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Warranty Headlines Archive
Jan. 2004 - June 2004
June 2004
Most automakers void warranties when vehicles are used in racing or other competition events, but Ford SVT dealers encourage owners to drive in their track day events.
AutoWeek, June 30, 2004
Yarmouth UK used auto dealer doing business as Station Cars caught selling vehicles "as is," owner Lance Lewis fined £1800 and his unsafe cars are seized and crushed by local authorities.
Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, June 30, 2004
NHTSA proposes making 60-day deadline for quarterly TREAD reports permanent, but deadline for second quarter data remains at 30 days until final rule takes effect.
Syncata TREAD Act Resource Center, June 30, 2004
Warrantech Corp. asks SEC for accounting guidance on service contracts sold after June 15, 2003; says it can't file its 10-K until the SEC replies.
Press Release, June 30, 2004
Relex Software Corp. announces version 2.2 of the Relex FRACAS Management System, tracks failure data in a centralized database and now includes a dashboard view of production data.
Press Release, June 29, 2004
Lexus and Buick brands top J.D. Power and Associates survey of long-term vehicle dependability; Toyota, Honda, Porsche, General Motors, and BMW top the manufacturer list.
Reuters via CNN, June 29, 2004
Jagged Peak Inc. implements a Web-based product and warranty registration program for watchmaker TAG Heuer North America.
PR Newswire, June 29, 2004
Dell slips to second place in Technology Business Research's Corporate IT Service and Support Customer Satisfaction Study, giving HP a first-place finish based on responses from 688 companies in North America.
CNET News.com, June 28, 2004
Service Net Solutions LLC surveys call center employees about their work environment, makes changes, and cuts annual turnover to 40% in an industry where 100% is more typical.
Louisville Courier-Journal, June 28, 2004
Ford Motor's SVT Mustang Cobra assembly line in Romeo, Michigan had no warranty claims on engines during the past 18 months. Nine workers assemble engines by hand and sign each finished product.
Associated Press, June 28, 2004
Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung gain supremacy in Indian mobile phone handset market; Siemens, Motorola and LG continue to fade; and Kejian Mobiles has virtually disappeared despite their lifetime warranties.
TechTree.com, June 28, 2004
Columnist likes the Daewoo Lacetti, sold in the UK with a three-year warranty plus free servicing.
Sunday Herald, June 27, 2004
Managers at Comet, Britain's second biggest electrical store, forced staff to lie to customers to boost profits, an employment tribunal in Cardiff was told. Former salesman says customers who bought extended warranties were offered 40% discounts on products while those who declined got only 10%.
Daily Telegraph, June 27, 2004
Habanos S.A. and Cuban customs inspectors now on the lookout for tourists exporting counterfeit cigars bearing fake warranty seals on the box.
Granma International, June 27, 2004
Unnamed former employees of Creative Real Estate claim they were routinely assigned to perform work on rental property that was charged as warranty work to mobile home builder Horton Manufactured Homes.
Henderson Daily Dispatch, June 26, 2004
International Truck and Engine Corp. expects surging demand for diesels to help it recover from a costly mistake with Ford Motor Co. Defective fuel injectors produced by a joint venture with Siemens caused an estimated $50 million in warranty claims at Ford.
Indianapolis Star, June 25, 2004
Teleplan International to lay off 51 workers in Norcross, Georgia, shifting electronics warranty work to locations in Mexico.
Gwinnett Daily Post, June 25, 2004
The Flying Cloud, a catamaran ferry used on the Hyannis-to-Nantucket route, breaks down again. Operator now pays $30,000 a month to manufacturer Paxman for spare parts, renegotiating a warranty set to expire Dec. 31.
Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror, June 24, 2004
Philips Electronics announces international warranty on consumer electronics gear that provides replacement parts within 24 hours in Europe and 48 hours elsewhere.
AME Info, June 24, 2004
China-based Geely Group hopes to export the Uliou compact car to the U.S. this year, but a Commerce Department official says low quality could slow sales.
Detroit News, June 24, 2004
CustomerTrax builds a Web-based customer relationship management system for Deere & Company that allows dealers to track warranty work.
Destination CRM, June 23, 2004
Hybrid vehicles come with lengthy warranties, but many independent service stations can't or won't repair them, so owners fear high repair bills from dealerships once their warranties expire.
Associated Press, June 23, 2004
Hindustan Motors increases warranty on Lancer cars to three years or 50,000 km in a bid to increase sales, build customer loyalty, and tout the brand's reliability.
Sify.com, June 22, 2004
20 ways you waste money on your car, including not contesting rejected warranty claims.
MSN Money, June 22, 2004
Lab Results LLC offers free mold assessments to New York area schools using a black Labrador dog specially-trained to sniff hidden mold and moisture in walls. Basketball great Michael Jordan files mold claim against Dryvit Systems Inc.
eMediaWire, June 22, 2004
BMW of North American and Apple Computer Inc. to add iPod music player to most new vehicles, integrated into steering wheel controls and stored in the glove box.
AdAge, June 22, 2004
Attensity Corp. says Whirlpool Corp. is among the first users of its Relational Extraction Server 3.0, giving it enhanced access to warranty claims data, customer feedback, and field service records.
Press Release, June 21, 2004
Dixons plc to announce financial results Wednesday; analysts speculate what the company will do with its £525m in cash, of which £340m is its extended warranty reserve.
The Independent, June 21, 2004
Japanese insurers reopen investigations into accidents involving trucks and cars built by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. to see if the automakers should pay claims on vehicles that have since been recalled with defects.
Associated Press, June 21, 2004
Appliance saleman suggests putting warranty details in a plastic bag and taping it to the side of the unit.
Houston Chronicle, June 20, 2004
NASA continues monitoring Mars Rovers, still producing data long after the 90-day parts warranty expired.
Australian Broadcasting Corp., June 20, 2004
Consumer who sued Subaru of America Inc. under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act must pay defendant's $75,000 legal bill; judge found claim was fraudulent.
Business Wire, June 18, 2004
Ford Australia recalls 233,791 vehicles made before 2001 that used a specific failure-prone thread tightening technology in their steering columns; says analysis of its own warranty data found 28 similar incidents.
AutoWeb, June 17, 2004
Chevrolet hopes new Aveo's five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty inspires customer loyalty, even at its low $9,455 base price.
Detroit Free Press, June 17, 2004
Warranty Direct Ltd. analyzes its claims data and finds hourly labor rates in UK are highest in the Thames Valley near London and lowest in Scotland.
Auto Industry, June 17, 2004
NHTSA continues to insist that release of TREAD Act warranty data would cause "substantial competitive harm" to automakers.
AutoWeek, June 17, 2004
Warranty Corporation of America to use the services of CBL Data Recovery Technologies Inc. to help customers retrieve surviving data from failed disk drives.
PR Newswire, June 17, 2004
Wal-Mart sticking to its January 2005 deadline for going live with its pilot RFID implementation, expects more than 100 suppliers to be in compliance by then.
Wireless NewsFactor, June 17, 2004
Warrantech Corp. appoints Stephen R. Williams as president of Warrantech Consumer Product Services Co., was vice president of retail sales.
Press Release, June 16, 2004
Computerworld ranks Assurant Solutions number 14 on its 2004 list of the top 100 workplaces for information technology professionals.
