Fury as AA says it would NOT help a lone woman before a man at roadside: Customers 'CANCEL memberships' as breakdown recovery firm confirms it does not 'prioritise based on gender' AA member Dr Helen Mott said she had broken down while 'alone in the dark' Claimed she was told by call handler that men and women are treated the same Spokesman told her they instead 'consider the location' when prioritising Some customers then claimed they were going to cancel their memberships By Harry Howard For Mailonline Published: 10:06 GMT, 20 January 2022 | Updated: 10:08 GMT, 20 January 2022 Viewcomments The AA has been slammed by members after the car breakdown firm confirmed it does not prioritise callouts based on gender. A member who had broken down 'at night in the dark' claimed on Twitter she had been told by an AA call handler that the firm treats lone women and men exactly the same because 'that's equality'. Dr Helen Mott said she would then have to wait 'alone in the dark for 90 minutes or more' and added that the firm's policies 'need a revamp'. Responding to her tweet, an AA spokesman confirmed they do not prioritise based on gender and instead 'consider the location', meaning they would give preference to a person broken down on a motorway over someone in a supermarket car park. Furious members then slammed the firm, with one saying she was 'cancelling her membership' and others claiming to have had a similar experience to Dr Mott. AA president Sir Edmund King also intervened, to say the firm gives priority to 'anyone at risk'. An AA spokesman told MailOnline today that the 'wording' of their response to Dr Mott 'wasn't great' and they had apologised. They added that in breakdowns involving lone women they receive the 'highest level of care and priority' if the customer raises concerns. The AA has been slammed by members after the car breakdown firm confirmed it does not prioritise callouts based on gender. A member who had broken down 'at night in the dark' claimed on Twitter she had been told by an AA call handler that the firm treats lone women and men exactly the same because 'that's equality' Dr Mott had said to the AA in her tweet last night: 'hi @TheAA_UK I am a lone woman whose car has broken down at night in the dark. 'Your call handler has told me you treat lone women and lone men as exactly the same priority in such circumstances because 'that's equality'. In another tweet, she added: 'I will now wait alone in the dark for 90 minutes or more, something which as a lone woman nowhere near home is far more anxiety-provoking than it would be for a man, if you follow the news. I think your policies need a revamp.' In response, the AA said: 'Hi Helen, you've been advised correctly. We don't prioritise based on gender, we do consider the location so as an example we would prioritise someone on a motorway over someone in a supermarket carpark.' An AA spokesman told MailOnline today that the 'wording' of their response to Dr Mott 'wasn't great' and they had apologised The popular anonymous barrister who uses the @CrimeGirl Twitter handle then claimed she would be cancelling her membership. She said: 'The police prioritise lone females and so do the highways agency, because they recognise their sex places women AT RISK FROM MEN.' Another demanded: 'Why not? Women are more vulnerable than men.' Other users claimed to have had a similar experience. One said: 'I have to say the same thing happened to me with the AA. 'Two females at the side of the motorway, one of us pregnant, late at night in torrential rain. 'In the end my parents drove the 45 mins to us to get my pregnant friend home and my Dad waited with me. Now with The RAC.' Another added: 'AA that's appalling. If your response to breakdown is based on risk, you're clearly missing an important factor here. The popular anonymous barrister who uses the @CrimeGirl Twitter handle then claimed she would be cancelling her membership 'I hope your customers see this; your practice and your response here - and they take their money elsewhere.' An AA spokeswoman said: 'We accept that the wording of our initial response wasn't great and have apologised. 'In fact, we prioritise anyone at risk but more often than not it will be lone women. In breakdowns involving lone women where there is any concern raised by the customer they receive the highest level of care and priority.' Rival breakdown firms the RAC and Greenflag both say they prioritise customers who are in 'vulnerable situations.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility