Comments for Here Are Some Of The Companies Behind The Car Warranty Robocalls

Here Are Some Of The Companies Behind The Car Warranty Robocalls

2009-04-30T04:15:04Z

Verizon continues its recent campaign of turning robocallers into charitable contributions, this time by settling a lawsuit against two of the companies behind those awful car warranty calls. Last time it was for $25,000; this time it's for $50,000, all of which is being donated to the Joyful Heart Foundation, which Wireless Week describes as "a nonprofit devoted to empowering survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse."

]]> So who's behind the robocallers? Here's a list compiled from WirelessWeek and ComputerWorld articles. The first two were the ones involved in the $50k settlement with Verizon; the other three have been named in a similar, unrelated suit filed in New Jersey Superior Court.

National Auto Warranty Services
100 Mall Parkway
Wentzville, Missouri, 63385
800-649-1856
Explicit Media - based in Florida; website says they're out of business
Dealers Warranty (dba Federal Auto Protection) - based in Missouri
National Dealers Warranty - based in Missouri
Tele Europe, B.V.
Papaverweg 34 34 West Higgins
1032KJ Amsterdam 1032KJ Amsterdam
Tel. 0206367275 0206367275

"Verizon Files Another Suit Against Telemarketers" [WirelessWeek] (Thanks to CZ!)
"Verizon pursues illegal autodialers" [ComputerWorld] (Thanks to Rob!)

Comment from BillyDee_CT on 2009-05-06

2009-05-06T07:41:12Z

I found the best thing is to just get a rep and play their game. I ask "Which one of my cars is out of warranty". They responded with "we don't have your personal information" to which I say "you must, you have my phone number". After a few minutes of playing that game they girl say "I see your number is xxx-xxx-xxxx, we'll put you on our do-not-call list". I almost said too bad, I could use the fun! I think if you waste their time so they can't make any money they're going to start putting numbers on their do-not-call list as all they will do is waste their time - if we as consumers make it difficult for them to do their business they will eventually stop.

Comment from trujunglist on 2009-05-04

2009-05-05T02:03:46Z

Wow, so I was right when I saw those US Fidelis commercials and thought to myself "Those are probably those scammy fuckers that keep calling everyone, including me"? That is unbelievable! I guess if the shoe fits, throw it at their goddamn head.

Comment from calquist on 2009-04-30

2009-05-01T02:32:18Z

@HogwartsAlum: I cried a little bit the day I got my Missouri license.

Comment from daveyboy2 on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T23:03:06Z

You forgot my favorite robocall scammer.

Aimee Pavey
Account Manager
Dealer Preferred Warranties
866-661-2565
a.pavey@dpwarranties.com

Comment from Winteridge2 on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T22:38:22Z

Maybe the caller with the amazingly low credit card rates can be next?
Forget about complaining to DoNotCall. They need the caller's entire history, including name, address, phone #, how long they have been in business, what they said, what you said, and where the caller eats lunch. What a farce.
Does anyone actually ever fall for these?

Comment from heybtbm on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T21:40:28Z

I was wondering why my warranty (which has 5 years left) was suddenly "about to expire". I was just going to call my dealership and ask them what the hell was going on. I guess these people aren't affiliated with Toyota after all.

Comment from Tiber on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T21:13:17Z

@DeanOfAllTrades: You've given me a brilliant idea. We use their phone number for free ringtones, we give Nigerian scammers the free ringtone peoples' email, give Email spammers the scammers' emails, etc. We turn all the opportunistic scum onto each other and hope they collapse. Okay, they won't collapse, but they can waste their time bothering each other, and in turn be distracted by the people bothering them.

Comment from grimdeath9740 on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T20:44:39Z

they have been considering converting an old Budget Car and Truck rental call center that shut down to a "Car Warrenty" center here in Wichita Falls (north texas).

From bad to worse right :P

Anyways as bad as it is, people need jobs so I am afraid people here will actually take the jobs...such a horrible situation.

Comment from UnicornMaster on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T20:20:03Z

I think we should find their owner's home and cell phone numbers and put them on each other's lists.

