Warranty Woe's : (
#1
09-21-2006, 07:53 PM
Warranty Woe's : (
[b]Updated:2006-09-21 09:49:37
Warranty Woes
How to deal with a denied warranty
By TOM MORR
Warranty Woes
Want to put an aftermarket part on
your car but are afraid it could void the warranty? Maybe you don’t have to be. This informative article will help you understand your right
Capitalism is rooted in making a buck. Philosophically, the less one pays, the more one keeps. Trying to get a company to part with its money can be frustrating, even if you've parted with yours based on their warranty.
Claim Denial
The aftermarket part must be part of the reason for the otherwise-warranted failure. Claims processors know that a certain percentage of consumers will never pursue a denied claim. This numbers game often leads to erroneous "mistakes" for valid claims. The onus then falls to the consumer to fight for what might rightly be theirs in the first place.
Aftermarket parts are one reason for carmakers to deny a warranty claim. Any non-factory components that's anywhere near a failed original-equipment part can be fingered as a reason for claim denial. If this happens to you, begin by reviewing the written warranty and asking for clarifications of any legalese you don't understand. Federal law protects consumers against unjust warranty denials. The mere presence of an aftermarket part isn't a lawful reason for denial—the aftermarket part must be part of the reason for the otherwise-warranted failure.
A knowledgeable third party can help refute a dealer's assertion that the aftermarket part played a part in the original part's failure. Contact the manufacturer of the aftermarket part to see if they're aware of similar situations and, if so, what happened in those cases. The company might point out fine print on their products' literature that addresses OE warranties. The aftermarket manufacturer might also be able to supply a technical assessment of the problem to support your case.
More Autos StoriesOther auto articles
from Automedia.com:
reveal if it's prevalent in the vehicle. Dealerships aren't always forthcoming about pattern-failure malfunctions. Manufacturers publish Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for dealerships, detailing remedies for recurring problems. For significant defects, the government will mandate a recall, which requires the carmaker to notify customers of the defect and explain the procedure for getting the problem fixed. Recall and TSB information is listed at the web sites below. Also, the EPA gets involved in emissions-systems matters while the NHTSA addresses safety issues.
Basically, the more documentation you can compile to support your argument, the better chance you have of ultimately prevailing. Helpful items include photos of the damaged parts, vehicle-maintenance and repair records, pattern-failure info mentioned above and a written opinion on the possible causes of the problem from a qualified expert. Of course, you should also save all correspondence with the dealer, especially their written explanation of why the original claim was denied.
Often, a persuasive dossier of documents supporting your stance will convince the dealer's service manager to either take care of the problem or suggest a compromise. Failing satisfaction at the level, approach the owner of the dealership. The owner might present your evidence to the manufacturer and persuade the carmaker to reimburse the dealer for the repairs as warranty coverage. You might actually be doing both a favor in the long run.
The next step toward satisfaction is to contact the manufacturer's zone representative. The vehicle's owner's manual should have a customer-service number that can refer you to this person. Present all of your evidence to the zone rep, who's probably aware of certain dealerships' histories concerning customers' complaints. If this still doesn't produce satisfactory results, contact the manufacturer directly. (See contact information in the "Resolving Warran
Warranty Woes
How to deal with a denied warranty
By TOM MORR
Warranty Woes
Want to put an aftermarket part on
your car but are afraid it could void the warranty? Maybe you don’t have to be. This informative article will help you understand your right
Capitalism is rooted in making a buck. Philosophically, the less one pays, the more one keeps. Trying to get a company to part with its money can be frustrating, even if you've parted with yours based on their warranty.
Claim Denial
The aftermarket part must be part of the reason for the otherwise-warranted failure. Claims processors know that a certain percentage of consumers will never pursue a denied claim. This numbers game often leads to erroneous "mistakes" for valid claims. The onus then falls to the consumer to fight for what might rightly be theirs in the first place.
Aftermarket parts are one reason for carmakers to deny a warranty claim. Any non-factory components that's anywhere near a failed original-equipment part can be fingered as a reason for claim denial. If this happens to you, begin by reviewing the written warranty and asking for clarifications of any legalese you don't understand. Federal law protects consumers against unjust warranty denials. The mere presence of an aftermarket part isn't a lawful reason for denial—the aftermarket part must be part of the reason for the otherwise-warranted failure.
A knowledgeable third party can help refute a dealer's assertion that the aftermarket part played a part in the original part's failure. Contact the manufacturer of the aftermarket part to see if they're aware of similar situations and, if so, what happened in those cases. The company might point out fine print on their products' literature that addresses OE warranties. The aftermarket manufacturer might also be able to supply a technical assessment of the problem to support your case.
More Autos StoriesOther auto articles
from Automedia.com:
reveal if it's prevalent in the vehicle. Dealerships aren't always forthcoming about pattern-failure malfunctions. Manufacturers publish Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for dealerships, detailing remedies for recurring problems. For significant defects, the government will mandate a recall, which requires the carmaker to notify customers of the defect and explain the procedure for getting the problem fixed. Recall and TSB information is listed at the web sites below. Also, the EPA gets involved in emissions-systems matters while the NHTSA addresses safety issues.
Basically, the more documentation you can compile to support your argument, the better chance you have of ultimately prevailing. Helpful items include photos of the damaged parts, vehicle-maintenance and repair records, pattern-failure info mentioned above and a written opinion on the possible causes of the problem from a qualified expert. Of course, you should also save all correspondence with the dealer, especially their written explanation of why the original claim was denied.
Often, a persuasive dossier of documents supporting your stance will convince the dealer's service manager to either take care of the problem or suggest a compromise. Failing satisfaction at the level, approach the owner of the dealership. The owner might present your evidence to the manufacturer and persuade the carmaker to reimburse the dealer for the repairs as warranty coverage. You might actually be doing both a favor in the long run.
The next step toward satisfaction is to contact the manufacturer's zone representative. The vehicle's owner's manual should have a customer-service number that can refer you to this person. Present all of your evidence to the zone rep, who's probably aware of certain dealerships' histories concerning customers' complaints. If this still doesn't produce satisfactory results, contact the manufacturer directly. (See contact information in the "Resolving Warran
#4
06-17-2009, 10:30 AM
How to buy auto warranties & Avoid Scams 
Below are additional links 2 check `out
Peeved at Auto-Warranty Calls, a Web Posse Strikes Back - WSJ.comMay 15, 2009 ... Angered by phone calls from auto-warranty companies, activists are ... "If people have problems with these robo-calls or buying data, ...
online.wsj.com/article/SB124234497033421649.html - Cached - Similar
Warranty and Roadside Assistance Coverage -- Edmunds Auto Warranty ...
Like the basic auto warranty, parts subject to wear and tear like hoses and belts ... warranty protects you from rust-through problems with the sheetmetal. ...
www.edmunds.com/advice/warranties/articles/43094/article.html - Cached - Similar
Auto Warranty, • Car Extended Warranty Quotes •
Auto Warranty: EXTENDED warranty quotes online. » EASY Payment Plans « Car warranties Made-SIMPLE ... About 3 weeks ago I had a problem with my Dodge truck. ...
www.autoservicewarranty.com/ - Cached - Similar
Warranty Complaints and Reviews - Automotive - My3cents.com
You'll bring the vehicle in for a warranty check, and it comes out with problems. You the... Nissan - Why is Nissan Charging for Service? Complaints - Auto ...
www.my3cents.com/search.cgi?criteria=Warranty&pcat=AUTO - Cached - Similar
Last edited by Space; 06-17-2009 at 10:34 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post