Complaint Review: Vemeco - Alvarado Texas

The fact still remains that warranties do not cover damage or any parts that fail as a direct result of damage. The warranty company had every right to deny your claim based on your current statements. They had every right to deny your claim based on your initial statement that the tank was "rusted through." While parts may be listed as covered parts in your warranty, they are covered for mechanical breakdown only. They are excluded if they breakdown due to damage or abuse (see exclusions in your contract). They are also excluded if they are caused by a condition that occurred prior to you purchasing the extended warranty (Aug 30, 2002.) Your warranty is also no longer in force 60 months from the date the vehicle was first placed in service (first sold) regardless of the fact you purchased the warranty in 2002. You have refused to address this issue even after it has been pointed out to you more than once. Don't get me wrong....I am sorry this has happened to you. It really sucks when you have a major repair. It also sucks when you think such a repair is covered and you find out its not. I am only trying to help you understand why this problem is not covered and that you were not ripped off. You are not the first person, nor will you be the last, to fall for this false sense of security when buying an extended warranty. Its sad that we cannot trust that the salesperson will provide us with accurate and all information regarding these warranties. Buyer beware means more now than ever and we owe to ourselves to read every word of contracts and to educate ourselves about what we are buying in order to protect ourselves. One more thing, why did you wait 5 years before attempting to fix the problem (not that it would have changed the outcome)? Why didn't you address the dented tank with the person or dealer you purchased the vehicle from? Good luck in the future.

"The sending device that had to be replaced is covered under my warranty! Since you cannot replace the sending device, without repairing the direct cause of the unit failure, the tank would also have to be replaced as well!" If I bought such an extended warranty AND if the transmission in my warantied car failed to operate simply because the car was wrapped around a tree, then the warranty would not only have to replace the transmission but the warranty would also have to replace the entire car because "you cannot replace the [transmission], without repairing the direct cause of the unit failure", i.e. the extreme denting of the car. I like this kind of extended warranty! I did not know such manna from heaven was available. Sign me up!

The sending device that had to be replaced is covered under my warranty! Since you cannot replace the sending device, without repairing the direct cause of the unit failure, the tank would also have to be replaced as well!

Vemeco would say "no problem" with the dent since warranties DO NOT cover damage. Even though the damage occurred prior to you purchasing the vehicle, the extended warranty would not cover it under any circumstances.

If there was a type-o in my original report, it is because I am not a typist. The dent was there when the vehicle was first inspected as per Vememco's request! Therefore, it should be covered due to the fact that this company issued an extended warranty, even though there was damage on the gas tank, at the time of the policy being issued! If the dent occurred after the policy was issued, then yes, it would not be covered! However, the policy was approved after the inspection of my vehicle, therefore, the oversight is not the fault of the purchaser! The gas tank had rust on it, as ALL gas tanks do, after several years under a vehicle. It was not rusted through however, by any means and the cause of my claim was due to the original dent in the gas tank, which WAS brought to the attention of the inspection station at the time of the inspection for policy issue approval. I was told it was NOT a problem! However, it was a problem, as the fuel tank indicator never worked past half full. Since I did not drive the vehicle very much at all, and never had an opportunity to see and realize the gas gage did not function beyond the reading of half full, I am not at fault here, Vemeco is however, for issuing a policy on a vehicle that had damage from the beginning! Perhaps the inspection stations should listen to their customers or have mechanics who know a problem when they see one. I am not a mechanic, just a observant individual, who should be reimbursed for this mistake, where I was not at fault! Westside Auto clearing showed me where the dent in the tank was a problem from the beginning, as the sending unit was clearly bent and even the fuel line was almost completely shut off and cripped, due to this original dent in the fuel tank. As to cost of the replacement, the same tank at Ford with Ford parts would have cost much more in this area, than I paid for aftermarket parts! Vemeco should pay more attention to the inspection station people they hire, before issuing a policy to anyone!