Comment from David Perkins on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T19:47:52Z

@nevesis: I hope some of this makes a difference. I've filled three or four complains with the fcc already, of course all from different numbers (stupid robocallers). I have a hard time seeing how it helps. My wife and I have each received two calls from National Warranty Services this week. I was hung up on twice by them when trying to tell them they had called my cell phone.

Comment from LastAndLeast on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T19:08:55Z

@bohemian: We got a phone installed on Monday and on Tuesday my gf said we got a call from these guys.

Comment from runchadrun on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T19:07:25Z

My mom got scammed by one of the Missouri outfits a while back. She had a 10+ year old car with 100K+ miles on it and they assured her it would be covered. When she got a copy of the policy it explicitly excluded a car of that age. She had set up for an auto debit from her checking account. I got her to close that account and open a new one, then finally (somehow) got the money back for the money they had already taken out.

It's not the only time she's been taken by a scam. It's why I won't let her get a computer, because she'll believe that she has money coming from a Nigerian dictator's estate.

Comment from Anonymous on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T18:55:37Z

Yesterday, I thought I was receiving one of these calls from 800-465-7962, but I picked up anyway, listened to the recording, and it was very similar, EXCEPT it was for Medical Benefits for as low as $3 a month!!!

I'm convinced, there will be no end to these types of calls

Comment from chrisjames on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T18:50:03Z

@RB_Bhoy: US Fidelis is correct. They are in fact Dealer Services, which is cross-listed on the BBB site with National Auto Warranty Services. All have been linked to oneautowarranty.com as well in some way (like asking CSRs for a website), which itself directly references Dealer Services.

Comment from TCTH on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T18:06:56Z

So that's the outfit that Rusty and Steve Wallace shill for, eh? Interesting.

Comment from valsharess1 on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T17:58:48Z

@bananaballs: <3 the Jerky Boys.

Comment from parrotuya on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T16:05:26Z

I am sick of these clowns calling me. My car has been out of warranty for years and I don't intend to buy one from a telemarketer! I hope they go to pound-me-in-the-a_ _ state prison for life!

Comment from Trai_Dep on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T11:31:21Z

@Frequentlywrong: Next time, try to say with a straight face, "Oh. That's my pick-up sex car. All vinyl. You know...?"
If that doesn't get him off his script, nothing will.

Comment from kc-guy on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T11:27:15Z

@Alexander Saites: If only I had a snarky comment to add...too much time in Utah has dulled my senses.

Comment from Anonymous on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T10:37:22Z

I got a call 2 days ago and while I waited for them to connect, I put them on speaker phone, andI launched a particular iPhone app (on another phone) that basically repeats every sound the phone picks up in a high pitched 'hamster' voice.

It took all my self control to not burst out laughing every time the hamster would repeat what the csr said.

It went on for about 5 min before he said that he thinks there's a technical problem with the line and he'd call back (never did)

Comment from Anonymous on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T10:19:32Z

Hit "1" and ask for the name of the company, city and phone number; or hit *69 for the phone number; or get the phone number from your caller ID,

note the time and date of the call

then immediately go to

https://esupport.fcc.gov/form1088/consumer.do?form_page=1088B

and file a complaint with the FCC.

I used to get 2-3 calls per day for a similar scam. After a few days of filing complaints, the calls changed--the prerecorded message would stop, an operator would start a spiel, "This is Buh..." and then slam the phone down, as if she'd been notified by her machine or a supervisor to cut shot that call.

After a couple of days of call-us-interruptus, nothing, blissfully for months...no more calls.

Go, FCC!

Comment from unpolloloco on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T10:15:45Z

I recently got one of those phone calls - hung up on me before the recording ended though. I wanted to know what kind of warranty they'd offer me on my car....whose warranty 'was just about to expire.' I could have sworn its warranty expired in '94.....

Comment from courtarro on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T10:04:17Z

Um, the acronym of "Federal Auto Protection" is FAP. Ehhh...

