Brandon Dunn may have found waiting for Godot easier than waiting for the American Automobile Association, better known as Triple A.

Godot never showed in the two-act Samuel Beckett play and neither did AAA during a four-hour wait that ended shortly before 2 a.m. June 18.

		Listen in Listen to interviews with a dissatisfied AAA customer and a reply from the organization: Brandon Dunn discusses his problem with AAA road service. AAA spokeswoman Bevi Powell responds.

Mr. Dunn had joined his parents for a Father's Day gathering at the home of an uncle who lives in Fox Chapel. He left about 9:30 p.m. to return to his home in Ross when his silver 2000 Hyundai Sonata "died."

Fortunately, he was coming down Squaw Run Road and was able to pull off the road. He called AAA, was told a tow truck would be there within the hour and that it was coming from a "very dependable provider."

Mr. Dunn, 33, an account manager, called his uncle's home and spoke to his parents, Harold and Lou. They were just about to leave for their home in Squirrel Hill. They joined their son on the side of the road to drive him home after the tow truck arrived.

At 10:30 p.m., Brandon Dunn called AAA for an update. He was told the truck would be there in 15 minutes. That time -- and more -- came and went. Just as he was about to call AAA again, the tow truck driver called. He said he was in Homestead and wasn't sure how to get to Fox Chapel. Mr. Dunn gave him directions.

A Fox Chapel police officer arrived, but didn't have jumper cables to start Mr. Dunn's car. The officer called AAA and was told a truck was on Route 28 and would soon be there.

At midnight, Mr. Dunn's parents called AAA. They were told by an "argumentative" customer service representative that there had been several accidents "on the parkway" and that the trucks were very busy. His mother was becoming increasingly concerned because medications she needed to take hours earlier were at home.

Brandon Dunn called the truck driver who had called him. The man, whose name he didn't get, said he was lost and wasn't going to make it.

At 12:45 a.m., he called AAA again. He said the woman who answered the phone apologized and said that a truck that was dropping off a car in West Deer would be right there.

About 1 a.m., the police officer who had checked on them before returned. He called AAA and was told the truck was on its way from West Deer.

At 1:40 a.m., an angry Brandon Dunn called AAA to say he was leaving the car. He said the woman who answered the phone "actually had the temerity to laugh and say the truck from West Deer went to another Brandon Dunn -- as if there were several Brandon Dunns broken down in Fox Chapel.

"She basically admitted that a truck was never coming," he said. "She said I could leave the car and that they would tow it for me without my being there. Why wasn't this suggestion made earlier? I was originally told that I needed to be with my car" when the service truck arrived.

It gets worse, folks.

When he went to retrieve his car, the new battery started it right up. But what was that "horrible knocking noise" from the left rear wheel? Why, a strut had been broken during the tow.

Finally, $243.85 later, an expense the AAA reimbursed him for, Mr. Dunn finally was able to drive his car home.

His mother then told him the AAA was going to bill him for the tow because he has only the basic membership and has to pay for any tow exceeding three miles. It turned out, however, that the fee was waived.

Mr. Dunn said the AAA has shown "how poor of a business they run. They lied to me, my parents and the police several times in one night. Plus they have shown nothing even resembling remorse. No phone calls. No letter. Nothing. It's like they don't care."

Well, yes, they do, said spokeswoman Bevi Powell.

Mrs. Powell said the first driver dispatched to help Mr. Dunn "had a medical emergency," the specifics of which she couldn't provide "because of privacy reasons." She said another driver had to take him to the emergency room of a hospital the identity of which she didn't know.

She said the AAA representatives Mr. Dunn and his parents spoke to that night should have kept them better informed. She said the AAA records its calls and will listen to those the Dunns made that evening. That might lead to disciplinary action or, at the very least, the retraining of representatives who should have told the Dunns they weren't able to help them.

She said the Pittsburgh Call Center, which serves Allegheny County and surrounding counties, received 700 calls that night. She said calls from members stranded on the interstates or parkways or those in "dangerous or life-threatening situations" are given the highest priority. She didn't know how many of those conditions existed that night.

She said the AAA would upgrade the membership of Mr. Dunn and his parents for this year and next year. She said it also will reimburse Brandon Dunn for the rental car he needed while his car was being repaired.

Mrs. Powell said the call center handles more than 1 million calls a year. "It is rare for us to have a situation like this. Mistakes do happen. Unusual circumstances aren't always handled the way they should be, and this was one of them."