Ice-T might trust CarShield, you shouldn’t.
Ice-T tells us in his frequently run commercial that he insures his cars through CarShield – he stands in front of numerous cars wanting us to believe they are his.
Unless he is a complete idiot, he doesn’t, or gets it for free.
The other alternative is that he didn’t do his basic homework and check out the company on the Better Business Bureau site, which cautions customers about doing business with the company, a rare statement from the BBB.
James McAuliffe of Middletown, smelled a rat soon after he began talking to a CarShield salesman.
“I called to inquire about their protection plan for my 2016 Mazda X5 just to see what it would cost,” he recently wrote CtWatchdog. “They used very high pressure, argumentative, and used that ‘let me talk to the manager’ spiel as they went down from $79 a month to $69 to $59 and tried to shame me into taking that and providing my credit card.”
“I don’t know how well they perform for the poor souls who end up paying them.”
A check on the BBB would have given James a better idea:
“BBB advises consumers to use caution if considering doing business with CarShield, a vehicle service contract company,” a rare statement for the BBB.
“BBB received a pattern of consumer complaints alleging the company:
- Employed misleading sales and advertising practices, including TV advertisements stating consumers will not be responsible for expensive repairs and can take their vehicle to any repair facility which consumers found was not to be true
- Failed to cover repairs
- Failed to adequately explain mileage and time component before coverage begins
- Did not cancel their policies and provide refunds
- Delayed taking and processing claims leaving customers without their vehicles
- Provided poor customer service
BBB also questioned CarShield’s television commercials which state:
- “CarShield is America’s #1 Auto Protection Company!”
- “Over One Billion In Auto Repair Bills Paid”
- “ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWING RENTAL COVERAGE NO ADDITIONAL COST”
- “TOWING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE RENTAL CAR”
- “There are even plans that will pay for your rental car.”
- “See Contract for Rental Car eligibility.”
- “Rental Car Some Restrictions Apply”
I contacted CarShield to check on what it had to say about insuring my wife’s six year old Honda SUV.
The salesman, Chase, I must say, was polite.
After asking me questions about the car, he told me that the monthly cost would be $151 for their Platinum plan and that there would be a $100 deductible per issue.
He told me that every issue would be covered “except for wear and tear and routine maintenance.”
But when pressed, Chase said coverage would not cover all items if I didn’t take good care of the car and if I did not have it properly serviced. For instance, he explained, if I didn’t change the oil, CarShield would not cover the cost of a new engine.
When I refused to immediately turn over my credit information, he dropped the price by $10.
Finally, he went down to $109 a month, which he assured me was the employee price.
When I told him I would not make an immediate decision and needed to first talk to my wife, he politely disengaged from the conversation and told me to have a blessed weekend.
I would love to know how many of their salesmen purchase the policy.
I never believed or thought, not even ONCE, that the cars on the commercial belonged to Ice T. The scene in question looked like it took place in an auto repair garage.