Comment from nevesis on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T09:47:14Z

@ogremustcrush:

Yeah. The Missouri AG sued them for this last year, they settled and agreed to stop. And yet they're being sued by the Missouri AG again... for the same thing... a year later.... what does that tell you?

Comment from nevesis on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T09:44:30Z

@nevesis:

The Missouri AG filed a SECOND lawsuit against them last week, and they're being investigated by Attorney Generals of 40 states:
[www.bizjournals.com]

Comment from nevesis on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T09:42:42Z

File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission by dialing 877-382-4357 or at [esupport.fcc.gov]

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at [www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov]

File a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's office at [www.consumer.ago.mo.gov]

File a complaint with State of Florida SoS by emailing dosgeneralcounsel@dos.state.fl.us

File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau at [odr.bbb.org]

Contact the St. Louis Missouri FBI at stlouis@ic.fbi.gov

File a complaint with your cell phone company.

Below is the company's contact information.

National Auto Warranty Services, Inc

aka US Fidelis, Inc

100 Mall Pkwy

Wentzville, MO 63385

Tel: 636-639-1620

Website: [www.oneautowarranty.com] | [www.usfidelis.com]

President: Darian Atkinson

VP: Cory C. Atkinson

Chairman: Philip J. Jehle

CFO: Fred Kolb (ext 7731)

Legal Dept: Michelle Skidmore, Stacey Scales

General Sales Manager: Derek Carroll (ext 7799)

General Manager: Eddie Struckman (ext 7706)

Team Managers: Brian Hayes, Brian Sczepanski, Chris Robinson, Len Woolfenden and Nils Foldberg.

Florida State Incorporation #: F05000006403

Comment from ogremustcrush on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T09:30:55Z

Does a $50,000 settlement seem like a pittance to anyone else? I could have sworn the Do-Not-Call act allowed for a $10,000 fine per occurrence, and I'm sure there have been millions of occurrences. One of these guys even mails me crap, I'm pretty sure the sift through public records for vehicle titles and use that info, as I don't know how else they would get my phone number.

Comment from Alexander Saites on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T08:18:06Z

@Jacob Schumer: Although it's funny to pretend like Missouri doesn't exist, we know it actually does.

Unlike Wyoming, which is a government conspiracy.

But hey, Missouri loves company.

Comment from Juliekins on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T08:02:05Z

@HogwartsAlum: Muck Fizzou! ;)

Comment from chris_d on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T08:01:49Z

At least VZW is more effective than the government. I filed an FCC complaint but have heard nothing and AFAIK, the FCC hasn't done a thing.

It's interesting that these are being settled for chump change. I would guess $50K is nothing to these scam outfits.

I just got another one on my cell phone today, so VZW still has some work to do. I missed the call but no message was left and the caller id read 702-520-1295.

Oh yeah, and a coworker keeps getting calls about health insurance at work.

Comment from bostonguy on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T07:24:01Z

I got one of these calls on my Verizon cell phone at dinner time today. I missed the call, and only caught the voicemail. Just a recording of their robo-caller. And the caller-id came up as "Unavailable".

I got a few of these on a land line a couple of years ago, and I couldn't even properly report them to any agency, since the caller-id info had an extra number, and all of the web forms only handled a 10 digit number!

Comment from Frequentlywrong on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T07:10:35Z

@Sheogorath: no, actually he was stateside....it was pretty funny. I have an excellent phone voice, the kind that has made many CSRs stop mid-sell and ask me out.. I in NO WAY look the part of my voice, but I do know the power:)

Comment from The_Legend on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T06:51:28Z

I get the calls all the time. Best thing to do is keep them on the line, give them the AG of your state as a number to call back. Mine was from Fla. Consumerist fails again. Get off the teat of CR, Ben.

Comment from Corporate-Shill on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T06:51:18Z

@bananaballs:

There are such big bucks in extended warranty insurance that these companies can afford to:

A) Payoff some claims. Hells Bells they could pay off every claim and still come out ahead.

