NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH UPDATE – APRIL-2009
“Please Help Out, Get to Know Your Community”
Linda Marie, Neighborhood Watch Captain
DO NOT CALL OR PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION TO VEHICLE WARRANTY COMPANIES, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO SELL AN INSURANCE POLICY AS A VEHICLE WARRANTY AND ASK FOR A VEHICLE BODY NUMBER. VEHICLE BODY NUMBERS ARE UNDER THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION LAWS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND ARE NOT FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION. ONLY CITY AND STATE LICENSED POLICE OFFICERS AND AGENTS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ARE AUTHORIZED TO ASK FOR THIS INFORMATION. YOUR VEHICLE INFORMATION CAN BE USED ON STOLEN VEHICLES AND IT IS A LINK TO YOUR DRIVERS LICENSE AND HOME ADDRESS. IF YOU USE A TRANSPONDER FOR TOLL ROADS IT IS LINKED WITH DEBIT BANK ACCOUNTS AND CREDIT CARDS. IT CAN LEAD TO IDENTITY THEFT. Ripoff website to confirm: http://www.ripoffreport.com & http://www.consumeraffairs.com/auto_warranty/
I have received recorded messages since last year and mail from this company that has been scamming vehicle owners with false claims of an Extended Vehicle Warranty. You can confirm this by doing a search on the Web to confirm how many vehicle owners paid thousands of dollars to vehicle warranty companies. Dealerships, garages and mechanics hold no association with any Extended Vehicle Warranty’s. Warranty companies set-up a cheap fake website. They have a pre-recorded message such as: “That’s right just 59.95 to take advantage, just press 0 for an operator now. “”Sorry I missed you, but we have an important message for you”". Both messages do not leave a return phone number or name. This is followed up with a bulk rate postage letter from St. Louis, MD. by Extended Warranty Corp. 6055 Mexico Rd. St. Peters, MO 63376. IMPORTANT AUTOMOTIVE INFORMATION. Our company makes no outbound calls. You must call this number to take advantage of this offer. When calling the 800 number you are connected to a Automotive Warranty Consultant, who asks for Federal Department of Motor Vehicle information your; vehicle make, vehicle ID number, license and mileage with intent to sell you a false vehicle warranty insurance policy.
I have spoken to a mechanic who talked with them and confirmed this was a scam. He continually received telemarketing calls and letters claiming his vehicle warranty would expire. His vehicle is an older model and he does all the engine and body work. When he called, they could not provided any details about his vehicle such as dealership, engine numbers, vehicle number, license, DMV registration and the many other details used by dealers and manufactures under Federal Laws of transportation for consumer safety recalls.
So, I personally got so annoyed I called them and put them on the spot. The male Automotive Warranty Consultant would not give me any information unless I gave them information on my vehicle, year, make, mileage and vehicle Identification number. I gave them the Reference Customer Number on the notification that only held the limited information on the notice; I continually drilled them and found out the following: I asked this Warranty Consult if they where associated with AAA road service and AAA auto insurance. He said NO, they were different. “Why are you not associated with AAA they have the auto club towing service?” He claimed they where American Policy Insurance holding different policy with dealerships, independent tow companies, rental car companies such as Enterprise through out the United States and they would have you towed and provide a rental car under their policy. I asked him for dealerships names, and then he asked me “what type a car I had?” When I asked him how they got my number he claimed because of my vehicle. I through him a curve and stated I don’t have a Vehicle!!!!!! The dealership names he gave me where unknown, he referenced my zip code and named dealers at random. He continued trying to convince me they were a legal business and wanted my vehicle information. I asked that they stop sending me their fake notices and I would have them investigated. He tried to trip me up by asking me about my vehicle, again I stated I don’t have a vehicle, take me off your mailing list.
I spoke directly with Chris who is a state licensed AAA vehicle insurance agent, several mechanics and the dealership maintenance Service Tech at Douglas in Santa Ana Auto Mall, they have no association to any outside vehicle warranty companies and extended warranty’s are offered only through the manufactures dealership and can only be purchased when you buy a new vehicle.
Clues to these scams are on the fake notification: Telemarketing messages they leave have words matching the fake notice, company makes no outbound calls, asking you for mileage and a federal vehicle number, the expiration date they have posted shows over due, no reference to dealerships maintenance or garage mechanics who will honor this warranty. Note: (All legal warranty’s are held by the vehicle manufactures and they do not have to send you a card asking you for this information), no written details about the warranty’s association to any dealerships or approved state license, no employees names or board of directors representing the company. Also on the notice in fine small print it reads: [The cost for this program will be much less then the cost of your future repairs. If you extended your factory warranty at the time you purchased your vehicle, please disregard this notice. NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. This notice is for new coverage on your existing vehicle. This notice is mailed to all vehicle owners regardless].
A legal insurance policy is offered through AAA’s approved towing road service to city/licensed dealership or mechanics approved by AAA. Chris did not know of any approved insurance policy authorized to sell to consumers Extended Vehicle Warranty under American Insurance Policy, or Extended Warranty Corp. This type of insurance for vehicle extended warranty policy is not registered any where in the United States and is fraud. A state licensed vehicle insurance agent is only authorized and must under go a background check, testing and be bonded and registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles to receive or request Federal Department of Motor Vehicle information. Automobile Club of Southern California will put out an Urgent notice to all their agents and offices throughout California and United States about the scam, it will be posted in e-mails, printed notifications and they will start an investigation immediately. Chris stated they would provide the Police Department and federal authorities with information about their investigation since it is insurance fraud. For more information The City of Westminster Neighborhood Watch Newsletter are now on line at:
http//www.westminster-ca.gov/depts/police/community
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 - 2:57 PM
Category: Life/Living/People.
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