Olympic Warranties

[qualitymarques]

Another warranty scam folks. I am a small car trader, proud of the cars I sell and my reputation (ebay powerseller, 225 feedback 100% positive). To enhance the cars I usually put on a warranty via www.warrantyworks.co.uk. Nice guys, very helpful, but unfortunately NOT the provider of the warranties. I sold a Vectra with an Auto gearbox and 2 weeks later it self destructed. She had been serviced 2 days prior to the sale and had 36000 miles on the clock. The warranty company, OLYMPIC WARRANTIES, refused to pay up on the grounds that the 'fault could have been present at the time of sale', and I had to prove it was not. As all faults, by defintion, 'could' have been present at the time of sale I was a little confused, so I asked when the warranty actually kicked in , after 3 months? 6 months? When? Also how could I 'prove' that the fault was not present as I had to have the vehicle repaired for my client. So there you have it. DO NOT BUY A WARRANTY FROM OLYMPIC WARRANTIES. Real toilet paper is cheaper.

Unlike others, I am taking these cheats to the ombudsman and then to court if I have to. They will learn that there are such things as the Unfair Contract Terms Act.

One final thing, these guys are in Leeds. Everytime I deal with someone from Leeds I get cheated, is it something in the water?

[stintson]

Glad to find your posting. I purchased a 3 year old car in January, and thought it a good idea to invest in a warranty with warrantyworks and olympic warranties. I purchased their platinum warranty for 3 years. 3 weeks ago my turbo expired, expensive...but no bother my warranty says it covers the turbo up to 80,000 miles and I've only done 60.
In practise however I then have to 'prove' the turbo did not break due to 'wear and tear'. They run me round the houses and leave me to fork out for the turbo. They jeopordise my realtionship with a trusted garage, they verbally lied to me on the phone, ultimately if they don't want to pay, they don't have to - as all breakages are ultimately due to use or 'wear and tear'. This situation really stinks and something needs to be done about it, any help I can offer in bringing these crooks to rights it's yours. Please let me know what is the latest with your claim, and contact with the ombudsman.
-Simon:mad:

[AkyP]

Hi, just read about your issues with Warrantyworks & Olympic Warranties. I'm another small car trader and I have purchased warranties thru warranty works for a large number of vehicles over the last couple of years, some of my customers have even chosen to upgrade their warranties at their own cost. Up until recently we thought they were a nice, reliable friendly company just like everyone else, the 1st claim on one of our vehicles was in October of this year, the Slave cylinder on a VW Golf had gone. When the customer approached Olympic Warranties they said that they had no information on either him or the vehicle. After fighting this out we managed to get £100 from the warranty company but had to pay the rest from our own pocket, as we pride ourselves on good customer service.

A couple of weeks ago we had another client call us with regard to an alternator fault on a BMW M3, the guy has taken it into a local garage who in turn have tried to contact Olympic Warranties, but yet again they had no knowledge of the customer or vehicle, the reponse from Olympic was "You couldn't have taken out a warranty with us as we don't cover cars like that"
We have certificates for all the warranties purchased from warrantyworks so why are they issueing these if they aren't goin to be covered?

We have been trying to find out from Warrantyworks what the script is with these warranties but whenever we call there is no-one available, we get fobbed off "I'm just the secretary taking messages"

Again if you need any help with sortin them out let us know!!!

[jimjiber]

Oh no!

I bought a BMW 318 just under TWO WEEKS ago from a small garage and my clutch has just gone. I looked at the warranty details and it says "OLYMPIC WARRANTIES" and "WARRANTIES 2000" all over it.

Guess I am screwed then.

Also, on the proposal form stapled to the inside cover of my warranty booklet, it states twice that "We are unable to register this warranty unless a valid telephone number is supplied". Guess what? The joker at the garage did not write my number on the warranty proposal.

What should I do? Surely I should be able to get the garage to foot the bill as they have obviously sold me a car with a knackered clutch?

