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Car dealers do not sell extended warranties by phone - October 25, 2008
The Canadian government launched the National Do Not Call List on September 30, a program aimed at preventing telemarketers from contacting people who have signed up.
So many people tried to register on the first day that it overwhelmed the system and shut it down. As of October 8th, 2.7 million Canadians had requested to have their phone numbers removed from telemarketers’ lists.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission projects that, within two years, 16 million Canadians will have signed onto the Do Not Call List.
Clearly, Canadians do not like being bothered at home by companies selling doors, windows, credit cards and other products. They place a high value on their privacy and welcome the Do Not Call registery as a way of reducing the number of annoying sales calls they receive.
But Canadians shouldn’t be lulled into a false sense of security over the Do Not Call List. Homeowners still need to be vigilant in protecting their personal information.
The Do Not Call list does not apply to newspapers selling subscriptions, certain registered charities, companies conducting polls and firms that you’ve previously done business with. Nor does it apply to businesses registered in the U.S. and in other countries.
Even with this crackdown on telemarketers, there still exists the opportunity for abuse in Canada. The new law will no doubt embolden criminals to become more creative in devising methods of defrauding unsuspecting individuals.
In fact, a story recently surfaced about a scam artist who has been contacting North York residents claiming to work for a warranty company.
The scammer is trying to sell extended warranty protection for automobiles. If a car owner agrees to purchase added coverage, he is asked for his credit card number and some personal information.
Consumers need to know that this is not a regular business practice at new car dealerships. Yes, dealerships sell extended warranty coverage, but it’s offered to customers as part of the sales process, when purchasing a new or used vehicle.
Registered new car dealerships in Canada have strict privacy policies regarding the information it collects from customers. That information must be properly stored, and tight restrictions are imposed on how and when it can be accessed.
If in doubt about your personal information, contact your local new car dealeship and request a copy of its privacy policy. Automobile manufacturers also have strict policy guidelines in place, which are widely available to the public.
Here’s a message that all Canadians should heed: Never give your your credit card or personal information to anyone who calls unless you know for sure who the caller is. This applies to phone callers and online requests.
Providing personal information to someone you don’t know makes you vulerable for identify theft and other types of fraud. Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in North America.
To check the warranty coverage on your vehicle, simply contact your local new car dealership. It will provide details of your existing coverage, and will be pleased to provide information about extended warranty coverage – but only if requested.
If an independent company contacts you about extended warranty coverage, be cautious. The Better Business Bureau and other services are available to determine whether or not a company is legitimate.
The Do Not Call List should minimize the number of calls you receive at home, but it doesn’t completely safeguard individuals from falling victim to telephone and online scams.
To file a complaint about a suspected telemarketing scam, contact the Canadian Competition Bureau at 1-800-348-5358 or PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501.
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