Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Mondial urges dealers to educate customers on warranty
Mondial Assistance is urging dealers to educate customers on the terms and conditions of their warranty package to avoid misunderstandings or leaving customers out of pocket.
Liz Grindell, warranty manager for Mondial Assistance in the UK, said: "A misunderstanding over terms and conditions can not only leave consumers out of pocket, it can cause bad feeling between them and the manufacturer.”
Grindell said many used car owners are cutting down costs by carrying out their own vehicle repairs and maintenance or using independent garages rather than manufacturer approved dealer networks.
She said: “Car owners can be unaware of how disregarding the terms and conditions of their warranty can influence its benefits. For example, some manufacturer warranties when in their third year won't pay a claim for work that hasn't been carried out by a manufacturer approved dealer or by an independent who hasn't used manufacturer approved parts.
“Some consumers are choosing to ignore the manufacturer's recommended service schedule, but don't realise how this impacts on their warranty. But manufacturers and dealers should be educating their customers to make them aware that if they skip or delay a service to make short term savings, they run the risk of a fault occurring that would have been identified and resolved if it had gone to the garage at the right time.”
Grindell points out that if the approved used or manufacturer extended warranty cover for faults occurred due to a missed service, the car owner is then left to foot the bill which could potentially destroy any future relationship with the manufacturer.
DATED: 11.08.09
FEED: AM