If the dented fuel tank is indeed the reason your sending unit malfunctioned resulting in the tank, sending unit and filter needing to be replaced, the extended warranty would most likely not cover this repair. Warranties cover malfunctions in parts not malfuctions that are the result of damage. Did you review your extended warranty contract to see when the 60-month coverage begins? Being that your truck is a 2000, if it started from the date the truck was first placed in service (as is the case with most extended warranties that I have seen) then your warranty probably expired sometime in 2005. That would explain why the company stated it was no longer valid and/or they had no record of it. Kenneth, you have been quick to accuse people of not reading your original post correctly. Yet all posters have only responded to the information YOU provided. You stated that the tank was rusted through. Now you state that the dent caused the sending unit to become damage. Seems you provide information as it suits you. People have responded in an attempt to help you understand your situation based on the information your provided. Bottom line....dented or rusted, I don't think any warranty would cover your repairs per the contract you signed.

Would OP reread his original post? Specifically: "...and after inspection, was told my fuel tank had rusted through, and ..." So the tank WAS rusted through? Or was it NOT rusted through? The OP did NOT state that he ARGUED with the "authorized repair shop inspection statement" when it was rendered, nor did he include the disclaimer that he and his witness will stipulate that there was NO rust visible AT THE TIME of the tank inspection. OP DID post that "I was allowed to see this damage personally." AND????????????? You PERSONALLY saw the rusted damage?????? Or what????? Maybe OP should 'start over' rather than continuing to simply argue with everyone? Because his original post certainly seems to clearly indicate confirmation that he had seen rust damage. Reread your first post, Mr OP. The rear tank on our 1989 F150 rusted out on top where the pump installs and this caused a leak. Rust on the top of the gas tank is common for older F150's that are exposed to any road salt. The pump, however, still worked just fine. A used tank & a new pump were installed; the transfer case oil & front axle oil were changed; the transmission was flushed; and ALL for a total of $500. OP's repair charges for a fuel filter, tank & pump sounded very high because the fuel filter is not THAT expensive.

The dent in my 2000 Ford F-150 fuel tank, is what caused the sending unit, which includes the fuel pump, to malfunction in the first placea! The tank had to be replaced, because a new sending unit would not fit in the spot where the fuel tank was dented in! Since that dented spot is where the fuel sending unit installs, they had no choice, but to replace the fuel tank as well.

In reviewing your original post the second sentence states that the tank was "rusted through". If your tank was NOT rusted through, why would it need replacing. The sending unit and fuel filter can be replaced without having to replace the tank. I have replaced two sending units and fuel pumps in F-150s and used the original fuel tanks. You failed to mention the model year of your truck. Many extended warranties cover from the date the vehicle was placed into service (date sold to first owner) not the date the warranty was purchased. For example, even though you purchased the warranty in Aug. 2002, if the truck were 2002 model that was placed in service in Dec 2001, the warranty would have expired in Dec 2006 (60 months). This could be the case with your warranty. Check the small print for this information. Unfortunately, car dealers often fail to mention this critical information when "selling" the buyer on the benefits of an extended warranty. If this is the case, there is not much you can do (rust or no rust) except to chalk it up as a learning experience. Next time be sure to read extended warranty contract (fine print too) before paying for it so you don't get burned again.

"I took the vehicle to an authorized repair shop and after inspection, was told my fuel tank had rusted through, and the sending unit no longer functioned. I was allowed to see this damage personally. The shop is Westside Auto in Crofton, Maryland. The owner told me the fuel tank would have to be replaced, along with the sending unit and fuel filter." There is absolutely nothing in your statements that says the word "rusted". You may want to rethink your position. And it IS almost 5 years later on an apparently already used vehicle (I notice you never mentioned how old it actually was).

My gas tank was not rusted out, in fact it was not rusted at all! I never reported the tank rusted! When asked on the phone if the tank was rusted, I simply stated that every gas tank has some rust on it, no matter how old! My tank was not rusted through in any manner. The problem was caused by the dent in the tank, which was there when Pep Boys inspected it! There was no rusted tank anywhere on my vehicle. As to the price for replacing the gas tank and sending unit, for your information, the Ford dealer here in Maryland wanted $400.00 more, than the shop I took it too! The shop did not use a Ford part, which cost even more. If you want to write a response to my rebuttals, why don't you do it with some class, instead of using the insulting language that has been used in the past. Show some intelligence here, or don't respond at all!

