ComplaintsforAl's Garage

• Initial Complaint

  03/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  I took my truck into Al’s Garage at **** ** **** in Las Cruces for a knocking noise it was making. ********* ****** (mechanic/owner) diagnosed the aforementioned, stated that it was the valve lifters located in the engine’s internal components, and that they needed to be replaced. He assured me that this would fix the problem. On 10/30/23, I dropped off the vehicle. Mr. ****** insisted I pay the amount in question in cash before the work could begin, however I did not feel comfortable doing this and paid via my debit card. Upon test driving the vehicle on 11/8/23 after the work was ‘completed’, I discovered the exact same knocking noise was still present. When I asked Mr. ****** why this was still there/not fixed, he stated that the noise wasn't the engine and that it was an entirely separate issue “with the transmission” and that he would fix it for an additional/new charge of $736.08. As the initial “problem and solution” stated by the mechanic ultimately did not fix the knocking noise, these repairs were not necessary though I was charged for them. I’ve requested on several occasions a refund or the problem to be fixed as promise. Further, receipts for the actual parts on the engine repairs have been requested on 3 separate occasions, as he had to order them. These documents were never provided. Mr. ****** stated, “he does not get receipts for parts.” I have conducted repeated attempts (in person, over the phone and via text) to resolve this issue with the Mr. ****** since 11/8/23 with no success. Notes: Mr. ****** states he is not the original of "Al's Garage" and has been using the name for only a few years. The business has no disclosed website or email for further attempts at resolution. I have not received any communication, of any form, from Mr. ****** attempting to resolve this issue, though I have made several attempts to do so.

  Business response

  03/20/2024

  Hello good afternoon. in response to Mr. *****'s complaint first of all the truck was completed and returned and customer was happy with outcome, in regard to him asking for my copy's of personal shop receipts i will not share shop records. although the gentleman was present when i put new parts in i don't see why he is determined to have my records. also, all parts removed were given to Mr. ***** upon request also as something we do with all customers to be sure they see what was changed. And as for the noise he is referring to has nothing to do with work done it is a whole other issue apart from work completed. As it was explained to him and his aunt which is the registered owner of the truck. the issue is it was stollen and dumped in the desert and also the tort converter is broken which was explained and understood at the time picked up, but the customer does not want to pay to fix that issue because he is set on its what we fixed. so, at this point I'm not sure what he wants us to do if it's a whole other issue at hand, and as i explained the aunt and uncle of Mr. ***** know this and understand. i am sorry for the inconvenience. please if any other questions please feel free to reach out thank you.

  Business response

  03/20/2024

  Hello good afternoon. in response to Mr. *****'s complaint first of all the truck was completed and returned and customer was happy with outcome, in regard to him asking for my copy's of personal shop receipts i will not share shop records. although the gentleman was present when i put new parts in i don't see why he is determined to have my records. also, all parts removed were given to Mr. ***** upon request also as something we do with all customers to be sure they see what was changed. And as for the noise he is referring to has nothing to do with work done it is a whole other issue apart from work completed. As it was explained to him and his aunt which is the registered owner of the truck. the issue is it was stollen and dumped in the desert and also the tort converter is broken which was explained and understood at the time picked up, but the customer does not want to pay to fix that issue because he is set on its what we fixed. so, at this point I'm not sure what he wants us to do if it's a whole other issue at hand, and as i explained the aunt and uncle of Mr. ***** know this and understand. i am sorry for the inconvenience. please if any other questions please feel free to reach out thank you.

  Customer response

  03/26/2024

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  First and foremost, I was not “happy with outcome” as demonstrated by my repeated unsuccessful attempts to resolve this issue and this complaint to the Better Business Bureau.
  
  Mr. ****** is stating that I was “present when putting the new parts in.” This is absolutely false.
  
  I am the registered owner of the vehicle – and have been since 2002. And I'm not sure where the reference of an “uncle” came into the situation. There is no uncle.
  
