time we re-upped. I asked for the hotel guide and discovered that we can get a 50% discount at our favorite place to stay when visiting my inlaws (about 20 nights a year- so the discount would amount to about $500 a year for us). Still, I didn't use it last time, becuase we've gotten to know the owner and I feel awkward about now pulling out the discount card. Maybe we'll use it and get a fancier room next time.
Heather's keywords: bicycle, bike, assistance, travel, resource, car, hotel, booking
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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Better World vs. AAA
I was a AAA member for many years, despite my growing discomfort with that organization's stances on environmental issues, because I didn't know there was an alternative. A little over a year ago I found Better World Club and immediately switched!
Last summer I had a car problem - on a Sunday morning, in a small town in southern West Virginia! To my great surprise and delight, I got an immediate response to my phone call to BWC and very quick assistance from a tow service. The tow service operator told me that he'd much rather help BWC members than AAA members because BWC is much more fair to service providers. So we all win!
Toni's keywords: assistance, car, BWC
2 of 2 people thought this review was helpful.
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Better than AAA
I was an AAA member for many years until I learned about their terrible record on the environment and on consumer safety. I learned about Better World Club and have used their services a number of times and been a member for a number of years. I have always been satisfied.
Paul's keywords: service, insurance, travel, book, flight, rent, car
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A worthy alternative!
I just renewed my membership in the Better World Club. I've used their emergency service once and the response was fast, pleasant, and painless. I also used their travel service which got me a great deal for Thanksgiving, including the carbon offset. I've recommended them twice and both people were happy with the results. I was very pleased to get a phone call from a representative who I felt genuinely wanted to know if I was happy with the service.
Jessica's keywords: Auto club, emergency roadside assitance, bike assistance, travel
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User Comments:
Connie W. says:
Michael M. - I'm so sorry you had such a bad experience. Sounds pretty weird - I certainly hope this was a one-off with an inexperienced worker (not that that makes anything better for you!). A couple of years ago, I... more »
Roxanne V. says:
This is very disturbing! I hope you'll come back and report any follow-up results. more »
Ken O. says:
I was going to sign up for BWC, but now I am having second thoughts. Any other negative experiences out there with BWC? more »