Press Release, June 16, 2004
To qualify under Best Buy's lemon policy, attorney suggests consumers always write a note stating the problem that needs repair and keeping a copy; store chain is more likely to honor replacement requests when confronted with paper trail.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 15, 2004
How to turn an iPod into a pirate radio station by boosting the range of the iTrip FM broadcasting attachment, opening the unit, repositioning the antenna, and voiding the warranty.
Engadget LLC, June 15, 2004
Kentucky and Indiana among the states with the weakest laws governing used car warranties; vehicles can be sold "as is" even if they break down on the way home.
Louisville Courier-Journal, June 13, 2004
Tilley Endurables sells a pair of safari pants to a journalist, age 29, with a lifetime warranty against rips and tears.
Globe and Mail, June 12, 2004
Seagate India won't make one-to-three-year lengthening of hard disk drive warranties retroactive to previous buyers, but the unsold current stocks of distributors will be upgraded.
ChannelTimes, June 12, 2004
A.M. Best Co. affirms the financial strength ratings of A (Excellent) or A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook for the subsidiaries of Assurant Inc., including the Assurant Group.
Insurance Journal, June 11, 2004
Asurion Corp. plans to hire 200 by July for its Nashville call center, adding to the 600 headcount now.
Nashville Business Journal, June 11, 2004
Confusion surrounds warranty claims made against Shell for selling tainted gas that ruined fuel gauges; customers have trouble finding service stations that will do the repair work for free.
Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 11, 2004
Techtronic Industries, makers of the the Ridgid line of power tools sold by Home Depot, lengthens warranty to three years to face down criticisms of low quality and slow sales.
Home Channel News, June 10, 2004
Interphase Corp. opens new Web site giving customers access to warranty claims status, built on Vignette Application Portal and Vignette Application Builder.
Press Release, June 10, 2004
Blain Supply Inc., owners of Midwestern Blain’s Farm & Fleet store chain, to use ARI's PartSmart electronic catalog system for warranty support.
Press Release, June 10, 2004
Tarion Warranty Corporation, formerly the Ontario New Home Warranty Program, opens centralized claims department in Toronto to manage all homeowner claims related to new homes and condominium units in Ontario.
Press Release, June 10, 2004
Entigo Corp. releases Entigo Warranty 4.1, which includes support for Oracle 9i, WebLogic 8.1, JDK 1.4, and ILOG JRules 4.5, and promises faster installation and simpler maintenance.
Press Release, June 9, 2004
City of Norwalk, Conn., agrees to install skatepark in Calf Pasture Beach by year's end, Rampage LLC issues 15-year structural warranty, locals organized by Axis Boardsports influence design and agree to safety rules.
Norwalk Hour, June 9, 2004
Lawmakers worry about unusual broken welds on soon-to-open light rail line in St. Paul, Minn., want more information on the rails' five-year warranties, and say the new state governor has cut back on public disclosures of project's status.
KSTP-TV Minneapolis, June 8, 2004
Phu Nhuan Service Shareholding Co. opens a mobile phone showroom and warranty center in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam News Agency, June 8, 2004
Long Island Rail Road selects Maximo Transportation package from MRO Software for fleet management, work order tracking, inventory, material requirements planning, component movement, and warranty tracking.
Press Release, June 7, 2004
Sybesma's Electronics matures from a radio repair shop into a diagnostic and warranty repair shop for consumer electronics and vehicle telematics, providing remanufacturing services and root cause analysis for OEMs on an outsourcing basis.
Grand Rapids Press, June 7, 2004
Attensity Corp. awarded five patents for relational text index creation and searching, protecting the processes and techniques necessary to exhaustively mine facts from text and combe them with structured data for analysis.
Press Release, June 2, 2004
IBM Global Services to provide customers of storage-area network vendor Intransa Inc. with technical support and warranty repair services.
Press Release, June 2, 2004
Sony to withdraw the Clie handheld from the US market and regroup; serious doubts about viability of Palm OS surface.
BargainPDA.com, June 1, 2004
IBM pitches auto telematics and voice recognition systems in vehicles as way for automakers to cut warranty costs.
New York Times, June 1, 2004
Stihl Inc. selects Net-Compass from ProQuest Media Solutions as the parts, service, and warranty system to be used by its employees, dealers, and distributors.
Press Release, June 1, 2004
York International automates warranty claims processing system using the Allegis eBusiness Suite from Click Commerce.
Transform magazine, June 1, 2004
ShopKo Stores Inc. selects Warranty Corporation of America to administer extended warranty plans sold at the company's 141 retail stores.
Press Release, June 1, 2004
MyBusiness magazine recognizes Service Net Solutions LLC as the "best employer" among independent businesses across the country, citing the company's work culture and employee benefits.
Press Release, June 1, 2004
How one employer, Service Net Solutions, keeps everyone happy.
MyBusiness magazine, June/July 2004
Service Net Solutions LLC employs Michael Neumann to make sure workers take enough time off; flextime, sabbaticals and time off increase employee satisfaction and boost retention rate.
Treasury & Risk Management, June 2004
Diesel engines can be modified to run on vegetable oil, but it usually voids the manufacturer's warranty.
Syracuse Post-Standard, June 1, 2004
Information Builders CEO Gerald Cohen describes during an interview a dealer warranty management system built for the Ford Motor Co.
Intelligent Enterprise, June 1, 2004
Ten common mistakes boat buyers make when evaluating a new boat warranty, and when purchasing an extended warranty.
Motorboating Magazine, June 2004
May 2004
Scottish businessmen Brian Souter and David Murray save TransBus International Ltd. and 800 jobs by tapping into their "Scottish business mafia" connections in a last-minute bid to buy the bus manufacturer out of receivership.
The Scotsman, May 30, 2004
Profit at Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. plunges as warranty costs on watercraft fuel tanks soar, following recall of 1992-96 models.
Globe and Mail, May 29, 2004
Minnesota homebuilders mark the signing of a new law defining the statute of limitations for home warranty claims.
Finance & Commerce, May 27, 2004
Chrysler executive Dieter Zetsche tells the Executives' Club of Chicago that new vehicle warranty costs were down almost 30 percent over the last two years.
Chicago Sun-Times, May 26, 2004
Better Business Bureau of Cleveland gives Platinum Warranty Corp. an unsatisfactory rating, citing 278 complaints processed in the last year including 82 unresolved warranty complaints, some alleging months' delay in processing or paying claims.
Online Report, Updated May 26, 2004
The Service Roundtable introduces the Contractor Service Solution, an extended warranty program available to HVAC and plumbing contractors and administered by Equiguard.
Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News, May 24, 2004
Hitachi Consulting builds a customer service solution for Raytheon Aircraft Company using Siebel System's Call Center and Siebel Analytics, integrating it with external systems from the Federal Aviation Administration, JetNet and existing internal systems, and allowing service personnel to see customer-specific information about parts, order history, warranty data, plane ownership and service calls.
Business Wire, May 24, 2004
Microsoft plans to lengthen product support from seven to ten years, keeping five years of initial "mainstream" support but stretching extended support from two to five additional years.
Computerworld, May 25, 2004
Insight Direct Inc. says all Maid to Perfection cleaning franchises to use its ServiceCEO software for field service, customer relationship management, service contract and warranty tracking, and inventory control.
Business Wire, May 25, 2004
Best Buy charges customers $25 for "no trouble found" service calls, even when the unit is under warranty, to discourage unnecessary repairs.