  The vehicle was never stolen. Mr. ****** states that, “the tort converter is broken at the time of pick up” further validates my point that the work I was charged for on the engine was not needed.

  Mr ****** states that, “and as for the noise he is referring to has nothing to do with work done it is a whole other issue apart from work completed.” And that “it's a whole other issue at hand.” This is exactly my point. He charged me for something that was never the problem; and proceeded to attempt to charge me for further repairs.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** M *****

   

  Customer response

  03/26/2024

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  First and foremost, I was not “happy with outcome” as demonstrated by my repeated unsuccessful attempts to resolve this issue and this complaint to the Better Business Bureau.
  
  Mr. ****** is stating that I was “present when putting the new parts in.” This is absolutely false.
  
  I am the registered owner of the vehicle – and have been since 2002. And I'm not sure where the reference of an “uncle” came into the situation. There is no uncle.
  
  The vehicle was never stolen. Mr. ****** states that, “the tort converter is broken at the time of pick up” further validates my point that the work I was charged for on the engine was not needed.

  Mr ****** states that, “and as for the noise he is referring to has nothing to do with work done it is a whole other issue apart from work completed.” And that “it's a whole other issue at hand.” This is exactly my point. He charged me for something that was never the problem; and proceeded to attempt to charge me for further repairs.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***** M *****

   

  Business response

  03/27/2024

  In response first of all the work done was what he took it in for on the motor which what was completed as he asked. As was the issue and made the difference. As yes there was still some noise which was explained to him and the aunt and uncle as I mentioned. I won’t argue due to the fact that the aunt came to us personally had asked us not to release him the truck do to his personal issues and also when she told us the truck was in her name and about the damages being done when was left in desert. As I mentioned we fixed the issue that it was brought to us for and was needed as I mentioned he was present and took old parts. As for other damaged or parts needed to be repaired araprt from what we were paid to fix I’m not sure what he wants me to do that is not my responsibility nor part of my warranty. And if needed I have cameras all around the shop where all of what I have said as far as him being by and also taking old parts is all on video as is his aunt there a couple of times speaking to us and the conversation is also recorded on video camera. Again I apologize for any inconvenience but as our part all work was done and completed. Thank you

  Business response

  03/27/2024

  In response first of all the work done was what he took it in for on the motor which what was completed as he asked. As was the issue and made the difference. As yes there was still some noise which was explained to him and the aunt and uncle as I mentioned. I won’t argue due to the fact that the aunt came to us personally had asked us not to release him the truck do to his personal issues and also when she told us the truck was in her name and about the damages being done when was left in desert. As I mentioned we fixed the issue that it was brought to us for and was needed as I mentioned he was present and took old parts. As for other damaged or parts needed to be repaired araprt from what we were paid to fix I’m not sure what he wants me to do that is not my responsibility nor part of my warranty. And if needed I have cameras all around the shop where all of what I have said as far as him being by and also taking old parts is all on video as is his aunt there a couple of times speaking to us and the conversation is also recorded on video camera. Again I apologize for any inconvenience but as our part all work was done and completed. Thank you

  Customer response

  04/05/2024

  I absolutely did not ask for “work on the motor” as he stated. I took my vehicle in specifically for the knocking noise it was making, and to have it fixed.  As I stated previously, Mr. ****** assured me after his diagnosis,that it was the valve lifters making the noise and replacing them would fix the problem. He never once mentioned anything about the transmission until after the vehicle was picked up, test driven and began emitting the same exact sound. If the transmission was the causing the problem, this should have been disclosed during the initial diagnosis.

  Further, I recently had the vehicle evaluated by a local, replicable automotive repair shop. Their diagnosis was that the transmission was operating as designed, that the knocking noise remains and is coming from the engine.

  If Mr. ****** has video/audio data regarding what he claims, he can also provide the same media information memorializing our conversation when he stated the aforementionedwould fix the problem. Further, this will also yield evidence of allattempts made I made - in person at his shop - to resolve the issue.

