Fidelity Warranty Services

I just did a Google search for "fidelity warranty services problems" it doesn't look good.

 

Ha, I guess you get what you pay for...

 

I'm just not a fan of extended service contracts. I'd rather put the cost into my account and self-insure my own maintenance, even adding a few $$ each month. I know there have been instances of major expense, but when compared to the thousands and thousands of Prius sold, the odds of it happening to me are negligible. I firmly believe the insurance actuaries believe the same. After a year, I still have all my maintenance expense allocation, not counting oil chanages.

 

Of course Fidelity or anyone else isn't going to warrant the hybrid components. The minimum factory warranty is 8 years/100,000 miles. In CARB states it is 10 years/150,000 miles. On 2nd thought, for $10 I will personally warrant your hybrid components for 8 years/100,000 miles provided the car is serviced by a Toyota dealer.

I can't imagine any Toyota dealer not pushing Toyota's extended warranty as they usually make a good profit on it.

3rd party warranties (insurance by another name) have earned their poor reputation. Only specified items are covered. Especially on a Prius, IMO you have a worthless piece of paper. Are you sure you weren't charged for it?

 

Toyota Southeast uses Fidelity as their Warranty Service, it was offered to me when I purchased my Prius (and it certainly was not free!). Being as the standard Power Train Warranty is 5 yrs/60K miles, at least those components now match the mileage warranty of the Hybrid Components. Not a bad deal for free. The Toyota Platinum Warranty sold here is bumper to bumper, so coverage is much more extensive.

 

Yes, Toyota Southeast refers to the Southeast Region of Toyota Dealerships. I'm not sure how far the region extends, but I do know for sure it covers GA and FL and probably extends north to the Mason/Dixon line and west to the Mississippi.

Something else to keep in mind, TOG (a member/sponsor here on PriusChat) sells the actual Toyota Platinum Extended Warranty (honored at any Toyota Dealership) at a discount, and you can purchase it through him at any time prior to the expiration of the factory 3yr/36K bumper to bumper warranty.

So, there is really no reason what so ever for anyone to feel pressured into making a decision about an extended warranty on a new Toyota while sitting in the finance office at a dealership (unless you really like the guy and want to give him a big commission on the sale of an over priced extended warranty)!

 

SET (South East Toyota) includes FL, AL, GA, SC & NC.

 

Toyota Southeast is not dealers, but the Toyota Distributor for for the southeast region of the U.S. S.E.T. is a Toyota North American Corporate type of organization. I know others have sort of answered the question.

 

Fidelity is owned by the same company that owns Southeast Toyota (Jim Moran), so it's no surprise they push it over the Toyota warranties.

 

When I bought my '07 Prius, with 33 miles on it, I got STUPID and bought a Platinum warranty from Fidelity, that was sold to me for $2,398 from the finance manager. My logic at the time was that I would exceed 100,000 miles in 2 1/2 years, due to the commute I had to my job, which was 60 miles each way every day. I bought the warranty only after being shown on the contract, and assured that it was refundable, minus a $50 administrative fee.

Well, after over 4 years of waiting, I have arrived at the golden 100,000 mile mark, and have gone through the process of attempting to obtain a refund on this warranty. I called Fidelity a week ago to gather the appropriate information in how to properly file for a refund. I was given a fax number and commenced to go through the steps. The hardest part actually is driving over to the local Toyota dealership to have them certify my odometer. Well, since I am not buying anything from Toyota, they just make it difficult, and don't want anything to do with you. Nevertheless it was somewhat painless for the most part.

So today, a week later, I receive a call from Fidelity, telling me that because I had 33 miles on the car when I purchased the warranty, that my car had not exceeded the appropriate mileage to obtain the refund. Could I recertify the odometer with the dealership, and refax the paperwork.

A) Who uses a fax anymore?
B) Really? Are you that obtuse that you can't see the forest for the trees on mileage? 100,000 miles is 100,000 miles. I bought the freaking car new!!!!

Nevertheless, I digress. I want my $2,348!!!

Several things to share with you to consider.

1) Unless the repairs on the car would have exceeded $2,400 I would not have pulled out this warranty on a repair.
2) I just gave Fidelity over 4 years of interest free money to use as they wish. Foolish!
3) Try selling a car with this sort of warranty on it, prior to the warranty expiring. You won't receive a full refund of the amount, which essentially means you are locked into the car for the duration of the warranty, or you get screwed out of the warranty trying to sell the car.

Bottom line, steer VERY clear of this sort of shenanigans! It's a rip off!!!

Disclaimer, I worked for Hickory Toyota for a month. Scam on top of scam. It's all a big money game, and the only people that get the dealership's attention are the current customer in front of them getting screwed by someone. I'll probably patronize another type of car dealership in the future where I know they don't have the same dog and pony show that Toyota does. Their professionalism is a joke.

 

Fidelity Warranty Services is a RIP OFF!!! For obvious needed repairs, the company refuses to send an inspector out to witness the car overheating and cutting off. They said that seeing this happen along with diagnostic reports and tests from several mechanics for parts covered under my warranty aren't enough. The lights verified by the diagnostic report and the car cutting off in the middle of it being driven aren't enough and if it was, again they are not willing to send an inspector out to see. THEY are a total rip-off. The mechanics have all given me the same repor in that since the dealership is closed where I purchased is closed that I've basically gave them over 3,000 for a platinum warranty that they will not honor. I'm not sure if they are in a financial crisis, but I really hope this company falls to pieces and is uprooted, bought out, goes bankrupt or something. It is a shame. But, I wouldn't even go as far as to purchase another vehicle from any dealership that is selling a warranty from them. PLEASE do NOT make the same mistake that I did. Listen to all the complaints on here and DO not waste your money and get ripped off as well. Thank you. I hope this report was helpful.

Check out Yelp, Rip Off Report, BBB and other sites.