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Warranty Headlines Archive
July 2005 - December 2005
December 2005
Allegiance Holdings to move Heritage Administration Services from Lincoln NE to Dublin OH.
Lincoln Journal Star, December 31, 2005
Two Alaskan contractors accused of making shoddy repairs plead guilty to conspiracy charges.
Anchorage Daily News, December 30, 2005
Country musician Willie Nelson touts the benefits of the biodiesel fuel he now uses in his Mercedes.
New York Times, December 30, 2005
Motor Vehicle Owner's Right to Repair Act would require carmakers to provide service and tool information to independent shops.
Laurel Leader, December 29, 2005
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority issues three-year warranty for electronic toll transponders.
Associated Press, December 28, 2005
Plaintiffs seek class action status versus Carlisle Tire & Wheel Co. in dispute over RV tire failures.
Associated Press, December 27, 2005
Directions Research survey finds only 26% would buy or lease a car manufactured by a bankrupt company.
Consumer Affairs, December 27, 2005
Memphis-area homebuilders cut back on home warranties; traditional 2-10 policies replaced with one-year terms.
WREG-TV Memphis, December 27, 2005
CA Magazine surveys 15 vendors of customer relationship management applications, and defines CRM.
CA Magazine, December 27, 2005
Fiber Optic Designs' Forever Bright LED Christmas lights last up to 200,000 hours and use less electricity.
Trentonian, December 26, 2005
Furniture makers can void the warranty if a power screwdriver is used for customer self assembly.
San Francisco Chronicle, December 26, 2005
SEC subpoenaes former Delphi CEO J.T. Battenberg III and a dozen other executives, lawyers say.
Detroit News, December 25, 2005
Mississippi builder says state lacks inspectors needed to enforce New Home Warranty Act.
Hattiesburg American, December 25, 2005
Italy's CNIPA office gives six ISPs official accreditation to deliver email carrying a legal warranty.
Italian Prime Minister's office via AGI, December 22, 2005
Toyota says warranty costs haven't risen despite doubling of US recall rate in 2005.
Detroit News, December 21, 2005
California Air Resources Board gets DaimlerChrysler to extend warranty coverage for catalytic converters on more than 90,000 light- and medium-duty trucks and vans from 1996-1999.
Press Release, December 21, 2005
DaimlerChrysler reaches $94 million settlement with EPA to repair defective emission controls on nearly 1.5 million Jeep and Dodge vehicles.
Associated Press, December 21, 2005
SAS ranks at the top of the list in the annual DM Review Readership Awards for Business Intelligence and Analytic Applications, and Business Performance Management and Web Analytics.
Press Release, December 21, 2005
General Motors discovers a seat belt defect on the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana through an analysis of warranty claims.
Associated Press, December 20, 2005
Fujitsu's responsibility for stock sale fiasco unclear; computer system's warranty likely expired.
Yomiuri Shimbun, December 20, 2005
Hawaii Insurance Division issues an order of liquidation for 1SourceAutoWarranty.com, PrimeGuard Insurance Co., First Assured Warranty Corp., and WarranteeWise Inc.
Press Release, December 19, 2005
Circuit City reports 3.8% of domestic sales is extended warranty revenue, same as in 2004.
Press Release, December 19, 2005
Warrantech selects Western Insurance Company and American Resource Insurance Company as underwriters after extending relationship with Great American Insurance Company.
Press Release, December 19, 2005
Gehl to increase earnings by 12 cents a share after resolving a warranty issue with a supplier.
Press Release, December 19, 2005
Continental Warranty co-sponsors Christmas party for needy children in Wilmington DE; George Adair plays Santa.
News Journal, December 19, 2005
Gripes about Apple's iPod warranty and repair policies reach Australia.
Sydney Morning Herald, December 19, 2005
Australian auto extended warranty company Promina looks to enter Asian market.
The Australian, December 18, 2005
Ford to lengthen warranty on intake manifolds to seven years and pay $735 to customers who already replaced defective units.
Associated Press, December 17, 2005
Cingular Wireless says aftermarket mobile phone faceplates can void the unit's warranty.
WRTV Indianapolis, December 16, 2005
New Zealand's Automobile Association to begin selling extended warranties.
Press Release, December 16, 2005
New "Welcome to Virginia" signs to be covered by a 12-year warranty.
Hampton Roads Daily Press, December 16, 2005
Overheating problem with New Zealand military's Pinzgauer vehicles is fixed, but new fans are too noisy.
New Zealand News, December 16, 2005
Blue plastic sheeting installed on hurricane-damaged roofs in Louisiana carries 30-day warranty.
Insurance Journal, December 15, 2005
Connecticut man fuels Volkswagen Jetta's diesel engine with used vegetable oil.
Danbury News-Times, December 15, 2005
Dec. 19 deadline to join Las Vegas class action lawsuit against partners of National Warranty Insurance Group.
Associated Press, December 15, 2005
Mark Brunelle's company, Hardware 4 Less, accused of selling counterfeit Compaq computers to nuclear labs.
Associated Press, December 15, 2005
Holiday Tree and Trim in Bayonne NJ sells artificial trees backed by a 50-year warranty.
San Francisco Chronicle, December 15, 2005
Ford's Power Stroke diesel engine drives up warranty costs.
Automotive News, December 14, 2005
Analysts say customers need to be sold on extended warranties, which Wal-Mart won't do well.
Dallas Morning News, December 14, 2005
Bobby Sutton joins Pete Stephens in allegedly deceptive garage door dealership chain that changes names to avoid warranty claims.
Tucson Explorer, December 14, 2005
Consumers represented by Handal & Associates sue Gateway over alleged defects in plasma TVs.
Press Release, December 13, 2005
Michigan townships choose 15-year warranties over five-year warranties for new sewage tanks.
Traverse City Record-Eagle, December 13, 2005
Symmetricom lengthens warranty on its Active Hydrogen Maser MHM 2010 to seven years to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Press Release, December 13, 2005
Apriso announces Version 9.3 of FlexNet manufacturing and logistics software, including a quality management system.
Press Release, December 13, 2005
LG monitor's three-year warranty preferred over Gateway's one-year warranty.
Philadelphia Inquirer, December 11, 2005
Ncompass to provide warranty service on computers state of West Virginia buys direct from Lenovo.
Charleston Gazette, December 9, 2005
Injunction filed against C.A.R.S. Protection Plus Inc. prohibiting diagnostic charges for Powertrain Value Limited Warranty claims.
Press Release, December 9, 2005
VAC Service sold to Bankers Warranty Group Inc., a subsidiary of Bankers Financial Corp.
Press Release, December 8, 2005
ServicePower’s Field Service Solutions Division to provide Sylvan Source with a warranty service solution.
Press Release, December 7, 2005
Sun Microsystems to sell three year service contracts along with new Sun Fire T1000 and T2000 system.
Press Release, December 6, 2005
Honey, they shrunk the warranty: some PCs and CE now sold with only 90-day coverage.
Bankrate.com, December 6, 2005
J.D. Power ranks Caterpillar C-15 heavy-duty truck diesel engine highest in customer satisfaction.
Press Release, December 6, 2005
Fitch Ratings revises outlook for Aon Corp. upwards from negative to stable.
Press Release, December 6, 2005
Customer says Microsoft Xbox 360 has a design flaw that causes it to overheat and freeze up.
Reuters, December 5, 2005
AMR Research says delaying an auto recall can cost $1 million per day; says Early Warning Systems can cut time by 40%.
Press Release, December 5, 2005
Firestone Tire & Service Centers in Washington to refund extended warranties sold in past two years.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 3, 2005
Motorpoint to provide first year of warranty coverage for Subaru models it sells in the UK.
Auto Industry, December 2, 2005
U.S. passenger car recalls fall in 2005, but Toyota and Ford see increases.
Detroit News, December 2, 2005
CNET asks: Should you pay for an extended warranty?
CNET.com, December 2, 2005
China's Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. makes its first domestic auto recall announcement; defective mirror light in Oriental Son won't shut off.
