Dealer keeps refund from cancelled 3rd party warranty

I leased my new Tacoma in August 2018. In September I went to the dealer, spoke to a finance man and cancelled the Fidelity Warranty Services mechanical warranty . They said it would take 4-6 weeks.

In October I went into dealer to check on refund. Got nowhere. Dealer does not return calls.

In November I called and asked for the general manager. Soon I got an e-mail from the office manager saying they had no record of cancellation, but they would cancel it that day. I verified later with the warranty company it was cancelled that day.

This is how the system works. You have to cancel through the dealer, then the refund which was part of the lease is sent to the dealer who then forwards the refund to the bank holding the lease..

The warranty company said the money was sent to the dealer in December.

In January, I left an intimidating voice mail on the office mangers phone. She called me back saying she had the $ and there was a requisition for a check to the lease-holding bank.

Since then I have not been able to talk to anyone again, except a salesman suggested I talk to the controller. Each time I call him the phone just rings, with no voice mail.

 

Usually the cancellation $$$ goes to the lien holder if there's a loan.

If you paid cash it comes to you.

The caveat is that it must be cancelled within 30 days.

If over 30 days, they will "prorate" the warranty, often to the point of basically removing any cash owed you.

Best to avoid them from the start.