Trouble With Dealer and FordPass Points

[Zaph]

What in the world does having to activate your modem have to do with acquiring your Ford Pass Rewards points?

I believe it does have something to do with it. At least the way it was explained at my dealer, he helped me set up my phone, get it to be able to remote start my truck, and at the end of it all the result was him saying "now you have these fordpass points you can use for service or accessories."

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[Mokume]

I believe it does have something to do with it. At least the way it was explained at my dealer, he helped me set up my phone, get it to be able to remote start my truck, and at the end of it all the result was him saying "now you have these fordpass points you can use for service or accessories."

I created my Ford Pass Rewards account a day or 2 after my truck's VIN was made available, yet the truck had not been built yet.

When I took delivery of the truck on 1/18/20 I paired my Android phone (which already had the Ford Pass app loaded) with the truck as shown by the salesperson.

Twelve days after that (1/30) the 42K points were credited to my rewards account.

On 2/6/2020 I purchased a tailgate dampener kit using my rewards points, the adjusted balance was reflected immediately on my account status then and remains the same to this day.

Then, on 2/18/20 I activated my Ford Pass Connect Wi-Fi account with AT&T, when Indy650 stated in his post to "activate the modem" I was assuming this was what he meant, perhaps I misinterpreted.

Of course none of these events from 1/18/20 would have happened if I was forced to sign a document stating the 42K points were required to be converted towards service work exclusively, then told that a copy would be emailed to me later.

Had the dealer insisted, I would have walked out the door with my cashiers check in hand and Ubered it back home.

 

[weasel1]

At least you folks get rewards points. No such luck in Canada.

 

[Mokume]

At least you folks get rewards points. No such luck in Canada.

Bummers, but at least you got US as neighbors....

 

[levimac`]

I spent one and a half hours with a ford guide because my phone wasn't showing my ford pass points that the owner site was showing plus no location and a few other things , Had to log out and put my owners site email and password in and my ford pass points, location and other things have appeared on my phone app immediately. Had two different emails one for the owner site and one for ford pass phone app and neither recognized the other even though I had earned two awards on the same RO owners site recognized one and the phone app recognized another one.
So after almost 5 months my phone app shows my rewards points that the owners site shows , yay.
The young lady also said the dealership cannot take rewards points for a maintenance contract and an RO is required with a signature to take any rewards points.
My service advisor informed me that a salesman in our surrounding area was stealing rewards points from His customers and putting them into His account and He was caught doing so as none of His customers were getting any of their 42000 points from Ford for buying a new vehicle, anyway that is what I was told.

 

[Fawnbuster]

So I got my 42,000 points and I activated my modem and all was good I figured I'd use them towards some accessories next time I went to the dealer. Recently I got a call from service dept at the dealer saying I have a complimentary oil change. I told the lady thanks but I do my own maintenance, she was nice and fine with that and said it's there if I ever want it. The very next day all my points are taken and it said redeem for PMP. I talked with them today and the service guy kept trying to come up with excuses. First it was Oh, you needed to activate your modem within 6 months to which I replied that I activated it right away. The second call was some other excuse I think that they were used for a maintenance visit to which I replied that I have never been in for one. His third call he informed me that when the truck was bought a paper was signed that agreed to put the points into a service plan. Now, when I got the truck I told the salesman I planned on doing my own maintenance but that I was excited to get fender flares and would have them put them on and I would use my points towards them. He said that was fine. He never told me about a paper that I signed putting them into a service plan and I really think I'd remember signing that.
Anyway, I'm curious if anyone else has had issues like this with their points. I gave the dealer the benefit of the doubt but the points being erased in the time-frame that I talked to that woman can't be a coincidence. I would guess the dealer can submit the points and get money for the "service" performed. The only service I got is the one up my backside. I swear no matter how vigilant you are they manage to get you somehow on something.

I also got 42k points, never signed anything as far as service. My dealer told me I could use the points on whatever I wanted, I didn't activate the modem because it's AT&T like my cell phone so with my unlimited plan I don't need redundant internet. If I don't have a signal on my phone, I won't have it on the modem. If my dealer was in error in regards to the 42k points I am confident they will eat the bill. But then again 42k points may end up being worth a couple of car washes I've no idea what they equal in cash

 

[Mokume]

I also got 42k points, never signed anything as far as service. My dealer told me I could use the points on whatever I wanted, I didn't activate the modem because it's AT&T like my cell phone so with my unlimited plan I don't need redundant internet. If I don't have a signal on my phone, I won't have it on the modem. If my dealer was in error in regards to the 42k points I am confident they will eat the bill. But then again 42k points may end up being worth a couple of car washes I've no idea what they equal in cash

According to autonews.com, 42k points are the equivalent of $210 towards service or parts.

