Short Week

As you know, I'm somewhat of an internet geek.
Besides writing this daily blog and sending out to all of you, I also help out on our car clubs 3 websites (four if you count the secret project we're working on).

Then, being an avid motorcyclist I add content to my friend Tim's website, Pashnit.com.

If that's not enough, I frequent other motorcycle forums, various car forums, hockey forums, wine forums, and of course mortgage forums. Did you know there were forums about forums?

The internet has made the world a very small place. There is no shortage of information out there on any subject you can imagine.
If you don't find the answer here, there are plenty of other places out there.
Be aware though, the information you gather may or may not be good information.

The finance world changes on a daily basis.
What was true one day may not be true the next.
Case in point:


I bought my wife a Subaru Outback (as a surprise) way back in 2001.
It was a new generation of motor, a newly designed transmission, and new body style.
I was strongly encouraged to purchase an after market warranty.
I went online and did a little research and found out that Fireman's Fund was a good company, so I bought it.

Flash forward to last week.
I'm heading to the studio for my weekly appearance on KRON 4's Rob Black and Your Money. At the top of the hill I look back and see white smoke. I pulled over, looked at my gauge (which showed as reading normal). I did know about all the head gasket issues that have evolved with this particular motor.

I called AAA, had the car towed, and made it to the studio just in time!
Now I am in conversation with the warranty company, Fireman's Fund in regards to their honoring the warranty. (I had not thought about the fact I do so many loans for the Oakland and SF fire departments - That's wierd!)

Like I mentioned previously, (see Customer Service)I tried to put it in the hands of the service manager Dean as he deals with this a whole lot more than I ever will.
I was brought in because I have done most of my own servicing on the car.

While I did my research years ago on the company, are they a good company today?
Things can change. For instance: Private Equity is the latest buzz word on Wall Street.
If a company goes private, their whole way of doing business can change overnight.

I checked and there isn't a after market warranty forum, bummer! :)

I did find some interesting sites:

http://www.toolworks.com/bilofsky/boxster/contract.html
http://www.consumersunion.org/finance/auto-dealer-rpt303.htm
http://www.westerngeneral.com/dealer_center.htm
http://www.demotech.com/01_pages/fsr/company.aspx?id=27502&t=2
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff217798.htm

(The last one I may discount as just a place to vent.)
We shall see what happens with my situation.
I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

Back to the point, while the internet is a great wealth of great information, it is also a great depository of poop!

Be careful out there!