I only noticed it on a steep hill on the way to work and anyway I am not a mechanic and should not have to spot mechanical problems (according to Citizens Advice website).

I am gutted.

[Sieyt]

Your contract is with the garage. You should take it back to them first and give them a chance to sort it out, any reputable dealer would sort it out for you as you bought the car so recently.

Last year I claimed through Olympic Warranties on behalf of a customer whos van we put a clutch in. I did manage to get some money out of them but only a contribution 25% of the parts prices and £20 per hour towards labour at their book times!!!!!:mad:

I personally would never buy a third party warranty as they are not worth the paper they are written on:( . Whereas the Mitsubishi warranty on my Shogun was brilliant when the power steering box developed a leak from the top seal after 22 months, they took it in the same day and I got it back the following evening with £2600 worth of new steering box fitted. No quibble no problem:)

[jimjiber]

Thanks for the info Sieyt.

So here is how it played out today...

Took half-day off work and whipped car over to reputable garage about 10 miles away. Guy looked at it and agreed that I need a new clutch. I gave him the warranty book and he rang them, although he did say he didn't usually like to do that because they are scum.

They told him that my proposal form didn't have a telephone number or mileage on, so they would not pay out on the clutch.

So I called the garage I bought the car from - they incidentally are 20 miles away from where I live. They said they would call the warranty company and sort it out and that they would get back to me.

I sat in my car at the nearby garage for 20 minutes and no call came. I called them back and the guy said his colleague was on the phone to them now and that he would get right back to me. I waited another 20 minutes before driving back home. An hour passed before I called the garage where I bought the car (again), to be told that they had sorted it with the warranty company and that I should call them again, which I reluctantly did.

The warranty company said that as I had driven the car, the clutch was obviously not broken and was not covered. I told this idiot that the car will not move away if I start it on a steep hill (I live and work at the top of steep hills). He actually said "the clutch is not broken - it has reached the end of its life". He repeated this a number of times before telling me that it was not covered and they would not be paying out because it was "wear and tear".

[sorry for the length of this post - I need to get this all down, bear with me please]

So I called the garage back (Congresbury Motor Co, if you are interested) and told them what the warranty scum had said. They basically said "right..." and then when silent. I unfortunately had to raise my voice at this point and said "what are you going to do about it?". They said something along the lines of "bring it over and we'll have a look for you".

I instantly drove the car (carefully) the 20 miles to Congresbury and arrived at around 4.30pm. They took my keys and said "clutch problem, isn't it?" to which I replied affirmatively (and still politely). Then the guy said "give us a ring tomorrow and we can let you know how we are getting on with it."

At this I turned and walked out. I phoned a friend who drove the 40-mile round-trip to take me home. I am 99% sure that when I ring them tomorrow they will say that there is nothing wrong with the clutch.

[Sieyt]

If they say that there is nothing wrong with the clutch then I suggest that you insist that one of their fitters go out with you in the car (have sure you find a steep hill) and prove the problem to him/her. They can't really deny that there is a problem if you were in the car with them. Good luck.

[jimjiber]

Called Congresbury Motor Co at 17.15 today to be told “Yes sir, it is the clutch.”

I asked when I could have the car back and they said “We will have to fit a new clutch for you. Call us back tomorrow lunchtime and we will have more of an idea.”

Sounds like I may have got lucky this time.

[Sieyt]

:D :D Congratulations, sound like you could be ok.:D :D

[jimjiber]

Thanks mate! Really appreciate the advice.

:)

[jimjiber]

*** UPDATE ***

Oh this is so not over yet...

Just phoned the garage (15.52 on Friday 22nd June 2007).

They said they are still waiting on the part and that "there must have been an accident because traffic is all backed up so the van with the part can't get here"

He said it will "obviously roll over until Monday now".

I asked him how the hell i am supposed to get to work next week and pointed out they also had my car all day yesterday, so why couldn't they get the part then?

They are messing me around on purpose now. I will have to find some alternative transport to and from work until this is sorted AND I will have to take more time off work at short notice in order to pick the car up.

