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SYNOPSIS: HERITAGE WARRANTY COMPANY COMPLAINT:
The reputable S&S Honda Dealership (http://www.sandsauto.com/ in Business since 1917) in Bel Air, MD will NOT work on my Honda Odyssey with regards to Warranty Issues. Per Stacey/Service Department/S&S Honda Dealership:
"IN THE FUTURE, OUR DEALERSHIP WILL NOT WORK WITH HERITAGE WARRANTY COMPANY (HWC). YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE YOUR VAN SOMEWHERE ELSE."
Below is an overview of my general experience
Further down is my first of many complaints:
HWC attempted to force me to pay a $100 deductible when my contract clearly states that it is a $0 deductible.
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BE FORWARNED:
1. THEY WILL WASTE YOUR TIME, FOLLOW UP, FOLLOW UP:
Heritage Warranty Company (HWC) will gladly waste a lot of your (and anybody else's) time for the sake of POSSIBLY (risk analysis) saving a couple of dollars. They know most people don't have the time to research follow up to make sure HWC performs their end of the contract.
2. THEY WILL PUT YOUR FAMILY IN JEOPARDY TO SAVE MONEY:
In addition, they will gladly prefer to put your family's safety at risk by driving a vehicle that may brake down in order to possibly save a couple of dollars. Instead of fixing issues correctly, in our case replacing the transmission, when recommended by the Honda dealership, they would prefer to tear down the transmission send out an adjuster, send you to an AAMCO station have them replace some parts AND THEN HAVE YOU BREAKDOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD on your way to vacation.
"I'm sorry kids, our van broke down on the way to Hershey Park because HWC neglected to fix the van correctly two weeks ago as suggested by the Honda professionals, you know those insurance companies have to make money. Your safety really isn't important... what's really important is that Heritage Warranty Company (HWC) makes a profit off the sale of our extended warranty"
3. THEY WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED WITHOUT A CAR - READ THE FINE PRINT:
Oh yeah, and while your vehicle is in the shop, that rental car agreement that you have with HWC --- read the fine print --- even though you can't drive you vehicle for a full week while they diagnose a problem, and the incorrect repair only takes 2 hours, guess what... no rental car, they only give you a rental car if the repair time is greater than 4 1/2 hours.
Try explaining to your 2nd grader why you can't attend field day, because Daddy has the car to go to work. Hopefully you have nice neighbors who let you borrow their car.
4. IGNORE THE PROBLEM:
Those Honda Dealership technicians who analyzed the vehicle probably don't know what they are talking about;) Except the transmission blew up after following HWC's recommendation, you don't need to replace the transmission, just replace those cylanoids(sp?). Just because the Honda Dealership replaces the transmission under the same circumstances and the other warranty companies cover it, don't expect the same from HWC. HWC really know how Honda's work, those dealerships are just trying to make money right?
5. HWC ATTEMPTS TO COVER THEIR TRACKS:
I have read a ton of complaints about HWC, it appears that HWC likes to cover their tracks by having someone (I have seen Steve in Florida, many times), "who does not work for HWC" respond back to these complaints in favor of the HWC. Feels like HWC uses lawyers who articulate their side of the argument against the average Americans that feel they are mistreated. The impression is that these proponents of HWC try to sound smart as a smoke screen, try to make the injured party look uneducated.
I guess its part of the game. Should've read the contract, right? They only make mistakes; you on the other hand, haven't read the contract.
They could have fixed my vehicle correctly in one week. Instead, its 3 weeks and my vehicle is still not fixed.
6. BEWARE HWC:
HWC - The truth will always come out - I will gladly share it with anybody who will listen. You will be reminded frequently what happens when you place business above ethics and place a family in jeopardy to save money.
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STILL READING????
BELOW IS MY FIRST COMPLAINT:
Heritage Warranty Company trying to force me to pay a $100 deductible when my contract clearly states that it is a $0(THERE ARE AT 3 OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE SO FAR IN LATTER COMPLAINTS)
So far I have been in a 3-week saga with Heritage Warranty Company (HWC). I am going to create a separate Report for each issue that has caused frustration, time wasted, and put my family at risk in driving a vehicle that has a bad transmission that left my wife and two young kids stranded on an isolated country road heading to Hershey Park, PA for vacation this past Sunday.
