{"id":831,"date":"2021-12-30T19:40:33","date_gmt":"2021-12-30T19:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/?p=831"},"modified":"2021-12-30T19:40:34","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T19:40:34","slug":"how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/electronics\/how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Tell if a Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is Legit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When you buy a car, it will often come with a manufacturer\u2019s warranty covering major repairs. This warranty will be limited to a certain number of years or miles. When that time and\/or mileage is close to expiry, vehicle owners will have a chance to legitimately extend the warranty period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-2-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-2-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/electronics\/how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit\/#What_Is_a_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification\" title=\"What Is a Motor Vehicle Service Notification?\">What Is a Motor Vehicle Service Notification?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/electronics\/how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit\/#Why_Did_You_Receive_the_Notification\" title=\"Why Did You Receive the Notification?\">Why Did You Receive the Notification?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/electronics\/how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit\/#How_Do_You_Know_if_the_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification_Is_Real\" title=\"How Do You Know if the Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is Real?\">How Do You Know if the Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is Real?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/electronics\/how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit\/#Signs_Your_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification_Is_a_Scam\" title=\"Signs Your Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is a Scam\">Signs Your Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is a Scam<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/electronics\/how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit\/#What_to_Do_to_Be_Safe_From_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification_Scams\" title=\"What to Do to Be Safe From Motor Vehicle Service Notification Scams\">What to Do to Be Safe From Motor Vehicle Service Notification Scams<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/electronics\/how-to-tell-if-a-motor-vehicle-service-notification-is-legit\/#Is_It_a_Requirement_to_Buy_an_Extended_Warranty_After_Purchasing_a_Car\" title=\"Is It a Requirement to Buy an Extended Warranty After Purchasing a Car?\">Is It a Requirement to Buy an Extended Warranty After Purchasing a Car?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_a_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification\"><\/span><a><\/a>What Is a Motor Vehicle Service Notification?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a notification &#8211; usually an unsolicited letter or postcard &#8211; warning you the manufacturer\u2019s warranty on your car is about to expire. It will urge you to extend the warranty by calling a toll-free number. These notifications may accompany phone calls urging you to expand your vehicle\u2019s warranty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These motor vehicle service notifications often claim to be from the dealer or manufacturer, but a considerable percentage are not. However, they look and whatever they claim to the contrary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In truth, these notifications are actually from extended warranty companies. Some of the companies may be legit, but many are not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Warranty scams are surprisingly common, so it&#8217;s essential to do your homework. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/auto-warranties-and-service-contracts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warns consumers against<\/a> not only trusting vehicle service contracts that arrive via mail but also accepting warranties from their dealerships in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many vehicle owners purchasing these extended warranties find they don\u2019t cover most repairs (whatever was claimed by the policy\u2019s agent at the time of the purchase), so they aren\u2019t worth the paper they are written on. Other vehicle owners will find these extended warranty companies change their phone numbers or rapidly become insolvent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even where companies are legit and don\u2019t go bust overnight as so many of these types of companies do, the cost for a policy is so expensive; it is hard to justify for most vehicle owners as its price will far exceed the costs of needed repairs during the covered period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The simple truth is, most people who buy these policies don\u2019t use them at all, which makes them (most of the time, anyway) a waste of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fake motor vehicle service notifications may use terms such as \u2018Final Warrant Notice\u2019 or \u2018Notice of Interruption,\u2019 implying you must contact them urgently as if it\u2019s an obligation on your part. You likely don&#8217;t <em>have <\/em>to do anything at all. There is rarely the urgency these notifications convey, and the best place for them is usually in the trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Did_You_Receive_the_Notification\"><\/span><a><\/a>Why Did You Receive the Notification?