By Bob Difley
I received the following email from reader Jim G. and thought it worthy of passing along:
“Hi Bob; I wanted to pass along some information which might be of interest to fellow RV’ers, I regularly read and enjoy your blog posts and if you deem appropriate please pass this along to someone else who can get the word out.
“My Class C RV is powered by a Ford E-450 with a V10 engine, very typical I believe for that type of rig. About a week ago I received what appeared to be a legitimate notice that stated my original power-train and engine warranty, 3 years/36k miles, is about to expire. The letter which was addressed to me includes information about an extended warranty and provides a telephone number to call for information and price to extend the warranty. Trusting that this was sent by someone affiliated with the dealer or service center I placed a call, they had my name/address on file and connected me to a customer service rep. When I explained that the Ford Cut-away van is attached to an RV and has a V-10 engine, the rep. stated that for some inexplicable reason they no longer offered extended warranties for V-10 Fords. I asked repeatedly how and where they obtained by personal information, she could not or would not provide an answer other than to say their marketing firm obtains the data from dealers, insurance companies, etc..
“I decided to do a Google search on Car Safe, located in Missouri and found a BBB rating of F, as bad as you get. The BBB site provides a list of complaints which includes questionable advertising, bait and switch, failure to honor the warranties, etc., etc..
“I know many fellow RV’ers, have the same Ford E-450s with V-10 engines and do not want to see any unsuspecting folks fall victim. If you feel this is worthy of a post on RV.net please feel free to do so and/or pass this along.”
I checked out the Better Business Bureau’s website for the company Jim refers to, Car Safe, and am including this information below:
BBB Rating
Based on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F on ascale from A+ to F.
Factors that lowered this business’ rating include:
- Length of time business has been operating.
- 131 complaints filed against business
- Government action(s) against business.
- Advertising issue(s) found by BBB.
- Business has failed to resolve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complaints.
Factors that raised this business’ rating include:
- Response to 131 complaint(s) filed against business.
- Resolution of complaint(s) filed against business.
- BBB has sufficient background information on this business.
The BBB has received numerous complaints regarding this company that sells extended service contracts. Complainants primarily allege misleading sales and advertising practices, poor customer service, failure to cover needed repairs, difficulty cancelling a policy and obtaining a refund, and that the firm made harassing calls or sent harassing mail solicitations even after they asked the company to stop.
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Alfredo
As an update (6/12/2011), I just spoke with Zee Ammari, dcsuissing what work Best RV Center did to fix my air conditioner. An employee, “Karen,” promised to e-mail the work order, showing what parts were replaced, but I did not receive any such e-mail. Today, Zee promised to mail it on Monday. He also promised to make sure the air conditioner works, and that he would insist that the manufacturer replace it if it does not. That’s decent customer service, I just wonder why I couldn’t have gotten that response in 2010.
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sam
I purchased a 2005 prowler trailer for $45,000 new in 2006. end of year product in vancouver BC. Had it towed to a lake campsite in april 2007. There enjoyed few years of summer fun. Last April 2110 came to open the camper for the summer found floor rotten due to leak in trailer somewhere. Call insurance company after waiting until october 2010 they said our fault. ( we know better)
So now stuck with a 15-20 thousand damage on the trailer and no help from insurance or the manufacturers. Is it the customers fault that the trailer leaked from somewhere we say roof they say window. But they will not for any reason help. Manufacturers say to bad feel bad but you pay. Does anyone any more stand behind a product that we bought that is world renown for there word.
People say sue? That is what they would do? But we are poor. We spent all our money on someone product to be the best out there which turned out to be a pile of manore. We say do not buy this product. Spend your money on hotels.