Asia Pulse, December 1, 2005
New Tango electric car carries 10-year warranty with on-site repairs.
EV World, December 1, 2005
Samsung lengthens computer keyboard and mouse warranties from one to two years.
Channel Times, December 1, 2005
Interface launches carpet tiles for schools, backed with a 20-year warranty.
Building Products News, December 1, 2005
Honda Marine introduces five-year warranty on engines ranging from the BF40 through the BF225 purchased between January 1 and April 3, 2006.
Press Release, December 2005
November 2005
Toyota's 40G campaign notifies Prius owners that hybrid battery may leak; one fire reported.
Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2006
Deceased musician Jerry Garcia's dishwasher and toilet to be sold "as is" on eBay.
BBC News, November 30, 2005
Warranty Direct UK releases list of failure rates and average repair costs for British cars.
Press Release, November 29, 2005 (Word file)
Discount retailer Costco is selling Dell desktops and notebooks with a three-year warranty.
CNET News.com, November 29, 2005
Analyst sees Best Buy's "Geek Squad" as an advantage vs. Wal-Mart when selling extended warranties.
St. Paul Pioneer Press, November 29, 2005
Nassau County Consumer Affairs Department reports a 350% increase this year in complaints regarding Sears.
WABC-TV New York, November 28, 2005
Domestic & General Group plc reports higher extended warranty revenues and lower claims rates for half-year ended Sept. 30.
Press Release, November 28, 2005 (PDF file)
New York Attorney General won't press criminal charges against AIG's Maurice "Hank" Greenberg.
Bloomberg News, November 25, 2005
Asus enters the UK LCD monitor market with a one-year "zero bright dot" warranty.
PC Pro, November 24, 2005
Dell Inspiron and Dimension units sold through Costco carry two and three-year warranties.
Current Analysis, November 23, 2005
Palm Inc. shareholder Sagio Investments urges company to cut its warranty costs.
PDA News, November 23, 2005
Microsoft sells service contracts for the Xbox 360 console: US price is $25 for one year and $50 for two years.
Web Page, November 22, 2005
Microsoft sells service contracts for the Xbox 360 console: Canadian price is $26 for one year and $52 for two years.
Web Page, November 22, 2005
Microsoft sells service contracts for the Xbox 360 console: Australian price is $90 for one year and $180 for two years.
Web Page, November 22, 2005
Carfax now offers a free flood damaged vehicle lookup service on its Web site.
Decatur (IL) Herald & Review, November 18, 2005
Intel says computer chips causing problems in China are counterfeits.
People's Daily, November 18, 2005
Arizona homeowners unhappy with First American Home Warranty's claims resolution process.
KPHO Phoenix, November 18, 2005
Bombardier service center opens at the Dubai airport, to provide regional maintenance and warranty services for Learjet.
AME Info, November 19, 2005
Chrysler to lengthen warranties from three to five years and give away free gas with purchases until Jan. 3.
Associated Press, November 17, 2005
GM, Ford and Chrysler compete with new rebates and promotions, including longer warranties.
CNN Money, November 21, 2005
Sanyo Canada equips new LCD home theatre projector with a three-year warranty.
Press Release, November 17, 2005
Norsat International lengthens its microwave equipment warranties to three years.
Press Release, November 16, 2005
Hewlett-Packard receives the J.D. Power and Associates Certified Technology Service and Support certification for its customer service.
Press Release, November 16, 2005
PA Attorney General sues Oleg and Angela Shtutman of Value Kia for numerous violations, including not honoring used car warranties.
Press Release, November 15, 2005
N.E.W. Customer Service Companies wins a 2006 International CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award for its Warranty Minder Web portal.
Press Release, November 15, 2005
Aon Corp. considers selling its warranty, credit insurance and property & casualty underwriting businesses.
Press Release, November 15, 2005
Volvo agrees with the California Air Resources Board to lengthen the warranty on faulty throttles from seven to 10 years.
Associated Press, November 15, 2005
Wal-Mart Stores reports $69 million in product warranty program expenses in quarter ending Oct. 31.
Press Release, November 14, 2005
IBM opening a new warranty repair center for its tape drives in Singapore.
CMPnet Asia, November 14, 2005
Warrantech Corp. appoints David J. Workman president of the company’s consumer product services division.
Press Release, November 14, 2005
Consumers filing complaints list five reasons not to buy an extended warranty.
Consumer Affairs, November 14, 2005
Planar LCD screens have industry-leading three-year warranties with a two-day advance replacement clause.
Entrepreneur magazine, November 14, 2005
Consumer advocate suggests scanning or copying recepits printed on thermal paper before they fade.
Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 13, 2005
SmashMyiPod.com crew buys an iPod, declines the extended warranty, and crushes it in front of the salesman.
Globe and Mail, November 12, 2005
AMR Research seeks participants for a survey examining the management of parts returns and the use of warranty data.
Online Posting, November 11, 2005
A.M. Best Co. affirms the B++ (Very Good) rating of Aon's UK underwriter, London General Insurance Co. Ltd.
Press Release, November 11, 2005
By selling discounted extended warranties, Wal-Mart is attacking the business model of Circuit City and Best Buy.
Business Week, November 10, 2005
Ultimate Warranty Corp. agrees to offer its automotive aftermarket products through the eMenu interface of DealerTrack Aftermarket Services.
Press Release, November 10, 2005
J.D. Power and Associates' 2005 Major Home Appliance Study ranks KitchenAid and Samsung highest in customer satifaction for dishwashers, ovens and refrigerators.
Press Release, November 9, 2005
Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America home projector with TI's new Digital Light Processing technology gets two-year warranty.
Press Release, November 9, 2005 (PDF file)
Bombardier lengthens the warranty on the Learjet 60 to five years.
Flight International, November 9, 2005
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. unveils the Eagle Plus Warranty Program, bridging the gap between its jet engine product warranties and existing service plans.
Press Release, November 9, 2005
Jet Aviation Singapore will become the first authorized service center for Boeing Business Jets in the Asia Pacific region.
Press Release, November 8, 2005
Raytheon Aircraft Company places a five-year warranty on the airframe, engines, and avionics of the new Hawker 850XP.
Press Release, November 8, 2005 (PDF file)
Warranty Direct UK allows customers to build their own extended warranties, including or excluding specific components.
ITV Motoring, November 9, 2005
Harris Interactive survey finds 50% of respondents see warranty as a factor that has a great deal of impact on their purchase considerations.
Press Release, November 8, 2005
South Florida's local roofers say out of state firms' warranties are meaningless.
Miami Herald, November 8, 2005
Distributors of RedMax/Komatsu Zenoah outdoor power equipment to use ServiceBench to manage warranty claims.
Press Release, November 7, 2005
Celestica Inc. acquires Displaytronix, a company engaged in the repair, recovery and replacement of flat-panel displays.
Press Release, November 7, 2005
North Korea's Choson Bugang Trading Co. apparently grants warranties on motorcycles imported from China.
JoongAng Daily, South Korea, November 5, 2005
Does that F-16 come with a warranty? What happens if the U.S. government sells you a lemon.
Slate, November 4, 2005
Service Net Solutions LLC to administer service plans for Toshiba America Information Systems’ Digital Products Division.
Press Release, November 4, 2005
Warrantech Home Service Company launches new Web site featuring cartoon character Wally Warrantech.
Press Release, November 3, 2005
ServiceMaster reports revenue up 8% and earnings up 9%; American Home Shield revenue up 12% but income down 2%.
Press Release, November 3, 2005
Aon Corp. reports third quarter net income of $122 million or 36 cents per share, same as in 2004.
Press Release, November 3, 2005
Home Warranty Association of California says new 13 SEER requirements, effective Jan. 23, may boost value of home warranties.
Press Release, November 3, 2005
Western Star Trucks begins selling extended warranties for used trucks.
Press Release, November 3, 2005
Mazda North American Operations to give $500 to owners of recalled 2006 Mazda5 compact minivan and restart their warranties on Dec. 1.
Automotive News, November 3, 2005
Epson Australia doubles the warranty on the Epson Stylus CX3700 multifunction printer to boost sales.
