Possible Scam

[Bob]

Captains: I just had a wierd experience that may be a scam. I have a 2001 model Catalina 310 commissioned last April. I registered the boat with the State of Ohio at that time. This week I received a post card in the mail from the "Warranty Information Department of Intercontinental Acceptance Corp" in Deerfield Beach, FL. The post card said in large print "Warranty Notification". It had on it all of the information that would be included in a state registration and a 800 240-8470 number to call. I called and was asked several questions re is this a sail boat and how large is the engine? Then I was asked if I would like a quote on an extended warranty for the engine. The quote was $710 for 4 years. I said no thanks. I then started thinking that this obviously was not the engine manufacturer (Universal) nor was it Catalina and they didn't even know what engine was in the boat. My guess is that if I would have bought the extended warranty it would not have existed. Call me paranoid but I'm not out $710 either. Anyone else run into something like this?

 

[Tim Leighton]

WOW

Bob: Thanks for the heads up. I highly recommend you contact your dealer, Catalina (send an e-mail directly to Frank Butler), the 310 Association, engine manufacturer, and, oh by the way, your local BBB. I agree that this is probably some sort of a scam, especially since they had no info on your boat. Either your dealer or Catalina should know whether this is on the up and up. Thanks again from a new 400 owner.Tim Leighton (S/V "Magic")

 

[Chris Gonzales]

Service Contract Telemarketer?

There is a very good chance the caller was with an independant warranty company making an effort to sell a service contract via telemarketing. He may have gotten your name and number and info that you purchased a new yacht from the selling dealer, the state DMV or from a mailing list compliled from one or more of the warranty cards you may have mailed in to the various equipment manufacturers. I don't think I would jump the gun and call it a scam or get Catalina involved unless I knew more.You know what? If the coverage was good and the company was found to be reputable, $710 for 4 years of additional coverage is actually a pretty good deal.Chris

 

[Jim Wallace]

Telemarket Scamming

When the telemarketer calls, you'll always see "OUT OF AREA" on your phone's caller ID. Do you really know who it is on the other end of the line? Your story is similar to the telemarkets that call stating they are with the local or State Police/Fireman's Fund. Just another boiler room taking money out of your pocket and putting it in their's.