ComplaintsforJoe's Auto

• Initial Complaint

  03/09/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  CALLED JOES AUTO TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. TOLD REPAIRMAN HAD 2500 DOLLAR BUDGET. THEY PICKED UP CAR ON NOVEMBER 9. CALLED 4 WEEKS LATER AND TPLD ME CAR WAS RUNNING AND TALKED ME INTO OTHER REPAIRS THAT MAXED OUT BUDGET. DID NOT CALL BACK FOR WEEKS. CALLED BUT NO RETURN CALLS. WENT UP TO GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THEY LOST MYPHONE NUMBER. AID CAR WAS NOT RUNNING AND NEEDED AN OLD PART FROM ME/ TOOK THEM PART.. TWO DAY LATER TILD ME CAR WAS READY. WENT TO PICK UP. MECHANIC TOOK CAR TO E CHECK AND DIDNT PASS. THEY GOT ME A WAIVER. TOLD ME ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT THEY DIDNT FIX THAT WERE MORE IMORTANT THAN IEMS THEY REPLACED. THEY REPLACED WIPERS,MUFFLER.TWO REAR TIRES,CLEANED BRAKES AND DID FRONT END ALIGNMENT ON A CAR THAT WAS NEVER RUNNING PROPERLY. TOOK CAR HOME AND TOOK IT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND 3 TRIPS TO WORK AND IT BROKE DOWN. WHEN CALLED THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO GUARANTEE ANYTHING. THEY CALLED BACK TO CONVINCE ME TO LET TOW IT BACK AND INPECT. AT THI TIME I TOLD THEM I HAD SPENT MY BUGDET ON REPAIRS ON A CAR THEY NEVER GOT RUNNING IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY TOWED CAR CALLED BACK FOR A 326 DOLLAR REPAIR, TOLD THEM I DID NOT HAVE MONEY FOR REPAIR. TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL BACK. THEY DID NOT. I CALLED BACK 6 DAYS LATER. THEY SAID IT WAS REPAIRED AND IT WAS 326 DOLLARS. I TOLD THEM AGAIN THAT MY BUDGET WAS SPENT AND I HAD NOT APPROVED THEM TO WORK ON MY CAR. THEY SAID YHEY WOULD REMOVE4 PARTS AND PUT OLD ONES BACK ON, I GAVE UP AND WENT UP TO GET MY CAR. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE MEMY CAR UNLESS I SIGHED WORK ORDER INVOICE AFTER I PAID FOR WITH A CREDIT CARD. I NEVER APPROVED WORK AND THEY WERE GOING TO KEEP MY CAR AFTER I PAID THEM 2800 DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR FOUR MONTHS AND 2800 DOLLARS AND DID NOT REALLY HAVE IT RUNNING WHEN THEY CALLED AND GOT ME TO APPOVE REPAIRS THAT WILL LOOK GOOD ON A VEHICLE THAT STILL HAS MECHANICAL PROBLEM.

  

  Business response

  03/20/2023

  Customer brought car in after attempting to repair himself with changing a bunch of parts, none of which fixed the issue and the car sitting for years. We had to tow the vehicle in on November 9th with the understanding this was a work in job, meaning we would work it in as we had time being it had not been driven in such a long time. We called the customer to tell him we got the vehicle started and it was in the shop running but was unsafe for our mechanic to drive for multiple reasons and would need additional work to make safe to drive to determine if there were any other drivability issues 1) the brakes were rusted and not working properly, front and rear brakes needed replaced, 2) Right front lower ball joint was ready to fall out, 3) Both rear tires had bad dry rot from sitting. 4) the muffler was hanging and needed replaced. 5) both 45 day tags and the hard plates on the vehicle were all expired. The customer agreed to the quoted repairs and the additional amount for each repair. We then called customer and told him we needed valid license plates to drive the vehicle that he was unable to provide. We used our special plates so we were able to drive the vehicle, after road testing the vehicle the car began to act up again after a lengthy drive. Retested the computer on the vehicle and it tested bad (one of the parts the customer changed prior to bringing it to us) and we called him to see if he had the original one, left him a message and never heard back from him until he came in the shop one day. I again explained the situation to him and her agreed to bring the original part. after installing the original computer, we drove the vehicle over 60 miles and even took it to echeck to get him the waiver so he could now get legal plates. Again, we called him to explain where we were and explained there was still things that we recommended needing repaired. he then told me he was at his budget and picked the vehicle up. all recommended repairs were listed on his receipt and explained. A few days later he called and stated the check engine light came back on, we told him to bring it in and we would look at it he stated he had "no money", we offered to look at it and address the issue if it was something we done. Here are the notes on the work order after we picked up the vehicle at no charge trying to rectify the situation. We offered many solutions and none of them seemed to work for Mr. *****. If you need any copies of repair orders or any other information please advise us. 