This simply cannot be legal. :mad:

[Sieyt]

Your'e not having a lot of luck with this are you :(
I think that you will struggle to get any more than a clutch out of the garage.
Hang in there!

[jimjiber]

From the insane to the ridiculous...

Garage phoned me at 17.30 on Monday 25th June 2007 to say that they had fitted the new clutch but believe it or not they had actually fitted the wrong one. They said something about the subtle differences between the E36 and E46 3-series BMWs.

He said they will get the correct part tomorrow morning and will phone me so that I can give work some notice that I need to nick off to pick it up

Staggering.

Do I really want to drive a car these monkeys have been playing with?

[Sieyt]

I wouldn't be taking it back there for a service if I was you!!!!!

[jimjiber]

Sorry to keep this thread going but this will astonish you...

Just called garage again and the guy apologised for having not called me. Here is his reason...

"I didn't want to tempt fate, it's just that we can't test the car at the moment because the battery has gone flat. You see it has been sat there in the workshop and it happens. We have got it charging now..."

So I asked if the correct clutch had arrived and been fitted. He said it had. He also said that he would phone me before six so I can give a little notice before taking tomorrow afternoon off to pick it up.

Amazing.

I am no mechanic but couldn't they jump-start the car in order to test the clutch?

[Sieyt]

A Jump start and a test drive would have been logical!

The saga continues......................................... ......

[jimjiber]

Well I just got the car back. The monkey in a suit was VERY reluctant to give me a receipt for the work done, and I quote:

"well we did the work internally so we didn't raise a job number or anything"

I said I just wanted something saying what they did with a stamp on it to go with my service history. He printed something token onto headed paper (which he did not sign).

I am about to book the car in for a full service - I have to do this for peace of mind!

[jimjiber]

Just in case anyone followed this thread and wonders how it all panned out...

I took the car for a service on Thursday 19th July and was told that the car had been clocked.

I phoned the garage I bought it from and they said they didn't know it was clocked and I couldn't have a refund. Thing is they told me when I bought it that all their cars were HPI checked.

I paid for an HPI check on Thursday night and found it had done 132,000 miles as of September 2006!

I bought it six weeks ago with 84,000 miles on the clock. I spoke to Consumer Direct and Trading Standards and it sounds like Congresbury Motor Company haven't got a leg to stand on. I just wish I didn't have to go down the legal route to get a resolution.

[Sieyt]

No Way!! and you though your troubles were over once the clutch was sorted out. I really feel for you, you must make sure that these scum bags pay.
Please keep us posted on your progress.
Good luck :mad:

[jimjiber]

Thanks mate - I really am having a nightmare. :(

I got a slight boost today when Radio Bristol emailed me to see how it was going. They do a consumer programme and I think they love making life tough for the bad guys.

I would like to see these crooks go out of business. The only reason I went to a dealer rather than a private vendor was to minimise the risk of crap like this.

[jimjiber]

Just in case anyone is still following this case... I started County Court proceedings against Congresbury Motor Company (at a cost of £120).

A few days later "someone" magically crashed into my car while it was parked off-road and damaged both driver's side doors (and then drove off). I told the police and phoned my insurance who arranged repairs. It's worth noting that they didn't authorise the work for over two weeks.

A few days before I collected the repaired car, I got a letter from CMC's lawyers offering a full refund out of court. I of course accepted and said I would bring the car over the following week.

I took the car to CMC on Friday 7th September. The manager came out and went straight to the area that had been repaired. He then refused me my refund on the grounds that the repairs weren't good enough.

I then went back to the accident repair place and got them to do a better job. I picked the car up yesterday and all the issues CMC raised had been addressed.

I then phoned CMC at lunchtime today and said I would bring the car over this afternoon. The manager said he was going on holiday. I said I could be there in an hour. He said he was too busy to look at it. I said I will see him in court.

I can't believe this is still ongoing.

Some warnings to anyone buying a car...

