Essential Care

[krcossin]

When I picked up my car back in October 2005 I was offered and accepted to have 5 years (20 total) of oil changes for $300, I accepted the offer and have used several of them always returning to the same dealership for the service. Today however, I stopped in and was told they had 10 cars ahead of me and it would be over 3 hours. The program I purchased includes service at any U.S. Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep dealership. So I went on with my errands and stopped at a Chrysler dealer, pulled in, they compliment my car, no wait at all, I have it done within 20 minutes, great. I go to get my keys and am told that I bought the wrong service plan and that next time I would have to pay extra. She said that the service manager told her because your vehicle requires shields removed and special oil there is an extra charge, I have the wrong program. I thought she was joking, so I replied with: "Yeah right, so you don't want me back?" No response. I was not happy, I left. I came back to work, got the email address of the service manager and explained my dissatisfaction. He replied with:

Our service adviser is correct to advise you that you were sold the wrong service contract on your vehicle. Your vehicle requires shields removed and special oil that would bring the total to $34.95.

Your selling dealership had sold a $15.00 essential care plan that would leave you paying the difference. Most likely this was done in error and if you contact them they can fix the problem. Your should of been sold a Owner Care Premium Plan. Correcting this is something only the selling dealership can do.

Our SA did not respond to you as she thought you were purposely being rude to her. She has that authority.

She did do the work knowing you were sold the wrong care plan but did not want to have a conflict as most people react poorly when they find they were sold the wrong contract ( our policy for 1st time customers).

I appreciate that even though you were mad you still allowed me to know that you did receive good timely service. We forward to caring for your vehicle again.

Sincerely,.

So anyone else have the Essential Care with their 5.7l? I left a voice mail with my salesperson, no reply yet.

[catzcradle]

tough to see on their website what all the plans are. I see this page http://www.servicecontracts.daimlerc...rCarePack.html that talks about some of it, and then there is the LOF (lube oil filter) simple plans.

Sounds like the chrysler dealer was being upfront with you, and that it happens a lot. I swear the salesmen don't know what the service contracts are for. Good price on the changes though, I get emails every quarter for 18.95 change with inspection etc.

[FleshWound]

try to go to your original dealer, they have not charged you any extra (over and above the service contract) for your oil changes.
kinda sucks knowing that they want more coin over and above the 300$$$

I was offered but declined a service contract that would have worked out to 60 Canadian dollars per visit...seemed a little steep for me. went in for the first oil change (was in the middle of winter) they did it for free, and said I would receive a survey in the mail and if I responded positively , they would give me my next service free also.....
still waiting for the survey (not holding my breath)
Fumoto valve on order so I can do my own maintenance.

[krcossin]

So I called Chrysler's Service Contract help line: 1-800-521-9922, (my sales person never returned my call) they told me that the selling dealership must honor the coupons they sold me with no extra charge for that service, however if I were to use another dealership, I may have to pay the extra amount over the value of the coupon to what they charge for that service. When I bought these oil changes, I was told they are good at any Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge dealer, I thought that meant good for a free lube, oil, filter service as it says on the coupon, not a dollar value that I already paid ($15) off the service.
So I will make the effort to have the selling dealer change my oil until the time period is up or I run out of coupons. Then I will go back to doing the service myself as I do with all my other cars.

[Super T]

I wonder what that plan would cost for the SRT... I pay $75/change right now :-(

[krcossin]

I have no idea, but you can see why I took the offer. $15 oil change is a very good deal. No-one can say I didn't change my oil, I'm a little over 14,000 miles now and it has been changed 6 times already.