Business ProfileforMeridian Automotive & Machine, Inc.

Came in for A/C not working and PO451 fuel tank sensor was keeping our check engine light on.Was charged for diagnostic on the check engine light of $149 (when we already knew what it was. Then was told our water pump was cracked (never saw the crack or received the old part). Trusted them. Was charged $913 for a "timing belt kit w/wp" part the dealership would have charged $400 for when I called the dealer, and was charged labor charged labor at **** hours when was told the average mechanic takes from 2.5-3.3 hours to complete the same job. I was overcharged $513 for the parts, and approximately $184 for labor on a problem we never even were aware of when bringing the car into the mechanic. plus the diagnostic fee I didn't need when we already knew the problem. All total we were overcharged in my estimation $846.77 on the job they did do, and got the car back with the check engine light still on! I had to go back down and ask them for the estimate to fix the check engine light...Nick said that would be $1016.44. And that he would give us $100 off our next repair! Who said there would be a next time? I am filing a claim with the BBB and stopped payment on our credit card until this price is disputed. And after reading all their one star reviews online, the theme seems to be : the shop misunderstanding what the owner of the car wants done, and then trumps up charges with other things to do on the car to **** the **** to thousands! High prices! And Misleading.

To whom it may concern,8-1-22 This is in response to ************** review to which we were informed on 7/27/22. ***** states she is wife of our client **********, who had repair work completed here at Meridian Automotive on 6/30/22 on his 2006 Kia ******* All communication, approvals and explanations were handled through *** exclusively. *** approved all diagnostic and repair work before we started on the vehicle. ***** did not become involved until 7-9 days after repairs were completed and paid for. ***** states she knew what the vehicle needed before diagnostics and disputes the diagnostic charge of $149.02. All communication, scheduling and approvals were done through ***, and this was never communicated to us, nor did we know ***** at the time. We can provide signed invoice copies when he picked up with all the supporting details. We are additionally able to provide recorded phone call sessions documenting that all work was approved and appreciated.Regarding the part costs the client is describing, unfortunately ***** is mistaken. We can provide costs and industry accepted labor guides to show everything was within normal pricing and ranges for this service. We have gathered 2 additional quotes on the exact service from a local competitor and ****** Dillons Auto Dealership and both are in line with our pricing and exceed the **** that we provided. Additionally, we can provide invoices showing the total cost of the parts installed for that service far exceed the clients described $400. We have attempted to explain to ***** what was included however she is not understanding the scope of the work involved.To address Paulas statement that she Knew what the issue was, *** wrote himself on our Meridian Automotive drop off paperwork that be believed it was oxygen sensor causing the check engine light. Diagnostics found that the oxygen sensor wasnt the problem. This paperwork can be provided like all others upon your request. After repairs were completed and the vehicle had left for over a week, ***** additionally informed us in person that her husband was mentally disabled and unable to appropriately accept/approve what we were telling him. This was never mentioned to us beforehand nor does *** appear to have any such disability during our multiple conversations. ***** informed us that *** was no longer able to make any decisions for the vehicle if he were to bring it back to us without informing her first. We feel we were appropriate in the customer service and the charges provided. Please let us know if there is any additional information or documentation you require, we would be happy to provide or assist in any way. We appreciate your time and efforts in getting to the bottom of this issue and appropriately handling the situation. Thank You ***************- Service Manager Meridian Automotive

***** Jim's *** is also my ***, we are married. It wasn't 7-9 days later, it was the next day after you price gouged my husband that I entered your business to talk with you, and you treated me badly, so I left and stopped payment on the credit card. (You can't do that 9 days later!)Yes, you will need to provide all these documents you are referring to:Signed invoice copies Recorded phone conversations (I already gave you a week to produce them for me but you haven't).Costs & industry accepted labor guides. (I already have some, that's what told me you're out of line on your charges when I checked them first).And your 2 quotes from your competitors.You'll need all this when I file in small claims against you, if the BBB can't help resolve this first.As for not understanding the scope of your work. My dad was a mechanic and his dad (both are deceased now, luck for you, or you would most likely be dealing with them not *** and I). Not to mention, I was employed by an auto shop in town and actually know more about car repairs than my husband does) and he willfully admits this openly). Your comment about my husband being mentally disabled is a ploy to cause problems and is hitting way below the belt. I said no such thing. I asked you to call me in the future regarding being the contact simply because my husband and I talked and both agreed to this arrangement from this point forward regarding car repairs because I know more about them, he doesn't know anything about auto repair, which is why you were able to overcharge him, and after reading all your online reviews seem to have gotten away with with other customers over and over again. Which is why it's time someone stood up to your lack of honest business practices.You may feel you are appropriately charging, but it seems a lot of your customers don't and are saying so in your life online ****** reviews. Common threads in your business comments are: overpriced, bad service, and drumming up more repairs than what customers ce in to have repaired, or not fixing what they needed fixed in the first place.I have all my documents ready too, are we going to need a judge to decide?