1. Never take a salesman on his word. Do your own checks and get everything in writing.

2. If you have any doubts just walk away.

3. Read EVERYTHING you sign thoroughly. If they have any nonsense disclaimers just refuse to sign it. If they want the sale they will have to give you an amended version to sign.

[Sieyt]

Jimjiber,
Just wondered what has happened about your problems with CMC.
:(

[jimjiber]

Hello mate!

Still no conclusion. Should get a court date this week. Making some enquiries about a "geometric test". CMC will not give me a refund until I get one done, even though the accident was no more than a scrape and the insurance company did not think the test was necessary.

Seems as though not many places do these tests.

Looks like local radio station are getting interested in the story now. Maybe they can sort out a bit of pressure.

This has gone on so long now I am sick to death of it. I have lost almost a stone in weight through stress.

I will post the resolution here, if I ever get to court...

[jimjiber]

BTW - two days after the manager said he was off on holiday for a week, I got a friend to phone CMC to sepak to the manager. They spoke to one of his monkeys who said he would be "back in half an hour".

[mikethehat]

Hi... if anyone is still subscribed to this -- I was just intersted in finding out what had happened with it...........
Mike

[nigeljc67]

Just a quick post to warn off anyone one thinking of purchasing cover with Olympic Warranties/warranties 2000. Much as some of the earlier posts in this thread i am now a victim of there "prove its not wear and tear" defence. Leaving me with a £1200 gearbox rebuild. They are clearly masters of not paying out on valid claims... if you are a car dealer and reading this and sell these sh*tty warranties then shame on you.

whilst i am having a good old rant.. i got my car from Big Motor World in kent , also an unhelpful bunch and well worth avoiding if aftersales service is something you would like.

[newbjohny]

Hi, ive been reading this thread and am fascinated by whats been going on, I would love to hear an update about your court battle.

I just bought an Audi A3 last month with an Olympic warranty and was assured by the salesman that if anything goes wrong just ring this number and they'll fix it. Two weeks ago my gearbox died and when I rang the number they said I was only covered for up to £1000 and I had been quoted nearly £3000 from the Audi garage. I had to get it towed to a garage 7 miles away as it was one of their approved garages as if I drove it there it would void my warranty which came out of my pocket. They got in touch yesterday saying that they have given authorisation to fix my gearbox but I have to pay whats over the £1000 plus any costs associated with finding the problem as this isnt covered, I mean how are you supposed to fix a problem without diagnostics in the first place.

After reading this thread I find myself quite lucky for them to have authorised anything, but until I get the car back in my possession I am not counting any chickens.

Also re a courtesy car now that they have authorised to fix it, my policy states I canget a courtesy car as the garage stated it could be sometime before they get the part required. I phoned up olympic warranty onlyto be told i can only get a courtesy car if it takes longer than 8 hours to fix, I then said well yes it will, they've had it 2 weeks already and could take a further 2 to get the part, they replied that this is not fixing it, until a mechanic starts fixing the problem then the 8 hours starts, he then admitted that harldy any job would take more than 8 hours and they hardly ever authorise a courtesy car.

So to sum up, avoid olympic warranties like the plague. I hope I haven't just jinxed myself with this thread. lol

Drive safe!!!

[chinchillables]

:p http://top5choices.com/-pics-/ukww.jpg:rolleyes: WarrantWorks has never given me any problems... maybe I just lucked up and always had everything covered eh? :shrug:

[stevewild]

happy you got lucky as i just had a claim refused by a1 warranties who i think are owned by warranty works. it was for a gearbox. i've written to the financial services about them. will let you no when i get a reply.