Washington Post, May 25, 2004
Kensaku Konishi, the new president of Canon Hongkong, decides to extend product warranties to cover units brought back to mainland China or Macao, encouraging shopping tourism.
China Daily, May 25, 2004
Electrolux Outdoor Products Canada to use ServiceBench ClaimCenter and PaymentCenter to automate the claims submission and payment processes for its service technicians providing support for Sears Canada and independent lawn and garden centers.
Press Release, May 24, 2004
Platinum Warranty Corp. introduces Platinum Service Advisor, $99 subscriber service gives second opinions on what repairs should cost, provides do-it-yourself guides, and helps consumers find a local mechanic.
Press Release, May 24, 2004
Barron's magazine sees gains at Beazer Homes USA Inc. despite the threat of increased warranty claims from recent acquisition of Crossman Communities.
Reuters via Forbes, May 23, 2004
After analyzing warranty claims and loss data, GMAC Insurance MIC Group reclassifies 11 four-wheel drive vehicles sport utility vehicles to the same level as their respective two-wheel drive models, reducing the dealer price of GM Protection Plan service contracts by 27%.
AutoFan.com, May 21, 2004
Seagate enhances support level in India, offers three-year warranties for entry-level Barracuda drives through its 32 SeaCare centers, opens Web-based warranty authorization system that ascertains a drive's warranty status and generates a Return Material Authorization.
Cyber India Online, May 21, 2004
Consumer Affairs committee of the Pennsylvania House holds hearings in Philadelphia about a proposed lemon law for computers.
WCAU-TV (NBC10.com), May 21, 2004
Montana Department of Transportation gives one-year warranty on roadside trees it plants, but city of Great Falls wants $12 to $48 per homeowner per year for maintenance.
Great Falls Tribune, May 20, 2004
Service Net Solutions LLC moves CFO Wayne Schwertley over to the newly created position of chief planning and development officer, and James Mostofi joins the company as chief financial officer and general counsel.
Press Release, May 20, 2004
Red seats at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa have faded to pink, and Hussey Seating Co. is facing a $1.5 million warranty claim. Hussey wants time to consult with subcontractor on possible cost-splitting.
St. Petersburg Times, May 19, 2004
The Honda Civic Hybrid gets 48 mpg, takes regular fuel, and has an eight-year, 80,000-mile warranty on the drivetrain; three years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper.
Daily Times, May 18, 2004
Florida sheriffs, answering appeal of a reservist deputy now serving in Iraq, begin shipping their obsolete bulletproof vests to the front lines.
Ocala Star-Banner, May 18, 2004
Honda Motor Co. had to set aside $369 million to cover recall and warranty costs for 600,000 SUVs and minivans with transmission problems.
Business Week, Issue of May 24, 2004
Siebel Systems Inc. announces Siebel Automotive 7.7, with enhancements centered around improved communications amongst captive finance companies, dealership operations, manufacturers, and dealers. Toyota Financial Services is reported as an early user.
Press Release, May 17, 2004
Business intelligence software company ClearForest Corp. moves headquarters from New York to Boston and appoints Randy Clark as vice president of marketing, and Marty Siewert as vice president of sales.
Press Release, May 17, 2004
Kia Motors lengthens its domestic warranties in South Korea to 10 years or 150,000 km, in part to match its US offer, in part to reverse a sales decline, and in part to mark its 60th anniversary.
Chosun Ilbo, S. Korea, May 16, 2004
Repeat Performance, a used car dealer in New York City, flies by night, allegedly taking extended warranty insurance premiums with him. Regulators said the business had been operating without a license.
Staten Island Advance, May 15, 2004
Warranty work on laptop hard drive leads to student getting questioned by the FBI for posessing templates for printing driver's licenses and security badges.
Hampton Roads Daily Press, May 15, 2004
Under pressure from the UK's Office of Fair Trading, most new car dealerships voluntarily drop warranty servicing restrictions, allowing motorists to choose where to have their cars serviced.
Daily Telegraph, May 15, 2004
Warranty Gold Ltd. posts its twelfth notice of claims received, listing thousands of creditors in its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. NWIG anniversary is June 7.
WarrantyNews.com, May 14, 2004
Holden Ltd., the Australian unit of General Motors, must recall 130,000 automobiles to fix a defect in an $8 hose. Company said only 17 warranty claims were received before the recall of its 2003 model year Commodore, Calais, and Crewman vehicles.
Melbourne Herald Sun, May 13, 2004
ARI Network Services Inc. signs RBI Corp. for its e-Catalog solution, enabling the distributor to process orders and warranty claims from authorized dealers on behalf of 10 manufacturers, including Briggs & Stratton, Electrolux, and Kohler.
Press Release, May 13, 2004
State of Minnesota legislature passes law clarifying the statute of limitations for its home warranty regulations, sets 10-year limit unless a defect is discovered during the very last year of that period. Governor's signature expected.
Finance & Commerce, May 13, 2004
Ohio Attorney General files suit against the Platinum Warranty Corp. in Cleveland, alleges the company did not honor its automotive warranties, in violation of the state's Failure to Deliver Rule and its Consumer Sales Practices Act.
Press Release, Ohio AG, May 12, 2004
Gateway to outsource last remaining manufacturing activity, 300 layoffs seen at the North Sioux City location, but sales, service and warranty claims processing staff to remain.
Grand Forks Herald, May 12, 2004
Toyota Motor Corp. Australia nears completion of rollout of new IDSe42 warranty magagement system from IDS Enterprise Systems to 300 dealerships, helping it improve supplier recovery.
Australian IT, May 11, 2004
Hewlett-Packard plans to launch a high-performance gaming PC, and will allow customers to install additional components without voiding their warranties.
ExtremeTech, May 11, 2004
Dell settles lawsuit with former reseller Computer Disposals, which alleged the computer maker gave it products covered by one-year warranties but made them pay for three years.
iTnews Australia, May 11, 2004
Microsoft plans to exit the Wi-Fi home networking hardware business but will continue to honor its product warranties.
InternetNews.com, May 11, 2004
Cypress Corp. announces its DocuVault document retrieval system and iView interface received integration certification for the SAP NetWeaver platform.
Press Release, May 11, 2004
Alpine Electronics Manufacturing of America is closing an Indiana plant and moving production to Mexico, but the warranty department and customer service will remain behind, employing 100.
Daily Journal, May 11, 2004
Astronaut completes the scheduled replacement of ten warranty-expired smoke detectors on the International Space Station.
SpaceRef Interactive, May 11, 2004
Warranty Direct Ltd. cautions UK motorists against buying parts and labour insurance policies, saying their terms and conditions make it difficult to collect on claims.
Press Release, May 11, 2004
ServicePower launches version 5.3 of its field service dispatch and operations software. Key enhancements include the ability to spot jobs at the same site that can be done back-to-back, a preventative maintenance scheduler, and improved integration of the route scheduler and delivery appointment systems.
Press Release, May 11, 2004
Privately-held Service Net Solutions LLC reports revenue up 51% during the first quarter, with sales records set for each month. Factors include the signing of 2,000 Lennox dealers, a digital camera extended warranty program launched for Office Depot, and an electronics program launched for Crutchfield.
Press Release, May 10, 2004
ServiceBench Inc. says the ASKO North America divison of the AM Appliance Group will use ClaimCenter and PaymentCenter to process warranty claims and payments for its washers, dryers and dishwashers.
