Good Sam Extended Ins. "Read the Fine Print"

[mwwade]

If you are buying a new rv. this year, and thinking about extended ins. coverage, read the fine print. When you purchase your new vehicle it will come with the manufacturers 1 or 2 year warranty. If you purchase the Good Sam extended 7 year warranty at the same time as you purchased the rv. Your GS ins. Will go in effect that same day. So, if you have 2 years warranty on your rv. from the manufacturer, you won't need the extended ins. until the factory ins. expires. You will actually loose 1 or 2 years of Good Sam extended ins. Because you already have the factory warranty. This is like having two warranties at the same time on one vehicle.

[LJowdy]

Several years ago I purchased a Good Sam policy after my manufacturers warranty expired. I was planning a cross country trip and specifically told them when the policy should start. Prior to activation (3 separate times) I asked them if they would do a pre inspection and each time they said NO, the coach was still basically new and no inspection was required. (I got the names of the agents who said no) About 3 weeks before our big trip, we took the coach to Chula Vista located about 9 miles south of San Diego to see the tall ships come into the San Diego Bay. On the way home the turbo exploded and I had to have it towed to a repair facility. When I went to pick up the coach, the service manager said that Good Sam refused to pay saying it was a "pre existing" condition. Cost me $2,900.00

Once on our cross country trip, I made several telephone calls to Good Sam with no luck. I then wrote a letter to Good Sam telling them I was planning on a law suit and with 3 of their agents telling me that no inspection was required that their claim of "Pre Existing" was bunk and more than likely a jury of my peers would agree with me.
I got a check in the mail to cover the costs.

Don't believe their advertisements, all their hype about good service is basically crap.

[Gary RVRoamer]

If you purchase the Good Sam extended 7 year warranty at the same time as you purchased the rv. Your GS ins. Will go in effect that same day. So, if you have 2 years warranty on your rv. from the manufacturer, you won't need the extended ins. until the factory ins. expires. You will actually loose 1 or 2 years of Good Sam extended ins. Because you already have the factory warranty. This is like having two warranties at the same time on one vehicle.

Certainly true, but the premium you pay reflects that as well. If you wait until after the factory warranty expires to buy an additional 7 years, you will find the premium substantially increased.

The key think here is to not get fooled into telling yourself "Wow, I'm getting 7 years for only $xxxx", cause you really are not. Your policy won't pay a dime for any item that ought to be covered by a factory warranty, whether that warranty of from the RV maker or one of the appliance suppliers (fridge, water heater, etc. all have warranties too).

[woodfoot]

Cancelled my Bad Sam extended coverage this week. They refused to authorize repairing my steps that had a worn gear, and would not fully retract. The warranty does not cover wear and tear. Decided to just bank the premium monthly to cover future expenses. I got a full refund of the payment I just made. It' not up to Sam, it's the underwriter that decides the authorization. After paying for eight years, they couldn't pay out $1100.00 for the replacement.

[Ray,IN]

When we purchased this MH we also bought a 3-yr extended service contract from Camping World. It expired yesterday, so I bought a 1-yr from Good
Sam. This is when I was told Camping World does NOT use the same provider as Good Sam. Camping World's ESC was from Crossroads RV, Good Sam has their own company which covers MH's up to 18 yrs old. Camping World would not cover our 2002 MH because they have changed their age limit to 7-yr old MH's.
As previously stated, read your contract carefully, or you wind up like woodfoot, angry because something not covered was a total surprise.

[Gary RVRoamer]

The warranty does not cover wear and tear.

Actually it does on many parts but they are arbitrary and selective about using this excuse. They tend to say anything with a motor gets "normal wear", but other parts that fail after wearing out get covered. For example, an engine water pump or fuel injector would get replaced. Or the RV fresh water pump, for that matter. I think the GS policy is rather capricious about the wear & tear thing.

It' not up to Sam, it's the underwriter that decides the authorization.

True, but GS set the parameters for the coverage to begin with, and achieves a lower premium rate (or more profit) by requiring a very tight interpretation of the policy fine print. When the claims people get pushed by their bosses because the claims costs are too high, they react by making arbitrary decisions against the policy holders. They have to, to keep their jobs.

[Ray,IN]

(copied from my policy)
Good Sam Club ESP;

Master Policyholder:
The Good Sam Club

Surplus Lines Broker:
Affinity Brokerage Inc.

Administered by:
NFU Property and Causality Company

Underwriter:
QBE Insurance (Europe) Limited

GS will continue to insure a MH through 18 years of age.

[Mr_D]

Doesn't matter if it's GS or any other! The larger print giveth and the fine print taketh!!