Buy-n-shoot, November 2, 2005
State Farm Mutual Insurance Co. sued over salvaged car title settlement.
Associated Press, November 2, 2005
Queens district attorney closes down Black and Yellow Auto Parts for dealing in counterfeit auto parts.
WCBS-TV New York, November 2, 2005
Attorney David P. Meyer says numerous consumers are looking to join his iPod Nano class action lawsuit against Apple.
PC Magazine, November 1, 2005
Gregg Appliances Inc., also known as hhgregg, transfers its extended service plans to General Electric Co. and pays GE $21.5 million to administer them.
Press Release, November 1, 2005
Lawsuit brought by Penn Warranty against operator of a Web-based "gripe site" is dismissed; judge rules comments to be protected opinions of a disgruntled consumer.
New York Law Journal, November 1, 2005
International TechneGroup Inc. says it helped Sweden's Volvo Penta reduce warranty claims by 30%.
Press Release, November 1, 2005
Tire sellers and manufacturers differ on the merits of having new tire treads "siped."
KOMO-TV Seattle, November 1, 2005
Longtime ThinkPad owner upset with the transition from IBM to Lenovo warranty service.
InfoWorld, November 1, 2005
October 2005
Four executives of Accord Customer Care Solutions face conspiracy charges for faking warranty claims.
Channel News Asia, October 31, 2005
DaimlerChrysler says it has received only a small number of warranty claims on steering problem found in Dodge Dakota and Durango.
Associated Press, October 31, 2005
Seagate Technology wins Computer Dealer News Resellers' Choice Award for hard drives.
Press Release, October 31, 2005
Toyota expected to pass General Motors next year and become the world’s largest car company.
Times of London, October 30, 2005
DST Systems Inc. to merge its lock/line extended warranty subsidiary with Asurion Corp.
Nashville Business Journal, October 28, 2005
Reliant Home Warranty Corp. forms Reliant Insurance SCC, Barbados, as a wholly owned captive insurance company.
Press Release, October 28, 2005 (PDF file)
Business Development & Marketing Ltd. launches BDM Indico, a warranty analysis and forecasting package, in Europe.
Press Release, October 28, 2005
Wal-Mart Stores to sell extended warranties on TVs and computers priced over $300, administered by N.E.W. Customer Service Companies.
Press Release, October 27, 2005
Consumer Reports readers pick the 31 most reliable cars: 15 Toyotas, 8 Hondas, 1 Chevy, 1 Mercury, 0 European models.
Consumer Affairs, October 27, 2005
Nanometrics Inc. says it forgot to defer extended warranty revenue; restatement to decrease revenue for past 18 months.
Press Release, October 27, 2005
Automakers look for software to help manage warranty claims.
Managing Automation, October 27, 2005
Used car dealer Jesse Cavalone of Port Jervis NY pleads guilty to pocketing extended warranty premiums.
Middletown Times Herald-Record, October 27, 2005
Platinum Warranty's Anthony Hodel said to be behind the Nevada-based Automotive Research Corp.
Cleveland Scene, October 26, 2005
Readers write in to detail the scams of "Platinum Tony" Hodel.
Cleveland Scene, October 26, 2005
DaimlerChrysler says warranty costs set to fall.
Automotive News, October 26, 2005
Sciemetric Instruments Inc. says QualityWorX manufacturing quality analysis software can help cut warranty costs.
Press Release, October 26, 2005
Warranty Direct says MG Rover's last batch of vehicles suffer from elevated rates of mechanical defects.
Auto Industry (UK), October 25, 2005
Business First once again places Service Net Solutions on its list of the 50 fastest-growing companies in the Louisville metro area.
Press Release, October 25, 2005
Invensys Process Systems lengthens the warranties on its Foxboro pressure transmitter line from two years to five years at no additional charge.
Press Release, October 25, 2005
Plaintiffs seek class action status for new lawsuit alleging Apple iPod Nano defect.
Post Chronicle, October 24, 2005
To combat fears about longevity, Fujitsu General America to provide a five-year warranty on its new Plasmavision 50-series screens.
This Week in Consumer Electronics, October 24, 2005
Auditors find £8 million missing at Granville Technology Group, the owner of the Time and Tiny brands of computers.
IT Week, October 24, 2005
In the "conversation" of the market, a warranty is a signal to the buyer that the seller believes the product is reliable.
Forbes, October 24, 2005
Because of weak consumer protection laws, Georgia is seen as one of the worst places to buy a used car.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, October 23, 2005
Home Warranty Association of California says 90% of homes in the state are sold with a warranty, vs. 50% in TX, FL, and AZ.
San Francisco Chronicle, October 23, 2005
Man buys a 1996 Ferrari F355 Spider Convertible for $69,900 on eBay, but now says it's a lemon.
Greeley Tribune, October 22, 2005
Even with a 50-year warranty, Royal Prestige cookware is still a waste of money.
Consumer Affairs, October 22, 2005
Scott A. Burnell, former owner of Burnco Auto Sales, accused of pocketing extended warranty premiums.
Victorville (CA) Daily Press, October 21, 2005
Ford Motor Co. blames third quarter loss on weaker SUV demand, lower prices and higher warranty expenses.
Detroit News, October 20, 2005
Vertu, a subsidiary of Nokia, to make 200 diamond-encrusted mobile phones priced up to £50,000 but covered by only a year's warranty.
The Guardian (UK), October 20, 2005
Bankruptcy judge orders Platinum Warranty to hand over eight office PCs to investigators, but CEO Anthony Hodel can find only six.
Cleveland Scene, October 19, 2005 (last item)
Monaco Coach lays off 225 employees in human resources, accounting and warranty service departments.
Eugene Register-Guard, October 19, 2005
Asian Toy Source Ltd. announces device that connects the Sony PlayStation Portable to any TV screen, but doesn't void the unit's warranty.
Press Release, October 19, 2005
Lenovo launches ThinkCentre E Series of desktop PCs, prices start at $379, warranty one year, extended warranties also for sale.
Press Release, October 18, 2005
Kelon Electrical Holding Co Ltd is back in business after receiving cash infusion from Hisense Group and orders from its distributors.
Asia Times, October 18, 2005
Hisense proposes swapping its refrigerator business for Kelon's air conditioner and small appliance lines of business.
China Daily, October 18, 2005
Ford of Europe debuts FordEcat, its own Web-based electronic parts catalog, built on Enigma's 3C Platform.
Press Release, October 17, 2005
A look inside the mobile phone repair center of ATC Logistics, a subsidiary of Aftermarket Technology Corp.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 17, 2005
Vermont Dept. of Motor Vehicles sees 20% decline in lemon law refunds in year ended June 30.
Rutland Herald, October 16, 2005
Boston Scientific issues one-year warranty on its new Taxus coronary stent without knowing the future claims costs it faces.
Boston Globe, October 14, 2005
Toyota recalls 2004-05 Prius after National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 68 reports of engines stalling.
Associated Press, October 13, 2005
Bridgestone to pay Ford $240 million to end a five-year dispute over Explorer/Firestone tire tread separations.
Bloomberg News, October 13, 2005
Diagnostic Ultrasound helps hurricane victims by suspending "Force Majeur" warranty clause for customers who lost their BladderScan equipment in the disaster.
Press Release, October 13, 2005 (PDF file)
Engenuity Motors International gives three-year warranties on their motorcycle engines to demonstrate their quality.
Press Release, October 13, 2005
Columnist details her run-around with Maytag/Magic Chef/Daewoo on an oven warranty claim.
The Chattanoogan, October 13, 2005
Aon Ltd. in the UK unveils Warranty Replacement and Acquisition Protection (WRAP), covering buyers in acquisitions.
Insurance Journal, October 13, 2005
ServiceBench Inc. named one of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in Virginia by Deloitte & Touche LLP.
Press Release, October 13, 2005
The rise and fall of Anthony Hodel and Platinum Warranty Corp.
Cleveland Scene, October 12, 2005
SAP AG unveils new versions of 28 SAP Best Practices offerings, including Warranty Processing with Returnable Parts for the automotive industry.
