Do NOT join Allstate Motor Club if you are looking for "Free CARFAX Vehicle History Reports" as a member benefit. Please read the emails I sent to customer service and their responses. I did not edit anything, not even typos.
[I joined the club at 1:15 AM EST on Saturday, May 1. I sent the following email to customer service within 2 days, at 6:56 PM EST on Sunday, May 2.]
I just joined the club a couple of days ago. After I pulled several Carfax reports, I got the following message: "Additional CarFax reports for this membership are unavailable at this time. Try again next month. For additional information or if you have any questions please email us at [email protected]."
On your web site, it says: "CARFAX, the most trusted provider of vehicle history information can instantly create a Vehicle History Report containing over six billion records from more than 22,000 data sources. Get started now by entering your VIN number below to receive your vehicle history report at no additional cost."
Is there a limitation for pulling the report? If so, should the information be displayed on the plan benefits page so that I know what I will get before I join the club?
[Response I received at 3:10 PM EST on Monday, May 3]
Thank you for contacting Allstate Motor Club.
I am sorry for any inconvenience that this has caused but as a Platinum Elite Member, we provide only seven CarFax reports per month for your personal use. CARFAX reports are also not provided for any Commercial use, resale or redistribution. If you are in need of additional reports, I'll be happy to take the request for you and forward it on for review. How many more reports do you think you will need? You are a valued member and we look forward to being of service to you.
Lois Kalish
Customer Relations
Allstate Roadside Services
[Sent to customer service at 11:16 PM EST on Monday, May 3]
Thank you very much for your quick response!
I'm looking for a used car for personal use. The reason I pulled 7 reports a couple of days ago was that I thought it was an unlimited service. I couldn't find anywhere on your web site that mentions it is a limited service. But I did find several places that mention "vehicle history report at no additional cost." It seems to me that it is a kind of cheating. The information should be displayed in the member benefits area, so that everyone can see it before joining the club.
Anyway, I would like to have my limit for this month back.
[Response I received at 12:43 PM EST on Tuesday, May 4]
Thank you for contacting Allstate Motor Club.
I am sorry for any inconvenience that this has caused but as a Platinum Elite Member, we provide only seven CarFax reports per month for your personal use up to a maximum of 20 CarFax reports within a year's time. If you do not want to wait until next month when additional CarFax Reports are available, then respond to my e-mail with your membership number and the Vin numbers of the vehicles for which you are interested in receiving the Car Fax Reports, and I will be happy to e-mail you the reports.
As stated in the Membership Guide under General Provisions, "Benefits and dues: Benefits and membership dues are subject to change without notice. From time to time, additional benefits and services may be offered."
You are a valued member and we look forward to being of continued service to you. Lois Kalish
[Sent to customer service at 10:33 PM EST on Tuesday, May 4]
Based on your email, "As stated in the Membership Guide under General Provisions, 'Benefits and dues: Benefits and membership dues are subject to change without notice. From time to time, additional benefits and services may be offered.'", did you imply that the benefits and membership dues were changed between when I joined the club (1:15 AM EST Saturday, May 1) and when I pulled the vehicle history reports (6:00 PM EST Sunday, May 2)? If so, why is the "Free CARFAX Vehicle History Reports" information still displayed on the Allstate Motor Club web site?
I told you that it seemed to me that your company was cheating. After reading your response, now I am SURE your company is cheating intentionally. I am going to file a complaint and let others know the way Allstate conducts business. Please be sure to let your manager and the big bosses know that it is NOT the right way of doing business! I will surely cancel my membership and NEVER do any business with Allstate again.
By the way, if I had known there was a limitation, I wouldn't have pulled history reports for my car and my wife's car. Am I kind of stupid? :)
Thanks and have a nice day!
[Response I received at 2:28 PM EST on Wednesday, May 5]
Thank you for contacting Allstate Motor Club. We were sorry to learn you were disappointed we had to limit the availability of free CarFax Reports. We want to thank you for taking the time to inform us of your objection. Your feedback has been forwarded to our management team who will review your concerns.
You are a valued member and we hope to be of service to you in the future.
Lois Kalish
[Sent to customer service at 10:52 PM EST on Wednesday, May 5]
I was not disappointed by the limit on free CarFax Reports. I was disappointed by the way Allstate does business. Customers have the right to know the truth before they join the club. Cheating is not good business conduct. I don't believe it will help Allstate Motor Club in the long run either. I feel bad for you and for all the employees at Allstate. It must be pretty hard for all of you to work for such a company...
Anyway, thanks for your response and have a nice day!
0 comments