Category: Warranty

You’re thinking about extending the warranty on your vehicle, but you’re also aware of the scams out there concerning car warranties. You want coverage on your car, truck or SUV, but you’re in a quandary about how to go about it. So, what do you do when you really want to extend your warranty? Ask yourself, I need to know about car warranty scams and how I can avoid being taken for a ride. Here is some information that will give you the lowdown on what to avoid.

 

Phone Calls and Mailings

You may recall receiving a phone call or two or even robocalls from telemarketers trying to use high-pressure tactics to convince you that the warranty on your vehicle is about to expire and you need to extend it before the deadline approaches. You may have also gotten a notification in the mail showing the expiration of the warranty on your car. A letter or postcard will appear as though it’s from the vehicle manufacturer, a car dealership or a state motor vehicle department, and there will be a phone number to call to extend coverage. Before you call that number, which you shouldn’t, check directly with the manufacturer of your vehicle to determine your warranty status.

 

Third Party Contracts

When you’re dealing with are third-party entities offering extended warranty contracts, you need to watch out for what they are peddling as their representatives will do what they can to convince you they are operating legitimately. They usually have no connection or ties with the company that manufactured your vehicle.

Again, contact with a third-party company can happen through a phone call, an online offer or a mailing that appears to be very official. If you buy into their hype, you’re asking for services you’ll likely never receive. Even if the company is operating legitimately and has no connection with the manufacturer, you want to examine every aspect of the contract to determine whether your vehicle will be covered for any repairs or service. There is always the notorious fine print clauses that usually translate as denial of repairs for common everyday wear and tear types of problems or anything that is thought to be an existing issue with your vehicle. A third-party contract can leave you without extended warranty coverage for the most basic repairs, or nothing at all.

 

Protecting Yourself Against Car Warranty Scams

If you find yourself in the situation of trying to recoup services and money from an unscrupulous third-party warranty company, you can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or you can go through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and lodge a complaint with them. They can help you recover your money and shut down harassment from scammers. You can also make a request through the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that your phone number be placed on their National Do Not Call Register.

Having to deal with robocalls coming into your home or business can be a real annoyance. One way to combat calls is to use robocall blocking software that helps stop calls from unscrupulous car warranty companies. Caller ID is also an easy way to screen and identify calls from telemarketers. Many cell phone company providers offer apps that can help you screen calls. An honest warranty company should provide a genuine number that can be contacted to stop continuous car warranty scams calls.

When you take calls from telemarketers, validate the company’s authenticity before you provide them with any of your personal information such as your Social Security number, credit card numbers, driver’s license number or bank account specifics. With any mailings you receive regarding your car’s warranty, you can check with the manufacturer through their contact information. You can also go online and confirm whether the warranty information matches what’s on any correspondence.

 

Real Extended Warranty Help

You can get a manufacturer’s extended warranty on a new or used car. This is the safe route to take as you can be confident that your vehicle will be dealt with professionally through a certified auto repair shop that uses original parts and employees highly trained mechanics.

If you don’t want to invest in the cost of an extended warranty through the manufacturer, start your own repair and replacement savings account for your vehicle to offset the costs of maintenance, repairs and replacement parts. Putting aside some money every month is often less expensive than an extended warranty that you might not use that often.

When you decide on an extended warranty, you may want to think about investing further in an exclusionary policy that covers anything that is not listed or covered on your policy. Being unsure of what is or isn’t covered in an extended warranty can leave you with having to pay out of pocket expenses for an uncovered repair or replacement.

Whether you’re thinking about investing in an extended warranty backed by the manufacturer or a reputable third-party warranty and aren’t that familiar with car warranty scams, complete the online contact form, and an expert will get back to you with the information you need to make an informed decision. Whatever you decide, make sure you get the answers you need concerning car warranty scams and always read the fine print in any plan. Save yourself the expense and trouble that a third-party extended warranty scam can cause. Please fill out our online contact form to have more of your auto repair needs met.

 The more expensive the item, the more important its warranty will be. This basic rule is true for all products. Thus, a vehicle warranty becomes the most important warranty that most people will ever have.

