Extended warranties
Discussion
Naming and shaming precludes me from mentioning who, but I tried two of the big boys with warranty in their name and both were worthless.
"We think it was a pre-existing condition" (Impossible to prove either way since you didn't inspect the car before taking my money.
"Not a total failure of that part" (So that rules out most electrical issues, and pretty much anything intermittent.
My personal view is either manufacturer backed warranty, or self insure.
AA is the only one I have heard good things about.
"We think it was a pre-existing condition" (Impossible to prove either way since you didn't inspect the car before taking my money.
"Not a total failure of that part" (So that rules out most electrical issues, and pretty much anything intermittent.
My personal view is either manufacturer backed warranty, or self insure.
AA is the only one I have heard good things about.
RedLCRB0b said:
Oh dear 
Maybe a better question would be:
Has anyone successfully claimed on non manufacturer extended warranty ?
I'm waiting to hear back from a well known warranty co (you can buy Direct, the Warranty from them Maybe a better question would be:
Has anyone successfully claimed on non manufacturer extended warranty ?
) after having to send them a failed waterpump for their inspection, which was replaced last week. They don't believe the mechanic's assessment.All of the contact I have had with them has left me feeling like they will try every angle to avoid paying for this - To the extent that they accused the mechanic of initially saying the part had not failed, until they went back and listened to the call recording.
If I heard my staff speaking to customers the way I was spoken to they would (and have been) out on their arse, P45 in hand.
Personally, I would recommend you take the money you would spend on the warranty and stick it in a savings account. Less hassle and probably a more financially sound option.
Edited by Burrito on Monday 28th March 18:22
Edited by Burrito on Monday 28th March 18:22
Burrito said:
I'm waiting to hear back from a well known warranty co (you can buy Direct, the Warranty from them ) after having to send them a failed waterpump for their inspection, which was replaced last week. They don't believe the mechanic's assessment.
All of the contact I have had with them has left me feeling like they will try every angle to avoid paying for this - To the extent that they accused the mechanic of initially saying the part had not failed, until they went back and listened to the call recording.
Did replacing it fix whatever problem existed before?) after having to send them a failed waterpump for their inspection, which was replaced last week. They don't believe the mechanic's assessment.All of the contact I have had with them has left me feeling like they will try every angle to avoid paying for this - To the extent that they accused the mechanic of initially saying the part had not failed, until they went back and listened to the call recording.
I think a lot of the problems with extended warranties is people don't realise that they're insurance policies against things breaking, and the problem with cars is that not many failures are clear cut.
Deva Link said:
Burrito said:
I'm waiting to hear back from a well known warranty co (you can buy Direct, the Warranty from them ) after having to send them a failed waterpump for their inspection, which was replaced last week. They don't believe the mechanic's assessment.
All of the contact I have had with them has left me feeling like they will try every angle to avoid paying for this - To the extent that they accused the mechanic of initially saying the part had not failed, until they went back and listened to the call recording.
Did replacing it fix whatever problem existed before?) after having to send them a failed waterpump for their inspection, which was replaced last week. They don't believe the mechanic's assessment.All of the contact I have had with them has left me feeling like they will try every angle to avoid paying for this - To the extent that they accused the mechanic of initially saying the part had not failed, until they went back and listened to the call recording.
I think a lot of the problems with extended warranties is people don't realise that they're insurance policies against things breaking, and the problem with cars is that not many failures are clear cut.
The warranty is for sudden failure. They often argue that everything is wear and tear, that's what I take particular issue with.
Edited by Burrito on Monday 28th March 19:21
Burrito said:
Yes. The waterpump is a sealed unit but even a simpleton like me could see that the bearings had gone. This was causing the pulley to move and the belt slip. A replacement waterpump has stopped the belt slip.
The warranty is for sudden failure. They often argue that everything is wear and turn, that's what I take particular issue with.
Warranty Direct cover wear and tear.The warranty is for sudden failure. They often argue that everything is wear and turn, that's what I take particular issue with.
Your issue was belt slip. But that's a consequential issue and insurance warranties don't cover consequential losses. The point to conside is; did the water pump still work as a water pump? If yes, then it hasn't failed.
Deva Link said:
Warranty Direct cover wear and tear.
Your issue was belt slip. But that's a consequential issue and insurance warranties don't cover consequential losses. The point to conside is; did the water pump still work as a water pump? If yes, then it hasn't failed.
The waterpump is a sealed unit which includes the bearings. They failed so the unit, as a whole, failed to work as it should.Your issue was belt slip. But that's a consequential issue and insurance warranties don't cover consequential losses. The point to conside is; did the water pump still work as a water pump? If yes, then it hasn't failed.