Press Release, May 10, 2004
New York state legislators propose farm equipment lemon law but farm equipment manufacturers see it as unnecessary.
Buffalo News, May 10, 2004
A slew of defects is dragging down Nissan's J.D. Power ratings and that could spell big trouble for the Japanese auto maker.
Business Week, Issue dated May 17, 2004
Computer Repair Systems launches an online IT services procurement platform with 3,400 service providers in the U.S. and with plans to expand to Canada.
eChannelLine, May 6, 2004
Apple Computer announces two more iPod battery lawsuits and two more iBook logic board lawsuits. The battery cases have been consolidated in San Mateo County, and are awaiting the naming of a judge.
Mac Observer, May 6, 2004
Dedham Auto Mall sells extended warranty policies backed by National Warranty Insurance RRG but won't honor claims following the underwriter's bankruptcy.
WCVB-TV Boston, May 5, 2004
Detroit Diesel Corp. appoints Glenn Lysinger as Chief Quality Officer, a new position, and gives him a seat on the Executive Committee. Jeff Wallis appointed as Senior Vice President of Parts, Service, and Customer Support, also will oversee warranty department.
PRNewswire, May 3, 2004
Samsung India predicts 40% growth in hard disk drive sales this quarter thanks to longer warranties and shorter turn around times for service.
ChannelTimes, May 3, 2004
Lakemont Homes president details company's response to service issues and expansion of warranty staff in Burchell Hill development.
Oakdale Leader, May 3, 2004
James J. Padilla, new chief operating officer at Ford, to concentrate on profitability even if it means lower marker share; wants quality over quantity.
Business Week, issue dated May 10, 2004
Ford engineer wrote memo in 2000 blaming parts supplier Donnelly Corp. for alleged manufacturing defect in light truck door latches, but the company declined to order a recall.
Detroit News, May 2, 2004
April 2004
Wal-Mart accepts first shipments of RFID-tagged products; seven Dallas-area stores receive RFID-tagged pallets and shipping cartons from eight suppliers.
InformationWeek, April 30, 2004
Dell Computer Australia to open shops and kiosks in several major shopping centers around Sydney, allowing first-time buyers to configure their own PCs with the help of on-site staff.
iTnews Australia, April 30, 2004
ClickSoftware announces the roll out of a field service scheduling system supporting Maytag Services’ nationwide All Brand Factory Service operations.
Press Release, April 29, 2004
Last Oldsmobile rolls off the assembly line; General Motors refers warranty work to other dealers but not always to the closest available location.
Lexington Herald-Leader, April 29, 2004
Two Australian resellers recount their problems with Fujitsu MPG hard drives and how they discovered too late that the manufacturer was issuing warranty credits in addition to repairs and replacements.
PC World, April 28, 2004
Minneapolis law firm Blackwell Igbanugo P.A. opens offices in Troy, MI and Washington, DC; appoints Jacqueline Sellers to run the firm's Warranty Litigation Practice Group.
Press Release, April 28, 2004
J.D. Power and Associates' 2004 Initial Quality Study keeps Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. in first place with a two-way tie for second between American Honda Motor Co. and Hyundai Motor America, and BMW of North America in fourth place. Big quality gains also seen at Hummer, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz.
Press Release, April 28, 2004
Ford Motor Co. vice president for quality Louise Goeser says carmaker's warranty costs fell by 27% from 2001 to 2003. Company expects higher initial quality marks from J.D. Power this week.
Detroit Free Press, April 27, 2004
DaimlerChrysler balks at further investments in Mitsubishi; focus on quality of core brands said to be distracted by investments in Chrysler in 1998 and Mitsubishi in 2000. Investors cheer the news; DCX stock price rises sharply.
The Car Connection, April 26, 2004
ServiceBench Inc. says Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America to use its PerformanceCenter Web-based data mining, analysis and reporting tools.
Press Release, April 26, 2004
Cardiff Bus reconsiders airport bus order placed with TransBus International since the manufacturer's parent company went into receivership. Trustees overseeing the bankruptcy now say they will not honor warranty claims.
Western Mail, Wales, April 26, 2004
New types of house paints are more durable thanks to new additives. Warranties of 15 to 25 years are common, with some lifetime warranties now available to consumers.
Indianapolis Star, April 24, 2004
San Rafael Nissan abruptly shut its doors, refusing to release customer vehicles undergoing warranty work and declining to release service records to customers wanting to go elsewhere.
Marin Independent Journal, April 23, 2004
Ford Motor Co. gives oversight of its global automotive business to Jim Padilla, the executive credited with improving quality and profits in North America. International operations oversight to be split between two people: Mark Fields to head Ford Europe and the company's luxury brands, and Mark Schulz to head Ford's Asia Pacific and African operations.
Associated Press, April 23, 2004
NHTSA to release TREAD Act data on deaths and injuries, but statistics on warranty claims and consumer complaints to remain confidential. NHTSA says the system is working, but personal injury attorneys and safety advocates disagree.
AP via Detroit Free Press, April 21, 2004
General Motors fixes Saturn's continuously variable transmission problems, extends the transmission's warranty coverage from three years/36,000 miles to five years/75,000 miles.
AutoWeek, April 20, 2004
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signs into law Senate Bill 446, which classifies vehicle protection product warranties as warranty products and not as insurance products.
Press Release, April 20, 2004
Attensity Corp. announces list of supporters of its "Lean Quality" methodology, designed to boost product quality and reduce warranty expenses.
Press Release, April 19, 2004
Consulting company launches Open Source Legal Defense Center, a set of legal defense services and connections to legal advice on Linux-related intellectual property issues.
SearchEnterpriseLinux.com, April 19, 2004
Home warranties help mitigate repair costs, but maintenance insurance purchases are no cure-all for many homeowners.
MSN Money, April 19, 2004
Australian supermarket chain, Aldi, sells low-cost notebook computers; product warranty, if any, is the responsibility of the supplier, not the retailer.
Australian Reseller News, April 19, 2004
Acer, IBM and Dell see sales of low end notebook computers soar in India, but businesses still want three-year warranty and support services.
Express Computer, April 19, 2004
ClearForest Corp. comples an extended third round of funding, adding $2.5 million to the $7.5 million it raised six months ago from existing shareholders.
Press Release, April 19, 2004
Pragmatek Consulting helps Toro Co. focus on improvements to supply chain, product lifecycle, purchasing, and warranty claims management.
Minneapolis Star Tribune, April 18, 2004
Board of Heritage Administration Services Inc. announces departure of president Rod Beery and his son R.J.; three executives named as interim replacements.
Lincoln Journal Star, April 17, 2004
Warrantech Corp. says review by the Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Corporation Finance is nearing completion; from now on the company plans to follow FASB TB 90-1 revenue recognition requirements.
Press Release, April 16, 2004
In reliability, Detroit forces BMWs, Benzes off the road. GM and Ford surpass many European brands and come close to Japanese quality levels.
Christian Science Monitor, April 16, 2004
Hewlett-Packard Sales Malaysia to sell and support desktop computers loaded with MyMediPrac clinical management software. Developer Millennium Practical Solutions Sdn Bhd to take over support after initial one-year warranty expires.
