ComplaintsforChristian Brothers Automotive (Bartlett)

• Initial Complaint

  04/06/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  **** civic goes in for diagnosis work. Informed that timing is 180 degrees out and other minor work and leaks. Quoted almost 3k to fix. Deny service. Owner asks to buy car for $500 plus my diagnostic bill.Decide to do work myself. Check timing,it's dead on. Change and clean egr valve and put on new exhaust manifold. Car runs fine. Shop is either run by idiots or crooks.Paid $316 for a fraudulent diagnostic then they tried to buy car as broken.I want my diagnostic fee returned for non service.

  Business response

  05/01/2023

  Near the end of January, 2023 ********************************* brought ** his **** ***** Civic which he had recently acquired.  He was having misfire issues and had already been working on it and had replaced all spark plugs, ignition coils, Idle Air Control Valve and the *** valve.  He also said that the timing belt and water pump were replaced before he got the car.  We performed a thorough vehicle inspection and diagnostic and provided a long list of things the vehicle was in need of.  The primary reason for the poor running condition was the timing was off (when timing belt was replaced) and the exhaust manifold was cracked at cyl. #4 which will skew the air fuel ratio data.  ******************** declined all repairs, paid the diagnostic/check out fees and picked up the vehicle.  3 months later he calls the shop demanding a refund and telling ** how incompetent and crooked we are.  He further informed ** that all the car needed was an *** Valve (which he already said he replaced before it came to **) and the exhaust manifold (that we pointed out in our estimate).  It should be noted that the vehicle inspection was performed by a season ASE Certified technician who builds and races ***** engines in his spare time when not working at the shop.   I reviewed our inspection, technicians notes and photos and declined his refund request.  

  We have the longest warranty anywhere in town and are more than willing to stand behind our diagnostics and repairs that we perform.  Had we done the work and the car still not be fixed that would have been on **.  It is simply unreasonable to expect ** to stand behind unverified repairs made by someone else.

  ******************** was cursing and abusive on the phone and threatened to "blow ** up" online if we didn't comply and that it would be much cheaper just to pay him.  He made good on his threat and posted negative reviews in many places.  No doubt it would have been cheaper to pay him, but it would have been wrong.
  

• Initial Complaint

  07/09/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I went back after an oil change for a transmission fluid exchange based on their accessment of other areas of my vehicle which I never asked for. This apparently wasn't enough therefore they sent a guy in holding another $600 plus job for a wheel bearing that is and was a complete lie. It was never needed. This is plain elder abuse and fraud in the worse case. This has caused untold anxiety and tremendous inconvenience as I had to gain transportation from another elderly individual. I now firmly believe this $197.50 fluid job on 6/23/2022 was never needed. Their lot is packed full of vehicle needing work, plus the (2) handicap spots r always blocked with towed vehicles. Therefore I should be refunded. This is simply not only abuse of the elderly but plain common extortion. What has our world come to. Greed-dishonesty is the answer.

  Business response

  08/01/2022

  On 7/9/2022 *************************** filed a complaint following a transmission service that we performed that she felt wasn't needed.  The following is a brief history of service on her vehicle.

  On 10/5/2018 on our RO ***** (copy Attached) we noted that the transmission fluid was dark and recommended changing the fluid.  At that time the vehicle had ******* miles and the manufacturer recommends changing transmission fluid at ****** miles.

  On 5/31/2022 on our RO ***** (copy attached) the vehicle returned for an oil change and it now had a mileage of ******* miles.  As part of our complimentary Courtesy Inspection our Lube/Oil technician noted that the brake fluid and the transmission fluids were very dark and again recommended changing.  Again, manufacturers specs call for fluid replacement at ****** regardless of color or condition.  I should note that as part of our oil change service the lube tech inspects the fluids, brakes, tires and tire pressures but does not diagnose mechanical repairs or drive the vehicle on the roads.

  On 6/23/2022 on our RO ***** (copy attached) the vehicle was brought back in to perform the recommended transmission fluid service.  At this point an ASE certified technician drives the vehicle before the service, to verify how the vehicle is shifting, and after the service is performed.  While driving the vehicle he noted a roaring noise that increases as the speed of the vehicle increases.  Back in the shop he raised the vehicle and confirmed that the noise was coming from the left front wheel hub bearing and that there was actually movement in the wheel indicative of a worn bearing.  He completed the transmission service and we recommended replacement of the hub bearing.

  I feel  that had we been able to notice the hub bearing issue on the visit in May it would have been received better and it wouldn't have felt like every time there is something else.  I think this is what led to questioning everything we have done or recommended.  Unfortunately during a routine oil change the lube tech is simply not capable of making those determinations.  The transmission service was needed based both on the mileage recommendations of the manufacture and the condition of the fluid.  I change my personal vehicles at ****** miles.  I hate that ********************* has lost faith in us but I do hope that she will take the car to another certified mechanic to get the hub bearing replaced.  I feel certain that any certified mechanic or repair shop will confirm that it does in fact need to be replaced.  I stand firmly behind the needed work that we performed and the work that we recommended to be done.

  Thank you for the opportunity to respond.

  ***** Few, Owner    Christian Brothers Automotive - Bartlett
  

   

  Customer response

  10/26/2022

   
  Complaint: 17543635
  
  I am rejecting this response because: this is completely opposite of what I was told. When I asked if my car had been serviced, I was told, NO. THAT THEY HAD NOT CHANGED THE ***** YET UNTIL THEY GOT ANOTHER ALMOST $800 ON THE ***** I then waited further until the work I came for, by your recommendation, was done. So what u stated is simply not true. I immediately made calls to two other mechanics and neither quoted over $500 for this work. My OWN mechanic then returned from a trip, immediately came to see about my car, and said, That WORK WAS NOT NEEDED. I now have ******* miles and a road trip with ZERO problems. Also u never addressed the abuse of handicap parking blockage which I brought to attention twice. The undue stress u have caused a senior handicap female is completely unthinkable and extortion. I stand by every word. 
  
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