While at first glance, the letter could appear to be an official notification from a government agency or another reliable company. But, the Federal Trade Commission<\/a> strongly advises against trusting these offers for vehicle warranties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, the companies behind such messages often create an illusion of being affiliated with your car dealer or manufacturer. In reality, their intention is most likely to sell you a service contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And 99%<\/strong> of the time, these companies sending the letters are not even associated with your car dealer or manufacturer in any way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you decide to respond to their offers, they will likely pressure you into disclosing personal financial information and demand an immediate down payment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But beware! Many of these companies might not even be in business when the time comes for you to utilize the warranty coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this guide, we’ll look into the details of these letters to help you identify what a Vehicle Services Division<\/strong> letter is. And more importantly, how you can determine whether you\u2019re looking at a real warranty notification or a scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s dive into this! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Simply put, a Vehicle Services Division letter is a letter that either:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The design of these letters can vary. Most will have VEHICLE SERVICES DIVISION<\/strong> emblazoned on the top of the envelope and letter. You may also see the words ALERT<\/strong> and PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s even possible the letter has some basic details about your vehicle. There will be a phone number to call. In rare cases, there may be a website link too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These letters are often encouraging you to give the sender a call to make a payment or buy monthly coverage. Keep in mind, it may not necessarily say that you need to make a payment on the letter. But, as soon as you reach somebody on the phone, they\u2019ll ask for some cash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, these letters will say that if you don\u2019t pay now, you could end up having to pay some hefty repair fees later on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is how most scams work. They make it seem as if it is \u2018urgent\u2019 that you hand your cash over. It gives people a lot less time to think about things.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Truth is, it pays to be skeptical when handling such documents. So get ready to investigate the facts and find out what has really been sent your way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re trying to spot a fake vehicle services notification letter, here are four telltale signs to watch out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 99% of the time \u2013 yes a Vehicle Services Division letter is a scam. The problem is that, unless you know what you\u2019re looking for, it may seem like an official notification from the vehicle manufacturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While some scam Vehicle Services Division letters are sent out to hundreds, if not thousands of people, most are not. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of these letters are highly targeted. When you receive one, it may have your name or basic details about your vehicle on it. Truth is, this information can be gathered from your vehicle\u2019s VIN. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, just because your personal details are included in the letter, it doesn\u2019t mean that you aren\u2019t about to be scammed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s run you through some of the things that you need to think about before determining whether the Vehicle Services Division letter is a scam. <\/p>\n\n\n\n First things first, when you receive a Vehicle Services Division letter, always assume it is a scam. As we said, there is a 99% chance you are going to get scammed if you call the number on the letter. So, if you can\u2019t work out whether the letter is real or fake, then assume it is a scam. You\u2019ll probably be correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, if you call one of these numbers, the person on the other end of the line will try and get financial information from you. They are pros at it. Even if you think you\u2019ll never hand your details over, you\u2019ll be surprised at how convincing some of these scammers are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A scam Vehicle Services Division letter can arrive at any time. In fact, some people receive them when they don\u2019t even own a vehicle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps the best way to tell whether the letter is real is to check when your vehicle\u2019s factory warranty expires. Most vehicle warranties last 3-5 years<\/strong> or a certain number of miles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you aren\u2019t anywhere close to the expiration of your warranty, then we can guarantee that your warranty provider won\u2019t be sending you any letters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you\u2019ve received a letter within months of a vehicle purchase<\/a> (or you don\u2019t even own a vehicle), then throw it away. That\u2019s a scam letter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most scam Vehicle Services Division letters won\u2019t have a company name or even a website address on them. It will just be a phone number<\/strong>. If you don\u2019t see a company name, then right away you know it is a scam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If there is a company name then make sure of the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, scammers can get basic details about your vehicle, but they\u2019ll rarely have correct information about your warranty provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we said, scammers are sophisticated. They can get a lot of information about your vehicle (from publicly accessible databases). This can give the illusion that the letter is real. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are some pieces of information that scammers can\u2019t get. So, if you don\u2019t see this information listed on the Vehicle Services Division notification, you know you\u2019re dealing with a scammer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No company other than the car manufacturer itself<\/strong> can extend your car warranty. Fact is, these warranty scams make it impossible to get coverage when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, if in doubt, always assume that the letter that you have received is a scam. However, if the letter has arrived exactly when you expect it to arrive (i.e. your factory vehicle\u2019s warranty is expiring), then give your vehicle\u2019s warranty provider a call. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Use the phone number from the paperwork you received from the dealership, not the number on the Vehicle Services Division letter<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contacting the vehicle manufacturer is the best way<\/strong> to determine if your warranty has indeed expired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third-party warranty companies use vehicle and address information along with publicly available mailing lists to find names and phone numbers of individuals whose cars may be approaching the end of their factory warranty periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To reduce the amount of unwanted junk mail, you can register for the Direct Marketing Association’s mail preference service<\/a>. While it may not eliminate all unsolicited mail, it is a helpful step. There is a $4 fee for ten years of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To find your vehicle’s factory warranty phone number, check the owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website. If you bought the car from a dealership, ask them for the number. Otherwise, contact the manufacturer’s customer service with your vehicle’s VIN.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to file a complaint<\/a> immediately. The FTC may be able to help issue a refund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simply put, it is important to be aware of fraudulent Vehicle Services Division letters that may make their way to your mailbox. It is usually best to not trust scammers who send these offers, as they often create an illusion of being affiliated with your car dealer or manufacturer and demand an immediate down payment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Always double check the source of the letter before giving away any personal financial information. If there is no indication that the letter came directly from your car dealer<\/a> or manufacturer and a warranty expiration date isn\u2019t included, it\u2019s much better to be safe than sorry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have encountered an extended warranty scam, it is important to report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your state’s attorney general office. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In case the scammer reached out to you via phone, you can also report the call to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This helps to protect yourself and others from falling victim to these fraudulent activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not bite on a scammers bait, and never feel compelled to respond just because they sent you a letter, even if the envelope and letter looks official.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Vehicle Services Division Letter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to Recognize a Vehicle Services Division Scam Letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/mycarvoice.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/example-Vehicle-Services-Division-Letter-2-825x1024.png\")
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Is a Vehicle Services Division Letter a Scam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Always Assume it is a Scam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You Won\u2019t Receive Random Letters From Your Vehicle\u2019s Warranty Provider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Check to see if The Company Name & Number Matches Up With Your Vehicle\u2019s Warranty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Has The Correct Information About Your Vehicle <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Claim to be Able to Extend The Factory Warranty<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In Doubt? Call Your Vehicle\u2019s Warranty Provider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Vehicle Services Division FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do car warranty companies get your information?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do I stop getting car warranty mail?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do I find the phone number for my vehicle’s factory warranty?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Happens if I Fall Prey to This Warranty Scam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts: Vehicle Services Division Letter <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Vehicle](\"https:\/\/mycarvoice.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/vehicle-reliability-reports-CTA-1-1024x474.png\")
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