Carly
Good point. I hadn’t tohhugt about it quite that way. 🙂
puterbug
I have had the Good Sam Extended Service Plan for a few years now. Within 2 months of obtaining the policy, they replaced my generator with no hassle and I only paid $250.00 out of pocket. Now I had trouble with the roof a/c and they told me it was covered (pre authorized). I submitted the claim and receipt for cash paid in January and they are giving me a really hard time about it. They requested additional information, which I sent on February 14th. At first they said they didn’t receive it, then the claims representative actually read it to me. Then he said, yes actually SAID, “I can just continue to say this was never received and the claim will never be reimbursed”. I had it to a second shop to get additional repairs, and some were covered, some were not, due to being just maintenance, but the shop said Good Sam Extended Service Plan is the WORST to deal with and they don’t like them.
Dan Henderson
Like others have said – research before you buy. I chose to go with an Extended Warranty for my 2007 Class A with “Wholesale Warranties” – http://www.wholesalewarranties.net/ . Jeff Shelton (owner) and I exchanged many emails and phone calls before I purchased – he provided me advance copies of the coverage/contract etc and gave me plenty of time to review, as well as answering my questions. Since purchasing I’ve had 2 claims (failed convertor, leaking oil cooler) and they have paid no problems – so the purchase price of the warranty has almost paid for itself. Camping World did the repair work both times, and their Service Manager even commented to me how easy it was to deal with with this policy. So there are some good companies out there – and at least my experience (thus far) with WholesaleWarranties.Net has been very favorable.
Jerry Weaver
I agree- the BBB is pretty much a rip off and always has been. I have never been able to get past the obvious conflict of interest with them. (Pay to Play.)
We get calls from them about once a year with “We have had people/companies request a Rating on your company and would like to have you sign up. ” Blah,blah,blah. Just ask them what entities are asking. Hmmmmm– no answer.
Esther Hocker
I have had extended warranties on both auto and travel trailer – buyer beware – read the policy – I also have sold policies when in Finance – I never told anyone everything is covered as it is not – nor does your factory warranty cover everything –
best practice read – seals and gasket usually have a mileage and time limitation and can cause many failures that the contract will not cover after the new vehicle warranty runs out –
Would I buy a policy – yes – the cost of an engine or transmission failure (even if not completely covered with just the deductble) is in the thousands –
Happy New Year
Barry N. Schmidt
Hoppe: Thanks for the info. The terrorists don’t want to have anything to do with me. It has less to do with my being a precision rifle enthusiast and long-time NRA member than it has to do with my “F” rating with the BBB (hey…probably a badge of honor). Actually, I’m retired and have no idea if I ever had BBB rating; I never bothered to check. 🙂 Have a Happy New Year’s, Hoppe. I enjoy your posts!
Bill Rose
Just a word of caution about BBB ratings as well. About a month or so ago, I believe it was either NBC’s Dateline, or CBS’s 60 Minutes show, exposed the BBB’s practices for ratings. It showed a clear and distinct lower/failing grade for businesses that did not “Subscribe” to the BBB service. Upon confronting one of the top executives from the company, the interviews ceased! It basically exposed a long time practice of extortion by the BBB towards companies, and in return the paying companies recieved good ratings. Those that didn’t pay up, got failing grades. I don’t know anything about the company identified in your blog today, but I would take the BBB rating with a grain of salt. If the legal system has record of legitimate claims, they should be slammed in the media! My two cents.
Stan
It’s been my experience over the years that extended warranties are not worth it on almost any product — car, tv, computer, major appliance, watch, etc. This has also been stated by Consumer Reports. Save your money. Chances of something going bad are slim. If they do, pay for it. If they don’t, you’ve saved a bundle.
hoppe
Barry
Now that I think on it. I think they mentioned that Al Kaida, had an A or B rating. FYI … Just in case you were thinking of doing buis with Terrorists. HO HO HO
G.E. Maynor
For those of you who have a motor home or truck, a factory authorized extended warranty is the only way to go. As for trailers and coaches added to chasis, my personal experience with a 30′ travel trailer, Good Sam has been very easy to deal with on several uses including replacement of a power awning, refer reapair. Both done at camping wolrd locations on the road and with no problems after.