Star Publications (Malaysia), April 15, 2004
ASI DataMyte Inc. announces new version of Inspect, a software tool for collecting, analyzing and reporting defect-related data and reducing the cost of warranty claims.
Press Release, April 15, 2004
Hyundai Auto Canada hopes its new five-year, 100,000-km warranty turns around a recent sales decline before 11 new models are introduced.
Globe and Mail, April 15, 2004
The Ontario New Home Warranty Program changes its name to Tarion Warranty Corporation, company licenses home builders and ensures that they comply with the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, provide warranty educational materials and pay claims.
Press Release, April 14, 2004
IBM Business Consulting Services to redesign and manage customer service processes for Philips Consumer Electronics, including warranty claims processing, parts logistics, contact centers, field service management, and sales of extended warranties.
Press Release, April 14, 2004
Effective April 1, Baldwin Piano Inc. extends the warranty on grand pianos to lifetime of original owner.
Press Release, April 14, 2004
ServiceBench Inc. says its online system has processed nine million warranty claims and/or service dispatches for Whirlpool North America since 2001.
Press Release, April 13, 2004
Connections+, a computer reseller based in the UK, allegedly sold HP Care Pack extended warranties but pocketed the money itself. HP has terminated the reseller and is urging victims to contact the HP helpline if they need assistance.
ComputerWeekly.com, April 13, 2004
Apple Computer says it is investigating isolated reports of crackling sounds and interrupted play on iPod Mini music players.
CNET News.com, April 12, 2004
New Jersey Transit negotiates with Alstom Inc. for longer warranties as compensation for pervasive door problems on Comet V rail cars. Crews must bypass some door safety features just to keep the trains rolling.
Newark Star-Ledger, April 11, 2004
Toolmaker Uniweld Products Inc. fights counterfeit products from China, receives warranty claims for products it didn't even make, and suffers injuries to its brand image abroad.
Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, April 11, 2004
Yankee Group survey finds product warranty and indemnification is now a big issue for 45% of Linux users, up from only 8% last year. User modifications of operating system were attractive features, but vendors now say changes invalidate their indemnification policies.
Computerworld, April 11, 2003
Analyst sees training of overseas warranty-support service people an issue for Dell Inc. Following customer complaints, Dell moved technical support for Optiplex and Latitude computers from India to U.S. call centers.
InformationWeek, April 8, 2004
Hyundai unveils Competitor Comparison Guide in UK dealerships; computer system lets customers compare brands on price, performance, equipment, and warranty terms.
Auto Industry (UK DTI), April 8, 2004
Curtis Ford Mercury dealer in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania accused of accepting payment for extended warranty contracts he never initiated.
Associated Press via WGAL TV, April 8, 2004
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals 107 warranty claims and nine injuries related to overheating seat warmer in 2002 and 2003 Volkswagen Jetta.
Salt Lake Tribune, April 7, 2004
For third straight year, ClearForest Corp. makes the "100 Companies That Matter" list at KMWorld magazine. Company aims its knowledge management and business intelligence software at warranty claims analysis.
Press Release, April 5, 2004
Centex Homes doubles the length of its "fit and finish" home warranties from one to two years.
Orlando Business Journal, April 2, 2004
Olympus to provide global warranty on digital cameras, matching HP and ahead of Canon, which still provides just national warranty cards with digital camera purchases.
Techtree.com, India, April 2, 2004
Hyundai Auto Canada ups bumper-to-bumper warranty to 5 yrs./100,000 km; powertrain goes to 7 yrs./120,000 km; roadside assistance second only to DaimlerChrysler.
Toronto Star, April 2, 2004
Computer Manufacturers Association of New Zealand ends its warranty assurance program on new PCs and will instead become an industry association. Cost of program soared following collapse of a member company last year.
Computerworld, April 2, 2004
Dale Sanford TV in Berkeley to close after nearly 50 years in business; dropoff in warranty work cited as a reason, owner says manufacturers now prefer to replace rather than repair consumer electronics.
Contra Costa Times, April 2, 2004
Auto dealers and independent mechanics increasingly compete for maintenance and repair work after warranty expires on new cars.
Dallas Morning News via MENAFN.com, April 2, 2004
March 2004
Mayflower Corp. plc collapses, shares suspended, top executives asked to leave. Besides high debts, causes include alleged financial irregularities regarding warranty accounting at majority-owned subsidiary TransBus International Ltd.
Financial Times, March 31, 2004
Whirlpool Corp. selects ServicePower Field Service Solutions to develop system to process and manage warranty claims and dispatch of work to independent service technicians in the U.S.
Press Release, March 31, 2004
UK's Office of Fair Trading launches campaign to encourage car buyers to check the terms and conditions of auto warranties, particularly restrictions that limit their choice of where to get their car serviced. DaimlerChrysler and Peugeot said they will remove servicing ties from their warranties.
Press Release, March 31, 2004
Miami-Dade County in Florida awards Cascor Inc. a contract to handle its fleet's in-house warranty administration program.
Press Release, March 31, 2004
American Society for Quality's Automotive Division and Carnegie Mellon's Graduate School of Industrial Administration to co-host April 21 conference on reducing warranty expense.
Press Release, March 29, 2004
Apple Computer posts tips and tricks to get the most out of your iPod's battery, says new software addresses potential battery management issues.
Apple.com, March 29, 2004
Ford Motor Co. places its UK subsidiary Warranty Holdings Motor Insurance into administration after police investigate the company for fraud allegations. Warranty Holdings cuts 25 percent of its staff and ceases sale of new insurance policies, but will still honor claims from existing customers.
Financial Times via Bloomberg, March 26, 2004
Warranty Direct launches "Ecarnomy" discount club card in UK, provides up to £180 in savings per year including discounts on auto repairs and extended warranties.
Auto Industry (UK DTI), March 25, 2004
Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America Inc. honored for beginning construction of new warranty claims processing facility in Erlanger, Kentucky, employing 75.
Cincinnati Business Courier, March 23, 2004
Warrantech Corp. appoints Evan M. Rothman president of Warrantech Home Service Company, was with 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty.
Press Release, March 23, 2004
TeleTech Inc. begins accepting applications for jobs opening up at new Montana call center serving Best Buy and Circuit City customers with product inquiry, availability, order tracking, warranty and delivery information via Internet and telephone.
Daily InterLake, March 23, 2004
Public Citizen accuses NHTSA of unnecessarily keeping TREAD Act warranty data confidential, files a lawsuit challenging a 2003 Transportation Department regulation restricting Freedom of Information Act requests for that data.
Reuters, March 22, 2004
Meade Instruments Corp. selects VAC Service Corp. to administer the Meade Sky Assurance Extended Warranty Program for buyers of its telescopes.
Press Release, March 19, 2004
Sidewalks surrounding the Prescott Valley Civic Center are shifting seismically; town considers warranty claims against designers Langdon Wilson and Federal Insurance (representing the builder Cohen Contracting).
Prescott Valley Tribune, March 19, 2004
Warranty Holdings chief executive Peter Head resigns "to pursue other interests." The extended warranty provider, acquired by For Motor Co. in 2001, also saw departure of managing director David Shapiro in November.
Auto Industry (UK DTI), March 18, 2004
Second lawsuit filed in Boston's Big Dig, this one accusing Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff of breach of warranty and concealment of project's true cost. Originally planned for $2.6 billion, project now expected to top $14.6 billion.