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You will receive these motor vehicle service notifications if your vehicle\u2019s manufacturer\u2019s warranty is close to expiring (and even, sometimes, when it\u2019s not). On occasion, you may receive these notifications when you don\u2019t even own the vehicle anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may get genuine notices from your dealer or manufacturer when the time comes, but neither of these should bombard you with mail if so. They will, of course, have your details as you gave it to them when you purchased the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Third-party extended warranty sellers will have your details because your dealer (or possibly someone else) sold your information to them. Just because someone has some details about you and your car doesn\u2019t make them legit, however, legitimate the card looks, or however authentic they sound on the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These fake motor vehicle service notifications and\/or calls will contain just enough information about your car model, make, and year of manufacture to persuade the unwary it is real. Many will have (fake) logos of the manufacturer, dealership or even the Department of Motor Vehicles stamped on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should never deal with such a company, even if they do provide you with what seems on the surface a really great deal. An honest company providing an honest service does not have to resort to such tactics as its service should surely speak for itself. They don\u2019t need to pretend to be anyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The notification will try to convince you to renew or extend the vehicle service warranty and may even try to persuade you that you \u2018must\u2019 because your finance company demands it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_You_Know_if_the_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification_Is_Real\"><\/span><a><\/a>How Do You Know if the Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is Real?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 1 &#8211; The Notification Comes at the Correct Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Genuine notices are sent when your current manufacturer\u2019s warranty is about to expire or has expired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A regular manufacturer\u2019s warranty covers basic vehicle parts and lasts from 3 to 5 years or 36,000 \u2013 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you are receiving notifications and your original warranty is nowhere near expired yet by age or miles, you can be pretty sure the notification is fake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 2 &#8211; The Notification Has Your Basic Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A legitimate motor vehicle warranty expiration notification has your (correct) basic information, plus your vehicle\u2019s correct year and mileage as per its last known service. It doesn\u2019t lack these details or get these basic details wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 3 &#8211; The Notification Has the Correct Purchase Price of Your Vehicle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A genuine notification has the correct original price of the vehicle. It won\u2019t lack this information or get it wrong,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 4 &#8211; The Notification Has a Company Name on It<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A legitimate motor vehicle service notification will have the company\u2019s name on it. If the letter or postcard does not have a company name on it, then it\u2019s been sent by a scammer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 5 &#8211; The Company Name and Phone Number on the Notification Match Your Manufacturer\u2019s Warranty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can know if you\u2019re dealing with the same company that supplied your manufacturer\u2019s warranty by comparing the details on the notification postcard or letter with the details on your original manufacturer\u2019s warranty. The company name and phone number should match exactly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can\u2019t find your original paperwork, check out (the real) company\u2019s website, not any web address given on the notification. Then compare the phone number on the website to the phone number on your notification. Alarm bells should ring if details differ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 6 &#8211; The Notification Has Been Sent From the Company\u2019s Known Location and Not a Different State<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Be wary if the notification has been sent from out of state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 7 &#8211; The Company\u2019s Customer Care Agents Treat You With Courtesy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A legit company won\u2019t try to frighten you or hard sell or tell you you \u2018must\u2019 have it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-833\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Motor-Vehicle-Service-Notification.jpg 1999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Signs_Your_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification_Is_a_Scam\"><\/span><a><\/a>Signs Your Motor Vehicle Service Notification Is a Scam<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>1.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign 1 &#8211; The Notification Doesn\u2019t Come at the Correct Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you receive a notification and your original manufacturer\u2019s warranty is nowhere near due to be extended based on your vehicle\u2019s age and\/or miles, you can be pretty sure the notification is a scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 2 &#8211; The Notification Lacks and\/or Gets Basic Information Wrong<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A scam notification, though it has some information, will unlikely have all the correct basic information about you and\/or your vehicle, such as your vehicle\u2019s mileage as per its last known service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 3 &#8211; The Notification Lacks the Correct Purchase Price of the Vehicle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A genuine notification has the correct original purchase price of your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 4 &#8211; The Notification Lacks a Company Name<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A genuine notification will have the company\u2019s name on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 5 &#8211; The Company Name (if There Is One) and\/or Phone Number Doesn\u2019t Match That on Your Manufacturer\u2019s Warranty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It should be self-evident you are dealing with scammers. Both details should match exactly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 6 &#8211; The Notification Comes From a Different State to Where You Know the Manufacturer Is Based<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This could be a warning sign you are dealing with scammers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 7 &#8211; The Agents Are Pushy on the Phone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Scammers don\u2019t like giving you a moment to think about it. They will use scare tactics to bombard you into signing up and signing up right now. They may even become rude and disrespectful if you hesitate or