Barry N. Schmidt
Hoppe, I saw what must have been the same program. The BBB CEO (paid a few hundred thou each year, BTW) could not refute the fact that there is a history of the BBB’s not granting favorable reports on companies that do not pay tribute to the BBB. If the BBB rating is an “F” for a certain business, it may well be that the business had refused to pay up. Does this happen in all cases? Probably not, but the program I watched removed any trust I previously had in the BBB.
Pat
Thanks Bob for posting this.
BUYER BEWARE! DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY!
We have an RV dealer in the immediate vicinity of where we live, but I wouldn’t buy anything but a few RV supplies from them; nice folks but not very professional and their business site looks like a junk yard. At any rate, we bought our first and second unit from a nationally recognized, very reputable dealer over 100 miles from home…boy what a difference in service and follow-up!
Bottom line, sometimes we probably pay more than we have to, but we know who we are dealing with and trust them to sell us the very best products. And we deal ‘in-state’ only with all our major purchases…makes handling issues so much easier.
Don’t let these things get you down…RVing is the best of life styles!
Joyeux Noel a tous ! Merry Christmas everyone!
Amos White
I wouldnt recommend Good Sam. I had a Good Sam Warranty and my Class A coach had a Dash Air Compressor Failure. Big Sam refused to honor the warranty. They
claimed that the compressor failed due to a blown seal. The policy states that they don’t replace seals. I told them that I would pay for the seal if they would pay for the compressor and the labor. They refused. My coach is a 2001 and this was my first claim. I of course dropped the insurance, or rather un-insurance. I could have used one years premium to pay for the repair.
While on the road, I had a flat tire caused by a leaking tire valve. They said they would send a service truck out to change the tire, but I would have to pay $100 for the driver to fill the tire that was on the coach.
D.H. Schlagel
Would ya’all mind divulging the names of the good and bad companies….
Otherwise all this discussion is as bad ad the warranty people.
We need names please !
Bob
I purchased an extended warranty for my coach. In October my inverter failed. I took the coach to a dealer, they made one phone call and the inverter was replaced. No hassles. That repair was almost 2/3rds of the cost of the warranty.
Harry
Hi
had a extended warrantie bought through the dodge dealer for my D3500 pick up
the dealer know I was going to pull a trailer and sold me the extended warranty
When it came time for work to be done on my truck the repesentive of the warranty took one look at my truck and said that it had a trailer hitch and was not covered the hitch was factory supplied.
I contacted the Iowa INS comishion and in about a week of faxing reciets the comishion told me I would a check by friday and they called me to make sure i recieve it
So if you have problems keep after you state ins comishion as i did not by my ex warrenty in the stat i live in
Harry A Hager
catchesthewind
Hey Bob, Another fine public service done by you. Thank you
Mike Wader
hoppe
Bob
Good news for me, I used to peddle cars, and let me assure you. I DON’T buy extended warranties! Most are not worth the paper they are written on, if they are even written down.
Bad news, Heard it on TV Somebody wants to know program. About the BBBs at least some of them it seems. Today an F, join the BBB, pay your dues. Tomorrow you too could have and AAA rating. Just cause you responded to those complaints. Pretty much, I understand like the Chambers of Commerce. By Of and For Buis.
Lynne Schlumpf
Beware of manufacturer extended warranties, as well. As we were going through a Lemon Law Lawsuit, our manufacturer sold its interests to Forest River and agreed to create a pool of money to cover extended warranties still outstanding. Well, they were burning through that money at a million bucks a month and ran out after only a few months.
Besides, we paid $2,700 for an extended warranty for 7 years, and we never received it. The dealership pocketed the money and never sent our paperwork in.
So, my point is – get your own extended warranty with a good company like Good Sam or something.
We trusted everyone and got nothing in return and had to go and get our own anyway, after it was all over. So, we paid twice.