ComplaintsforBatten Automotive, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  10/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Batten Automobile. called me today leaving a message that I needed to resolve this $3000.00 bill with them. He says , it's been taking too long. (Well whose fault is that?)This all began 2 months ago due to ***** whom Towed my car (**** ******* and damaging the ************** I filed a complaint thru USAA /Agero/to get this resolved. ***** instructed me not to touch the car until the claim was filed and settled.I in turn called **** at Batten and told him the same.Now,, he tells me I guess that he has done the repair and that he needs me to pay for it. He says the insurance company called him and gave him the go ahead. Well, that sure was news to me. They need to call me. !! I'm the owner. If his agreement was with the insurance company than that contract has nothing to do with me. That is between them. I told **** do not touch that ************* because, the adjustor was saying they were possibly going to total the car. He went ahead and did it anyway. He also did another $800 .00 worth of repairs including replacing a battery (still under warranty, )valve cover gaskets (under warranty) .. now it needs a water pump. never ends. I am not sure why no one is dealing with me on this matter. I thought I was still the owner. ???The insurance company has told me absolutely nothing else except what I stated earlier.Batten Auto took over 2 months alone just to get the part . and, now screaming at me for payment? The towing company damaged my car due to their negligence.I did not create this monster. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am in ************* Car rental. costing me a small fortune .(who wants to pay for this ?) Didn't think so.I also now have credit card debt out the **** ****. due to everyone's else's fault.I blame D AND ******** and Batten Automotive. They both need to be held accountable for their actions.

  Business response

  11/07/2023

  **** Batten

  ************************* yes had a ****** 240 towed to my shop, *************************** is my service advisor, the vehicle was towed in for oil leaks and rough running. we also found the damage from the tow company, we called her to come to the shop so we could show her the damage at which time she was presented an estimate for the repairs and a seperate estimate for the towing damage, at which time she signed and approved both estimates, also she notified us that the insurance company from the tow company would be calling us to approve the rack and pinion. The vehicle's age made purchasing a rack and pinion time consuming but we received it before receiving call from insurance company, we were told to go ahead with the repair and they would send her a check and she would pay the bill. After repairing the vehicle and warming up the engine we discovered a leaking water pump on the vehicle, *************************** wrote an estimate and attempted to contact her, she would not accept our call. Over the coarse of two months we have made many calls that go unanswered, we have signed estimates from her approving the repairs, she also tried to sell the vehicle out of our parking lot while it is in our possession , the individual contacted us, she has filed a claim with the courts in marion county and we look forward to seeing her there. We contacted the insurance company to ask if she received payment, we believe she has and has spent the money.

  Customer response

  11/08/2023

  Mr Batten, has made numerous lies to his advantage.. ************* never contacted him. Nor, have they contacted me regarding this claim. **** service manager, is a habitual lier.. costing me over 3000$ plus rental car fees. two other mechanic s will vouch they could get same part in 2 days ( ***** told me do not touch car until claim was approved.**** did the repairs anyway..but he had to use his partner next ************** auto parts. Taking 3 months to obtain.Shady deal.all around.

   

  I as well look forward to seeing him in court .He enjoys threatening me .

  It's against the law to hold hostage my car for un authorized repair s.its called grand theft auto. 

  I'm a female.he likes to bully.

   

   

   

   

  Customer response

  11/08/2023

   
  Complaint: 20740394
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Mr Batten, has made numerous lies to his advantage.. ************* never contacted him. Nor, have they contacted me regarding this claim. **** service manager, is a habitual lier.. costing me over 3000$ plus rental car fees. two other mechanic s will vouch they could get same part in 2 days ( ***** told me do not touch car until claim was approved.**** did the repairs anyway..but he had to use his partner next ************** auto parts. Taking 3 months to obtain.Shady deal.all around.

   

  I as well look forward to seeing him in court .He enjoys threatening me .

  It's against the law to hold hostage my car for un authorized repair s.its called grand theft auto. 

  I'm a female.he likes to bully.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Business response

  11/20/2023

  In regards to the consumer complaint i did receive a call from the tow company's insurance and was told the repair was approved and to move forward i have no reason to lie about that and I'm sorry she has had  problems with her car we fix the car with her permission i have singed estimates for the work and we are not holding her car hostage if she comes and pays the bills she can get the car anytime i now have documentation from the town company to show she sued them for the damage they did and the repair i tried to contact her several times and she would only call back and leave a message after hours or on weekends when we are closed its a shame she has had to pay a lot of money for renting cars but that is not our fault we have fixed her car and it runs thank you *************************** Service manager Batten Automotive

  Customer response

  11/20/2023

   
  Complaint: 20740394
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   The civil suit on the towing company. has absolutely nothing to do with **** and his choices. It also has nothing to do with the insurance claim either. 

  For his information there is not  an insurance company that called him to do the work. He doesn't even know who the insurance company is. I don't even have that information. that is a misstatement in itself. For obvious reasons, they did not contact him to do the work. It doesn't work that way. I am the owner and I agree to any charges /work that is to be done on that car. I told **** twice, DO NOT  touch the car regarding the rack and pinion without my consent . He choose to do it anyway.

  AND HIS DEFENSE IS THAT I WENT OUT AND SPENT THE CHECK.. I MEAN REALLY ****????

  Speaking of CIVIL SUITS.. This is not Batten's  first rodeo either. Batten has been in civil litigation as well in the past  with mechanics lien's etc. speak for yourself *********

  I guess it was also my fault that it took Batten 3 months to find a part ??? while I sat in a rental car.  or maybe it took Advanced that long to find. it??? 

  Thanks to BBB. for your assistance. You can only do so much ....with those trying to commit fraud.

   

   

   

   

   

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *************************

  Business response

  11/29/2023

    To whom it may concern at the BBB, first to address her response that she is being bullied by me , **** Batten, I have never spoke to the complainant, not in person not over the phone, I have never left a voicemail or email, I have responded once to this complaint, for her to say she is being bullied is outrageous. This whole thing started when she left her car overnight where there is no overnight parking, it was towed to impound yard by police, then towed to Batten Automotive **** sometime in that process it was damaged. We diagnosed the no start no run, then we found the towing damage, we wrote estimates for both repairs, the customer was called to come in and see the damage which she did, at which time she was escorted back into the office where she was presented with two estimates, she checked the appropriate box and signed the estimates, at that point we had permission to go ahead with repairs. No consent was needed from insurance companies, we do however know the name of the company because we faxed the estimate to them for the damage, we were then asked by them for pictures which we took and emailed to them. So there is a substantial paper trail for what we had done on behalf of the customer. And yes we were contacted and told to go ahead with the repairs by the insurance company, her vehicle is quite old and obtaining the rack and pinion for it was a challenge. We replaced the rack and attempted to contact customer to notify her the car was done but she would not answer calls, we tried for weeks, the she called after hours and left messages saying she never authorized any repairs, we have signed estimates and would never perform repairs without consent. This whole situation is unfortunate, we refuse to go back and forth with her verbally because that seems to be what she wants, she has filed a claim with the courts and we have a court date and are perfectly fine with resolving this matter and will abide by whatever ruling the judge hands down. In response to her claims of other litigation yes over the years we have had to initiate a mechanics lien before, that is our only recourse with non paying customers, but please take note the absence of complaints against us over the past 25 years in business, we are a legitimate and honest business, we do work for the **************** namely the state attourny , we have been servicing their vehicles for years here in marion county *******.

      Sincerely,

     **** Batten

     Batten Automotive ****

   

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