Extended Warranty BS

This involves a 99 Dodge Ram 1500 but is pertinent here as there are others here that have "modified" their cars and have Easy Care Warranty Coverage. I flew to Chicago and bought a 99 Dodge Ram 1500 with 55k mi. from Biggers Chevrolet in Elgin, IL specifically because they would provide me with a comprehensive aftermarket 3 year warranty. I have only driven this truck less than 1500 mi. After receiving the truck, I immediately took the truck to a local Dodge dealer and had $900 of preventative work done just to have complete documentation that service was properly performed and recorded for warranty purposes. The truck is an automatic but it just didn't shift right and the a/c stopped working so I eventually took it back to the local Dodge dealer. The dealer said I needed an evaporator and condenser for the A/C and that my 2nd gear in my tranny was gone but not to worry as it was covered by my warranty. With Easy Care I bought the max coverage plan (Total Care) but everything needed to be preauthorized which involved them sending a representative to look at the truck. The rep arrives and says the condenser is "damaged" and the warranty will not cover this. He then looks at the tires (which came with the truck), and said my tires are "oversized" which could have caused added stress to the tranny and that also is not covered. Give me a friggin break. The tires that came with the truck are LT265/75/16 and the largest size mentioned in the owners manual are LT245/75/16. Because the truck had oversized tires, Easy care would not pay. And looking at the front bumper, the bumper is slightly angled meaning this could be a replacement bumper due to a frontal accident that could have "damaged" the condenser. But this is the way I bought the truck with an extended warranty. Long story short, while I'm thinking this is going to cost me $100 now cost me $2750. And I just spent $400 on new LT245/75/16 tires to bring me back into compliance. This truck is exactly the way I bought it from Biggers Chevrolet who sold me that warranty (cost me $1500)which in reality sold me the truck under false pretenses because the warranty was never totally valid in the first place even though they did pay for the a/c evaporator. So bottom line, I'm into this crap for $3150 (tires and repairs) plus the $900 preventative maintanence that was done for warranty "validation" plus the cost of this spectacular warranty coverage of $1500 ($5500 total), all this on a $7000 truck.

I understand that Easy Care is offered thru most of the manufacturers for extended warranties. Anyone here that has Easy Care better not have any modifications on their vehicles as that could and will void their warranty. After researching this, I'm finding many complaints against Easy Care. I'm not saying any more as I'M ABOUT TO PULL A MALIBUEXEC ON THIS CRAP. IF HE CAN TAKE ON DODGE, I'M DEFINITELY GOING AFTER BIGGERS CHEVROLET AND MAYBE EASY CARE (WHY AM I TYPING IN CAPS?) ANYONE KNOW ANY CHICAGO AREA ATTORNEY'S? AND YES, THE BBB (AS IF THEY GIVE A [******]), ATTORNEY GENERAL, CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY, ETC WILL ALSO BE NOTIFIED). JUST HATE GETTING RIPPED. JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS A HEADS UP ON EASY CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY.

Keep in mind folks, that this should not concern alot of you , as Easy Care is not a Chrysler product. Most Viper Folks have the Maxcare Contract which is a Limited Bumper to Bumper Service Contract , or Chrysler's Added Care Contract. I have no idea who the carrier for Easy Care is , but I believe most DC buyers have a Chrysler contract.Sorry about your problems Gerald.

Go get em!
I hate insurance company's that love to take your money and then do their damnest to not pay anything out.

Thanks Bill, yeah I just lost my DC coverage (Powertrain Care Plus) and it was superb. Hamish in another post claims he also has Easy Care but he may have it confused with Maxcare. Easy Care claims to provide coverage to over 1000 dealers and this was taken from their website (www.easycare.com):

EasyCare is a product of Automobile Protection Corporation - APCO. APCO has been in business since 1984 and is a leader in the service contract industry, with prestigious clients such as American Honda Finance Corporation, PRIMUS, Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, and Jaguar. We currently do business with 1,000 automobile and recreational vehicle dealers and this number grows monthly.

EasyCare vehicle service contracts are 100% insured by major insurance companies. All carriers have A.M. Best ratings of "A-" or better. All major banks and finance companies finance EasyCare vehicle service contracts for their customers.

(And I love this paragraph):
EasyCare vehicle contracts are designed to provide a worry free driving experience for owners of both new and previously owned automobiles and recreational vehicles. EasyCare vehicle service contracts enable you to enjoy your vehicle, knowing you will not have surprise repair costs.

If you sue them in Small Claims court, you may be able to win without a lawyer. Most small claims involve $5000 or less and since you are into it for $5500, it might be worth forgoing the $500 to get the bulk of your money and not have to pay any attorney fees.

That is a possibility. Anyone know where I would file a small claims case for Elgin, IL? Would this involve multiple appearances there? I live appx 3.5 hours away.

I'ld report them to the insurance commissioner too.

That is a possibility. Anyone know where I would file a small claims case for Elgin, IL? Would this involve multiple appearances there? I live appx 3.5 hours away.

Click to expand...

Judge Judy

Go here and follow up on research. click click

Does the policy say anything about mods?
If there is a mention of mods, they might have a case.

Their claim of front end damage because of the bumper angle, might give them a legal out also.

If you took the case to small claims, they might not fight even if they had a case, as I mentioned above.


I'm not taking their side, just thinking about what might happen.

A pal of mine had a rust warranty on a ford Bronko. When the tailgate rusted out, and he presented a claim,
they told him rather than fix it, they would give him back the money he had paid for the policy.
That option was in the fine print.

I could insure any car against anything with an option like that.

never ever purchase aftermarket warranty,always will send an inspector and get out of a claim,for example a dodge buy only a chrysler service contract only,like an added car added care plus.sorry to hear that, happens all the time.

Joe, That is exactly what Biggers Chevrolet wanted to do, refund my payment for the warranty minus what had been paid. I would receive $700, eat all the expenses above and then have no warranty. That is crap. I didnt fly from Indy to Chicago to buy a $7000 truck, I went the added distance to get a truck with a 3 year warranty. Easy Care has many pages of small print so technically they may be off the hook, but Biggers Chevrolet is about to have a Hoosier with a MalibuExec attitude jump down their throat (don't get me riled and have me start typing in caps now). If they sold me a warranty for $1500 and it was invalid from the moment the deal was consumated, then I believe I have legal recourse against them. I'll keep everyone informed after Biggers receives my registered receipt packet of documents disclosing my intent to file suit.

All aftermarket waranties are almost worthless.Should have gotten a DC waranty from Chuck Tator. GTS Bruce

You should confirm this in your state, but if you can prove a violation of unfair trade practices then they are liable for your attorney's fees.

Buyer be ware! Even the DC service contract is not what it appears to be. I was recently denied coverage for internal parts, even though the contract said ALL internal parts are covered. Their explaination... The contract also states "Parts not listed are not covered."

The word "all" has a new definition.

"it depends what the meaning of is is" Bill Clinton (or something like that?)

Remember the good ol' days of Sears Craftsman tools? Just take in an old broke wrench and they'd give you a new one. I am so leery of warranties after I got hosed with a $500 laptop warranty. After sending the unit in for repairs a couple of months before the 3 yr. warranty was up, I got a phone call telling me they found a scratch on the case, which proved it must've been dropped, which of course wasn't covered. They did offer to go in "halves" with me, which seems to be a common ploy. Of course, after 3 yrs. the computer wasn't worth $300, and my "half" would've been twice that. I don't do warranties now unless I know and trust the company. Good luck-get some money back for us spectators who've also been hosed.