[Stuartie]

Had my car in for a service today 26/04/2010 and was told the water pump was about to breakdown and should be replaced because if I did'nt replace it there's a good chance it would knacker up the engine. So I contacted Olympic Warranties to see if they would cover it. I was told, by a very smug lady I might add, that as the water pump was still working it was not covered as only failed components were covered. So I said, "Ok, the bearings in the pump are worn and only have a few more miles left in them so are'nt working correctly so this is a failed component surely? She replied No because it's still working. To which I said " So I need to drive my car till it's dead before I can claim, in which case why bother with a service to pick these things up. So whats the point in having a warranty. All she said was I suggest you get the water pump replaced sir. So just reminded her they sent me a renewal to extend the warranty and was told where she could place it. :D

Contacted the dealership I got the car from, they were as good as useless & just backed up Olympic Warranties. Although the cost is only £210 which is nearly as much as I paid for the warranty, They just would'nt budge & after reading some of the threads on here looks like I'm on a loser here.

One thing I have learned though, is, when buying another car they can shove a Platinum Warranty where the sun dont shine, they're just not worth the paper they are written on. My advice would be buy a warranty from the AA or RAC might be a bit more expensive but I bet it's alot less hasle.
:mad:

[Chef37]

well to follow all you comments here's my dealing with olympic warranties!

brought a car in Bristol...funnily enough for a previous post on here. irl let you know if they come good after my legal pursuit!!! although my sister-in-law is a sub editor to a local publication in Bristol so publicity won't be good!!!!!!

The bloody car I brought broke down last week and the "clutch"
went bang!

I thought great got 3 months warranty but they sent out an engineer to
my brother's garage and reported back something ----im yet to find out
the actual reason but they won't pay out.


My brother the garage I sent the car after recovery (established 25 years)and 3 other garages around his unit agree the clutch failed.
for mechanical failure not "wear and tear" which I think is the reason.
The thrust bearing smashed up into bits and in turn smashed the plates
etc..took out the crank sensor on route. after the inspection by the
warranty companies so called independent engineer ( I am not green enough not to know a engineer contracted by the warranty company will not return back a report which is in favour of the consumer!!!- becasue he wont get future jobs will he...Doh)
. All I need is a certified engineer to
support my theory it was mechanical failure...it's a long not very
funny story but the warranty company couldn't even say what constitutes
a clutch failure which is valid!.....the warranty book which i have is enough i think as it states what is covered...all the bits that are broken....! wear and tear they can try and prove to a court WHAT THEY DETERMINE by WEAR AND TEAR!

Sent letters and waiting for a response, just building evidence for a legal case....irl let you know how i get on...!

Its good u guys have the same problems with these con artists as this will support my case im sure if it goes to court! it aint the money its the principle...people are getting rich off Lies and worthless contracts!

Thanks irl post when I get an update!

[steviei]

I had a job in Leeds once and they were scammers, called Midland Coating Company, they sent door knockers round to little old ladies and bullied them in to signing away thousands. Last I heard the Directors had all got done for fraud.

I left after 3 days..

[Buster123]

well to follow all you comments here's my dealing with olympic warranties!

brought a car in Bristol...funnily enough for a previous post on here. irl let you know if they come good after my legal pursuit!!! although my sister-in-law is a sub editor to a local publication in Bristol so publicity won't be good!!!!!!

The bloody car I brought broke down last week and the "clutch"
went bang!

I thought great got 3 months warranty but they sent out an engineer to
my brother's garage and reported back something ----im yet to find out
the actual reason but they won't pay out.


My brother the garage I sent the car after recovery (established 25 years)and 3 other garages around his unit agree the clutch failed.
for mechanical failure not "wear and tear" which I think is the reason.
The thrust bearing smashed up into bits and in turn smashed the plates
etc..took out the crank sensor on route. after the inspection by the
warranty companies so called independent engineer ( I am not green enough not to know a engineer contracted by the warranty company will not return back a report which is in favour of the consumer!!!- becasue he wont get future jobs will he...Doh)
. All I need is a certified engineer to
support my theory it was mechanical failure...it's a long not very
funny story but the warranty company couldn't even say what constitutes
a clutch failure which is valid!.....the warranty book which i have is enough i think as it states what is covered...all the bits that are broken....! wear and tear they can try and prove to a court WHAT THEY DETERMINE by WEAR AND TEAR!

