Here’s a great piece of advice for anyone trying to find a good used warranty for their vehicle: Avoid any warranty provider who doesn’t pay the car repair shop directly. It’s just another way they can weasel their way out of paying claims or they can drag their feet reimbursing you.
To me it’s really simple. If your used warranty covers the auto repair, the warranty company should pay the mechanic directly so your money isn’t involved.
Let me give you an example of what typically happens if you buy from the wrong used warranty provider:
You’re driving across town in a sudden downpour. Your car breaks down. There you sit on the side of a busy street hoping you don’t get squashed. You call a tow truck – someone who knows you’re in a difficult situation so they charge you extra….and your car is towed to the nearest repair facility you can find. You pay Mr. Tow begrudgingly and wait for the mechanic to scope your vehicle.
The mechanic tells you he can’t fix your car today and you’ll have to leave it overnight. It’s too much hassle to be dependent on one car because your spouse leaves early for work and it’s your job to drop off the kids to school so you rent a car using your credit card.
When your car is finally fixed you pick it up and pay the bill. Next, you contact the used warranty company and send them your receipts totaling more than $1000. Meanwhile, you dip into your savings account to pay your mortgage payment because you weren’t expecting a car repair bill.
Weeks pass by and you contact your used warranty company only to be told your claim is still in “processing”. Again, you dip into your savings because you expected to be reimbursed sooner rather than later.
After you place a few more calls harassing the claims department about your check it arrives in the mail. It’s only for half the amount you paid in repairs, towing, rental, etc. You call the claims department again but they refuse any extra assistance.
It’s not what you’d expected from a good used warranty company. Quite frankly, that’s not the kind of service you deserve. Let me give you a different example:
You’re driving across town in a sudden downpour. Your car breaks down. There you sit on the side of a busy street hoping you don’t get squashed. You call DCI Warranty Services.
We arrange for the tow truck and pay Mr. Tow directly. Your car is towed to a car repair center. The mechanic tells you he can’t fix your car today and you’ll have to leave it overnight.
We put you into a rental car with no out of pocket cost. You appreciate the convenience because it’s too much hassle to be dependent on one car since your spouse leaves early for work and it’s your job to drop off the kids to school.
When your car is finally fixed you pick it up. There’s no bill to pay, your savings account is left intact and you’re not wasting your valuable time arguing with our used warranty claims department about a check that wasn’t paid in full.
Isn’t that the kind of service you deserve? I agree. So like I said, don’t choose a used warranty company that leaves it to you to pay the repair bills first. It’s not worth the hassle.