 Unfortunately, warranties are sometimes full of boobytraps. When we say that, we mean that there are a variety of conditions under which a manufacturer can void your warranty. How can they do this? Well, it’very simple. A warranty isn’t just a pledge from a company. It’s an agreement, and you have to keep your end of the bargain. If you don’t keep your end of the deal, they are not required to keep theirs.

You Don’t Have To Get Repairs From A Dealership

 The good news is that companies cannot force you to use their repair service. In most states, it is illegal for a company to deny a warranty claim merely because someone else worked on the vehicle. As long as the work is correct, the claim should be approved in the end. 

 That being said, there is an easy way that you can avoid problems in this department. It is best to choose a body shop that is certified to work on your particular brand of vehicle. For instance, if you have a Ford, make sure Ford, rather than a third-party organization certifies your body shop. By doing this, you will help to ensure that the company approves your claim. It will be difficult for them to justify voiding your warranty when you chose a body shop that they certified and approved.

 Sometimes, unscrupulous car salespeople will attempt to convince you that you should get all your repair and maintenance work done at the dealership. Of course, they are just trying to make more money for their employer, and they probably hope to gain a bonus by doing so. The problem for you is that dealership repairs are always more expensive, even though they usually employ very skilled mechanics. 

What Kind Of Damage Is Covered?

 Most warranties will only cover damage that is the fault of the manufacturer. If the damage comes from your mistake, they will not pay. If you take your car to a substandard body shop and they cause damage, the company also will not pay. If you put aftermarket parts on the vehicle, or if you buy used parts from a junkyard, those parts will not be covered by the warranty. In some cases, using aftermarket or secondhand parts could void your warranty altogether.

Other Things That Might be Covered

 We should note that some warranties are much more generous than others. While some will only cover manufacturer defects, others will cover the costs of maintenance and repair as long as certain criteria are met. Make sure you read the entire warranty before you buy a vehicle, and make sure you don’t neglect the fine print. You can get different kinds of warranties that will cover different parts, or you can get what is called a “bumper-to-bumper” warranty. This kind of warranty covers all parts and is usually much more forgiving. Some will even cover the effects of rust damage, vandalism, or damage from natural disasters.

Keep Good Records

 Every car will occasionally need maintenance and repair. When your vehicle requires these things, you should make sure to keep a record of the job. This record could be a receipt from your body shop, a written statement from your mechanic, or a witness statement from someone present during the process. Whichever way you choose, make sure that you can show records of all repairs and maintenance. 

 This information can help you if the manufacturer decides to dispute your claim. You can take those documents into court and prove that your car was properly maintained and that qualified professionals repaired it. Without that, they will simply have to take your word for the matter, and they probably aren’t going to do that! 

Remember: They Don’t Want To Pay!

 It is essential to realize that most companies do not want to pay out any money whatsoever on your warranty if they can avoid doing so. That’s why warranties will often contain all sorts of limitations and conditions. You should think of these conditions as traps that you must avoid. 

 Thus, you can almost certainly expect your claim could be denied at first. You may need to appeal that decision, and you may need to get a lawyer. In some cases, the threat of legal action alone will be enough to make them sing a different tune, but only if you are legally in the right. If that doesn’t work, you might try calling the Federal Trade Commission, the government body tasked with regulating this kind of problem. You might also lodge a complaint with the better business bureau, but all they can do is publish a report. It might damage the company’s reputation, but the BBB cannot force the manufacturer to honor a warranty.

Conclusion

 It would be nice if we could give you a simple answer to the question posed in the title of this article. However, there is no simple answer to the question. The truth is that body shop work can void your warranty, but it should not do so under most circumstances. As long as the work was done correctly, you should have no problems.

 If there’s one thing you should take away from this article, it is this principle: Always make sure that you choose a body shop carefully. We recommend that you start by looking at all the reviews that you can find for that particular shop. A place that leaves a lot of unsatisfied customers is far less likely to give you the results that you want. If this article has helped you to understand this issue a little better, we hope that you will fill out the contact form below.