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City Garage , Euless Texas, Automotive Repair
Posted on Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 at 8:27pm CDT by 76465d87
Company: City Garage , Euless Texas, Automotive Repair
Category: Other
City Garage, Euless Texas, Automotive Repair
My vehicle became disabled about 100 miles south of Dallas. I determined
that the cause of my problem was a broken timing belt. I made arrangements
to have my car towed to the City Garage in Euless based on their affiliation
with AAA Texas as an Approved Automotive Repair facility. The vehicle was
dropped off in the evening, after normal business hours. I called early the
next morning and advised that I wanted to have the timing belt replaced and
suggested that they also replace the water pump as a preventative measure. I
explained that I would be attending a meeting and then traveling home and
would need the repairs completed the same day. The service writer indicated
that he would prepare an estimate and promised to call me back. I did not
share the fact that I had some mechanical background and worked in the
industry.
True to his word the service writer called me (around 1000) and quoted a
price of $1100.00 to repair the vehicle. Having had the timing belt and
water pump replaced approximately 2 years earlier for less than $500.00, I
questioned the estimate. The service writer then began an effort to explain
the quote, but could not detail specific charges that would total anywhere
near $1100.00 After talking in circles, I advised him that the dollar
amounts he was quoting, considering the worst case scenarios, only came to
$800.00 (all expenses associated with the timing belt and water pump). He
could never explain how he arrived at the original $1100.00 estimate. Almost
as quickly as I questioned the estimate, the service writer advised that he
could do the job for $800.00 and possibly cheaper, depending on what they
found. Alarms went off in my head at this point, and I knew that I had just
thwarted his attempt to rip me off for over $500.00. Unfortunately, I was
anxious to get back on the road that afternoon and I advised that I would
accept the $800.00 estimate based on my need to travel back home that
evening.
Around 4:00 PM that afternoon my meeting ended and I called the service
writer and asked when I could pick the vehicle up. To my surprise he
indicated that they had run into a problem in getting the parts and would
not be able to finish the job by their 7:00 PM closing. He indicated that he
was just planning to call me when I called him.
Needless to say I was not impressed with this business at this point. I
politely asked what it would cost to remove my car without the work being
completed. The service writer explained that he would have to charge me the
same labor amount $300.00, as they had already tore down the engine and were
just awaiting the parts to finish. I advised him that I would be checking
into some other options and advised I would call him back to let him know
what I decided. I then traveled immediately to the facility. It took me
approximately 25 minutes to make the drive. I went into the facility and
advised the service writer that I needed to get belongings out of the car.
As I expected, the shop had not begun the work. They had removed a brace
held on with approximately 6 nuts and which probably took all of 5 minutes
to remove. Oh, let me be fair ... they had also removed the oil filler cap.
Upon seeing me inspecting the engine, the service writer knew that they had
been caught in a fabrication. The service writer then advised that they had
reinstalled all the parts in the belief "that I would be pulling the car
out". I never advised this ... it only took me 25 minutes to get there ...
all the parts were back on and no one was working on the car. The one part
that was removed, the brace, was laying beside the car. Wonder why this
wasn't replaced since they thought I would be pulling the car out? There was
still dust on the timing belt cover ... no fingerprints or cleaned areas.
All drive belts back on the car. What if I did not decide to remove the car?
... all work to be redone at their expense? Unlikely. Funny that they
expected me to believe this.
The service writer then advised me that he was waving the $300.00 labor
charges and the $47.50 diagnostic charge and advised me that I could remove
my car. It was fine with me in that they were waiving it, but funny that
they would be even considering a diagnostic fee when I advised them
specifically what was needed and there was evidence that they had not even
begun tearing down the engine, much less diagnosing what was wrong.
Unfortunately, after conferring with the mechanic, the service writer came
back in and advised me that he was going to have to charge me the diagnostic
fee after all.
At this point, I gladly paid the fee to ensure that I could remove my
vehicle from this place of repair.
The above outlines a real concern with some automotive repair businesses and
their practices but let me point out that I had the car pulled out of City
Garage and towed to the Toyota dealer in Irving. They did the work for less
than $500.00 and even provided a loaner car! Great customer service and
integrity. They have made a repeat customer.
Word to the Wise ... learn from my experience.
Paul Gregory
1 Comment
4fff2b52, 2010-07-30, 02:44PM CDT
Thank you so much for this information. I wish we could have this type of info on ALL Auto Repair Shops. I have been burned too many times to count as I am a Female and we just seem to be targets.
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