We’re all familiar with car warranty phone calls, but getting a notification postcard or letter for a motor vehicle service in the mail may be new to you. What is this type of notification, is it legitimate, and do you have a reason to be concerned about this drawing your attention?
This articles looks closely at the motor vehicle service notification postcard and what that means to you. This article also looks at whether or not it is a scam and how to identify something that is suspicious.
What is a Motor Vehicle Service Notification?
The motor vehicle service notice is communication from the vehicle factory makers to inform you of the status of your car warranty. Most come in the form of a pink postcard that has service records, warranty coverage, and the expiration.
Within this correspondence you will find critical information, such as the vehicle model/make and phone number. You may also see the seal or logo of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
You will also see the factory manufacturer and the dealership you purchased the car from.
However, not all motor vehicle service notice letters are real. It is critical that you take time to determine whether this correspondence is real before you do anything.
Is the Motor Vehicle Service Information a Scam?
Whether the correspondence is real or not relies on the letter you received. If you have received a postcard from a car dealer or vehicle manufacturer, then it is a real notification.
Otherwise, the notification is just a scam from a third-party company trying to sell you a car warranty. You need to be careful about auto warranty scams involving the vehicle service notification.
It is not uncommon for car dealerships to sell private information to another company to issue regarding warranty coverage. Because of this, it can be difficult to distinguish, because the warranty provider has all of your important information.
You must carefully examine the vehicle service notification to make sure it has all the following details.
- Sent when the factory warranty is expiring or about to expire.
- Has the name and contact information of the correct company.
- Has all the valid service records on the vehicle.
If you call the number on the postcard, it should be the name of the company you are expecting to talk to. If it is someone else, it is a postcard that is not legitimate.
Also, the customer care should treat you professionally when contacted. If they do not, this is a red flag of something not right.
You could get these notifications every couple of months from numerous of companies trying to sell your business. Each of them can seem legitimate so you will only need to be careful deciding if the postcard is valid.
Signs Motor Vehicle Service Information is a Scam
#1. Wrong Service Record.
The account activity of the vehicle is located on the back of the notification letter. If the postcard is valid all of this service history is going to be correct. If not, this information is made up, and the total could even amount to hundreds – thousands of dollars in work that was not done.
In the end it will just show that you paid nothing when, without this protection, you would have needed that service. This should be a major red flag, especially if the service record is false.
#2. Wrong Vehicle Information.
A huge red flag is, if the information on the vehicle is incorrect. Depending on how hard the company is trying, it could be the wrong make and model.
But you need to be cautious about the mileage as well. If your vehicle has a 50,000 mile/5-year warranty.
If you had driven it for 7,000 miles and have owned the vehicle for a year, it should not be the vehicle to receive a notification since there is still plenty of factory warranty left and the manufacturer should not need to contact you.
#3. Wrong Phone Number.
Pay attention to every detail regarding the notification. By looking closely at the phone number you could save yourself a lot of trouble.
If the original dealer or manufacturer is reaching out to you, then the number included with the notification will match the phone number the dealer or warranty provider uses on their website.
If the number is different, it is best to contact the number listed on your warranty paperwork and confirm with them if they sent the notification. If they have not sent it, dispose of the notification.
Avoid Vehicle Warranty Scams
#1. Stay Skeptical.
Whenever you interact with something via the mail, you should always be cautious of what you are actually reading. Don’t just believe it is what it says it is.
If it is legitimate correspondence, the manufacturer or it dealer is going to make that point very clear.
Even if you think the correspondence is legitimate, you need to do your own investigation. Call the number to the manufacturer and continue your investigation.
You want to stay vigilant and protect yourself until you have complete confidence in the validity of the correspondence.
#2. Protect Personal Information.
There is never a reason to provide any business with your personal information-until it is warranted.
The dealership or manufacturer should already have all of your information necessary to get you enrolled with your car warranty. You shouldn’t need to provide anything further.
If it is a scam, they may be requesting your financial information, or your social security number, or your credit card information. They may request your driver’s license number, or your Vehicle Identification Number, all of which, I would think, would be on file.
#3. Follow Your Gut Feeling.
If you are dealing with scammers, the interaction is not going to feel right. Once you call the number, you will probably be subject to a high-pressure sales attempt.
They may make demands and say that you are out of time. The goal is to get you to make a down payment and essentially give them your personal information.
In contrast, a legitimate business attempt should provide you with all of the details and give you space and time to make a decision.
You should never feel pressured to make a decision on the spot. If something about the situation doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Above all, listen to your instincts.
Do You Need an Extended Car Warranty?
Now that you have an understanding of the service notification, you might be pondering if an extended warranty is right for you.
First, you have to see the warranty for what it covers, insurance. It is supposed to protect you from having to pay for those high auto repair bills down the line.
You can purchase an OEM extended warranty through the manufacturer, where there are different levels of warranties that will just be for the powertrain, or other warranties that will cover the entire vehicle, whichever you decide.
For the powertrain warranty, the engine and transmission are covered. This is in comparison to bumper-to-bumper warranty that will cover other major systems and electronics in those systems.
You can also purchase a warranty through a third-party warranty company. These are generally cheaper than the manufacturer’s warranty, but you need to be careful what company you go with.
If you go this route, just make sure to do your research first. After all, if you are not covered for repairs after the price of the warranty, you wasted your money.
Knowing all of this, do you need an extended car warranty? That depends on whether you are able to pay for repairs for the car if any are needed. If you are able to pay any repairs out of pocket, then you really do not need to purchase an extended car warranty.