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Business Profile

Car Wash

Tidal Wave Auto Spa

Headquarters

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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This business has 1 alert

Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Tidal Wave Auto Spa's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Tidal Wave Auto Spa has 51 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 184 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 102 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

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    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/27/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      The first time I went to Tidal Wave of **** on **** *****, they asked me if I wanted to join their membership club. I said no. A few weeks later, I was being billed monthly for services I didn't receive or want. After I went back to tell them to stop the billing, I had my car washed with Tire Shine. A few minutes later, at the vacumes, I noticed grease all over my hubcaps. Another woman was scrubbing her hubcaps. She said her car was full of grease as well. So, I walked over and asked to speak to the manager. I explained the problem to him and he would not give me my money back. I spent 40 minutes and used 6 of their rags and spray to get the grease off my car. My shoulders were sore when I left. I explained all of this to the manager and he said he could not do anything about it because my car was clean-just all 4 hubcap were oily. My car was cleaner before the wash. I drive a ******** and take very good care of my car. This place is more interested in taking people's money than doing a good job cleaning cars. Very disappointing. They are close to my home and wanted to use this car wash. I just can't go back now. They are dishonest people.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/20/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Was over billed for car washes that didn't happen.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/16/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      My wife and I signed up at Tidal Wave at their grand opening for a monthly membership. Tidal wave employees were very aggessive in persuading us to sign up. I was told the first month is free and the membership could be cancelled at anytime. I was specifically told I could cancel with no strings attached as long as it was done before the monthly renewal date. I have now tried to cancel both accounts, but have been advised by Tidal Wave that in order to not be rebilled, I would have had to cancelled (7) days before the renewal. This was never conveyed to me and is an extremely deceptive business practice.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/16/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I visited Tidal Wave car wash on ******* to get my car washed. Upon pulling up the the wash, rather than choosing what I wanted on the screen as I usually do, a man working at the wash was standing there and asked which wash I wanted. I told him the best wash they had. He said, “For $30, you can get a month of those washes. You can come back as many times as you’d like for 30 days” That sounded like a great deal so I agreed. On *******, I noticed my account was charged by Tidal Wave for $49.97. Upon investigation, I realized I was unknowingly signed up for a membership without my acknowledgement or agreement. I immediately canceled the membership online but was unable to request a refund. I reached out by phone to Tidal Wave to tell them what happened and ask for a refund. I was refused a refund because they said they sent me a text message with a membership agreement. I explained that I never saw this message when it was sent and it was never mentioned at the car wash that it would be a $49.97 recurring charge. They declined to give me a refund. I then realized that I had seen another charge on my account from Tidal Wave a few days prior for $23.97 that was on my son’s card. I asked him about the charge and he said he hadn’t been to the car wash in several months. After looking through the account, I realized that he too had been signed up for a membership without being informed that was happening. He said nothing was mentioned about this when he had his car washed. This is obviously a shady business practice that is occurring regularly at this location. He cancelled the membership after we realized what had happened but we had been paying for this for 4 months without even realizing it. I filed a dispute with my credit card company for the $49.97 charge on my account.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/13/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Went to get a car wash in ***** ****. Signed a credit card slip for approximately $17. They charged my bank $37.42. I filed for this to stop in *** when I saw it on my bank account and was recovered funds for only one month. I notice they are charging me every month for some kind of membership I never agreed to.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/11/2024

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I went to car wash and paid $31.65 for their opening special of unlimited car washes for the month of ********** I got 2 car washes. Just found out today, they have been charging me $52.72 for the last three months! I have not had any further car washes and got charged $158.16 for NOTHING! When I called them they said they would refund $52.72 and to bad for me!! I told them I wanted to speak to a supervisor which they wouldn’t let me do! I told her I would be reporting them to BBB

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/06/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I thought my wife canceled my membership with Tidal Wave in ****, apparently she didn't. First week of *** I did - the phone call was supposedly recorded. They continue to charge me even though the  woman on the phone said she canceled my membership & it would end *** *. They took money after that phone call & I want that money back.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/02/2024

      Type:Billing Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I used tital car wash 2 times on the month of March of 2024 and paid a promotional fee of 23.58 then was charged again for 49.97 that same month. When I went through the attendant never said anything about reoccurring costs. I was on the understanding that I was paying a 1 time fee for just that month of 23.58. And today I was looking back through my banking and have been charged a fee of 49.97 every month. I learned that I can cancel online and just done that. I know I'm responsible for the fee of 23.58 that was taken out on 3/29/24. But don't feel that I should have not been charged 49.97 every month from then until now. I'm hoping they will refund me the total of 399.76 for the 9 months they charged me of what I had no knowledge of and didn't use. Like I stated I used the car wash in ********** just 2 times in March because I paid a promotional unlimited car wash fee for that month. Any help on this matter would greatly be appreciated. And I hope when they have futher customers they will educate them about the reoccurring costs and about cancelation procedures. Thanks ****** *****

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/02/2024

      Type:Customer Service Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On October 31, 2024 @ 4:38 p.m. I took my vehicle to the Tidal Wave Auto Spa ** ********* **. After arriving home, as I was touching up water spots on the vehicle, I noticed the wheel covers were scraped, which had to of occurred during the car wash because the covers were not scraped prior to the car wash.I called the phone number on my receipt and reported the damage.They informed me I had to return to the car wash to file a claim for damages.I explained I would not be able to return to the car wash until the next day after work.The next day on November 1st I returned to the car wash about 4:30 p.m. I spoke to Deondre and reported the damage.He sent the manager to speak to me. John came over and immediately told me he would not pay for any damage to the vehicle and that if a vehicle is more than 10 years old, they don't cover any damages.I told him there was no sign in my sight informing me of that nor did anyone advise me of that.His equipment damaged my vehicle!He then started raising his voice at me and was getting so flustered I thought he was going to have a heart attack!He kept repeating he would not pay for any damage even if I filed a claim.He got so fed up that he had Deondre come to take my information to report the damage on a claim form.I asked Deondre why complete the claim form when John stated he would not cover any damages.Deondre told me to forget about John, that he would help me and he would take my claim and submit it to the corporate office.I gave Deondre all of my personal information on the form and asked if I could take a picture for my records.He asked John, and John said I was not allowed to have a copy of the claim I filed.I called the corp office again and explained the situation to them. They told me they did have the claim and I should hear back from the district leader within 5 days.It has now been almost a month and no one has contacted me. The wheel covers cost $49.51 each, photo attached. Total for 4 is $198.04.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:12/02/2024

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Unanswered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      Tidal Wave Car wash just opened in my area. When I arrived, I was asked by the employee which car wash I wanted. I said the regular $12 wash. He took my credit card info and said they had a promotion for the month for unlimited free car washes and that I could come back all month for the free car washes. There was no mention of a subscription, no mention of an extra fee, no contract, nothing for me to sign, no request for my phone number, no sticker to be put in my window (I was later told that if I had signed up for a subscription, I would be given a sticker to put on my windshield). I was charged 23.97 per month without my consent. I called their headquarters and when I asked, I was told they could not provide me with any proof of a subscription. Their customer service agent (Paige) said that I received a text notifying me of a subscription, I did not receive one. This company/employee fraudulently charged my credit card. The company refused to provide proof of anything and would not offer a full refund of 12 months. I even had proof that I spent money on their car washes... If I had a subscription why would I pay extra for car washes? I did not give permission to this employee to use my credit card for anything other than a one-time $12 car wash. I will not use this company ever again!

    Tidal Wave Auto Spa is NOT a BBB Accredited Business.

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