This specific report it to explain the headache and time wasted on my part to prove to HWC that I have a 0 dollar deductible, instead of a $100 warranty. I have a 7-year/100,000 mile, $0 deductible Extended Warranty with HWC on a 2002 Honda Odyssey.
Friday 5/20/2005:
My Honda Odyssey has 45K miles on it and had timing belt and currently has a transmission issue so I took the minivan to the Honda Dealership.
--- {7 Days later and 3 HWC approved rental car days later} ---
Friday 5/27/2005:
Following completion of work on the timing belt issue (not the transmission issue which is another complaint). Heritage initially refused to acknowledge the fact that we had a $0 deductible as stated on our contract and required me to pay a $100 deductible. It was nice that they paid for the timing belt issue as stated by the contract.
However, they wouldn't initially own up to the $0 deductible. I have the paper contract stating I have $0 deductible that I gave a copy to the Honda Dealership. HWC told the Honda Dealership that I had a $100 deductible.
I called Heritage Warranty Company (HWC). I escalated to the manager Chris to get this resolved. He said that I needed to speak to the dealer who sold me the car 3 years ago. I stated that I have a contract between myself and HWC and I wanted HWC to fax me my contract that stated that I had a $100 deduction. Chris stated that the contract was offsite and could take 4-5 days to get the contract. I requested to speak to his manager and without saying a word; he transferred me to general voicemail for HWC. I left a message in the general voicemail.
I did receive a call back from Karen/HWC who apologized for Chris/Managers actions. She reiterated what Chris said that I need to call the dealership said that if it was truly the case that my contract stated that I have a $0 deductible and that HWC has $100 deductible. Karen/HWC indicated it could be FRAUD on the part of the dealership in selling me a false deductible.
Karen/HWC asked me if I had a copy of my contract, I did and faxed it to her. Go figure, after receiving the fax she agreed that I had a $0 deductible.
Saturday 5/28/2005
Funny thing is when my wife went to pick up the Minivan on Saturday; HWC only paid the portion WITHOUT $100 deductible. So in order to drive the Minivan home my wife still had to pay the deductible for the Honda Dealership to release the vehicle.
--- {3 day weekend for HWC} --- HWC doesn't work on Saturday
Tuesday 5/31/2005
I spoke with Nikki/HWC who had Karen/HWC/Manager call me back to explain why the deductible (and other costs weren't updated). Karen said that she would get $100 credited back to me in the next week. (Other costs, not mentioned in this complaint, will take 3-4 weeks to have a manager review).
Tuesday 6/7/2005
Haven't received $100 credit for my deductible
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RECAP:
1. The reputable S&S Honda Dealership in Bel Air, MD will NOT work on my Honda Odyssey with regards to Warranty Issues. Per Stacey/S&S Honda Dealership:
IN THE FUTURE, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT WORK WITH HERITAGE WARRANTY COMPANY. I WILL HAVE TO TAKE MY VAN SOMEWHERE ELSE.
2. I have not been reimbursed my $100 deductible; it's been 7 days. They didn't follow up.
3. BEWARE --- I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT PURCHASE A CAR THAT THE WARRANTY IS THROUGH HERITAGE WARRANTY. I WORK FULL TIME AND HAVE A FAMILY, I HAVE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME ON THE PHONE AND EFFORT TO GET HERITAGE WARRANTY COMPANY TO BE PROFESSIONAL AND PERFORM UP TO THERE END OF THE CONTRACT.
4. This is only ONE of many complaints, more to come.
--- MY ADVICE: ---
AVOID HERITAGE WARRANTY COMPANY IF YOU CAN --- CHOOSE WISELY WHEN SELECTING A WARRANTY COMPANY
Martin
Bel Air, Maryland
U.S.A.