Business ProfileforStewart and Stevenson Atlantic

We contacted this repair shop to gain a diagnostic on a tractor. They informed us that the vehicle could be dropped of on March 6th, and we dropped it off on that date. We did a few follow up calls because we weren’t receiving any updates and each call we would be informed that they either did not get to the vehicle yet despite being told to drop it off on that day or that the mechanic is still look at the truck. On March 12 we call again because as I stated we were not receiving any updates, and were informed we would receive an estimate that day. We received an estimate for $48,000. We informed the shop that amount is too high and to send an invoice for the diagnostic so we can pick up the truck. On the 14th we called to asked about the invoice and pick up and were told the mechanic moved on to another job so he has not put the vehicle back together yet. On the 15th we called again to inquire about the invoice and picking up the tractor. We were told the invoice would be sent in a couple minutes and the truck needs to be towed. When we inquired why the truck needed to be towed the answer given was “that thing is not drivable”. We stated we knew it needed to be fixed but it was drivable because it had drove 50miles the day prior to dropping it off. The mechanic said “I was told it wasn’t getting repaired so just push it out”. Gary then informed me “It was ripped apart for the diagnostic” I then asked why weren’t we asked if we were ok with that extent of inspection that would cause additional damage. His response was he did say this. We corrected him that he did not state this and inquired if this was stated on the formed sign in an effort to figure out where the disconnect occurred. This is where In my opinion he realized he told a lie, when stated that he said this and at this point he became irate and yell that he would have his manager call me back Monday, I said no we want the vehicle back today because it’s been there too long and we need to get it fixed, but I also need someone to explain to me why I dropped off a drivable tractor and it is now in pieces. He informed me his manager Tony is out till Monday but he would have the higher manger call me back. In two hours I received another call from Gary telling me again that the truck needed to be subjected to that level of inspection and I informed him that I understand that but he was supposed to inform us of that and gain our approval. He became irate, yelling that i am not getting it and his manger will call me and hung up before I could respond. I never received a invoice and our vehicle was kept over the weekend, I’m guessing in retaliation. On Monday, March 18 I called again because I had come to the conclusion this business does not make phone calls to update or inform customers. I requested an invoice again and informed him that he is keeping our property without our permission and he needs to send the invoice so we can have a tow truck recover the vehicle, he said “well you wanted to talk to my manger” to which I replied “so you kept our property, please send the invoice so we can submit the payment and get the vehicle”. At this point I didn’t not want to talk to Gary or anyone at that business, the goal was to regain the tractor. I waited and still didn’t receive an invoice, so I followed up with an email request the invoice again. He replied to the email stating Tony is putting it together. The first invoice I received from Tony stated that “the customer declined repairs and instructed to reassemble the vehicle to tow out” This statement is completely incorrect because the tractor was not reassembled and we did not say we wanted a tow out, we were told we don’t have a choice but to tow it away because of the condition they left it in. I called Tony and asked that this line be remove because we never stated that, and in my opinion this line was strategically placed to remove liability from them, in hopes we would not read the entirety of the invoice. He removed that line, we paid the $2747.02 in order to regain the vehicle. We paid $1000 for the vehicle to be towed to a mechanic that is professional and is not callously inflating prices.The engine was completely ripped apart with a lot of unnecessary damage done to it, I believe in an effort to inflate the invoice. I am asking that we be refunded the $2747.02 because there was no agreement made for that level of damage to be done.