 

[RedlandRanger]

If I don't have a signal on my phone, I won't have it on the modem.

That might or might not be true. I might be that the antenna on the truck is better than the antenna on your phone so it is possible the truck cell modem might be able to get a signal when your phone can't. I don't know if that is what would happen, but it is very possible/probable that the truck antenna is better than your phone.

And it is obviously only a case in fringe areas. If you are just plain out of range of a signal at all, no antenna will help.

Me, I'm not that interested in always being connected. My phone is more than enough.... I never activated the truck cell service.

 

[Mokume]

That might or might not be true. I might be that the antenna on the truck is better than the antenna on your phone so it is possible the truck cell modem might be able to get a signal when your phone can't. I don't know if that is what would happen, but it is very possible/probable that the truck antenna is better than your phone.

And it is obviously only a case in fringe areas. If you are just plain out of range of a signal at all, no antenna will help.

Me, I'm not that interested in always being connected. My phone is more than enough.... I never activated the truck cell service.

I activated the service just for the hell of it and have not used one bit of the service yet.
However, a few days ago I received an email from AT&T stating that "I may need to add more data to my plan".
I was saddled with service from them years ago, the coverage here was spotty at best, no doubt it has improved since.
At any rate, when the free trial expires I've no intentions of extending it.

 

[Fawnbuster]

That might or might not be true. I might be that the antenna on the truck is better than the antenna on your phone so it is possible the truck cell modem might be able to get a signal when your phone can't. I don't know if that is what would happen, but it is very possible/probable that the truck antenna is better than your phone.

And it is obviously only a case in fringe areas. If you are just plain out of range of a signal at all, no antenna will help.

Me, I'm not that interested in always being connected. My phone is more than enough.... I never activated the truck cell service.

True. Guess it would depend on which antenna they use, the wedge satellite one or the stubby which I swapped for shorter, need to get a longer one now that I know how much clearance I have. If my plan wouldn't cost me more $ per month I would explore it but 4 phones is plenty on my plan.

 

[caprtaineddie]

That might or might not be true. I might be that the antenna on the truck is better than the antenna on your phone so it is possible the truck cell modem might be able to get a signal when your phone can't. I don't know if that is what would happen, but it is very possible/probable that the truck antenna is better than your phone.

And it is obviously only a case in fringe areas. If you are just plain out of range of a signal at all, no antenna will help.

Me, I'm not that interested in always being connected. My phone is more than enough.... I never activated the truck cell service.

I haven't activated the truck cell service either. We have unlimited data and good service on our regular cell phones through Verizon.

 

[JimH]

My dealer told me I could use the points for anything I wanted, so I used my 42,000 points for accessories - hood deflector, mud flaps, and tailgate assist... the points were worth $210, so I had to put some cash out, but not much..

 

[Mokume]

I haven't activated the truck cell service either. We have unlimited data and good service on our regular cell phones through Verizon.

Same here Ed, Verizon has the best coverage here in the islands. Did you notice how easy my cell number was? It goes back to when I had Nextel service and you could request a special number, when the government allowed number porting, that capability went out the window.
I quit Nextel some years ago and took my number with me to Verizon.

 

[caprtaineddie]

Same here Ed, Verizon has the best coverage here in the islands. Did you notice how easy my cell number was? It goes back to when I had Nextel service and you could request a special number, when the government allowed number porting, that capability went out the window.
I quit Nextel some years ago and took my number with me to Verizon.

Yep, easy-peasy! I recall seeing a lot of Verizon trucks on the islands.

 

[quirkybar8]

Maybe I skimmed too quickly, but it sounds like others are confused like I was regarding the difference between FordPass Connect and the AT&T hotspot service. Ford wants your data and it appears they have a M2M network setup for it. That's Connect, and it's the service that's required to be activated and maintained for 6 months in order to meet the 42k points requirements. If you're using the remote start on the app, you did it whether you remember or not. See https://owner.ford.com/fordpass/fordpass-sync-connect.html.

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