Certified Exxon Mobil Car Care service center, 2218 N Loop West at TC Jester, Houston, TX - broke gas cap, but denied responsibility and didn't pay for replacement cap

# 10 for May 20, 2003

Complaints.com received the following on May 19, 2003:

From: Carlisle Mitchell [Email User]

RE: Certified Exxon Mobil Car Care service center, 2218 N Loop West at TC Jester, Houston, TX - broke gas cap, but denied responsibility and didn't pay for replacement cap

This letter is regarding an incident which occurred at the “ASE Certified” Exxon/Mobil Service Center located at 2218 N Loop West at TC Jester Houston TX 77018 Phone 713-682-7472. On May 5, 2003 I visited this service station for a safety and emission inspection. I left the vehicle in the care of the service center and advised Amer (the front desk clerk) to call me when my vehicle inspection was complete. I left my phone number with Amer and he advised me he would call me when the inspection was complete. I received a phone call from Omar around 4:00 CST and he advised me my vehicle was completed and passed inspection. I picked up the vehicle and returned to my residence. Later that evening when I went to get gas I opened the gas cap cover and I noticed the gas cap had been broken off and left hanging and replaced with a gas cap that did not fit. Immediately I knew that it had been broken off. I returned to the service center and confronted Omar the technician who performed the inspection. Omar stated, “I know why you are here... let me explain. Omar stated that the gas cap was already broken and that if he didn’t completely remove it then I would have not passed inspection.” I advised Omar that the gas cap was not broken and that the only way to open it is with a key. He insisted that is was already broken. However if it was broken then there is no way that I would have been able to continue to get gas each and every week. He disagreed. I asked Amer to speak with the owner. Amer refused to give the contact information for the owner and asked for me to leave my number and he would have the owner call me. I complied, but to this date I have not received a call from anyone from the service station. I have several issues with the actions of this Service Center that I have listed below: The gas cap was intentionally broken by the inspector so he could complete the inspection.

Neither the inspector nor business voluntarily advised me that the gas cap was broken until after I returned. Since they had the number to call me when the inspection was complete it would have been easy to ask me for the key to the gas cap.

The service center has not replaced the gas cap.

No one has contacted me regarding the incident.

I was offered a free oil change by Omar the technician who performed the inspection, instead of a replacement for the gas cap.

I was repeatedly told, “Do whatever you are going to do… we are not replacing it.” Apparently in total disregard and irresponsible for the malice and vandalism they performed.

Regards, C. Mitchell Houston TX 77056