Dallas, TX, June 19, 2019 – Since November 2018, BBB Serving North Central Texas has received several complaints on North Texas based engine rebuilder, Powertrain Direct, LLC. Powertrain Direct has a total of 89 complaints, all of which have come in the last 12 months. As of today, the business has an “F” rating and its BBB Accreditation was revoked in March 2019, for failing to respond to 50 consumer complaints. The length of time the business has taken to respond to complaints and the volume of complaints filed against the business also lowered its rating.
Complaints against Powertrain Direct, LLC, allege failure to issue thousands of dollars in refunds to customers for “core charge fees” or deposits, difficulty contacting the company to inquire about refunds, and failure to deliver purchased engines and transmissions. Interested customers browsed the business’s website and were encouraged to call a sales number to make a purchase. The purchase price included a “core charge fee.”
“Since 2018, BBB has seen a steady influx of complaints about this company,” says Phylissia Clark, Vice President of Public Relations and Communications for BBB Serving North Central Texas, “however the complaint volume along with inquiries on bbb.org dramatically increased in March, April, and May of 2019.” Customers allege they were told the core fee would be refunded, as long as they shipped their original engine or transmission to Powertrain Direct. After shipping their parts to the company, many customers allege they never received a refund.
One customer from the Colony, Texas, told BBB, “I have called several times to get my core deposit back. They keep giving me a different date. Now they will not return my calls or emails. I was promised that I would receive a check on March 5, 2019, in the amount of $550. Have yet to receive it.” A complainant based in Georgetown, Texas, alleged, “I am owed $1,500 for an engine core refund that was promised for 5 months. On October 24, 2018, I purchased a Dodge Diesel rebuilt engine from Powertrain Direct. I returned my engine core within two weeks and was told it will be soon for my refund. In the middle of December I checked and got nowhere with customer service. In the middle of January, the core guy, Josh, assured me that the check is going out Jan 29. Did it? NO!”
If you have done business with this company and are seeking a resolution, BBB recommends the following:
- Contact your credit card company. Dispute charges, if necessary. Find out what the process is to investigate potential fraud.
- Contact your local BBB. If you haven’t been able to reach a resolution with the company directly, file a complaint at bbb.org. Make sure to request a resolution that will settle the dispute. We will contact the company on your behalf, to ask that they work with you.
- Contact your state Attorney General and Federal Trade Commission. Both agencies accept complaints, as well.