B) Hire staff, equipment etc to be abused, misused and put away wet. Shucks darn, just one customer suckered a week might be enough to cover the employee's salary. Two is gravy. Three gets you the cruise to the Bahamas and the corner office.

Comment from The_Legend on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T06:49:24Z

@dangermike: You must be from Texas. Go away.

Comment from crutnacker on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T06:48:59Z

Wow, how timely. I just got my first one of these calls today on my AT&T phone. I played along but they caught on and put me on hold forever, so I hung up.

Comment from bohemian on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T06:36:08Z

We purchased a cell phone for one of our kids. Within 2 days of activating it they received multiple car warranty calls telling them that their car warranty is expiring. Since said kid has no car or license they found it amusing.

Comment from madanthony on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T06:12:46Z

I'm more annoyed with the ones telling me that this is my captain speaking and that I've won a cruise - mostly because they start with a loud foghorn that scares the shit out of me.

Comment from Charlotte Rae's Web on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T05:52:12Z

I got one last month - the caller id showed "Warranty Alert". Sent it all to our attorney general's office, hope it helps.

Comment from HogwartsAlum on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T05:48:39Z

@dangermike:
I don't recognize it and I live there.

Comment from midwestkel on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T05:31:36Z

@Frequentlywrong: Well did you get his number so we can harass the hell out of him?

Comment from glater on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T05:30:07Z

@dohtem:

"Legit" businesses don't illegally telemarket and hound people until someone, anyone, buys their crap.

Comment from Sheogorath on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T05:26:44Z

@Frequentlywrong:
In a thick Indian accent, right?

Comment from dangermike on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T05:19:52Z

@Jacob Schumer: I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missourah.

Comment from sweetnjoe on 2009-04-30

2009-04-30T05:13:44Z

@nybiker: Ahahaha. That made me laugh. You deserve a star :p

I dont know what that idiot is talking about above me.

Comment from dohtem on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:52:34Z

@bananaballs: I know someone that bought a warranty from of the those calls. And it came in handy when the car broke down months later. He faxed an estimate in - worth more than the cost of the warranty - and they foot the bill.

Apparently, some are legit businesses but I would never have guessed.

Comment from GearheadGeek on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:51:20Z

@bananaballs: Every contract they actually DO get is quite profitable, so I'm sure they can afford to hang up on a few prospects. Besides, the Consumerist readers they were hanging up on are hopefully too savvy to get taken so easily.

Comment from Frequentlywrong on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:49:10Z

Last time I got that call I played along and gave hime the stats on my parents "new" car, a 1989 Honda Accord. The guy said I sounded too pretty to drive such an old car.

Comment from Coles_Law on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:39:23Z

@nybiker: Bad...pun...brain...failing...YAAAAAAGH!

Comment from bananaballs on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:37:30Z

HOW DO THEY MAKE MONEY?

I'm serious. All they seem to do is hang up on people. How is this profitable?? Is this like the Jerky Boys with trust funds?

Comment from cortana on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:36:34Z

National Dealers Warranty: AKA US Fidelis (the one with all those TV ads)

Comment from RB_Bhoy on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:31:57Z

National Auto Warranty Services
100 Mall Parkway
Wentzville, Missouri, 63385
800-649-1856

i called that number and it said it's US fidelis insurance

Comment from johnarlington on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:25:14Z

I was in Kazakhstan and got a phone call from a car warranty company on a phone in what should have been a closed system.

Comment from socalrob of the 24 and a half century on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:21:23Z

Some how I don't get these calls anymore. Last time I played with the woman saying "I just bought my car and the warranty is supposed to be good for another 4 years. What do I do I'm scared" But she wouldn't play along so I just hung up.

Usually I try to press 2, get hung up on, or press 1 ask to be taken off and get hung up on. Sigh... at least these jobs aren't outsourced.

Comment from nybiker on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:20:41Z

@Jacob Schumer: Show me.

Comment from Jacob Schumer on 2009-04-29

2009-04-30T04:19:44Z

This is just Missouri's way of trying to get the country to acknowledge it exists