My policy with WD does not cover wear and tear as far as I have been told.
Burrito said:
The waterpump is a sealed unit which includes the bearings. They failed so the unit, as a whole, failed to work as it should.
My policy with WD does not cover wear and tear as far as I have been told.
That's interesting because their quote for me seems to include wear and tear. I must admit to not really trusting any of the warranty companies, I'm sure they will try and wriggle out of paying a claim wherever possible which is why I started this thread.My policy with WD does not cover wear and tear as far as I have been told.
Burrito said:
The waterpump is a sealed unit which includes the bearings. They failed so the unit, as a whole, failed to work as it should.
I know it sounds stupid, but did it still work as a water pump? ie, did it do the job it was designed to do?Burrito said:
My policy with WD does not cover wear and tear as far as I have been told.
They have a number of different policies so I don't know if they all cover wear & tear, but mine does and it's a fairly low level policy due to the car's age. The payout decreases with mileage - 100% at 60K miles, then I think it's 10% reduction for every 10K miles.Deva Link said:
Burrito said:
The waterpump is a sealed unit which includes the bearings. They failed so the unit, as a whole, failed to work as it should.
I know it sounds stupid, but did it still work as a water pump? ie, did it do the job it was designed to do? Really, that's moot though. It's the bearing that's failed, and suddenly. Unfortunately this particular bearing has a waterpump attached to it.
Burrito said:
Deva Link said:
Burrito said:
The waterpump is a sealed unit which includes the bearings. They failed so the unit, as a whole, failed to work as it should.
I know it sounds stupid, but did it still work as a water pump? ie, did it do the job it was designed to do? Really, that's moot though. It's the bearing that's failed, and suddenly. Unfortunately this particular bearing has a waterpump attached to it.
t. I had one on a 4 year old mondeo on which practically everything failed including rear subframes, handbrake cables, rear brake calipers, air con compressor, starter motor, power steering system and a stload of other things, all of which were declared as 'fair wear and tear'. When I asked them what wasn't considered 'fair wear and tear' they declined to answer. £500 I might as well have set fire to.
I now have AA warranty - £11.60 a month including breakdown cover - time will tell if it's any god although my car is a Renault so shouldn't cause me any issues whatsoever anyway
tload of other things, all of which were declared as 'fair wear and tear'. When I asked them what wasn't considered 'fair wear and tear' they declined to answer. £500 I might as well have set fire to.I now have AA warranty - £11.60 a month including breakdown cover - time will tell if it's any god although my car is a Renault so shouldn't cause me any issues whatsoever anyway
Parrot of Doom said:
Warranty companies don't offer their product for your benefit - they offer it to make money. The chances are that you won't have to use it, but if you do you'll have to fight to get a payout.
Save your money, don't bother. Cars are very reliable these days.
I took one on my Merc with Warranty Direct. Depends on your mentality - I can lose the £45/mth it costs in "noise" but I'd be pig-sick at a £500 bill. I did a a bit of research on the Merc forums and there were some negative comments but there were others who had been paid thousands. Save your money, don't bother. Cars are very reliable these days.
I got the best cover I could for a 6yr old car and it does cover wear and tear. My concern was things like the water cooled alternator costs a grand, the COMAND system is £3K, an injector or glow plug issue could easily cost hundreds to a grand. I got full MB dealer hourly rate cover. Sure you can fix these things for less, but I don't have the time or the inclination to arrange that.
One thing if you are going to do this is to get an online quote and put your correct phone number in. They'll call you a couple of days later and will do almost anything to get you to sign up. I got all the option covers included, the price dropped and got an extra month free. They dropped the wear&tear wiat period from 90 days to 45, which meant covered items discovered during the upcoming MOT would be covered.
You've still got 30 days to cancel anyway if you change your mind and I used that period to get further conccessions, including doubling the mileage allowed and zeroing the excess. I even got £40 for one of the MB forum members as a referral reward as he'd given me the above advice.
I hope I don't have to claim so that side of it is untested. I think my expectections are reasonable (my car has perished fuel seals but I would never dream they would be covered) and if I make a claim then they can expect a world of torment if they don't cheerfully pay up.
Edited by Deva Link on Tuesday 29th March 09:28
Not a recommendation I have not had a policy with any of these, but look at the AA £500 cover, Quentin Wilson also promotes one, and the Mike Brewer special https://www.wheelerdealerwarranties.com/products/
Or just self insure sticking the premiums in the bank.
Or just self insure sticking the premiums in the bank.
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