Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Bird-dogging a Refund
Old 02-12-2016, 09:13 AM   #1
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Amethyst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,597
Bird-dogging a Refund

We bought a new car for cash last fall - shopped around for the best Internet price, and took the offer from a dealership 40 miles away. Somehow, I was inveigled into buying an extended warranty. It seemed like a good idea, since we've always kept our cars a long time. I was assured I could get my money back if I changed my mind.

Later, we realized we are unlikely to keep this car past when the 5-year warranty expires. So in mid-December, I contacted the finance manager to request a refund. It took quite a while to get through to him by phone; I kept getting handed off to this or that ignoramus duty person.

When I finally reached him, he said to send him an email documenting our request for a refund, and that it would take about six weeks to process. (I checked his email address carefully to be sure I typed it correctly).

More than 7 weeks have elapsed, and I emailed the finance manager a couple of days ago to query the status of our refund. He has not responded to my email.

I'm thinking that calling to talk to him will just get me into another run-around loop. Could there be a smarter way to handle this?

Thanks,

Amethyst
__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
Amethyst is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 02-12-2016, 09:25 AM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Laurel, MD
Posts: 8,309
Who issued the policy and what does the contract say about refunds?
I would think an insurance company has your funds now and needs to make the refund.

Thanks for expanding my vocabulary...I had to google inveigled.

If you prefer a face to face meeting/phone call, you may need to inveigle your way onto his schedule. Is there a gate keeper that you could persuade?
__________________
...with no reasonable expectation for ER, I'm just here auditing the AP class.Retired 8/1/15.
jazz4cash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 09:39 AM   #3
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
REWahoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Texas: No Country for Old Men
Posts: 50,003
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amethyst View Post
I'm thinking that calling to talk to him will just get me into another run-around loop. Could there be a smarter way to handle this?
A certified letter formally documenting your request to terminate the contract, with a copy to your state attorney general.

But first read the agreement carefully as it should outline the formal steps required to cancel.
__________________
Numbers is hard
REWahoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 11:49 AM   #4
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
calmloki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Independence
Posts: 7,280
We sprang for a service contract when we bought a used car from a hole in the wall used car joint. Decided, after reading what was and wasn't covered, that it had been a waste of $3000. Our contract read that if we hadn't used the service contract within the first month we could cancel for a full refund. We hadn't , so put in for a refund and was amazed to actually get it.

Do read the contract and communicate via email or mail so you have a record. Good Luck! (buying houses are way less stressful than car buying for me).
calmloki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 11:52 AM   #5
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
ziggy29's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: North Oregon Coast
Posts: 16,483
I canceled an extended warranty once, primarily because we moved away from the area where we bought the car. Fortunately I didn't have to go through that much headache, though. The details may be buried in the contract. Mine (through a Toyota dealer) gave, IIRC, a prorated refund minus something like a $50 administrative fee.
__________________
"Hey, for every ten dollars, that's another hour that I have to be in the work place. That's an hour of my life. And my life is a very finite thing. I have only 'x' number of hours left before I'm dead. So how do I want to use these hours of my life? Do I want to use them just spending it on more crap and more stuff, or do I want to start getting a handle on it and using my life more intelligently?" -- Joe Dominguez (1938 - 1997)
ziggy29 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 11:54 AM   #6
Moderator
Aerides's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 13,879
After confirming per the contract that you have done all that is needed and are in good grounds for a refund (vs. what your dealer told you, means nothing if it's not on paper)... then...

Time for another trip to the dealer - with an appointment with the boss. Log all prior
activity and responses, and lack thereof. Be prepared to be annoying. No response has no place in a business. It's far easier to ignore an email than someone standing in the middle of your other potential customers.
Aerides is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 01:53 PM   #7
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,263
The squeaky wheel gets the grease....
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 02:27 PM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
gauss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,594
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aerides View Post
After confirming per the contract that you have done all that is needed and are in good grounds for a refund (vs. what your dealer told you, means nothing if it's not on paper)... then...

Time for another trip to the dealer - with an appointment with the boss. Log all prior
activity and responses, and lack thereof. Be prepared to be annoying. No response has no place in a business. It's far easier to ignore an email than someone standing in the middle of your other potential customers.
+1

My initial thoughts on this also.

It would also be good to know where you stand with the written contract.

Did the dealer say that they would refund your money if cancelled, or did they leave it open where you would have to pursue it from the insurance company directly?

-gauss
gauss is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2016, 03:00 PM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,983
At what point could you cancel the contract. Last fall is a little far back, maybe
__________________
Took SS at 62 and hope I live long enough to regret the decision.
foxfirev5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-17-2016, 05:35 PM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
pb4uski's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,263
Any progress? Update?
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.

Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
pb4uski is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2016, 03:38 AM   #11
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Amethyst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,597
Several other matters intervened and had to be attended to. I'll be writing letters.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski View Post
Any progress? Update?
__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
Amethyst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-19-2016, 07:35 AM   #12
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,360
I'd make a trip to the dealer. Expect another run-around though.

Failing that, I'd have my lawyer write a letter, certified. That usually does the trick.

Failing that, your local newspaper and/or TV station might have an ombudsman who would love to show his/her worth in bird-dogging them via public outing.
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
marko is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2016, 09:35 AM   #13
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Amethyst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,597
I called the insurance company's customer service department. They had never heard from the dealership.

I was advised to send the insurance company a letter with a copy of the warranty contract, a copy of the email I sent the dealership back in December, a few words about why I want to cancel the policy, and a few other things.

Their process, once they've reviewed/approved the refund, is to send the money to the dealership, who then reimburses the customer. (I can hear everyone's teeth gritting).

I'm pulling together the paperwork now. I plan to send a copy of the letter to the dealership. Do y'all think I need to use certified mail? It's 15 miles to the nearest P.O.

Amethyst
__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
Amethyst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2016, 09:52 AM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Laurel, MD
Posts: 8,309
Certified or at least Priority Mail. Priority mail includes tracking. I have an account with USPS.com and use the Click and Print feature to create shipping labels. Our mailman gladly collects outgoing mail when he's making his rounds if you want to avoid a trip to the P.O.

Its about 7 bucks to send a letter using Priority Mail.
__________________
...with no reasonable expectation for ER, I'm just here auditing the AP class.Retired 8/1/15.
jazz4cash is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-23-2016, 12:35 PM   #15
Moderator
sengsational's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 10,653
You can get delivery confirmation with signature and print your own postage.

https://www.paypal.com/shipnow
sengsational is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2016, 02:39 PM   #16
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Amethyst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,597
Update: After I sent a certified letter to the insurance company, they quickly notified the dealership to refund our money, minus a $50 processing fee.

Today, we finally received our refund check from the dealership.

Thanks to all for your encouragement.

Amethyst
__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
Amethyst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2016, 02:41 PM   #17
Moderator
Walt34's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Eastern WV Panhandle
Posts: 25,299
Wow, glad to hear that persistence paid off for you!
__________________
When I was a kid I wanted to be older. This is not what I expected.
Walt34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2016, 02:46 PM   #18
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
frayne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 3,877
I have one rule that I always live by, never ever by an extended warranty, on anything. Always a waste of money that only lines the pockets of those who issue them. Recently bought the DW a new car (cash) and the business manager asked what I had against extended warranties ? I told him flat out if the car is going to go to **** after 36K miles, maybe I should be buying another brand. And no I didn't want the undercoating, clear coating or any other BS, just the car as is.
__________________
Earning money is an action, saving money is a behavior, growing money takes a well diversified portfolio and the discipline to ignore market swings.
frayne is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2016, 05:06 PM   #19
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Amethyst's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 12,597
Honestly, after all these years on ER Forum, I don't even know why I agreed to buy the silly thing. Never again!

Quote:
Originally Posted by frayne View Post
I have one rule that I always live by, never ever by an extended warranty, on anything. Always a waste of money that only lines the pockets of those who issue them. Recently bought the DW a new car (cash) and the business manager asked what I had against extended warranties ? I told him flat out if the car is going to go to **** after 36K miles, maybe I should be buying another brand. And no I didn't want the undercoating, clear coating or any other BS, just the car as is.
__________________
If you understood everything I say, you'd be me ~ Miles Davis
'There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.’ Christopher Morley.
Even a blind clock finds an acorn twice a day.
Amethyst is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2016, 06:04 PM   #20
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
travelover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amethyst View Post
.......... I don't even know why I agreed to buy the silly thing. ..........
Because when they were trying to sell you the car, it was a super high quality, well engineered wonder. Once you'd agree to actually buy it, it was a piece of junk likely to bankrupt you with frequent, expensive repairs.
travelover is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
car, dealership, extended warranty, refund, run-around


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
IRS Sent me a Letter and a much bigger Refund............. FinanceDude FIRE and Money 12 05-15-2007 12:47 PM
AGI and State Tax Refund jazz4cash FIRE and Money 12 02-14-2007 08:54 AM
Don't forget to claim your part of the $10,000,000,000 refund mickeyd FIRE and Money 1 12-26-2006 12:58 PM
Lifetime Income,--With Cash Refund Sundance Kid FIRE and Money 14 07-23-2006 03:59 PM
Discover Card - Get new one and get higher refund dex FIRE and Money 8 09-27-2004 09:09 AM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:08 AM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.