My gas tank was not rusted out, in fact it was not rusted at all! I never reported the tank rusted! When asked on the phone if the tank was rusted, I simply stated that every gas tank has some rust on it, no matter how old! My tank was not rusted through in any manner. The problem was caused by the dent in the tank, which was there when Pep Boys inspected it! There was no rusted tank anywhere on my vehicle. As to the price for replacing the gas tank and sending unit, for your information, the Ford dealer here in Maryland wanted $400.00 more, than the shop I took it too! The shop did not use a Ford part, which cost even more. If you want to write a response to my rebuttals, why don't you do it with some class, instead of using the insulting language that has been used in the past. Show some intelligence here, or don't respond at all!

My gas tank was not rusted out, in fact it was not rusted at all! I never reported the tank rusted! When asked on the phone if the tank was rusted, I simply stated that every gas tank has some rust on it, no matter how old! My tank was not rusted through in any manner. The problem was caused by the dent in the tank, which was there when Pep Boys inspected it! There was no rusted tank anywhere on my vehicle. As to the price for replacing the gas tank and sending unit, for your information, the Ford dealer here in Maryland wanted $400.00 more, than the shop I took it too! The shop did not use a Ford part, which cost even more. If you want to write a response to my rebuttals, why don't you do it with some class, instead of using the insulting language that has been used in the past. Show some intelligence here, or don't respond at all!

You just stated that we sent you to PepBoys to get the vehicle inspected before we sold you the policy, right? THAT WAS 5 YEARS AGO! So how in the world can you say that we accepted the vehicle back then and be mad that we now wont cover a rust issue almost 5 years later. You said in your initial statements it was rusted out. Yet your argument is that we sold the policy 5 years ago and we accepted it with a dent. Well think about what you are saying. If we went by your logic, it could very easily be said "Well gee, the vehicle had zero miles on it and a shiny paint job when I bought it, So I want you to pay me the exact amount I paid for it even though I didn't take care of it and it now has missing quarter panels, bald tires and 90k on the odometer. What you are saying is ludicrous, and your justification of your point is even more-so. Furthermore, if they charged you 1600.00 on that work, you got raped.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that seems very high. I've replaced plenty of tanks and sending units, and have NEVER in my life spent anywhere close to that amount. Maybe you need a second opinion?

When I attempted to purchase my extended warranty, you had me take my truck to Pep Boys for an inspection of the vehicle. When they put the truck up on the lift, my neighbor and I noticed the dent in the gas tank. When I asked the mechanic about it, he said it was " NOT A PROBLEM " and he would pass the vehicle. He claimed the vehicle gas gage was working in the truck. You accepted this inspection and issued me a warranty policy. However, when I finally drove the truck far enough on one tank to notice the gage was not working past half full, I had it checked out and was told that the dent in the gas tank caused the sending unit to bend, thus causing the gas tank not to register beyond half a tank. The sending unit was shown to me at the repair shop. There was no rust involved here whatsoever! I had to run out of gas to learn that the very item me and my neighbor ( who is a retired police officer ) questioned was indeed a problem from the very beginning. You issued a policy to me based on the Pep Boys inspection, and they and your company made a mistake! Therefore, my claim should absolutely be covered under the warranty you issued me, based on the inspection you had me complete, before the policy was issued! Sincerely, Kenneth

Just happen to notice this complaint and felt compelled to reply. I work for the administrator of these contracts and you are exactly right the fuel pump and tank are covered. But no matter whether the contract was still valid or not, it would not have been covered. In your exclusions section of the contract it PLAINLY states that condition of flood, acts of god, snow, rust or environmental corrosion are denied whether on covered or uncovered parts without question. Rusted Tank caused damage to fuel pump, therefore an uncovered condition caused damaged to two covered components, makes that claim not covered. So either way. You weren't shafted. There are ALWAYS two sides to every story. Thanks and feel free to buy another contract on your new car.