LOS ANGELES (CN) - The Automobile Club of Southern California made millions of dollars by rewarding its tow-truck drivers for selling batteries that stranded drivers did not need, according to a class action in Superior Court.
Lead plaintiff Paul Davis-Miller says that after an AAA driver persuaded him to buy a new battery, he had his old one tested. He says that contrary to the truck-driver's claims, the battery could still hold a charge.
The class claims that AAA forced about 300 tow-truck drivers to comply with strict quotas demanding they talk customers into replacing their batteries "well before [the end of] their expected useful life."
AAA headquarters allegedly ordered drivers to sell a new battery to at least 26% of customers who called with battery-related problems, whether the customers needed it or not.
AAA enforced its plan by stripping noncompliant drivers of their towing territory, the class says.
AAA also based an incentive program on whether drivers met the quota, according to the complaint.
The class wants statutory and punitive damages, interest, costs and attorney fees. They are represented by Thomas Ferlauto.
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