Press Release, October 12, 2005
Dealer says best ways to detect a flood vehicle are through a mildew smell inside and rust on the frame.
WMDT-TV, Salisbury MD, October 12, 2005
Land Rover reduced its provision for warranty costs from £222m to £188m last year.
Auto Industry, October 12, 2005
Sony UK to stress reliability of its Vaio Professional laptops, backed by three-year warranties.
IT Week, October 12, 2005
Sony Corp. reports problems in CCD imaging sensors made between Oct. 2002 and March 2004 for itself, Canon, Konica Minolta, and others.
Photographic Magazine, October 11, 2005
The story behind the Sony CCD sensor failures: researcher suspects moisture penetrated chips' plastic packaging.
The Imaging Resource, October 9, 2005
More to the story behind the Sony CCD sensor failures: three more manufacturers issue recalls.
The Imaging Resource, October 17, 2005
Ricoh Co. Ltd. issues CCD image service advisory that mirrors similar advisories from Canon, Fujifilm, Konica Minolta, Nikon and Sony.
The Imaging Resource, October 13, 2005
W3 Solutions licenses BlueRealm Solutions' WarrantyWare software package and plans to deploy it for both OEM and extended warranty customers.
Press Release, October 11, 2005
Toyota, Honda, and General Motors score highest customer satisfaction in annual Strategic Vision survey.
Associated Press, October 10, 2005
Seagate Technology announces a half-terabyte disk drive with a five-year warranty.
Press Release, October 10, 2005
Hewlett-Packard pulls ahead of Dell in home PCs with photo & printing innovations, and longer warranties.
Investor's Business Daily, October 10, 2005
Flowmaster exhaust system can boost miles per gallon, but also might void the vehicle's warranty.
Dallas Morning News, October 9, 2005
Delphi, the largest U.S. auto supplier, files for bankruptcy in New York on Saturday, secures $2 billion debtor-in-possession financing.
Associated Press, October 8, 2005
Sham sales by Delphi alleged. Investors claim officers sold worthless inventory for $300m to boost the bottom line.
Bloomberg News, October 6, 2005
Massive consolidation forecast for auto parts industry following multiple bankruptcies.
Business Week, October 10, 2005
Better Business Bureau warns consumers to be wary of fuel-saving claims for aftermarket devices and additives.
Tucson Citizen, October 7, 2005
Sony PlayStation Portable users who installed malicious code now find their units both inoperable and without warranty coverage.
CNET News.com, October 6, 2005
Mentor Graphics releases software tools to help automotive engineers reduce warranty costs in the design phase.
Press Release, October 6, 2005
Home Warranty of America Inc. cleared by the state of California to sell home warranties to real estate agencies and consumers.
Press Release, October 6, 2005
Hewlett-Packard PC customers share their gripes with extended warranty customer service plans.
InfoWorld, October 5, 2005
ATI explains why it recently cut its video card warranties from three years to one.
Legit Reviews, October 4, 2005
Tobyhanna Army Depot does warranty work on Dell, Itronix, Hewlett-Packard and MPC laptops for all federal agencies.
Military Information Technology, October 4, 2005
Vauxhall offers six-month warranty on £45 passenger car winterizing and inspecting service.
ITV UK, October 4, 2005
Brennan, Wiener and Associates attorney explains how a small business won $477K in damages from Ford in a 2004 California lemon law verdict.
Press Release, October 4, 2005
Cimtek appoints Stan Smith as president and CEO, replacing Ted Pattenden.
Press Release, October 4, 2005
Ewing Motor Homes is going out of business in October, and its service center is already closed.
Battle Creek Enquirer, October 4, 2005
Consumer Reports says don't buy an extended warranty for a tube TV, but consider buying one for newer TV technologies.
Press Release, October 3, 2005
John Hancock Retirement Plan Services to provide a "fiduciary standards warranty" to its 401(k) plan customers.
Press Release, October 3, 2005
Watford Electronics asks all Tiny customers to register their warranties with the new owner.
CRN, October 3, 2005
Monaco Coach Corp. turns over RV service facility to Beaver Coach Sales of Oregon Inc.
Press Release, October 3, 2005
Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules implied warranty of merchantability was not breached by two-year-old's use of a butane lighter.
Legal Intelligencer, October 3, 2005
The ranks of frustrated Dell owners are growing; University of Michigan detects falling customer satisfaction levels.
Business Week, October 2, 2005
September 2005
Ford's senior purchasing VP says carmaker plans to cut number of suppliers and involve them earlier in design process to reduce warranty costs.
Toledo Blade, September 30, 2005
UK extended warranty administrator Domestic & General says revenue is higher and claims are running lower than last year.
Press Release, September 30, 2005
Apple admits some iPod Nano screens are prone to crack and scratch, says it's a supplier problem.
Business Week, September 29, 2005
Fujitsu General America chooses Service Net Solutions to administer service plans for its plasma TVs.
Press Release, September 29, 2005
Asurion CEO Bret Comolli is appointed to the board of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.
Press Release, September 29, 2005
Archetype Joint founder says 70% of warranty costs and 20% of product recalls are related to fasteners and joint design.
Detroit News, September 28, 2005
California skating rink to install fake ice made of plastic panels and warranted for 10 years.
Stockton Record, September 29, 2005
Bushnell Performance Optics says new version of Macromedia ColdFusion helped it deploy a new warranty claims system with printable forms.
Press Release, September 28, 2005
Sony of Canada Ltd. launches extended warranty program for its Vaio notebook personal computers.
Press Release, September 27, 2005
Agilysys Inc. launches its Services Surround program, selling service contracts for Hewlett-Packard products as an aftermarket option.
Press Release, September 27, 2005
Gerard Roofing Technologies touts its wind warranty; some Gulf Coast customers have now made it through multiple hurricanes without a claim.
Press Release, September 27, 2005
New York State governor signs lemon law that requires farm equipment costing more than $1,500 to be covered by a one-year warranty.
Oneonta Daily Star, September 27, 2005
Second Chance Body Armor allegedly sold White House, Secret Service and Pentagon defective vests even after they knew of Zylon material's problems.
Associated Press, September 26, 2005
Watford Electronics acquires Tiny Computers and says it will honor the bankrupt UK company's product warranties.
Computeractive, September 26, 2005
Tyco's M/A-Com unit to keep its New York State emergency radio contract after agreeing to warrant its work.
Boston Business Journal, September 26, 2005
Sub-Zero Freezer and Wolf Appliance Co. say they will broaden appliance warranty coverage in hurricane zones to include flood damage.
Press Release, September 26, 2005
Building inspector tells homeowners to buy heavier shingles with longer warranties to reduce future hurricane damage.
WNCT-TV Greenville NC, September 26, 2005
Except for near-term dip on Gulf Coast, extended warranty providers see limited impact of hurricanes on business.
This Week in Consumer Electronics, September 26, 2005
Concrete ties bought by Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road, warranted for 25 years, begin to fail after only seven years.
Empire Journal, September 26, 2005
Maxtor Middle East & Africa opens RMA collection center in Dubai for faster processing of warranty claims.
AME Info, September 26, 2005
Former chief of Singapore mobile phone repair firm Accord Customer Care Solutions Ltd. charged with warranty fraud.
New Kerala, India, September 26, 2005
Local car audio dealer warns that low-priced gear sold on the Internet may not carry a manufacturer's warranty.
Decatur Daily, September 26, 2005
Early buyers of new Apple iPod Nano music players say screens scratch too easily, even while in their pockets.
CNET News.com, September 24, 2005
Colorado Dept. of Transportation looks into road warranties after cracks appear on a brand new highway.
Daily Reporter-Herald, September 23, 2005
Home Warranty Association of California reports 500,000 contracts sold and 1.2 million claims processed in 2004.
Press Release, September 22, 2005
JM Family Enterprises Inc., parent of JM&A Group, donates $2 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
Press Release, September 21, 2005
Army Small Computer Program plans to bundle requests to buy PCs, negotiate better prices, and insist on three-year warranties.