TheBostonChannel.com, March 18, 2004
Proposed anti-outsourcing laws could require IT vendors to the U.S. government to provide warranty and support services to federal users with American workers only; such a separation could carry high costs and take a year to implement.
LinuxInsider, March 18, 2004
Harley-Davidson Inc. chooses Entigo Warranty to manage warranty programs, registrations, claims, recalls/campaigns and the supplier recovery process.
Press Release, March 17, 2004
Sellers of factory-rebuilt engines for general aviation tighten up on warranty claims, no longer giving customers the benefit of the doubt in borderline cases.
AVweb, March 17, 2004
City of Los Angeles grounds fleet of 172 new liquefied natural gas/diesel-powered garbage trucks, cites sticking throttles. Technicians working for Peterbilt, Caterpillar, and Clean Air Power have so far been unable to diagnose or duplicate the problem.
Miami Herald, March 17, 2004
Agilent Technologies Inc. announces certified pre-owned program for sales of test equipment through eBay; used equipment gets same warranty and return policy as new equipment.
Press Release, March 15, 2004
GM halts output of the continuously variable transmissions used on Saturn Vue and Ion; owners report hesitation problems to NHTSA.
AutoWeek, March 15, 2004
Nebraska businessman Anthony Raimondo, chairman and CEO of the Behlen Manufacturing Group, withdraws his name from nomination for post as Commerce Department's assistant secretary for manufacturing.
CNN International, March 12, 2004
Hewlett-Packard slims down business desktop PC line; 2000 series to feature one-year warranties and 5000 series to feature three-year warranties. A new 7000 series is expected in the summer.
CNET News.com, March 11, 2004
Connexion by Boeing, the aircraft maker's in-flight Internet connectivity and entertainment service, chooses AAR Aircraft Component Services to perform warranty work on its installed systems.
Press Release, March 10, 2004
Mold is the new asbestos; lawsuits and warranty claims rise as a result of mold infestations, but plaintiffs must meet a high burden of proof.
Mondaq, March 10, 2004
ServicePower Technologies plc works with KonaWare Inc. to add wireless scheduling and dispatch capabilities to Field Service Solutions, a system for processing and managing warranty claims.
Press Release, March 10, 2004
IBM vice president of technology and strategy Irving Wladawsky-Berger sees telematics chips in cars helping OEMs predict warranty costs; sees IBM having role in data collection.
InfoWorld, March 9, 2004
Toyota and Ford face safety probes regarding Camry and Windstar; NHTSA also upgrades investigation of seat-belts in Kia Sephia and Sportage models after counting 1,495 warranty claims, 35 crashes and 36 injuries.
Detroit Free Press, March 9, 2004
The Reynolds and Reynolds Co. accepts the StoneEagle Group as a new vendor in its Certified Interface program. F&I personnel using the Reynolds ERA Dealership Management System can use StoneEagle's Service Contract Rate Calculator to accurately price service contracts prior to printing and signing paperwork.
Press Release, March 9, 2004
NHTSA finds pattern of 30 crashes involving sudden acceleration in Toyota Camry, Camry Solara and Lexus ES300 vehicles.
Reuters via CNN, March 9, 2004
Consumer Reports in April edition finds Japanese cars most reliable and European the least. Chrysler leads Detroit with 16 problems per 100 vehicles. Ford is at 18; GM is at 19. Japanese makers average 12 while Europeans average 20.
AP via MSNBC, March 8, 2004
Activplant Corp. tells Society of Automotive Engineering World Congress its enterprise manufacturing intelligence system monitors quality and throughput issues for six of the world’s largest automakers, including Ford, DaimlerChrysler, and Toyota.
Press Release, March 8, 2004
Consumer Reports endorses extended warranties for laptops and treadmills but questions their value for other products.
News 24 Houston, March 9, 2004
Subaru (UK) Ltd. chief wants list of VIN numbers of cars found to be allegedly costliest repairs, as used in Feb. 16 Warranty Direct ranking.
just-auto.com, March 9, 2004
Seagate plans to offer extended warranties on disk drives for $3 per drive; most drive manufacturers recently cut back from three- to one-year product warranties.
Computer Reseller News, March 8, 2004
Recall volume hits 19.5 million vehicles in 2003; reasons cited include tougher federal reporting requirements, wider use of glitch-prone computers, and an ongoing shift to electrical controls.
Detroit News, March 7, 2004
Opel president Carl-Peter Forster says warranty costs have fallen by 40% since 1999; GM Europe predicts break-even 2004 on 3% volume growth.
Detroit Free Press, March 5, 2004
NHTSA counts 529 automotive recalls in 2003; double the 1993 pace. NHTSA administrator Jeffrey Runge expects TREAD Act Early Warning Reports to spur additional recalls.
Wall Street Journal via AZ Republic, March 4, 2004
Dominion Virginia Power begins test-marketing $2.75/mo. extended warranty plans covering home plumbing, water lines, and in-home electrical repair services; also covers gas and sewer line repairs in its Ohio and Pennsylvania territories.
The Hook, March 4, 2004
ServiceBench Inc. closes $3.2 million investment round led by JMI Equity Fund with participation by NextGen Capital, WomenAngels and WWC Capital Fund; discloses profitable 2003.
Press Release, March 4, 2004
Semiconductor test equipment maker InTest Corp. reports fourth-quarter net loss blamed on inventory obsolescence and an increase in its product-warranty reserve.
Philadelphia Business Journal, March 4, 2004
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein downgrade Dixons shares to "reduce," says adverse extended warranty accounting shifts will offset the company’s near-term earnings growth potential.
New Ratings, March 3, 2004
J.D. Power affiliate Power Information Network LLC signs CNA National Warranty Corp., will provide PowerMenu and PowerTracking Web-based software applications to CNA National dealerships nationwide, helping F&I managers price and sell extended warranties.
F&I Management & Technology Magazine, March 3, 2004
Woman pickets used car dealership that allegedly sold her a lemon; dealer claims warranty ran out long ago on catalytic converter.
Kennebec Journal, March 3, 2004
General Electric Consumer & Industrial selects ServicePower Technologies plc to process warranty claims and manage service technician dispatch. The ServiceMobility application will be offered to 10,000 third party servicers. ServicePower acquires ClaimWorks from KeyPrestige Inc.
Press Release, March 2, 2004
Caterpillar Inc. to offer remanufacturing services to companies in automotive, defense, and industrial products. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services will use six remanufacturing facilities in the U.S., Europe and Mexico.
Press Release, March 2, 2004
Visteon Corp. air filter is finalist for 2004 Automotive News Premier Automotive Supplier's Contribution to Excellence Award; its 200,000-mile life cuts warranty costs and saves consumers up to $150 over the life of the vehicle.
Press Release, March 2, 2004
New French owners of Whitechapel Foundry seek to remake Liberty Bell 252 years after it cracked; UK factory was scene of 1976 protest by the Procrastinators Society of America, asking "what about the warranty?"
Baltimore Sun, March 1, 2004
Volkswagen of America selects Cyclone Commerce Inc. for new dealer and supplier network; follows STAR and XML standards.
XMLmania.com, March 1, 2004
Publicly-held auto dealerships tally up their profits per vehicle from sales of extended service contracts and GAP coverage.
Ward's Dealer Business, March 1, 2004
February 2004
Memorial Causeway Bridge in Clearwater, Fla., built by PCL Civil Constructors, has cracks in concrete footings. State Dept. of Transportation, which bought the bridge without a warranty, now wants one.
