Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.

The full details are at
http://home.espphotography.com/peninsulaford.html

Short version:

I had a 2001 Ford Taurus, and the extended service plan (warranty). I
volunteer for a Volunteer Fire Department, local OES, and a large Air
Ambulance. I'm also a licensed ham (KG6ESP). I had a few two-way
radios in my car along with my fire turnout gear. No biggie. With 3 or
more people in the car, the car made a loud rattling noise at idle.
After a local ford shop looking at it, they stated the car was
overweight. I could only get the car weighed with one other person in
it, but my car was still over 600 pounds UNDERWEIGHT, and the 2 other
people I'd carry weighed nowhere near 600 pounds. After arguing back
and forth with the local Ford, they said "Too bad, we won't help you."
I sold the Ford, cancelled the warranty I had paid $900 into, and they
refunded me less than $500. They prorate the mileage I drove while I
had the car. I told them if they claim the warranty was void, they
wrongfully took my money. They won't respond. Ford Corporate sent a
letter only in my response to my Better Business Bureau complaint, and
e-mails and voicemails to Budco Financial (the company I paid the
monthly fee for the ESP to) go unanswered. I have Return Receipts as
evidence that they are being read by VERY high level people.

I want the $420 they wrongfully took from me - if my warranty was
void, why did they take it? The local ford dealership inspected my car
prior to letting me purchase the ESP, they said nothing about the
radios, but then when it came time to fix something, they refused to.

Anyone have any ideas? Any agency I can go to or even 'namedrop' to
Budco? I'll be making a long list of calls Monday to Budco, and I'd
like to have an agency I can reference that has some oversight over
Budco to mention. Do you think the Attorney Generals office would have
any interest? Would this be a Bureau of Automotive Repairs? And who do
I go after? Budco Financial? Ford Corporate? I did sue Peninsula Ford
(the ford dealership refusing to do the work) and they simply said
"You're suing the wrong people. All your checks are made out to
Budco", and the judge agreed.

I'm not a ARRL member, but if the ARRL would help out, I'd gladly
join. This is $420 of MY MONEY I consider Ford and Budco have stolen.
Needless to say, I will NEVER own another Ford in my lifetime.

Thanks.

Evan
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.

"Evan Platt" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.


As the car did not come equiped with a ham radio, "F* off" and buy a Toyota
the next time.

"Evan Platt" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.


As the car did not come equiped with a ham radio, "F* off" and buy a Toyota
the next time.

"Evan Platt" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.


As the car did not come equiped with a ham radio, "F* off" and buy a Toyota
the next time.

Interesting, they use Ford Crown Vics here in NC for the trooper cars,
just about all leo cars are the same model.

Sounds like the heat shield for the catalytic converter could have been
loose and vibrating.

If the dealer won't work on the car they they failed to honor the
warranty.
This gets complicated because these warranty companies that cover the
repairs are like an insurance company and take the risk for the fixes
and take your money up front.

I also would go after the dealer first since they are local to you and did
not
cost you much to do it.

Try the local tv stations, they have connections and also have the
consumer advocate reporters to help and it costs you nothing.
Sometimes a little tv air time can cost the company lost business,
a lot more the the money you are out of for the worthless warranty.

good luck

Evan wrote:

Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.

The full details are at
http://home.espphotography.com/peninsulaford.html

Interesting, they use Ford Crown Vics here in NC for the trooper cars,
just about all leo cars are the same model.

Sounds like the heat shield for the catalytic converter could have been
loose and vibrating.

If the dealer won't work on the car they they failed to honor the
warranty.
This gets complicated because these warranty companies that cover the
repairs are like an insurance company and take the risk for the fixes
and take your money up front.

I also would go after the dealer first since they are local to you and did
not
cost you much to do it.

Try the local tv stations, they have connections and also have the
consumer advocate reporters to help and it costs you nothing.
Sometimes a little tv air time can cost the company lost business,
a lot more the the money you are out of for the worthless warranty.

good luck

Evan wrote:

Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.

The full details are at
http://home.espphotography.com/peninsulaford.html

Interesting, they use Ford Crown Vics here in NC for the trooper cars,
just about all leo cars are the same model.

Sounds like the heat shield for the catalytic converter could have been
loose and vibrating.

If the dealer won't work on the car they they failed to honor the
warranty.
This gets complicated because these warranty companies that cover the
repairs are like an insurance company and take the risk for the fixes
and take your money up front.