Military Information Technology, September 21, 2005
BBC Watchdog investigates Apple iPod batteries, questions why British owners can't get replacements for free.
BBC News, September 20, 2005
Three California consumers seek class action status for lawsuit alleging sales of defective Palm Treo units.
Press Release, September 21, 2005
Short warranties for digital TVs incense consumers; some manufacturing defects don't show up until second year.
Chosun Ilbo, Korea, September 20, 2005
IMMI touts safety features and seven-year warranty of the SafeGuard Child Seat.
Press Release, September 20, 2005
Heritage Warranty lays off 30 employees; has reduced head count in Lincoln headquarters by 55 in the past year.
Lincoln Journal Star, September 20, 2005
Trend Tracker Ltd. finds UK franchised auto dealers get only 19.2% of repair jobs -– mostly warranty work.
Auto Industry, September 20, 2005
TimeHighway.com says better online appointment management systems can help auto dealers recapture out-of-warranty repair work.
Press Release, September 20, 2005
NCR's Teradata Division teams with Attensity to create a data warehouse and warranty data analysis solution.
Press Release, September 19, 2005 (PDF file)
Mercedes-Benz USA CEO tells Automotive News that warranty claims are down substantially after recent quality improvements.
Edmunds Inside Line, September 19, 2005
Pennsylvania Attorney General closes down M.E. Jones Hearing Instruments and Marketing Specialists Inc.; alleges companies failed to honor warranty and refund policies.
Press Release, September 19, 2005
Citadel Security Software warrants that customers using its security software will remain attack-free for one year; AIG underwrites the policy.
Federal Computer Week, September 19, 2005
Nevada court approves class action settlement in SC&E Administrative Services lawsuit; hearing scheduled for January 6.
Press Release, September 19, 2005
UK motorists who bought cars with credit cards get refunds through Barclays for the cost of cancelled Rover warranties.
Times of London, September 18, 2005
Honda says all replaced batteries in its Insight hybrid to date have been covered under warranty.
Associated Press, September 17, 2005
TV repairmen have all but disappeared, but service for plasma, HDTV and LCD units could spur a comeback.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 17, 2005
HP touts longer one-year warranties on its new notebook computers versus competition's 90 days.
Press Release, September 16, 2005
4CS Inc. says its iWarranty software has been fully implemented by construction equipment company Takeuchi Mfg. (US) Ltd.
Press Release, September 16, 2005
Pattern of engine fires prompts Chrysler to recall 2005 Jeep Cherokee SUVs with 3.7 liter engines and automatic transmissions.
Associated Press, September 16, 2005
Service Net Solutions to administer service contracts for computers and electronics sold by the Micro Center retail chain.
Press Release, September 15, 2005
Demotech Inc. assigns an A' (A Prime) rating to Aon's Virginia Surety Co. underwriting unit.
Press Release, September 14, 2005
Moisture Warranty Corp. to offer extended warranties on commercial buildings, backed by Western Pacific Mutual Insurance Co.
Press Release, September 14, 2005
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter introduces the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act.
Press Release, September 14, 2005
New OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics service to email monthly reports to vehicle owners on engine and transmission diagnostics.
Press Release, September 13, 2005
Customers of bankrupt Car Now Acceptance Corp. in South Dakota will get $500 in warranty coverage, but interest rate on loans stays at 24.95%.
Sioux Falls Argus Leader, September 13, 2005
Computer vendors charge more for less service; Dell and Gateway reduce product warranties to 90 days and push extended warranty sales.
Consumer Affairs, September 13, 2005
Richland County, South Carolina wants longer warranties on residential roads built by developers.
Myrtle Beach Sun News, September 13, 2005
American Suzuki dealers to offer the Quaker State Limited Lubrication Warranty, protecting car owners from oil-related failures for 10 years or 250,000 miles.
Press Release, September 13, 2005
Oracle Corp. acquires Siebel Systems Inc. for $10.66 in cash per share; deal valued at $5.85 billion.
Press Release, September 12, 2005
Wireless carriers and electronics retailers offer extended warranties on wireless phones, cameras, and MP3 players.
McAllen (TX) Monitor, September 12, 2005
General Electric is moving its 1-800-GE-CARES consumer answer service to Rapid City, SD, and plans to hire 100 workers at its Advanced Services Inc. subsidiary.
Rapid City Journal, September 10, 2005
Mercedes Car Group offers European buyers an unlimited distance two-year warranty to boost sales.
Detroit Free Press, September 10, 2005
Louisiana rescuer predicts that cars damaged by Katrina's floods will be dried out and sold as is to unsuspecting buyers.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, September 10, 2005
Canadian retailer CompuSmart says the extended warranties it sells are better than Apple's.
Edmonton Journal, September 10, 2005
General Motors wants to reduce warranty cost from $24.90 per vehicle after six months in service in 2004 to $22.05 in 2005.
Detroit News, September 9, 2005
Recent recalls by Ford and Toyota likely to raise U.S. auto industry's warranty costs above last year's $12.7 billion total.
AMR Research Alert Highlight, September 9, 2005
DaimlerChrysler lengthens European warranty period from one year to two.
Automotive News, September 9, 2005
Anthony DeFrancesco, formerly of #1 Hempfield Motors Inc., barred from owning an auto dealership for life by Pennsylvania attorney general.
Press Release, September 8, 2005
Shoes for Crews offers a warranty with a $5,000 cap on work shoes costing $20 to $75 but guaranteed not to slip; paid out only $15,000 in claims last year.
Inc. Magazine, September 2005
Ford recalls 3.8 million pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles for a cruise control switch suspected of causing engine fires.
Associated Press, September 7, 2005
Toyota recalls 978,000 4Runner SUVs and T-100 pickups to fix steering relay rod that may fracture.
Reuters, September 7, 2005
Superdome operator says the building is structurally intact and won't need to be torn down.
NBC Sports, September 7, 2005
ServicePower's Field Service Solutions Division to provide a warranty service solution for the cooking products of Bertazzoni S.p.A.
Press Release, September 7, 2005
Consumer Reports’ October 2005 issue says don't repair product costing less than $150 and don't repair if cost is more than 50% of purchase price.
Press Release, September 6, 2005
Dell and Gateway reduce the standard warranty periods on desktops and notebooks to 90 days, pushing extended warranty sales instead.
Computer Shopper, September 2005
House painter Mike Lucero prices jobs based on the desired length of warranty.
Arizona Republic, September 6, 2005
UK solicitor explains the Supply of Extended Warranties on Domestic Electrical Goods Order 2005, which became effective in April.
Shropshire Star, September 5, 2005
IBM to offer early warning software in effort to help automakers and suppliers collect and analyze large quantities of warranty data.
Automotive News, September 5, 2005
DriveSavers offers Hurricane Katrina victims tips on recovering lost computer data.
Press Release, September 4, 2005
Baseball bat manufacturer sells bamboo models backed by a warranty against breaking.
Knight Ridder Newspapers, September 4, 2005
Vidstone LLC backs its $1,500 solar-powered Serenity Panels for tombstones with a one-year warranty; a ten-year extended warranty is another $200.
Associated Press, September 4, 2005
Furniture retailers in Kokomo IN band together to spotlight questionable business practices of two competitors.
Kokomo Tribune, September 4, 2005
Pneumatic hammer made in 1904 repaired for free under warranty.
Associated Press, September 3, 2005
Heavy user of an MP3 player? Consider a lengthy warranty.
Seattle Times, September 3, 2005
General Motors to sell Hummer brand of rugged laptops, made by Itronix and backed with a one-year warranty.
Information Week, September 2, 2005
Dell warns that some resellers in Brunei are offering Latitude or Precision corporate models with only a one-year warranty.
Brunei Direct, September 2, 2005
Maxtor uses lengthy warranties as a promotional tool in India.
DQ Channels, September 2, 2005
Technicians at Tobyhanna Army Depot now repair Dell, HP, Itronix and MPC computers under manufacturers’ warranties.