ask too many questions. The best thing to do when this happens is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fcc.gov\/consumers\/guides\/beware-auto-warranty-scams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hang up<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 8 &#8211; They Grossly Exaggerate Likely Future Repair Bills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Scammers will use grossly inflated figures about what future car repairs could cost you to justify their expensive (and usually unnecessary) extended warranties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Sign 9 &#8211; They Say Your Finance Company Requires It<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s very unlikely this is the case. This is a scare tactic to fool the unwary. There\u2019s an easy way to confirm if your finance company really does require it &#8211; by calling them up and asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_to_Be_Safe_From_Motor_Vehicle_Service_Notification_Scams\"><\/span><a><\/a>What to Do to Be Safe From Motor Vehicle Service Notification Scams<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Precaution 1 &#8211; Know These Warranties Are Generally Not Needed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As stated previously, even if the extended warranty comes from a genuine company, they rarely prove cost-effective for most motorists, and most finance companies will not require them either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>&nbsp;Precaution 2 &#8211; Don\u2019t Give Out Your Personal Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Never divulge your Vehicle Identification Number or your driver\u2019s license number to just anybody, nor indeed any other personal and financial information. Not only could you get scammed for a lousy extended warranty, but you could end up in a far worse situation with identity theft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Precaution 3 &#8211; Check Your Paperwork<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Always keep the paperwork that came with your motor vehicle from the manufacturer. If you\u2019ve lost it or mislaid it, it may be possible to get copies by talking to the dealer or manufacturer. This will prove useful to you for times such as these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a look at these original papers that came with your vehicle and check if your warranty really has expired or not by the miles and\/or years it\u2019s been used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check the other basic details on it are all correct and complete. Incorrect details and\/or missing details in place indicate it\u2019s sent by scammers. <em>Some<\/em> information is not enough. It all needs to be correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, take a look at all the other details on the notification. Confirm that the company\u2019s phone number matches the number on your original documents or the manufacturer\u2019s official website (not the one listed on any notification as it could be fake).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the phone number isn\u2019t a match, then call the number on your paperwork or the number on the website and ask them whether the notification you have really was sent by them. Also, see where the notification was sent from. If it\u2019s sent from another state, then you know where the manufacturer operates; that\u2019s a warning sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything else should match, including a watermark if there is one. Quality of printing and paper can also be another big giveaway.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Precaution 4 &#8211; Read the Fine Print Before Signing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you genuinely think one of these will be useful for you, read the fine print before signing anything. These warranties usually come with a host of exclusions hidden in the small print, whatever the smooth-talking agent will tell you on the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the agent doesn\u2019t want you to see the fine print, that is a red flag. Be wary if they want you to decide immediately, too. Legitimate companies offering authentic services give customers time to think about things and check them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a>Precaution 5 &#8211; Ask Your Dealership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact your dealership and ask them about the motor vehicle service notification. If it\u2019s real, they will soon tell you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_It_a_Requirement_to_Buy_an_Extended_Warranty_After_Purchasing_a_Car\"><\/span><a><\/a>Is It a Requirement to Buy an Extended Warranty After Purchasing a Car?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, extended warranties are sold at the time of purchase. These are normally entirely at your discretion. You should not have to purchase one, even if buying the car on finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some unscrupulous dealerships will tell you that you need to purchase an extended warranty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the time new vehicle purchasers realize the extended service contract was unnecessary, they are tied into a costly contract they cannot cancel. Check with the finance company directly before signing anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been known for some dealerships to attempt to sneak in an extended service contract without your knowledge. Always read your papers carefully and if you notice a fee for a service warranty you didn\u2019t ask for, get it removed before signing your loan document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Buying a car &#8211; not to mention ownership and maintenance &#8211; is a big deal, so it&#8217;s crucial that you know what you&#8217;re getting into.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy a car, it will often come with a manufacturer\u2019s warranty covering major repairs. This warranty will be limited to a certain number&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-electronics","wpcat-12-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/831"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=831"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/831\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":834,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/831\/revisions\/834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=831"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=831"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=831"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}