I also would go after the dealer first since they are local to you and did
not
cost you much to do it.

Try the local tv stations, they have connections and also have the
consumer advocate reporters to help and it costs you nothing.
Sometimes a little tv air time can cost the company lost business,
a lot more the the money you are out of for the worthless warranty.

good luck

Evan wrote:

Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.

The full details are at
http://home.espphotography.com/peninsulaford.html

When you sold the car you gave up recorse to the problem.
The car is gone, let it go, bitching time is over, you are out the $$.
Overweight is BS, the "clams" at ford were definatly lying to you. They are
idiots to tell you that.
But, you could have found the rattle yourself with some friends too Not that
hard.
Radios do nothing to warrenty, Fords have been the choice for Cop cars for a
long time.
You were screwed by local dealer, go to corperate, keep complaining you
could get some $$ back, but you may have to have a lawyer write the letters
for you, for Ford to take it seriously, and that will cost over $400.
Live and learn.




"Evan Platt" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.

The full details are at
http://home.espphotography.com/peninsulaford.html

Short version:

I had a 2001 Ford Taurus, and the extended service plan (warranty). I
volunteer for a Volunteer Fire Department, local OES, and a large Air
Ambulance. I'm also a licensed ham (KG6ESP). I had a few two-way
radios in my car along with my fire turnout gear. No biggie. With 3 or
more people in the car, the car made a loud rattling noise at idle.
After a local ford shop looking at it, they stated the car was
overweight. I could only get the car weighed with one other person in
it, but my car was still over 600 pounds UNDERWEIGHT, and the 2 other
people I'd carry weighed nowhere near 600 pounds. After arguing back
and forth with the local Ford, they said "Too bad, we won't help you."
I sold the Ford, cancelled the warranty I had paid $900 into, and they
refunded me less than $500. They prorate the mileage I drove while I
had the car. I told them if they claim the warranty was void, they
wrongfully took my money. They won't respond. Ford Corporate sent a
letter only in my response to my Better Business Bureau complaint, and
e-mails and voicemails to Budco Financial (the company I paid the
monthly fee for the ESP to) go unanswered. I have Return Receipts as
evidence that they are being read by VERY high level people.

I want the $420 they wrongfully took from me - if my warranty was
void, why did they take it? The local ford dealership inspected my car
prior to letting me purchase the ESP, they said nothing about the
radios, but then when it came time to fix something, they refused to.

Anyone have any ideas? Any agency I can go to or even 'namedrop' to
Budco? I'll be making a long list of calls Monday to Budco, and I'd
like to have an agency I can reference that has some oversight over
Budco to mention. Do you think the Attorney Generals office would have
any interest? Would this be a Bureau of Automotive Repairs? And who do
I go after? Budco Financial? Ford Corporate? I did sue Peninsula Ford
(the ford dealership refusing to do the work) and they simply said
"You're suing the wrong people. All your checks are made out to
Budco", and the judge agreed.

I'm not a ARRL member, but if the ARRL would help out, I'd gladly
join. This is $420 of MY MONEY I consider Ford and Budco have stolen.
Needless to say, I will NEVER own another Ford in my lifetime.

Thanks.

Evan
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.

When you sold the car you gave up recorse to the problem.
The car is gone, let it go, bitching time is over, you are out the $$.
Overweight is BS, the "clams" at ford were definatly lying to you. They are
idiots to tell you that.
But, you could have found the rattle yourself with some friends too Not that
hard.
Radios do nothing to warrenty, Fords have been the choice for Cop cars for a
long time.
You were screwed by local dealer, go to corperate, keep complaining you
could get some $$ back, but you may have to have a lawyer write the letters
for you, for Ford to take it seriously, and that will cost over $400.
Live and learn.




"Evan Platt" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.

The full details are at
http://home.espphotography.com/peninsulaford.html

Short version:

I had a 2001 Ford Taurus, and the extended service plan (warranty). I
volunteer for a Volunteer Fire Department, local OES, and a large Air
Ambulance. I'm also a licensed ham (KG6ESP). I had a few two-way
radios in my car along with my fire turnout gear. No biggie. With 3 or
more people in the car, the car made a loud rattling noise at idle.
After a local ford shop looking at it, they stated the car was
overweight. I could only get the car weighed with one other person in
it, but my car was still over 600 pounds UNDERWEIGHT, and the 2 other
people I'd carry weighed nowhere near 600 pounds. After arguing back
and forth with the local Ford, they said "Too bad, we won't help you."
I sold the Ford, cancelled the warranty I had paid $900 into, and they
refunded me less than $500. They prorate the mileage I drove while I
had the car. I told them if they claim the warranty was void, they
wrongfully took my money. They won't respond. Ford Corporate sent a
letter only in my response to my Better Business Bureau complaint, and
e-mails and voicemails to Budco Financial (the company I paid the
monthly fee for the ESP to) go unanswered. I have Return Receipts as
evidence that they are being read by VERY high level people.

