Western General Fireman's Fund insurance ripoff deceptive company Calabasas California
Western General & Fireman's FundWestern General Insurance Co. ripoff deceptive company Calabasas California .....
On 9 June I purchased a very pristine 1986 Lincoln Town Car one-owner from my local Arlington "Texan Ford" dealer. During the closing I was offered a Mechanical Breakdown Protection (MBP) policy. Intending to use the vehicle for long weekend commutes, I purchased the dealer offered Western General Mileage Plus Plan with Level II coverage (maximum) costing $815 for 12,000 miles or 12 months.
Three days later called Western Generals'customer service number to better understand the claim process only to find the dealer had not sent them my No. 1403-105971 service contract. No problem, the dealer expedited the paper work four days later. I then brought my auto to the dealer on 19 June with a list of five defective items I believed to be covered under the terms of my MBP policy. The dealership requested that I sign a work order quaranteeing them payment of $210 in diagnostic fees should they not be covered by Western General.
Five hours after dropping my car off I was contacted by a representative from Western General wanting to go over the five claimed service issues(gas struts-2, a defective power window motor, a stuck door latch, computer center operation and brake related items). One hour later I received a call from my Texan Ford service representative who politely informed me she had been working with Western General most of the day on my reapir claim (too bad as they are on commission). She then told me Western General had canceled my MBP policy because (get this)....they don't do 1986 Lincolns!!!! Even real nice ones!!
What, after ten days they just found this out? No, most likely it was because the estimated repairs from Texan Ford were about $600 more than what I had already paid for the MBP policy 10 days earlier! I was then told I could collect my $815 policy payment and my '86 Lincoln at the dealer the next day (20 June). The dealer's used car department kindly agreed to pick up the tab on the $210 in diagnostic fees I committed to!
So what's the beaf? Deception Plus by Western General. What a waste of time. There are good MBP firms out there but Western General isn't one of them and they like to play jerk the neck!!! It's a good thing I found out about their operational methods early on. PHEW!!! The dealer's Finace Manager could stand more MBP training!
Recommendation: do your own due diligence on MBP firms before even visiting a dealer...being offered MBP by an established new car dealer doesn't mean anything!! Above all, don't do Western General!!!
Thomas
Arlington, Texas
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Lesli
Naples,Florida,
U.S.A.
SHAME ON TEXAN FORD
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, October 03, 2003
Shame on Texan Ford! Auto Warranties are intended to protect the consumer from mechanical failure after they have purchased a policy on a car that is pristine - to be "pristine" would be a car that has no mechanical defects at the time of sale - this Lemon you were sold does not qualify as nice unless it's beauty is more than skin deep - not so with a car having so many problems - in 10 days you find "five claimed service issues(gas struts-2, a defective power window motor, a stuck door latch, computer center operation and brake related items)" how can someone in good conscience sell a car in such a state of disrepair. Teaxn Ford first should not sell junk and expect the car to be fixed by another party - in this case the warranty company - had you refused the warranty maybe you would have been "stuck" yourself,or MAYBE they would have fixed the car as it should have been at the time of sale. Service contracts are not designed to replace the idea of actually putting a car on the market that is mechanically sound.
You should have a mechanic do a prepurchase inspection on your next investment in a car if you have no mechanical saavy, and how can you ignore the deceit Texan Ford tried to pull over on you AND Western General!
Steve
Tampa Bay,Florida,
U.S.A.
Your complaint should not be against Western General/Fireman's Fund but against Texan Ford.
#3Consumer Comment
Sun, June 29, 2003
Thomas: Your complaint should not be against Western General/Fireman's Fund but against Texan Ford. They sold you a car that in reality is a piece of junk, you purchased your vehicle on June 9th 2003 and on June 12th 2003 you complained of problems this is referred to as "pre-existing conditions" Texan Ford should have paid for your vehicle to be fixed not Western General/Fireman's Fund. You did not mention but I would guess your vehicle had in excess of 100k miles on the odometer when you purchased it the coverage you purchased is "limited-stated component" and is no where near as you described the maximum. I am not trying to stick up for Western General/Fireman's Fund, Texan Ford I am just trying to help you better understand why.
I hope this helps,