  CUSTOMER PICKED UP 2/25/2023, CALLED 03/03/2023 SAID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND FLASHING. HE DROVE THE CAR SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY, AND THURSDAY. FRIDAY WHEN HE STARTED THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. **** CALLED CUSTOMER BACK ARRANGED TO HAVE CAR PICKED UP NO CHARGE TO SCAN CAR AND ADVISE OF ISSUES. CALLED CUSTOMER AT 5:00PM ON 03/03/3023 AND ADVISED OF THE NEW ISSUE. COIL PACK FAILED. ADVISED OF THE COST AND WAS TOLD "I HAVE NE MONEY". ON 3/92023 CUSTOMER CALLED STATING AGAIN WE "DID NOT CALL HIM". SO **** TALKED TO HIM ONCE AGAIN EXPLAINING THAT BILL AND CURRENT ENGINE CODE. WE HAD COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED TO VERIFY IT WOULD CURE CURRENT MISFIRE CODE. WE OFFERED TO PUT ORIGINAL PARTS BACK ON IF HE DID NOT WANT REPAIRS DONE. CUSTOMER STATED HE WOULD BE IN AND PAY THE BILL. 

   

  Customer response

  03/22/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  This business only called me 3 times in 4 months. At no time did they ask me about parts changed. Called me to say they put into garage. Called me to say car was running not started and then proceeded to sell me tires,muffler front end alignment and new ball joints. Car still has engine light on, still won't pass e check. The car could be started in driveway. They even put parts on I didn't approve and refused to give me my car back unless I signed for work I didn't approve. The car was in driveway and started on a regular basis. There storytelling is dramatic but not accurate. I would never take my car back there and am sorry I went to such an untrained group

  

  Business response

  03/28/2023

  Thank you for admitting that we were in fact in contact with throughout the entire process to update you and inform you of general updates as well the safety repairs required to make your car safe and legal to have our technician drive after we did get your vehicle started and running. We did not ask you about parts you changed because upon our initial conversation you informed us that you were working on the vehicle in your driveway and "the more parts you changed the worse that it got". The check engine light was on when you picked the vehicle up as it was explained to you and you were appreciative of us getting the WAIVER for you so you could finally legally get license plates. As far as the car starting in your driveway and running on a regular basis is just not true as it was requested by customer to have car towed in and was scheduled for "preliminary diagnostic work, car does not run and has been sitting." As for the parts we put on that you didn't approve again is not true as I have 2 work orders and 2 credit card slips signed by the customer acknowledging and authorizing repair work to be done. 

  Customer response

  03/29/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:
  
  You had my car for 4 months.  You lost my phone number. After you told me car was running and hadn't contacted me for weeks. I stop by and find out car still was done. You refused to give me my car back after I had already paid you. Having my car for four months and only calling me 3 times after I called first.  What professional repair shop keeps your car for 4 months, loses your phone number, then blames the customer for their inabilities. Keep on making up you own stories. You weren't able to get a simple engine light out 

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