Horizons May 2009

HORIZONS e-NEWSLETTER
Volume 2, Number 4
Member Issue

Latest update of news and items of importance to members of the Automotive Warranty & Service Contract Association (AWSCA).

-- NOTICE FROM FRIDAY’s CONFERENCE CALL --

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY all sales calls or customer solicitations (to US and Canada based customers from wherever) must follow the guidelines listed below:

a. NO robo-calls or pre-recorded message calls

b. NO use of any third parties to dial, initiate or conduct sales or solicitation calls, including the use of an agent company or an independent contractor (for clarification, all marketing organizations must use direct employees on their own payrolls and cannot subcontract out or use TRANSFER CALLS)

c. NO calls to cell phones

d. NO predictive dialing unless to land lines that are not on DNC (federal, state, internal company) AND that comply with state telemarketing rules like registration.

CONSUMER TESTIMONIALS NEEDED

Please send testimonials from your customers as to the benefits of a VSC/Warranty to larry@warrantybestpractices.com ASAP. We want to use them to demonstrate that our industry provides value to its customers and vehicle owners.

WIRELESS LIST

Helen recommends that you contact the following website: http://www.neustar.biz/interoperability/wnp.cfm

Please HOLD THE DATE.

AWSCA’s Annual meeting will be held in Orlando in conjunction with the F&I and VSCAC Conferences. Our session will take place on Tuesday morning, September 22, 2009. We’re working on negotiating for discounts to the conference and for lodging at the Marriott for AWSCA members.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS OF INTEREST

Idaho House Bill 187 is now law; it adds a new provision requiring notices on motor vehicle service contracts. The law becomes effective July 1, 2009. It (Section 49-2805A) requires any advertisement for a motor vehicle service contract from an auto dealer, auto manufacturer, or motor vehicle service contract provider to bear a conspicuous notice stating that it is an advertisement, and identifying the name and contact information of the provider. Section 49-2806 is amended to prohibit a motor vehicle service contract provider or its representatives from making, permitting or allowing to be made any advertisement to sell a motor vehicle service contract that does not comply with the notice requirement.

North Dakota HB1158, recently signed into law, requires any person/company (as opposed to just those that fit within the definition of "automobile dealer" or "third-party administrator") who issues a written automobile warranty contract, automobile mechanical breakdown contract or automobile service contract to maintain a policy of insurance which provides coverage for the person's contractual obligation.

AWSCA maintains a log of legislative Bills that are under consideration in various state legislatures that may become law. If you are interested in receiving a monthly listing, request it from larry@vpanet.org. Thanks for your cooperation and support.