Army News Service, September 1, 2005
Tornado Air Management Systems offers fuel-saving gadget warranted for the life of the vehicle.
Press Release, September 1, 2005
City of Bartlett, Tennessee to sell trash cans for $25 covered by a ten-year warranty.
Bartlett Express, September 1, 2005
Warranty Activation Headquarters logs 150 complaints at the Better Business Bureau of Central Indiana.
Press Release, September 1, 2005
Apple lengthens the warranty on first generation iMac G5 computers that allegedly overheat.
Newsday, September 1, 2005
Extended warranties are rarely a good investment, except for plasma and LCD TVs.
Consumer Reports, September 2005
August 2005
Auto expert says the best warranty in the world cannot make a bad car good.
CarPoint Australia, August 2005
Massachusetts Attorney General tells police supply shops he expects them to replace bullet-proof vests made with Zylon.
Press Release, August 31, 2005
ServiceBench provides new dispatch interface to SwiftLink version 9.2, allowing users to generate service requests.
Press Release, August 31, 2005
Texas Memory Systems to use Kodak's on-site warranty and post-warranty service for its solid-state disk storage devices.
Press Release, August 31, 2005
Norki Energy Systems sells waste oil furnaces and boilers covered by three to five year warranties.
Press Release, August 31, 2005
Pasadena transportation officials expect to make a warranty claim for failed electrical connectors on its Gold Line tracks.
Pasadena Star News, August 30, 2005
IBM unveils its Quality Insight Solution, designed to help automakers and fleet owners collect and analyze large quantities of warranty data and to spot trends earlier.
Press Release, August 30, 2005
Hurricane Katrina destroys roof of New Orleans Superdome, replaced in 2000; Horizon Group of New England dispatches crew to assess damage.
Miami Herald, August 29, 2005
Judge in San Mateo County, California, gives final approval to iPod battery lawsuit settlement.
ZDNet, August 29, 2005
Analyst says the effects of Apple settling the iPod class action suit are unlikely to affect the company in any significant way.
PC Magazine, August 30, 2005
Goodman Manufacturing teams up with ServiceBench to improve communications with 300 distributors and thousands of participating contractors.
Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration News, August 29, 2005
ClearForest to provide Issues Analytics to automotive manufacturers and suppliers, allowing marketers to analyze brand loyalty and customer satisfaction trends.
Press Release, August 29, 2005
Interwoven Inc. equips Avaya salespeople with Web content management solution that automates publication of warranty details for new and discontinued products.
Press Release, August 29, 2005
Andrew Corp. buys assets of Nortel’s wireless location business, will provide warranty and maintenance support for existing installed base.
Press Release, August 28, 2005
Flat rate books of Chiltons, All-Data, Mitchells and Motor's list what manufacturers will pay for warranty work.
Click and Clack (Tom and Ray Magliozzi), August 28, 2005
Whether or not to buy an extended warranty for laptops, cameras, or mobile phones depends on price, coverage.
New York Times, August 27, 2005
Warrantech Home Service Co. hires three regional sales managers the new Warrantech Advantage home warranty program.
Press Release, August 26, 2005
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum files warranty claim with Hussey Seating Co. to replace 9,867 seats.
Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette, August 25, 2005
Sixty out of 103 bullet-proof vests tested by Justice Dept. fail ballistics test.
Associated Press, August 24, 2005
Hybrid vehicle's battery could cost as much to replace as it saves over eight years in fuel.
Beloit Daily News, August 23, 2005
FuneralOne to install video panels in tombstones, covered by a 15-year warranty.
CTV, August 23, 2005
Fastmac ships Apple iPod battery upgrade covered by a two-year warranty.
Mac News Network, August 23, 2005
Apple offers warranty repairs for problem iMacs sold between Sept. 2004 and June 2005.
ZDNet, August 22, 2005
ReCellular says only 25% to 30% of wireless phones are recycled; carriers donate old units to charities for 911-only uses.
St. Petersburg Times, August 22, 2005
Arnold Clark, Scotland's largest auto dealer, will report earnings reduced by Rover's default on warranty claims payments.
The Scotsman, August 22, 2005
Lawsuit alleges AIG deliberately denied valid claims to reduce auto extended warranty losses.
Washington Post, August 21, 2005
KPMG and the Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement say as many as one in 10 high-tech products sold worldwide are actually counterfeits.
Wired News, August 17, 2005
Service Net to administer extended warranties for online retailer Newegg.com.
Press Release, August 16, 2005
Hyundai rides quality improvements and warranty policies into sixth place in the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index; Toyota, Honda, BMW, Cadillac, and Buick grab the top five spots.
Associated Press, August 16, 2005
France implements the EU's WEEE directive on electronics recycling, but the UK has pushed its implementation back.
AMR Research report, August 16, 2005
MSX International says second quarter revenue, gross profit, and margins up on growth in warranty business.
Press Release, August 15, 2005
Iowa professor says failure rate on consumer electronics is one in six, large flat screens 40%, and hard drives 2%.
Bankrate.com, August 15, 2005
Florida's New Vehicle Arbitration Board took fewer Lemon Law cases in 2004 than 2003; Ford and DaimlerChrysler lead in complaints.
Jacksonville Business Journal, August 15, 2005
University of Arkansas in warranty dispute with Lasiter Construction Co. and ProGreen Sports Surfaces over artificial turf on practice field.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 14, 2005
U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan seeks financial records of Collins & Aikman; grand jury probes rebates and payments from OEMs and suppliers.
Detroit Free Press, August 13, 2005
Doubts surface over longevity and warranty coverage of ceramic coatings or radiant barrier paints.
Arizona Republic, August 13, 2005
Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes a lemon law for computers.
Harrisburg Patriot-News, August 12, 2005
Committee to Fight Microsoft wants new Windows operating system to include a warranty against defects.
ZDNet UK, August 11, 2005
Puerto Rico's new Law 6 requires automakers to match the best warranty they provide anywhere in the world when selling vehicles in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico Herald, August 11, 2005
Mazda ends up paying $300,000 in a losing battle against a consumer who demanded a refund under Wisconsin's lemon law.
Lake Country Reporter, August 11, 2005
Malaysian prime minister proposes national policy encouraging replacement of diesel fuel with palm oil; wants automakers to amend their warranties.
Business Times, August 11, 2005
Auto suppliers must improve quality before their warranty claims rise through improved supplier recovery efforts by OEMs.
AMR Research, August 10, 2005
Federal judge in Oklahoma to decide whether lawsuit alleging piston slap defect in GM pickups and SUVs merits class action status.
Associated Press, August 10, 2005
VAC Service Corp. plans to move its headquarters into a bigger facility across town.
Market News, August 10, 2005
Home warranties may not always be transferable to investment buyers of new homes in Florida's red-hot real estate market.
Orlando Sentinel, August 10, 2005
Sub-Zero chills its warranty issues with SAS solutions.
Supply & Demand Chain Executive, August 10, 2005
Ford Motor Co. to cut costs by consolidating Ford, Lincoln and Mercury marketing divisions and closing most of their field offices.
Detroit News, August 9, 2005
Nissan lengthens tire warranty on 2003 & 2004 350ZX to 36 months to combat irregular tread wear pattern.
AutoWeek, August 9, 2005
RV returned under NY Lemon Law was sold at inflated price; customer now owes Monaco the difference.
Troy Record, August 9, 2005
GE Auto Warranty Services gets high marks in a quality of service survey of dealers.
Press Release, August 9, 2005
Consumer complaint about a claim on a water pipe service contract sold by American Water Resources goes unresolved in West Virginia.
Charleston Daily Mail, August 9, 2005
IBM launches WebSphere Information Integrator OmniFind Edition to analyze unstructured text in documents, including warranty claims records.
California Computer News, August 9, 2005
Attensity to use the open Unstructured Information Management Architecture standard and support the IBM WebSphere Information Integrator OmniFind Edition.
Press Release, August 8, 2005
ClearForest to support IBM's open Unstructured Information Management Architecture standard in its text analytics solutions.
Press Release, August 8, 2005
Leica Geosystems launches five-year warranty program for all Laser Tracker, T-Cam, and T-Probe units.