I want the $420 they wrongfully took from me - if my warranty was
void, why did they take it? The local ford dealership inspected my car
prior to letting me purchase the ESP, they said nothing about the
radios, but then when it came time to fix something, they refused to.

Anyone have any ideas? Any agency I can go to or even 'namedrop' to
Budco? I'll be making a long list of calls Monday to Budco, and I'd
like to have an agency I can reference that has some oversight over
Budco to mention. Do you think the Attorney Generals office would have
any interest? Would this be a Bureau of Automotive Repairs? And who do
I go after? Budco Financial? Ford Corporate? I did sue Peninsula Ford
(the ford dealership refusing to do the work) and they simply said
"You're suing the wrong people. All your checks are made out to
Budco", and the judge agreed.

I'm not a ARRL member, but if the ARRL would help out, I'd gladly
join. This is $420 of MY MONEY I consider Ford and Budco have stolen.
Needless to say, I will NEVER own another Ford in my lifetime.

Thanks.

Evan
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.

When you sold the car you gave up recorse to the problem.
The car is gone, let it go, bitching time is over, you are out the $$.
Overweight is BS, the "clams" at ford were definatly lying to you. They are
idiots to tell you that.
But, you could have found the rattle yourself with some friends too Not that
hard.
Radios do nothing to warrenty, Fords have been the choice for Cop cars for a
long time.
You were screwed by local dealer, go to corperate, keep complaining you
could get some $$ back, but you may have to have a lawyer write the letters
for you, for Ford to take it seriously, and that will cost over $400.
Live and learn.




"Evan Platt" wrote in message
...
Well, I've gone over this story a dozen times to numerous auto groups,
but the attitude there seems to be "F* off", so I'm hoping people here
would be more friendly.

The full details are at
http://home.espphotography.com/peninsulaford.html

Short version:

I had a 2001 Ford Taurus, and the extended service plan (warranty). I
volunteer for a Volunteer Fire Department, local OES, and a large Air
Ambulance. I'm also a licensed ham (KG6ESP). I had a few two-way
radios in my car along with my fire turnout gear. No biggie. With 3 or
more people in the car, the car made a loud rattling noise at idle.
After a local ford shop looking at it, they stated the car was
overweight. I could only get the car weighed with one other person in
it, but my car was still over 600 pounds UNDERWEIGHT, and the 2 other
people I'd carry weighed nowhere near 600 pounds. After arguing back
and forth with the local Ford, they said "Too bad, we won't help you."
I sold the Ford, cancelled the warranty I had paid $900 into, and they
refunded me less than $500. They prorate the mileage I drove while I
had the car. I told them if they claim the warranty was void, they
wrongfully took my money. They won't respond. Ford Corporate sent a
letter only in my response to my Better Business Bureau complaint, and
e-mails and voicemails to Budco Financial (the company I paid the
monthly fee for the ESP to) go unanswered. I have Return Receipts as
evidence that they are being read by VERY high level people.

I want the $420 they wrongfully took from me - if my warranty was
void, why did they take it? The local ford dealership inspected my car
prior to letting me purchase the ESP, they said nothing about the
radios, but then when it came time to fix something, they refused to.

Anyone have any ideas? Any agency I can go to or even 'namedrop' to
Budco? I'll be making a long list of calls Monday to Budco, and I'd
like to have an agency I can reference that has some oversight over
Budco to mention. Do you think the Attorney Generals office would have
any interest? Would this be a Bureau of Automotive Repairs? And who do
I go after? Budco Financial? Ford Corporate? I did sue Peninsula Ford
(the ford dealership refusing to do the work) and they simply said
"You're suing the wrong people. All your checks are made out to
Budco", and the judge agreed.

I'm not a ARRL member, but if the ARRL would help out, I'd gladly
join. This is $420 of MY MONEY I consider Ford and Budco have stolen.
Needless to say, I will NEVER own another Ford in my lifetime.

Thanks.

Evan
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.