Dont Be Fooled: Robo-Calls About "Expired Car Warranty" are Phony
After receiving thousands of complaints, today the Federal Trade Commision (FTC) filed two suits in federal court in an attempt to end a telemarketing campaign that has been blanketing the country with millions of (allegedly) deceptive "robocalls." The automated voice says, "Your car warranty has expired," warning the listener to "extend coverage before it is too late." If the listener then presses "1," they are connected with someone who tries to sell a vehicle service contract for thousands of dollars -- pretending it will extend the original vehicle warranty.
Don't fall for it.
"This is one of the most aggressive telemarketing schemes the FTC has ever encountered," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz. "I'm not sure which is worse, the abusive telemarketing tactics of these companies, or the way they try to deceive people once they get them on the phone. Either way, we intend to shut them down."
Consumers receive the robocalls at home, work, and on cell phones -- which can cost them money, sometimes several times in one day. Businesses, government offices and 911 dispatchers have also received calls.
The next problem? The calls keep coming even if you've put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry
. And it doesn't stop there... these firm(s) are also mailing out postcards
withthe same warning. Evil, nasty telemarketers!
Remember, the federal government has promised to back your car warranty even if your car's brand, its manufacturer, or your dealer goes under. If you want an extended warranty, we recommend you buy only one that is backed directly by the automaker, directly from the automaker or their licensed dealerships.
How can you protect yourself? It's always a good idea to put your number(s) on the Do Not Call registry to prevent a wide variety of telemarketing scams (not to mention dinner interruptions.) If you are still getting these calls, file a complaint with the FTC and the Better Business Bureau. And read up on the FTC's page, How to Steer Clear of Auto Warranty Scams.
- Posted by
- Joanne Helperin May 14, 2009, 11:49 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Automotive Consumer News, Car Warranty
- Technorati Tags:
- Car Warranty, Expired Warranty, FTC, Robo-Call
I really want to understand who is behind this. Not because I'm annoyed with the calls, but because it takes some resources and some nads.
They repeatedly call nearly every single American and have people ready to speak with you (I hit '1' a few times to see what would happen). That takes some serious resources.
They completely blow off the federal do not call list. From what I understand there are hundreds of thousands of documented violations (probably tens of millions of undocumented violations). That takes some serious nads, at $500 per violation.
Ugh I hate these things. I've told them to stop calling me a half a dozen times and they still come, and I am just (recently) on the do-not-call list as well.
I haven't gotten a call from these companies and I hope I won't but I keep receiving little postcards offering extended warranties on 2 of my cars. I don't know how they get the info but they have my name and my vehicle info on these postcards. I always felt it was weird and never followed up. Now I know this is a scam... good thing I kept throwing them away.
They called my cell phone and talked to my voice mail but blocked caller id so I didn't have their phone number. The last time I tried to file a complaint about a telemarketer, the first thing you had to enter was the phone number they called from.
They call my cell phone every other day. It's infuriating.