St. Petersburg Times, Feb. 28, 2004
Alpha Data Systems adds online warranty claims processing module to Boat/Track manufacturing software, aimed at manufacturers and dealers who want to communicate via simple Internet connections.
Press Release, Feb. 28, 2004
Mega Auto Superstore Inc. in Farmington, Colorado, closes suddenly, leaving customers with vehicles without titles, dishonored warranties, and calls from repossessors.
Cortez (CO) Journal, Feb. 28, 2004
Subaru (UK) Ltd. disputes Warranty Direct survey that found its Impreza to be most expensive vehicle to repair in Britain, claiming that repair bills cited were for "grey market" imports that need special fuel not sold in the UK.
Auto Industry, Feb. 27, 2004
Firestone voluntarily recalls some Steeltex tires after NHTSA finds pattern in TREAD Act early warning data and notifies the company.
Washington Post, Feb. 26, 2004
Restructuring charges, including $38.5 million added to warranty reserve fund, drives Midas Inc. to report net loss for fiscal 2003.
Press Release, Feb. 26, 2004
Citing balance of consumer privacy concerns and retail return requirements, RSA Security Inc. unveils temporary RFID tag blocker that doesn't completely deactivate the tag.
TechWeb News, Feb. 24, 2004
NHTSA upgrades safety investigation after GM reports 61,025 warranty claims regarding tailgate failures in late model Chevrolet Silverado & Avalanche, GMC Sierra, and Cadillac EXT trucks.
Detroit Free Press, Feb. 24, 2004
Inamed and Mentor to offer extended warranties for both silicone and saline-filled breast implants. One plan, costing $125, extends coverage from five to 10 years, but doesn't cover infections.
Washington Post, Feb. 23, 2004
Beachcomber Hot Tubs chooses ServiceBench Inc. to automate its service supply chain and warranty operations.
Press Release, Feb. 23, 2004
Weaknees offers 320-hour hard drive upgrade for TiVo video recorders, but installation voids the warranty.
Akron Beacon Journal, Feb. 23, 2004
New Frost & Sullivan report, "North American Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Aftermarket," finds soaring warranty costs as automotive technicians replace parts without performing a complete diagnosis.
Press Release, Feb. 23, 2004
Raytheon Co. settles with owners of the Exelon Mystic and Fore River power plant projects, satisfying all outstanding warranty claims it incurred after divesting Engineers and Constructors unit.
Press Release, Feb. 23, 2004
WFTV Orlando says beware the risks of home warranties; consumers often find claims not honored.
WFTV.com, Feb. 23, 2004
At the National Design Engineering Show, Freudenberg-NOK unit Simrit reveals that new rubber material called ARM 2000 "substantially lowered warranty claims" for parent company.
Press Release, Feb. 23, 2004
Key hearing scheduled for Feb. 25 in Lisoni & Lisoni lawsuit alleging defects in Firestone Steeltex tire; NHTSA declined to reopen probe after finding failure rate ranged from 28 to 31 per million.
The Tennessean, Feb. 21, 2004
Kadant Inc. reports fourth-quarter operating loss in its composite building products business, blames increased warranty costs but adds its production process was changed to correct the problem.
Press Release, Feb. 18, 2004
Gateway, Dell, Toshiba, and Hewlett-Packard lure businesses with low-priced laptops, some with one-year warranties but a few with business-standard three-year plans.
CNET News.com, Feb. 18, 2004
It's supposed to take the stress out of buying a used car. But will that expensive extended warranty really be there when you need it?
KIRO-TV Seattle, Feb. 17, 2004
Warranty Direct says its average UK claim was £379.31 last year; estimates UK motorists paid £1.6 million for car repairs in 2003; lowest per-visit average was Ford Ka at £86.49 and highest was Subaru Impreza at £1,623.
Press Release, Feb. 16, 2004
SRI Sports, makers of AstroTurf, AstroPlay and NeXturf, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, complicating artificial turf installation under way at Metrodome.
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune, Feb. 14, 2004
ServiceMaster Co. reports 2003 revenue up 2% over 2002; American Home Shield revenue up 6% for the year to $450 million. Operating income up 21% for the home warranty segment; company says good weather and higher deductibles produced lower claims rates.
Press Release, Feb. 12, 2004
Entigo Corp. to resell Syncata's Tread Reporting Engine in conjunction with Entigo Warranty; combined products collect and analyze warranty data, and generate quarterly TREAD Act reports.
Press Release, Feb. 11, 2004
BMW of North America LLC to launch an extended warranty program for older and high-mileage vehicles to boost sales of certified used cars.
AutoWeek, Feb. 10, 2004
Apple Computer's latest Form 10-Q acknowledges five separate class action suits regarding iPod battery life.
Reuters via News.com, Feb. 10, 2004
Aon Warranty Group and Guitar Center announce a joint warranty protection plan initiative that includes unlimited repairs, free shipping, online repair authorizations, full replacement on specific models, and doubles Guitar Center's return policy and price guarantee.
Press Release, Feb. 10, 2004
Philips to stop selling VCRs in Australia immediately but will continue repairing units still under warranty; soaring popularity of DVDs cited.
Australian Broadcasting Corp., Feb. 10, 2004
Assurant Inc. completes initial public offering of 92 million shares, Fortis Insurance NV retains 35% ownership. NYSE symbol is AIZ.
Press Release, Feb. 6, 2004
Warranty Corporation of America (WaCA) appoints Michael Costanza as executive vice president of sales.
Press Release, Feb. 4, 2004
All-in-one electronic gadgets test consumers patience; researchers find 30% of all home networking products sold are returned because consumers could not install them.
CNN Money, Feb. 2, 2004
Claiming annual growth rate over 3300%, Platinum Warranty Corp. plans to hire up to 10 independent sales reps in each state, as both full- and part-time positions.
Business Wire, Feb. 2, 2004
Warrantech Corp. launches Power Pack software interface for automotive dealers to use as they sell new One World extended warranty packages. With Power Pack, F&I manager can demonstrate effects of various service plan financing and coverage options.
Press Release, Feb. 1, 2004
Lawsuit seeks $2.9 billion from contractors for breach of warranty in Boston's Big Dig highway project. Project was budgeted at $2.6 billion but ended up costing $14.6 billion.
Associated Press, Feb. 3, 2004
Freeze/thaw cycle blamed for rise in false alarms from new hard-wired smoke detectors in the Chicago area. Thicker insulation suggested.
Daily Southtown, Feb. 1, 2004
January 2004
Warrantech Corp. introduces the One World automotive extended warranty plan. Customers can choose multiple combinations of time and mileage, or optional coverage of vehicle entertainment and navigation systems, and an F&I manager can show them the price in seconds.
Press Release, Jan. 31, 2004
Chrysler Group president and CEO Dieter Zetsche says at National Automobile Dealers Association show that company is "on plan" to eliminate quality gap by 2007; ending perception gap may take longer.
Press Release, Jan. 31, 2004
Universal Underwriters Group, part of Zurich North America, to use NAT SCS Automotive Platform instead of its own system to sell aftermarket and insurance products in automotive dealerships.
Press Release, Jan. 31, 2004 (PDF file)
Advent Resources Inc. integrates its automotive finance and insurance tools with the NAT Inc. eGateway and eMenu systems, compatible with ADP and Reynolds & Reynolds dealer management systems.
