Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  12/13/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I went in to get my truck fixed at this diesel mechanic. Me and the owner agreed on a set price for my truck. He told me what the problem is and me thinking he is a "diesel specialist" I would have thought that he would know what he was doing. After making his initial fix he realized that he did not fix the truck and that it was something else. He told me over text that the oil was still leaking and he needed to bring the truck back in. I then ask "How much is this going to cost" then also said "I can't really afford to not have my truck these next few days because I am moving out of my apartment". He responded saying that he already pulled the valve covers and would do his best to get it done asap. He did not respond to my question of how much this is going to cost. He texted me later saying the truck was finished with another $577.29 on the invoice. We never agreed on a $600 charge on top of the $1,733.42 that I was ready to pay. After I was upset at him for never discussing with me the other charge he threatened to just hold my truck until I payed him what he wanted. He wouldn't release my truck until I signed a paper, that said "I was aware of all the charges" since I needed my truck I had to sign but I signed the paper my name and "under duress" because he was going to just hold my truck until I signed and I needed it to move into my apartment. Overall he scammed me out of $577.29. I wouldn't just like the $577.29 back I would like the $1,733.42 back as well. When he tried to fix the truck he fixed the wrong parts, which I shouldn't have to pay for whatsoever. The 2nd performance on the truck was the actual correct performance that needed to be done. Because of his mistakes I had to pay an extra $1,733.42 and then didn't even tell me about the other $577.29 until he sent the final invoice. I would like all my money refunded.

  Business response

  12/13/2023

  On 7/12/23 ******************* overnight (NON contact, in person) dropped off to ** with a hot/no start, none running vehicle. Our initial diagnoses found the vehicle was only producing ******* PSI of ******** pressure/hot to open the injectors to fire off the vehicle and run. Spec. is min 500 psi to start the vehicle. On a **** **** we can not test for an internal oil leak without the High pressure oil pump cover removed. This is labor-intensive to access. **** was sent an estimate $1837.23 On 7/12/23. **** authorized this work at 9:36 a.m. from ip address 172.58.44.8 to start this work. When **** authorized this work, he accepted the terms here below. 

  "I hereby authorize the above repair work to be done along with the necessary material and hereby ***** you and/or your employees permission to operate the vehicle described for testing and/or inspection. Express mechanic's lien is hereby acknowledged on above vehicle to secure the amount of repairs thereto. SMOG: I understand that I can have emission service and/or adjustments done elsewhere. I hereby waive this right. TEARDOWN ESTIMATE: I understand that my vehicle will be reassembled within____days of the date shown above if I choose not to authorize the service recommended. All Parts removed will be discarded unless instructed otherwise: Save all Parts____. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO CARS OR ARTICLES LEFT IN CARS IN CASE OF FIRE, THEFT OR ANY OTHER CAUSE. Estimate is subject to change. $55 Per day storage fee applies to vehicles left after 3 days after completion. Enhanced Storage fee will apply if lien auction is sought in the sum of $300 per day. ALL CREDIT CARDS WILL BE CHARGE 2% FEE"

  In this signature, **** accepted this "Estimate" and accepted this "estimate is subject to change". 

  With this, we moved forward with work. After access to the High pressure oil pump and *** valve, we applied air pressure to the system through the *** sensor and found the *** valve blasting air out of it. Which is an extremely common failure with this system for a hot/no start condition. We removed the pump, replaced the valve and installed everything back together. The vehicle started, we test drove it. After we attempted to do a hot re-start and the vehicle was attempting to start. We measured the high pressure oil pressure and found that the vehicle had additional internal oil leaks. At this point, we reached out to **** with the supplied text messages of the issue. Due to this being an app on our computer with VOIP services. **** sent back to back messages, due to this we did not see the message "How much more is that going to cost?" Sent at 11:08 a.m. which we did not respond to, nor was asked again this question from ****. We only saw the second message that followed and took this as "please get it done for me as I need it to move". [emphasis added] At this point we wanted to know what was leaking to further communicate, if needed.  We explained that a stand pipe was leaking as well, and we would accommodate **** in getting it done "ASAP". 

  Once this was done we sent an (invoice) for the final price for this repair which completely fixed his internal oil leaks in the amount of $2963.15 on 7/20.23 at 8:28 p.m. as we worked very late to help out ****. So, he could get his vehicle back "ASAP" and be able to move. The next morning we had a disgruntled voice mail from a non customer, ****'s father in **********. We attempted to have a conversation with his father. Due to his father not being our customer and his aggressive behavior, we hung up on him and refused to speak to him as he was not willing to understand or take a calm conversation. Later this morning, on 7/21/23 **** and his girlfriend came in to pick up and express what he said was a "miscommunication"  between us in our text messages. We discussed what happened, and ADS took it upon our selves to re-evaluate the bill to help out in his situation. We discounted ****'s bill from the $2963.15, to $2402.35, discounting this by $560.80. Once this was done, **** stated he agreed to the new amount and stated he needed to call his father. **** stepped outside and made his call. **** came back in calm, no complaints, and asked if he could pay with his card after we stated we want cash only. We decided to accept his card and did not charge him the credit card fee of 2% on $2402.35 of $48.03 to further help out ****. When **** went to sign the invoice with a wet signature. He wrote "under duress" next to his signature. This interaction was recorded with **** stating "his father told him to do this and that **** is not his father and don't know why he needed to write this". 

  After **** left, his father continued to call and leave extremely aggressive and harassing message(s). Which are reported to the local police department. 

  We decline to refund. As we worked with **** to make things right, in which he agreed to the amount in person, which included discounting the bill by $560.80 and did not charge the 2% fee for credit card of $48.03. ****'s vehicle is repaired as requested and the estimate changed as agreed upon in his signature with ****'s message of  "I get it's leaking again but if there's any way this can get done by tomorrow I would really appreciate it'. We be leave we have gone above and beyond to help out **** with his truck. 

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