| Car Recall Scam |
| Wednesday, 03 September 2008 17:49 |
A postcard hitting Kentucky mailboxes that looks like a recall notice for your vehicle, isn't that at all. The Better Business Bureau of Central and Eastern Kentucky received an example of one of the postcards from a car dealer in eastern Kentucky. The dealer was concerned after several customers came to the dealership panicked, thinking there was a safety problem with their vehicle. The front of the postcard states that it is "Important Safety Recall Information." It gives a return address of Vehicle Warranty Division Recall Notification Center. On the flip side, in big red letters, it says "IMPORTANT." There is a toll-free phone number to call for free information regarding the recall status of your vehicle. The eastern Kentucky car dealer ran the Vehicle Identification Numbers for his customers and found no recalls on file. The BBB ran the toll-free phone number on the Bureau's Web site and found it was a Missouri-based company called Dealer Services. The company offers extended warranties on vehicles. The company has an unsatisfactory record due to a pattern of complaints and unresolved complaints, according to the BBB. The Missouri Attorney General's Office even filed a lawsuit against Dealer Services for other mailings the company sent without stating that the company was not affiliated with auto dealers or manufacturers. If you want an extended warranty for your vehicle, get several estimates from companies you have checked out with the BBB. If you receive something that looks like a recall notice, check with your local dealership. If you receive the postcard from Dealer Services, Don't Fall For It. For more information on this story or any consumer problem, visit the BBB's Web site at www.bluegrass.bbb.org. You can also call the Bureau toll-free at 1-800-866-6668. |
