Last Tuesday morning, I had to put my new car in the shop.
In the shop.
Last Tuesday.
Almost a week ago.
Granted, it’s a used car, but it’s new to me and it hardly seems possible that we’ve already reached this milestone of disappointment and betrayal. What happened to the love and the trust? Why did the honeymoon end so soon?
The good news is that part of the reason P and I decided on a used Volvo was because they offer a bumper to bumper warranty up to 100,000 miles.
Which is the only thought that kept me from weeping loudly when the car started to die on me periodically. If I had thought we were about to pay for a new transmission or flux capacitor or whatever, I would have been overwrought and there would have been crying and wailing and shaking of fists with declarations that begin with “As God is my witness…”.
Instead, I called the friendly Volvo service center that JoEL talked about so highly during his sales pitch and told them my check engine light was on, the car was dying on occasion (slightly inconvenient), and I needed to bring it in for service. I also informed them that I would be needing the complimentary loaner that was so hyped up during the aforementioned sales pitch.
They kindly let me know that a loaner would be available in 2 weeks.
It was all terribly convenient.
It’s not like I wasn’t enjoying the mild panic attacks I was experiencing every time my car died.
Anyway, I scheduled to bring it in once a loaner was available because there was no way I could survive without a car and everything is covered under the bumper to bumper warranty. What do I care if the engine blows up before a loaner is available? I have important places to go, like HEB and the pool.
And also, Hollywood Video to rent 3 year old crack in the form of Disney movies.
So, Tuesday was the day. I dropped off the car, lugged the carseat over to the loaner, and drove Caroline to school. I was especially thrilled to notice they had given me the loaner with less than 1/4 tank of gas because it’s not like gas costs thousands of dollars per gallon these days.
They called late Tuesday to tell me something was wrong with the fuel pump and gave me the estimate. I informed them the car was under warranty and therefore, repair away! Because it’s free! And throw in a new transmission while you’re in there!
Then service guy said something about needing my warranty information and my thought was, we bought it from you so why don’t you go ask JoEL if he can find it somewhere?
I called P and he said he’d handle it, which is my preferred method of handling things.
Then today, service guy called to tell me that since we’d just bought the car 5 weeks ago, a claim couldn’t be paid through the warranty yet, and they needed the loaner back, so could I please come in, pay for the repairs out of pocket with no hope of reimbursement and turn in the loaner?
Umm, that would be a no, but hats off to you for having the nerve to ask.
I called P with this update because, as y’all know, he’s my preferred method of handling things.
He drove over to the Volvo Center (but not in the loaner because we are clever like a band of foxes) and basically told them it wasn’t our problem. If they wanted the loaner, then they needed to give me back my car and then file the claim as soon as the warranty took effect.
Otherwise, the loaner? It’s a stayin’ with Big Mama.
I can’t believe JoEL wasn’t completely honest about the service we could expect from the Service Department.
It’s like you can’t even trust a used car salesman these days.