What’s particularly galling about CarShield is how they get second-rate TV celebrities to convince poor people that they need the “protection”.
Much better I think to put the money in a bank emergency fund.
I had home shield and when my hvac system broke hight of the summer it was 2 weeks before someone called to schedule an appointment. Had it replaced 2 days after breakdown and dropped HS.
I’ve always been a Free Market guy. But today, a lot of the marketplace seems to be not much better than scams. And the corporations are only focused on squeezing as much profit as possible to benefit the top execs. Screw the workers (wages have been flat for 50 years) and screw the customers too. Providing services? Providing a quality product? Why should the corporations bother to do that? Squeeze out the profit. Nothing else matters. You can re-organize or re-brand later on if the public decides to walk away. Change your name, change your logo, look like a different company and screw everybody all over again. Just keep squeezing out that profit for the big boys.
My friend had American Home Shield, but they constantly denied stuff based on “silly” reasons. I remember him saying that denied a claim b/c technician used a certain device (?) to inspect sewer system, and they didn’t cover that tool b/c was too expensive. He then cancelled AHS b/c he said was a racket.
Ding ding ding! We have a winner!
If a person can afford CarShield premium payments, then they can have the
same amount taken out of their paycheck and deposited in a emergency fund at the bank.
Don't commingle funds either. The emergency account is separate and untouchable.
Much better I think to put the money in a bank emergency fund.
Agree TV ads are for things that aren’t selling well.
Many have graduated form the Three Card Monte School.
> I’ve also read that CarShield will let you choose your own mechanic. Sounds good. But they will not pay standard mechanic rates.<
One more thing. A couple of years ago I asked a mechanic at a Chevy dealership about that. Here’s what he said. A customer came in with a transmission that had to be rebuilt. The mechanic said the dealership charges $120 an hour labor for that work.
CarShield reimbursed the customer at $17 an hour.
I feel sorry for people who get suckered into these schemes, as they are the least able to afford them.
Of course I also feel bad for all the people on the /askmechanics subredit who post obnoxious service bills and ask if they got ripped off.
It’s time folks realized that TV ads BUY that station and channels silence. No reporter will tell you about the folks that ARE SCAMMED. Won’t do that story as long as the sponsor keeps the $$$ flowing.
The biggest offender is Big Pharma.
Go out and spend your $$$ on anything that is not bulk promoted.
Remember, all insurance companies make much of their money by not paying you.
Dealer where I bought my new car has associates who called me yesterday and quoted repair insurance for next 5 years for $4300 plus $100 each time I need a repair. My car still has new car 3 year warranty and very low miles. I am figuring if I have 2 repairs within next 5 years, $4500 should cover small repairs such as fuel pump or water pump. If nothing happens, I am $4500+interest on CD ahead.
Wow... An insurance company that doesn’t want to payout any money... Never heard of that before.
Car repair insurance as well as home appliance repair insurance are both scams. Think about how much your legal expense will be if you decide to take them to court for rejecting your claim. Either way, you lose.
It’s insurance and insurance companies don’t lose money on each policy. They typically say that the part not covered is due to “normal wear and tear”. One of their biggest reasons for denial is because the part(s) are not covered due to lack of proper lubrication and/or overheating.
So if you blow an engine due to a failed water pump, they “might” cover the water pump, but not the rest of the engine.
It’s a scam.
Wear and tear is never covered and good luck getting anything actually covered under that extended warranty you paid for.
Better off putting the money you would have spent on an extended warranty in the bank and use it for any repairs you might need
As a mechanic, I can tell you there are good warranty companies. Phoenix is great, and there are a number of others that really pay off for our customers. If you take care of your car, it will last much longer that you think. If you do not take care of it, it will break. The insurance company may or may not pay to take care of an abused or neglected vehicle.
When I bought our last car, my wife wanted to finance it. The F&I guy tried to sell us Gap Insurance and I refused. My wife got all huffy and I had to shut her down with “Gap Insurance is for broke people who can’t afford to finance a car”.
If you get a warranty, the company will spend all their time trying not to pay for what you are paying them for