Press Release, Jan. 31, 2004 (PDF file)
Syngress Publishing debuts new book, Hardware Hacking: Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty, advises consumers to break open a few plastic cases and alter their toys in ways the manufacturers probably never intended.
Wired Magazine, Jan. 30, 2004
Service Net Solutions president Kevin Callahan takes over as CEO, while founder Lansdon Robbins continues as chairman; both have worked at Service Net since leaving GE in 1996.
Press Release, Jan. 29, 2004
General Motors' GMAC Real Estate unit to resell HMS National's home warranty program; to be branded as the GMAC Real Estate Home Protection Plan.
Business Wire, Jan. 29, 2004
Kesa Electricals says sales of extended warranties at its Comet chain in the UK were impacted by adverse publicity of recent government probe.
Guardian, Jan. 28, 2004
The Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement, formerly called the Anti-Gray Market Alliance, expands activities worldwide.
Information Week, Jan. 27, 2004
Warranty chain management is real, and it's bigger than Hollywood.
Line56.com, Jan. 27, 2004
Apple's overlooked upside: Wall Street yawns following strong earnings report, citing slack sales and hardware problems.
Business Week, Jan. 26, 2004
Technology columnist Gene Steinberg details the problems and solutions to Apple Computer's recent hardware glitches.
USA Today, Jan. 26, 2004
Lincoln Journal Star publishes a special section and online timeline of what went wrong at National Warranty Insurance RRG and Warranty Gold Ltd., and what regulators are now doing about these extended warranty insolvencies.
Lincoln Journal Star, Jan. 26, 2004
NHTSA denies petitions requesting modification of 500-vehicle threshold requiring comprehensive Early Warning Reporting.
Federal Register via Syncata Web site, Jan. 23, 2004
Warrantech Corp. to provide insured vehicle title history information through TitleGuard, an offering of Vehicle Title LLC -- a joint venture between The First American Corp. and Experian Automotive.
The Auto Channel, Jan. 22, 2004
Homeowners, recounting their contractor horror stories, tell New Jersey state commission their home warranties are inadequate.
Today's Sunbeam, Jan. 22, 2004
NAT Inc. plans to debut new eMenu system for auto dealers' finance and insurance managers at the National Automobile Dealers Association show in Las Vegas.
Press Release, Jan. 22, 2004
N.E.W. Customer Service Companies Inc. plans to open customer contact center in Klamath Falls, Oregon in March. Initial staff of 120 projected to grow to 400.
Press Release, Jan. 21, 2004
Pennsylvania Attorney General sues C.A.R.S. Protection Plus Inc. of Pittsburgh, alleging company wholesales used auto warranty policies to dealers but fails to inform consumers of the policies' limitations. Lawsuit asks for $25,000 penalty plus $1,000 for each alleged violation of the state's consumer protection law.
Press Release, Jan. 20, 2004
ServiceBench Inc. adds Report Card feature to PerformanceCenter, gives manufacturers detailed analyses about the performance of their service partners. Servicers ranked highest get first access to incoming service calls.
Press Release, Jan. 19, 2004
Red Hat adds software warranty for Linux operating system that indemnifies users from copyright infringement lawsuits, follows similar moves by Novell and Hewlett-Packard.
CNET News.com, Jan. 19, 2004
Warranty Gold. Ltd. amends list of creditors who filed claims in its bankruptcy proceedings between Nov. 14, 2003 and Jan. 12, 2004. Alphabetical list now takes up 83 pages.
Notice of Claims, Jan. 19, 2003 (PDF file)
Cheat code in BMW M3 controller software allows driver to turn off safety features in sequential manual gearbox, can rev engine to 5000 rpm in neutral and "burn rubber," but do it 15 times and the warranty is void.
Popular Science, Jan. 17, 2004
European Union clears end-of-life auto recycling venture between Volkswagen AG and Salzgitter AG under fast-track procedures. Venture to be called Car Cycling.
EUpolitix.com Web site, Jan. 16, 2004
Cypress Software and Syncata create TREAD Act Accountability System to help affected companies comply with the federal reporting rules and regulations.
Press Release, Jan. 15, 2004
Nebraska Department of Insurance gives insurers of vehicle service contracts April 1 deadline to reform the way reserves are maintained. Despite past approvals of methods they now call unacceptable, regulators claim they were "unaware" of the way National Warranty and its affiliates did business.
Lincoln (NE) Journal-Star, Jan. 15, 2004
Apple reveals in its earnings statement that it incurred higher-than-expected warranty costs after white spots appear on its 15-inch LCD screens.
CNET News.com, Jan. 14, 2004
Cascor Inc. to provide warranty administration services to the utility and municipal fleet customer base of Maximus Asset Solutions, the fleet management software and services division of Maximus Inc.
Press Release, Jan. 14, 2004
Throwaway culture discourages out-of-warranty repairs of consumer electronics, hastens decline of independent electronic service technicians.
USA Today, Jan. 14, 2004
Edmunds.com Inc. says to qualify for its definition of a certified used vehicle, the warranty must be backed by the original vehicle manufacturer.
Special Report, Jan. 14, 2004
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation orders First Automotive Service Corp. to stop selling service contracts in the state. Linked to Warranty Gold since June 2003, the company named Dealers Assurance Corp. as its reimbursement insurance company, but DAC tells Texas regulators there is no such policy in effect.
TDLR News Release, Jan. 12, 2004
NAT Inc. introduces automotive aftermarket products and insurance digital hub, connecting auto dealerships with aftermarket providers of service contracts, gap coverage, theft deterrent devices, and credit life insurance.
News Release, Jan. 12, 2004
The ServiceMaster Company's president Ernie Mrozek takes on the additional title of chief financial officer, gives up the title of chief operating officer. Jonathan Ward remains chairman and chief executive officer.
News Release, Jan. 12, 2004
Faroudja Division of General Microchip Inc. introduces four new plasma TV packages carrying an industry-leading four-year product warranty.
This Week in Consumer Electronics, Jan. 10, 2004
Lucid Marketing study finds product features, style, price and warranty now as important as brand recognition in the consumer electronics buying process.
Press Release, Jan. 8, 2004
Warrantech Corp. adds new modules to its Web-based tool, WCPS Online, including Service Contract Submission, Dealer Sales Analysis and Express Claims Processing. Existing Express Service and External Servicer Interface modules enhanced to help service centers locate customer contracts.
News Release, Jan. 5, 2004
Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. adds 10-yr. 100,000-mile powertrain warranty in U.S. for all model year 2004 vehicles.
Press Release, Jan. 5, 2004
Klipsch Audio Technologies files lawsuit against CrazyEddie.com, 50TopSellers.com, AuthorizedElectronics.com, TheBestPriceStore.com, and HomeTheaterPhiles.com, alleging defendants remove serial numbers from products diverted to them by authorized dealers.
Press Release, Jan. 5, 2004
Petitions and class action lawsuits expected against Apple Computer over claims the iPod digital music player's warranty is too short to cover problems with its allegedly short battery life.
Reuters via Silicon.com, Jan. 2, 2004
Driven to Misery: How lenders and dealers fuel price gouging, racial discrimination, and fraud when selling service contracts to sub-prime customers.
Southern Exposure, Winter 2003-2004
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