Press Release, August 8, 2005
JATCO shows Chrysler the warranty data for a continuously variable transmission it sells to Nissan; Chrysler plans to use it in the new Dodge Caliber.
Car Connection, August 8, 2005
UK's What Car? magazine picks ten most reliable autos: Honda, Mazda, Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Daewoo, Skoda, and Mercedes-Benz.
Chosun Ilbo, August 7, 2005
Extended warranty administrator National Home Insurance Co. is found liable in homeowner's claim that went through arbitration.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 7, 2005
NACCO Industries uses early warning system to analyze 80,000 warranty claims a year.
Associated Press, August 7, 2005
To fight imports of counterfeit air conditioners in the Middle East, LG Electronics tells consumers to look for warranty certificates.
AME Info, August 7, 2005
Wipro Ltd. provides Kuwait's Future Communications Co. with a dealer management system that includes warranty processing.
AME Info, August 7, 2005
Ford to withdraw Explorer from Australia and New Zealand markets in 2006, promises to honor warranties on all current models.
New Zealand Herald, August 6, 2005
Magazine compares warranties on synthetic decking made by TimberTech, GeoDeck, EverGrain, WeatherBest, Trex, ChoiceDek, CrossTimber, CorrectDeck, Procell, Deck Lok, Bear Board, and Eon.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, August 6, 2005
Bardavon Theater switches marquee to LED lighting to save on energy and maintenance over the sign's three-year warranty period.
LED Monthly, August 2005
Texas Residential Construction Commission seeks volunteers for warranty and standards advisory committee, to be chaired by a faculty member from Texas A&M University.
Insurance Journal, August 5, 2005
Beavers ate new trees planted by Northside College Preparatory High School along the Chicago River, but they were covered by warranty.
Chicago Tribune, August 5, 2005
Valley Fire Equipment and SG Reed Truck Services to work together in the event of a warranty claim on a new truck bought by the West Weathersfield Fire Dept.
Rutland (VT) Herald, August 5, 2005
Detroit Diesel appoints John Galbraith to the position of chief quality officer, in charge of supplier quality, reliability, and warranty.
Press Release, August 4, 2005
Western Digital stretches out warranty life on hard drives to three or five years.
Australian Reseller News, August 4, 2005
Warranty Direct Ltd. says the popularity of MTV’s "Pimp My Ride" has accelerated importation of American cars into UK; administrator now offers extended warranty coverage just for them.
Car Pages, August 4, 2005
Chief executive of Domestic & General Group plc tells shareholders the year has started well with stronger warranty turnover growth.
Press Release, August 4, 2005
Sony warns that Americans who update their PSP 2.0 prematurely with Japanese BIOS firmware were voiding their warranty by doing so.
Game Daily, August 3, 2005
Warranty Best Practices report from the Center for Automotive Research says a lack of standardization in warranty processing by dealers, suppliers and OEMs leads to unnecessary costs and inaccurate information.
Press Release, August 3, 2005
President of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association calls for automotive industry executives to work together to focus on reducing warranty costs.
Press Release, August 3, 2005
Honda recalls 2005 Odyssey minivans because of faulty sensors; pattern of defects discovered by analyzing warranty claims.
Associated Press, August 3, 2005
Hewlett-Packard to withdraw from digital camera business in Asia-Pacific region.
China Daily, August 3, 2005
Hewlett-Packard announces two digital projectors that carry a three-year warranty on the unit and 2000 hours on the bulb.
India Infoline, August 3, 2005
Terms and price for Apple's iPod battery replacement scheme in Europe remain unclear, but AppleCare plans now cost only £39 per unit.
Macworld, August 2, 2005
Warranty Direct UK survey finds Honda Accord to be most reliable and Fiat Punto to be least reliable; Asian cars fare best in reliability and cost of repair ratings.
Daily Telegraph, August 2, 2005
Aon Corp. says insurance underwriting revenue relatively flat in the second quarter of 2005.
Press Release, August 2, 2005
Oakland's Scottish Rite Center installs solar panels that will save it $1.5 million during the unit's 25-year warranty life.
Oakland Tribune, August 2, 2005
Warranty Corp. of America to administer service contracts for PC manufacturer ZT Group International Inc.
Press Release, August 1, 2005 (PDF file)
Hewlett-Packard stops reselling iPod; reports note HP units had one-year warranty while Apple provided only 90 days.
Computing, August 1, 2005
General Motors lengthens warranties on Buick and Hummer models to four years/50,000 miles; includes warranties as component of Total Value Promise.
Press Release, August 1, 2005
July 2005
Ford Motor considers closing some of the 34 regional offices that help dealers with marketing and warranty repair audits.
Bloomberg News, July 30, 2005
Chrysler head Dieter Zetsche going back to Germany to become CEO of DaimlerChrysler AG; quick announcement of a succession plan.
Detroit News, July 29, 2005
Tom LaSorda, an architect of DaimlerChrysler's recent efficiency and quality gains, appointed to head U.S. operations.
Bloomberg News, July 29, 2005
Hyundai Motor Co. sees net profit rise on fewer bad loans and warranty liabilities, but operating profit tumbles on high steel costs and foreign exchange rates.
Reuters, July 29, 2005
Granville Technology Group, UK's largest PC maker, slips into receivership; administrator Grant Thornton to fund warranty claims on a limited basis.
BBC News, July 29, 2005
Western Digital's new WD Caviar RE2 SATA hard drive's warranty is five years, but its MTBF rating is almost 137 years.
PC World, July 29, 2005
Intrepid Technical Services Inc. to do warranty work in U.S. for check and document imaging equipment made by Kleindienst Corp. (KLD).
Press Release, July 29, 2005
SATO America to offer extended warranties on its barcode printers, available within 60 days of initial purchase at a 10% discount.
Press Release, July 29, 2005
Telkom in South Africa to lease PC hardware and DSL service bundles; Mustek to provide 24 months of local warranty service.
MyADSL, July 29, 2005
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner seeks customers of Covenant Home Warranty Corp. who had claims pending before he suspended their license.
Insurance Journal, July 27, 2005
Texas and Nebraska Departments of Insurance oppose terms of the proposed SmartChoice class action settlement.
Insurance Journal, July 27, 2005
Automakers say free maintenance services aren't as important to customers as price; cutbacks spread.
Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2005
National Electronics Service Dealers Association panel discussion says poor parts management leads to significant costs.
Press Release, July 27, 2005
Hutchison Whampoa's Irish mobile phone service to provide two-year warranties on handsets to help attract customers.
Silicon Republic, July 27, 2005
American Automobile Association offers extended warranties on used cars.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 26, 2005
Ohio Attorney General compels Craftmatic Organization Inc. to pay $200,000 civil penalty to settle deceptive warranty charges.
Consumer Affairs, July 26, 2005
Mitsubishi Fuso announces longer warranties on Class 4 through 7 medium-duty trucks.
Lawn & Landscape, July 26, 2005
American Automobile Association offers extended warranties on used cars.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 26, 2005
Rhodes Furniture in St. Louis closes all five shops and won't honor warranty claims.
KSDK-TV St. Louis, July 26, 2005
Dubai Department of Economic Development publishes a Consumer Protection Guide to help inform consumers about warranty rights.
Al Bawaba, July 26, 2005
NEC Computers International names Computer Castle as its authorized service partner in Saudi Arabia.
Information & technology Publishing, July 26, 2005
Gehl Co. reports warranty charge of $1.5 million, or 21 cents per share, but anticipates recovering a substantial portion from its suppliers.
Press Release, July 25, 2005 (PDF file)
Maytag warranty registration leads police to suspect in murder mystery.
Associated Press, July 25, 2005
GE Energy issues four-year warranty for 66 turbines to be used at massive Erie Shores Wind Farm in southern Ontario.
Renewable Energy Access, July 25, 2005
New Hampshire Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau welcomes calls from consumers concerning builders.
Union Leader, July 24, 2005
J.D. Byrider/Dan Nelson Automotive Group dealership in Rapid City SD accused of not honoring extended warranty claims on policies it sold.