Sent letters and waiting for a response, just building evidence for a legal case....irl let you know how i get on...!

Its good u guys have the same problems with these con artists as this will support my case im sure if it goes to court! it aint the money its the principle...people are getting rich off Lies and worthless contracts!

Thanks irl post when I get an update!
Hi, New member - just had same problem with these fraudsters. Clutch slave went - messed the whole cluch assembly up - Landrover TD4 -£1000.00 !!

90 k on the clock - they claim wear and tear - sent engineer, who supported their claim - what a surprise!
Says its expected on higher milage, older cars.(all machinery has a finite life expectancy).

That why I took the warranty out!!!

I actually think their literature is mis leading if not illegal and will be taking it much further.

I will also be contacting the MD of the dealership group who sold the Warranty, suggesting they cease to use these thieves.

[MurdochL]

I have found the reason that Olympic Warranties/Warranties 2000 are able to scam you and get away with it, quite simply they are not governed by the financial ombudsman.

I find it hard to believe that car dealerships have not checked these thieves out before allowing them to advertise their seemingly great offers in the showrooms.

I recently had a shaft snap in my turbo and an independant engineer inspected the faulty part and strangely enough it was down to wear and tear.
The warranty claims to cover any age, any mileage hmm what they mean is no matter how old your car is and how many miles it has done they will still rob you blind.

Stay well away from this company, in fact from now on any warranty I take out I will check that they are governed by the financial ombudsman, if they are then chances are likely they are honest and will give you good cover, unlike this rabble, I have more faith in my defunkt turbo fixing itself than I ever will have of this company ever being sincere and honest.

[Sue Davies]

DO NOT USE OLYMPIC WARRANTIES!! they are a very unhelpful company of liars! I had 6 months warranty on a Porche Boxter, 1 of the front suspension springs went after 4 months, I called this company & was told to take it to the garage of my choice, ask the garage to ring them for an authorisation number & they would send me a cheque, at this point I was quite impressed. I had to have both springs done, in total just under £700 (this was not at a Porche dealer) I fully understand they can only pay for 1 to be done. After at least 8 phone calls of being told the money had been sent, the cheque arrived for less than half the amount, when I queried it I was told they only pay £40 per hour labour which is the average!! why was I not told in the beginning? The garage I bought the car from has funnily enough dropped this CRAP company.

[BlakeCGunn]

I used to sell cars for a number of years and the warranty reps would openly admit that their warranties were not worth the paper they were written on and were simply an aid to make the car sale more attractive. I would advise that when purchasing a new car, you have it checked thoroughly and keep it serviced in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines, as many serious faults can be abvoided if this is done and your levels are regularly checked. Unless you buy the vehicle as scrap, the trade seller has to give you at least 28 days warranty.

So overall, save your money and put it towards repair bills and service costs.

[steve wild]

I used to sell cars for a number of years and the warranty reps would openly admit that their warranties were not worth the paper they were written on and were simply an aid to make the car sale more attractive. I would advise that when purchasing a new car, you have it checked thoroughly and keep it serviced in accordance with the manufacturers guidelines, as many serious faults can be abvoided if this is done and your levels are regularly checked. Unless you buy the vehicle as scrap, the trade seller has to give you at least 28 days warranty.

So overall, save your money and put it towards repair bills and service costs.

Think you're slightly out of date with the 28 day limit under the Sale of Goods act. It is a grey area but 28 days will not work with most County Courts these days unless the vehicle is ultra cheap and even then it is up to the dealer to justify their position. Many will not want to do that.

Also the warranty, whether it's worth the paper it's written on or not is always in addition to the consumers legal rights. So as the garage were responsible for issuing the thing in the first place then they are directly responsible and simply cannot walk away if/when the warranty company says no and tries to hide behind the small print. There's a lot of hot air and raised blood pressure round here about warranty companies. Why not just issue a County Court summons against both the dealer and the warranty company. Make them joint defendants. Long before it ever gets to a Court hearing they will have sorted it out and you will get paid in full in 99% of the cases.