We all get a lot of junk mail.
Catalogs. Menus from local businesses. Solicitations from credit card companies.
And sometimes we get come-ons from entities that are misleading at best, trying to sell us a service they imply we can’t afford to lose.
When one of those come-ons landed in Louis Pisciotta’s mailbox, he took note, but only for a moment.
“The large block letters, `MOTOR VEHICLE SERVICE NOTIFICATION,’ on both sides of the postcard resembled something one might receive from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. However, the first sentence in the body of the card sounded like a scam,” Pisciotta said, concerned that some people might fall for what he called a “marketing ploy.”
He said it was “deceptive.”
“The card alludes to some kind of existing contract covering auto repairs that is ending, that this program is needed to ensure your vehicle’s `continued optimal operation,’ and unless you respond in a few days to `update your protection program’ you will be liable for all repairs out of pocket,” the grandfather of six said. “The language is clearly intended to frighten, put you on the defensive, and furnish a quick and convenient remedy by simply calling the provided number.”
Pisciotta was right to be concerned.
The Better Business Bureau recently warned about these kinds of cards — though not this one specifically — and the Federal Trade Commission says aggressive and fear-inducing messages have fooled people into spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on extended warranties they can’t use.
The card Pisciotta received didn’t have any information about his two cars, but we’ve seen similar mailers that name the make and model of a consumer’s car, making it seem like the sender could actually be the holder of an already-existing warranty.
Phone calls saying your warranty is about to expire are common, too.
“During the call – which often begins automated or pre-recorded – you may be instructed to press a certain number or stay on the line, then asked to provide personal information, which potentially can be used to defraud you,” the Federal Communications Commission says on its website. “What makes it particularly hard to discern if this type of call is fraudulent is that the scammer may have specific information about your particular car and warranty that they use to deceive you into thinking they are a legitimate caller.”
We took a closer look at the 800-number on Pisciotta’s card, which didn’t identify the sender, and we were unable to find any ownership of the 800-number.
So we called.
The number is for Endurance Warranty Services, whose website says its warranty plan allows consumers to “Choose your own certified mechanic; Count on a 30-day money-back guarantee; Enjoy a FREE Year of Elite Benefits* including 24/7 Roadside Assistance, Complete Tire Coverage, Key Fob Replacement, Collision Discounts, And More!”
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports the Illinois-based company has a “pattern of complaints,” including denials of consumer claims. It said it’s received 1,449 complaints in the last three years and 709 in the last 12 months.
In December 2022, BBB asked the company to “address the pattern of complaints,” and the company answered with a lengthy response. BBB called it “sufficient.”
Endurance didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment about the mailer or the complaints.
PROTECTING YOURSELF
To protect yourself from unwanted mailers, you can take steps to minimize junk mail.
You can sign up with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) to eliminate many kinds of mailings. The FTC said doing so will stop most, but not all, promotional mail, and the organization says it will stop about 80% of unwanted mail. Pay a $4 processing fee and your registration will last for 10 years. If you don’t want to do it online, you can send your name, address and signature with a $5 processing fee payable to the Association of National Advertisers to DMAchoice, Consumer Preferences, P.O. Box 900, Cos Cob, CT 06807.
To stop unwanted credit card and insurance offers, the FTC says you can opt out for five years at optoutprescreen.com or call (888) OPT-OUT (888-567-8688), a service operated by the credit bureaus. You can also opt out permanently, but you’ll have to sign and return a “Permanent Opt-Out Election” form.
To limit robocalls, add yourself to the Do Not Call List online or call (888) 382-1222. Scammers, though, aren’t likely to honor the list, but it will at least get rid of some calls.
And finally, check with your carrier about what tools it offers to stop robocalls, or try Nomorobo, a service born from an FTC contest to stop robocalls.
Pisciotta also had some good advice to share.
“Scams and deceptive offers prey on senior citizens because they tend to be wealthier, and some may have diminished skills discerning truth from lies in our freewheeling marketplace,” he said. “It is always a good idea to seek another opinion on such matters by discussing with a spouse, a sibling, a grown child, or even a trusted neighbor.”
“Sometimes just the act of explaining to another helps reveal the pitfalls,” he said.
Well said.
Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.
Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KPMueller.