  I'm still not sure why Mr. ******insists on referring to “his aunt”, whom has no first hand information on any of this situation.  And yet again the reference to an “uncle.” There is no uncle! I am the customer; no one else. Mr. ****** continues to elude to moot, frivolous and irrelevant topics and refuses to take accountability for not fixing my vehicle correctly and has not remedied this situation.

  Customer response

  04/05/2024

  I absolutely did not ask for “work on the motor” as he stated. I took my vehicle in specifically for the knocking noise it was making, and to have it fixed.  As I stated previously, Mr. ****** assured me after his diagnosis,that it was the valve lifters making the noise and replacing them would fix the problem. He never once mentioned anything about the transmission until after the vehicle was picked up, test driven and began emitting the same exact sound. If the transmission was the causing the problem, this should have been disclosed during the initial diagnosis.

  Further, I recently had the vehicle evaluated by a local, replicable automotive repair shop. Their diagnosis was that the transmission was operating as designed, that the knocking noise remains and is coming from the engine.

  If Mr. ****** has video/audio data regarding what he claims, he can also provide the same media information memorializing our conversation when he stated the aforementionedwould fix the problem. Further, this will also yield evidence of allattempts made I made - in person at his shop - to resolve the issue.

  I'm still not sure why Mr. ******insists on referring to “his aunt”, whom has no first hand information on any of this situation.  And yet again the reference to an “uncle.” There is no uncle! I am the customer; no one else. Mr. ****** continues to elude to moot, frivolous and irrelevant topics and refuses to take accountability for not fixing my vehicle correctly and has not remedied this situation.

• Initial Complaint

  01/08/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  see attached Took my truck in on 9-9-23 to have transmission replaced. For the amont of $1,165 that was paid. He had the truck for 3 months. Went by on 12-19-23 to see how he was doing on it. He claimed this it was done. Took home and two days later the transmission was leaking oil again. Took it back to him on 1-2-24 to have him fix it. He said that to take it back after the 6th of this month. Feel that he is giving me the run around of repairing what I asked for. Don't think he should still be in business.

  Business response

  01/24/2024

  Hello I am responding in regards to complaint. I would like to notify you all that I have made several attempts to communicate with the customer to see what the issue is. The job performed has warranty in case of any problems so that we can address the issue but the customer refuses to bring the vehicle in to shop. Also I am being harrasted and threatened by family members of my customer whom were not there when she made the choice to replace the transmission with a used one from a salvage yard. As for now I need a response from her to take care of any mechanical issues to be taken care of. Please let me know what else can be done to take care of this issue thank you. Also here is a message where her son in law is making threats to report me to ICE who I I believe is in called for thank you. 

  Customer response

  02/05/2024

  I got the letter that everything was worked out. I emailed you with some pictures. No has called me and when I call no answers me. No one has been over to the business since 1/2/24. He said that to go back on 1/8/24 but no one was there. So nothing has been done to my truck. There was some family death in my family and I have to be looking for some rides. Sorry that you didn't get what I sent. But only gave me 30 minutes to type everything that was going on. 

  Business response

  02/05/2024

  Hello as I mentioned I have tried to contact the customer several times also no one has brought the vehicle in to be checked to see what the issue is. Also they have already contacted the bank to get the payment back so at this point I have done what I could to resolve the issue on my behalf. I need the vehicle to fix any issues there may be. So I will wait for the customer to show up that’s about all I can do but they refuse to bring the truck in to shop. Please let me know what’s next thank you. 

  Customer response

  02/06/2024

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  
  
  
  Regards,
  
  ********* ****** 

   

  [To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, the consumer must give a reason why they are rejecting the response. If the consumer does not provide a reason the complaint will be closed Answered] Nothing has been done to my truck. I went January 2 and told me to go back on the 8th. No was there. I've called and no answer. No has contacted me to see what we going to do next. I keep waiting. Having ask for rides everywhere I need to go. I've had family deaths and can't make them cause everyone works. Need some action done soon. 

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