Associated Press, July 23, 2005
New Department of Energy rules require more energy-efficient air conditioners, which cost more but get ten-year warranties.
KSDK-TV, St. Louis, July 22, 2005
Long Island Rail Road blames bad batch of concrete for cracks in rail ties made by Rocla Concrete Tie Inc.; warranted for 25 years, they don't even make it to ten.
Newsday, July 22, 2005
BigByte Corp. re-enters the LCD and plasma panel repair business after exiting it in the 1990s.
Press Release, July 22, 2005
Toyota recalls 2004 and 2005 Sienna vans after reporting more than 3,000 warranty claims on seat belts.
Louisville Courier-Journal, July 21, 2005
Latest Motor Trader Franchise Barometer survey finds 35% of UK auto dealers believe their staff is not complying with new Financial Services Authority extended warranty rules.
Motor Trader, July 21, 2005
Sennheiser UK increases its standard warranty from one to 10 years on 3000 and 5000 Series wireless microphones.
Lighting & Sound International, July 21, 2005
Western Digital lengthens warranties on Raptor and Caviar RE disk drives to five years; others to three years.
Press Release, July 20, 2005
J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Customer Service Index Study rates Lincoln highest, followed by Cadillac, Saturn and Lexus.
Press Release, July 20, 2005
Platinum Warranty Corp. to offer a full refund to customers who do not incur any claims on policies with terms greater than 48 months.
Press Release, July 20, 2005
Bowen & Groves adds quality and warranty modules to its enterprise resource planning software package.
Press Release, July 20, 2005
Family discovers the puppy warranty they purchased from the Family Pet Center in King of Prussia PA became worthless when the shop closed.
WCAU-TV Philadelphia, July 20, 2005
Ford's automotive costs increased by $1.4 billion in the first half, with about $300 million coming from warranty.
Bloomberg News, July 19, 2005
Hewlett-Packard to cut 14,500 jobs, primarily in support functions, and will close the Customer Solutions Group.
Press Release, July 19, 2005
BlueRealm Solutions Inc. and Clarity Customer Management Inc. announce a strategic partnership to join claims processing and customer service applications.
Press Release, July 19, 2005
QLogic Corp. lengthens warranties on host bus adapters sold by its channel partners to five years from three.
Press Release, July 19, 2005
WFS Financial chooses GE Auto Warranty Services as its exclusive provider of vehicle service contracts to its national network of automobile dealers.
Press Release, July 19, 2005
Guidant Corp. recalls 28,000 implanted pacemakers manufactured between 1997 and 2000; makes supplemental warranty program available through year's end.
Press Release, July 18, 2005
Volkswagen Group CEO Wolfgang Bernhard says cutting warranty costs is a top priority.
The Car Connection, July 18, 2005
Sometimes retailer's return policy is better than even the manufacturer's warranty, allowing replacements or refunds up to 90 days.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 18, 2005
Whirlpool offers $17 a share for Maytag, outbidding Triton Acquisition Holding.
Press Release, July 17, 2005
Toyota, Lexus, Audi, Saab, and Volkswagen cover engine sludge under warranty for up to eight years, but only if motorist can produce oil change records.
Asbury Park Press, July 17, 2005
Audi agrees to fix A4 timing belt problems for free through 105,000 miles.
Boston Globe, July 17, 2005
Synnex makes HP and Lexmark leasing bundles available to VARs that combine multifunction printers, toner and an extended warranty.
CRN, July 15, 2005
Northern Virginia Technology Council selects N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. for "Hottest Management Team."
Press Release, July 15, 2005
Dr. Jeffrey Runge to leave NHTSA in August to take a job as chief medical officer at Homeland Security.
Detroit Free Press, July 15, 2005
IDC publishes report, "Business Imperatives in Automotive Warranty Management."
IDC Manufacturing Insights, July 2005
Dan Nelson Automotive Group and Family Hyundai dealerships close, leaving extended warranties in limbo.
Rapid City (SD) Journal, July 14, 2005
Armor Holdings Products Division to replace up to 156,000 bullet-proof vests made by Second Chance Body Armor under terms of an Oklahoma state court lawsuit settlement.
Press Release, July 13, 2005
City of Muskegon MI will buy two new fire trucks from a single source to streamline warranty management.
Muskegon Chronicle, July 13, 2005
Dell shuts down the Customer Care board in the Dell Community Forum, says consumers should chat with its customer reps instead.
CNET News.com, July 13, 2005
KB Home reaches a $2 million settlement with FTC over mandatory arbitration clauses in home warranties.
Investor's Business Daily, July 12, 2005
Amtrak resumes limited Acela express service after three-month suspension; cracks in brake rotors were covered under warranty but manufacturer had no spare parts.
Delaware News Journal, July 11, 2005
N.E.W. Customer Service Companies to use Corticon Business Rules Management System (BRMS) to enhance their warranty claims processing services.
Press release, July 11, 2005
TurboChef Technologies sells a one-year extended warranty to all Subway sandwich shops; at $350 per oven for 20,000 oven, the deal is worth $7 million.
Press Release, July 11, 1005
To save money, Coachmen Industries reduces staff and combines customer service, parts, and warranty into one unit.
Press Release, July 11, 2005
American Power Conversion's $100 backup power supply is sold with a $50,000 equipment protection policy.
Press Release, July 11, 2005
Gulf Warranties will provide extended warranties for Nissan and Renault vehicles sold by the Al Babtain Nissan dealership.
AME Info, July 9, 2005
Apple-owned retail stores offering $40 discount on $99 iPod replacement batteries if original fails to hold 50% of its factory capacity.
Apple Insider, July 8, 2005
Volvo, Mitsubishi, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota reduce or eliminate free maintenance programs that helped reduce warranty costs.
Wall Street Journal, July 8, 2005
New trash bins in Fond du Lac, WI have serial numbers and 10-year warranties.
Fond du Lac Reporter, July 8, 2005
Proposed Texas tax bill would tax computer and car repairs but would exempt cars still under warranty.
Brownsville Herald, July 8, 2005
ProQuest Business Solutions acquires certain assets and technologies of Active Web Services LLC
Press Release, July 7, 2005
4C Solutions Inc. licenses iWarranty eClaims software to International Truck and Engine Corp.
Press Release, July 7, 2005
O'Neil Product Development Inc. launches three- and five-year extended warranties on printers, featuring next-day replacements.
Press Release, July 7, 2005 (PDF file)
Warranty Corp. of America joins Atlanta's Clean Air Campaign to reduce traffic congestion.
Peachtree Corners Weekly, July 7, 2005
Hackers can now duplicate PlayStation Portable games, but Sony Computer Entertainment America says their use will invalidate the unit's warranty.
Reuters, July 6, 2005
Magoo's Automotive Consultants launches a re-designed Web site featuring more detailed information about the firm's services and history.
Press Release, July 6, 2005
Consumer advocate says Stainsafe is to customer service what mad cows are to cheeseburgers.
Orlando Sentinel, July 6, 2005
Evan Greenberg remains in charge of ACE by keeping a low profile despite having testified that his father blamed him for AIG's auto warranty debacle.
Washington Post, July 5, 2005
Buick lengthens warranties on all 2006 models to four years or 50,000 miles.
Associated Press, July 5, 2005
Ford president Jim Padilla wants to increase quality, but time may not be on his side.
Bloomberg News, July 5, 2005
Automotive Service Association schedules two-hour panel discussion on the impact of super warranties for Nov. 2 in Las Vegas.
Press Release, July 5, 2005
Retail clerks at Beijing's new Silk Market use hair dryers to peel off "Warranty Void If Removed" stickers.
ChinaTechNews.com, July 5, 2005
Experts differ on the cost of using OEM vs. compatible ink and toner cartridges in printers.
Inside Bay Area, July, 4, 2005
Toyobo reacts to Dept. of Justice lawsuit naming it as a co-defendant with Second Chance Body Armor over alleged concealment of bullet-proof vest defects.
Press Release, July 2, 2005
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