Warranty Direct
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{COI|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Warranty Direct
| logo = WD logo 2013.jpg
| type = Private company, limited shares
| traded_as =
| industry = Insurance
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| products =
| services = Warranty (car, van, bike)
Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP)
Breakdown Repair Insurance
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| parent = FirstBaseFM Ltd.
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| foundation = {{Start date|1997|06}}
| location_city =
| location_country = United Kingdom
| locations =
| homepage = {{URL|warrantydirect.co.uk|WarrantyDirect.co.uk}}
}}
Warranty Direct is a provider of direct consumer warranties based in the United Kingdom. The brand advertises products such as new car warranty, and extended warranty.
History
Extended warranties were the norm in North America, and were growing in popularity, at the time of the launch of Warranty Direct, in the summer of 1997, due in part to changes in the Sale of Goods Act, which was issued in December 1979.{{cite web|title=Extended direct warranties in North America since 1980|url=https://www.warrantydirect.com/History.aspx|publisher=Canadian Warranty Direct|accessdate=15 August 2012}}{{cite web|title=Sale of Goods Act 1979|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54|publisher=UK government|accessdate=15 August 2012}} With the typical manufacturer's warranty lasting only three years,{{cite web|title=Manufacturer warranty comparison|url=http://www.kia.co.uk/new-cars/7-year-warranty/warranty-comparison-table.aspx|publisher=Kia|accessdate=15 August 2012}} a large number of cars did not hold any form of extended mechanical, and electrical repair insurance.{{cite news|title=Car repairs 'get more expensive'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8267562.stm|publisher=BBC|accessdate=15 August 2012|date=21 September 2009}}
Warranty Direct was founded by father and son, David McClure Fisher and Duncan McClure Fisher, in June 1997, its sole service was vehicle warranties, primarily for second hand cars and private sales,{{cite news|title=Find a second hand bargain|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/columnists/neil-lyndon/8903765/Find-a-second-hand-bargain.html|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=15 August 2012|location=London|first=Neil|last=Lyndon|author-link=Neil Lyndon|date=28 November 2011}} until 1999, when warranties for Household Appliance were launched.
David and Duncan McClure Fisher sold the majority stake in April 2008, and was sold to the arm of BNP Paribas Assurance, in the United Kingdom, Cardif Pinnacle, who purchased the remaining shares, in July 2013.{{cite web|title=Sale of Warranty Direct|url=http://www.cardifpinnacle.com/content/press-release.php?release=pinnacle&id=317|publisher=Cardif Pinnacle|accessdate=15 August 2012}}
The company offers a range of services to people buying used cars.
In December 2020 Warranty Direct closed their website and business to new customers.
In January 2021 the brand was taken over by FirstBaseFM Ltd. a UK based Insurtech Company to develop and modernise the brand.
Underwriters
Since the launch of Warranty Direct, underwriters have varied. Originally with Lloyd's of London, the majority of current policies are now underwritten by Cardif Pinnacle and administered by Warranty Direct.{{cite web|url=http://www.lloyds.com/News-and-Insight/News-and-Features/Market-news/Industry-News-2008/New-policy-to-keep-Rollers-rolling|title=New policy to keep Rollers rolling|publisher=Lloyd's of London|accessdate=15 August 2012}}
Warranty Direct is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority{{cite web|title=FCA|url=http://www.fca.org.uk/register/firmRefSearch.do|publisher=Financial Conduct Authority|accessdate=15 August 2012}} (FCA Register Number 309075) and as such, customers can seek help from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and Financial Services Compensation Scheme where necessary.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
Affiliated Websites
The Reliability Index has been running since April 2000. Data, from Warranty Direct’s paid claims, is used to establish the reliability of cars. This information is used to rank the car manufacturers and models, by reliability, and allocate the “Warranty Direct Rating”. The results are released in association with What Car?.{{cite news|title=And the most reliable used car is..|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9426806/And-the-most-reliable-used-car-is....html|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=15 August 2012|location=London|first=Chris|last=Knapman|date=26 July 2012}}{{cite web|title=Top 10 most reliable cars|url=http://money.aol.co.uk/2012/05/30/top-ten-most-reliable-family-workhorses/|publisher=Aol|accessdate=15 August 2012}}{{cite web|title=Honda's amazing story of success|url=http://www.sundayworld.com/lifestyle/car-world.php?aid=12373|publisher=Sunday World|accessdate=20 August 2012}}
Potholes.co.uk allows the public to report potholes, and highlights problem areas, to local authorities.{{cite web|title=English councils get £100 million to fix potholes|url=http://www.channel4.com/news/english-councils-get-100-million-to-fix-potholes|publisher=Channel 4 News|accessdate=15 August 2012}}{{cite web|title=£1 million a day - the cost of UK potholes|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/93793/-1million-a-day-the-cost-of-UK-s-potholes-|publisher=The Express|accessdate=15 August 2012}}{{cite news|title=North-South Pothole Divide|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7987486.stm|publisher=BBC|accessdate=15 August 2012|date=7 April 2009}}{{cite news|title=Motorists take on England's pothole fight|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12429246|publisher=BBC|accessdate=15 August 2012|date=1 March 2011}}{{Cite web |title=Tìm thợ sửa xe |url=https://timthosuaxe.com/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=timthosuaxe|language=vi}}
References
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