More Lithia drama

[sperry]

Okay, so back at the end of October I cancelled my extended warranty (had the full coverage 5 year 60k mile extended warranty). Since I can't even seem to get my car fixed under my factory warranty, I figured the extended warranty is just as useless and decided to cancel it.

Matt and I talked to Chris (I believe that's his name) about it one night before a meet over a 4th turn, and he told me all I had to do was bring in a signed letter stating that I'd like to cancel the warranty. The value of the warranty would then be paid to my lien holder. Because I was still under the factory warranty and hadn't used the extended warranty, I would be getting the entire value of the warranty refunded.

Well, I finally got a statement from my bank that included the payment for the warranty refund... and it's only half there. I know what Lithia's going to say: "It was a 5yr 60k mile warranty, and you have 35k miles on the car, so we pro-rated the refund" or some other such BS. If that's the case, please tell me what I purchased for non-refunded half... I never recieved coverage or service under that warranty, so what did my money pay for exactly?

I was planning on calling them today, but I left all my paperwork at home, so I'll have to do it tomorrow. Anyone got some tips as to how I should go about asking for the rest of my money... I always feel like bitching up a storm everytime I have to deal with these people, but that won't get me anywhere.

Also, I'm not missing anything here right? I should get all my money back, no? I've been told by 2 people at Lithia that's the case (John Lee, the snake that sold it to me; and Chris the newer finance guy over there who seems like a decent fellow), yet I only recieved half of it...

Ugh, why is it that *nothing* ever works out with dealers. I *never* get warranty work done easily (or at all), I *always* get raped by their prices, parts are *never* in stock, and *nothing* is ever taken care of the 1st time. 'Course they had no problem processing my purchase of a WRX in lightning speed even at 11pm.

[dknv]

In principle I'd totally agree with you. What did the terms in the extended warranty contract say? Was it less expensive to purchase ext. warranty at that time, than it would be now to purchase it?

[AtomicLabMonkey]

Originally Posted by sperry

Ugh, why is it that *nothing* ever works out with dealers. I *never* get warranty work done easily (or at all), I *always* get raped by their prices, parts are *never* in stock, and *nothing* is ever taken care of the 1st time. 'Course they had no problem processing my purchase of a WRX in lightning speed even at 11pm.

Go figure...

Maximum money taken in, minimum money payed out. What else would you expect from the snakepit that is a car dealership?

[sperry]

Originally Posted by dknv

In principle I'd totally agree with you. What did the terms in the extended warranty contract say? Was it less expensive to purchase ext. warranty at that time, than it would be now to purchase it?

I was told by John Lee (the finance guy at the time of my car purchase) that the extended warranty is good to get because it demonstrates to the loan company that I'm interested in taking care of the car. He also told me that if I changed my mind I could cancel it and get refunded.

It was like 12am, and I had just haggled for like 5 hours with the sales guys, so my guard was down and I got taken. (Kinda pathetic you have to keep your "guard" up in order to buy something.) Call me naive, but call John Lee a liar if I can't get a full refund. (That guy just rubbed me the wrong way *big time*)

I also briefly talked to Chris, and he indicated that I should get all my money back too, since I told him I was going to cancel it before I hit 36k miles, but we were mostly talking about transferring it to an STi the way Matt did... (figure that one out: if you can transfer it to a new vehicle by paying only a $50 transfer fee because you're trading in a car that's still under factory warranty, then obviously the warranty is still worth the full value initially paid, or Matt would have had to pay for the mileage on his WRX, right?)

[dknv]

I hate to say it, but its what's in writing that counts.
Maybe the contract says there's a cancellation fee or some other bogus extra service charge.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by dknv

I hate to say it, but its what's in writing that counts.
Maybe the contract says there's a cancellation fee or some other bogus extra service charge.

The contract says nothing about the terms for cancelling it at all, but I know you can cancel 'em, since I've already gone and done it!

