FROM: HOLLEY
CARNRIGHT
DATE: DECEMBER 11,
2019
RE: PRESS RELEASE –
BEWARE OF AUTO WARRANTY SCAMS
Be skeptical of mail
and phone calls warning that the warranty on your car is about to expire.
According to the Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer
Affairs, the companies behind the letters and calls may give the impression
they represent your car dealer or manufacturer. With phrases like Motor Vehicle Notification, Final Warranty Notice or Notice of Interruption, they are trying
to make the offer seem urgent – and to get you to call a toll-free number for
more information.
More than likely,
these pitches are from unrelated businesses that want to sell you extended
warranties – more accurately known as service contracts – that often sell for
hundreds or thousands of dollars. If you respond to a call from a business
pitching so-called extended warranties, you’re likely to hear high-pressure
sales tactics, as well as demands for personal financial information and a down
payment, before you get any details about the service contract. And if you buy
a service contract, you may find that the company behind it won’t be in
business long enough to fulfill its commitments.
If you have a
question about your warranty, Consumer Affairs (845-340-3260) advises checking
your owner’s manual, calling the dealer who sold you the car, or contacting the
vehicle manufacturer.
