Nov. 5, 2007 — Mel Miller has launched an innovative service company, the V.I. Auto Club (VIAC), providing emergency roadside assistance ranging from towing to changing a flat tire.
An annual fee covers round the clock, seven days a week services, including locksmith services, battery jumpstart, towing or minor mechanical services.
Miller has set up contracts with established V.I. businesses to make sure his customers don't get left stranded. VIAC provides the security of knowing that minor and major vehicle worries are covered.
If you get out of your car and lock your key inside, many times you end up calling a towing company and facing uncertain charges. But VIAC alleviates that stress for drivers. Contract services are provided through a reliable locksmith company on each island.
A VIAC representative is available through a 24-hour emergency contact number to take drivers a limited amount of fuel, should they run out of gas, to reach the nearest station. Drivers could even get a flat tire replaced. A dead battery is just a call away. All of these are provided with the utmost customer service, Miller said.
Each member receives a $10,000 accidental death benefit, and a $500 reward is offered for information should a member’s vehicle get stolen.
“We are trying to do a lot of things for the consumer as far as the automobile services in the Virgin Islands,” Miller said. His services extend throughout the three islands, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix.
This is the first of its kind in the Virgin Islands, Miller added: “We just don’t have anything like it.”
VIAC was not dreamed up overnight. Talking with friends, Miller heard the same concern echoed from each of them: There were no emergency roadside service companies in the Virgin Islands.
Miller said it took him a year to make sure that everything would work, and finally launched VIAC at the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in October.
“We are getting a very nice positive response,” he said. Interested parties can even apply online for membership.
Miller has lived in the territory on and off for the past 30 years. After retiring as the president of a life and health insurance company, he finally settled to a leisure life of golfing, boating and just plain enjoying the Caribbean.
He said he is always looking for business to provide contract services to his customers once they can take care of VIAC customers, “to the very end, and with a smile!”
VIAC will donate one percent of its annual revenues to the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
For more information about VIAC, visit "viautoclub.com."
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