If they're going to give me back only half what I paid, I'd like to understand what it was the non-refunded ammount paid for? What did I buy? It's not like it cost them anything to say "when your 3 year warranty expires, you'll get another 2 years". I'd even be okay with a $50 cancellation fee or some other BS, but to just keep half my money for nothing is unacceptable.

[MattR]

That is wrong, but it is almost to be expected from the dealer. I'm not sure what to tell you, but I would call up and talk to Chris in Finance, he's a stand up guy from my dealings with him, after all , He was the one that advised us that day we spoke with him. There has got to be a better solution than just..."Heres half back"...

[MikeSTI]

ok i hate to tell you this but when buying a extended warranty it has extra benifits that cover more things then the standard warranty starting at the time you purchise it. when they told you that you could cancel it you could but only before 90 days of having the extra warranty coverage........it was late you where had

good luck but to get your money now it would have to come out of the Litha guys pockets.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MikeSTI

ok i hate to tell you this but when buying a extended warranty it has extra benifits that cover more things then the standard warranty starting at the time you purchise it. when they told you that you could cancel it you could but only before 90 days of having the extra warranty coverage........it was late you where had

good luck but to get your money now it would have to come out of the Litha guys pockets.

If that's the case, how can they transfer a warranty to a new purchase? Are you implying the dealership paid for the time Matt used on his WRX out of pocket so they could start the extended warranty timer over on the STi? Or is his warranty really from the date of purchase of his WRX, not the STi?

Also, I have the paperwork in front of me, and I can't figure out where it covers more than what was covered by my bumper to bumper factory warranty. I can figure out what it doesn't cover, it's very clear about that... especially the 1st line: "What is not covered: Repairs covered by any manufacturer's warranty..." So it explictly *won't* work until my factory warrany is expired.

Now then, I'll agree I was had, the extended warranty is definately a waste of money for me (esp. considering they don't honor their warranties anyway). However, I *never* had the option to use the extended warranty because I cancelled it before it ever covered anything! In which case Lithia kept half my money for no reason.

I'm pretty sure that Lithia will argue against my point, and end w/o having a good explaination for me, but will keep my money anyway, since that's how they seem to do business. Never mind that I perpetually rave about how great Subaru's are and how wonderful the Subaru enthusiasts are. Never mind I helped start and run the club that they themselves refer new subaru owners to. It's apparent that repeat business isn't a priority. If I were to ever buy another car from Lithia it'd have to be a god-damn supersonic screaming good deal, and it'd better include a discount exactly equal to the money I'm getting screwed out of now. Hell, an STi sold to me for $28,000 out the door wouldn't even break me even considering how screwed I got on my WRX.

[MikeSTI]

take a deep breath

Death to all paperwork loop holes at the dispossal of money hungry sales person's

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MikeSTI

take a deep breath

Death to all paperwork loop holes at the dispossal of money hungry sales person's

yeah, I'm venting just a tad, eh?

[MattR]

I'm gonna pull my warranty agreement on the STI, I want to see how my deal was worded before we use it as an arguing tool...But the arrangement I had makes less sense the way you are talking, My head is spinning right now, I will check this tommorrow.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by MattR

I'm gonna pull my warranty agreement on the STI, I want to see how my deal was worded before we use it as an arguing tool...But the arrangement I had makes less sense the way you are talking, My head is spinning right now, I will check this tommorrow.

I'm just over-reacting because I'm missing out on what would have been almost 2 payments off my car loan. I'm ignoring the fact that I could have recieved nothing and been left with a totally useless warranty... half is still better than nothing... it's just the way Chris was talking, it really I could have sworn I should be getting back everything.

[MikeSTI]

i passed on buying the extended warranty when i bought my car because i know there are 100's of companys that offer these services and it all comes down to cost and what is covered..... i did how ever recieve the subaru added security plan in the mail since i passed on it at the time of sell i will bring it to you so you can see how they worded it..... the biggest part of the dealerships kick backs come from these plans and thats one of the reseasons why its not the salesperson who talks to you about it just like the paint and interior protection. when they are able to sale you these it makes the finance guy there extra money and everyone up the chain gets a piece