Mechanic Vent (long)

[Regina]

My sister bought a new car, and is giving her '92 Geo Prizm to my DD. It only has 68,000 miles, and she just put $700.00 into it to make sure that it was perfect. (Tuneup, brake cleaning, oil change, you name it.)

I drove it from NJ to NY, got it registered, and today I got it inspected by my mechanic.

I'm in his office, when he comes in and tells me that there's a radiator leak. He's showing me this wet spot on the back of the radiator, and telling me it's a hole (I couldn't see it. The fins were wet, but no actual hole.). Then he's showing me how wet everything is,that it's dripping fluids and he then dips his finger in a tablespoon of antifreeze on the floor. All of this happened in 3 minutes max.

What made me suspicious was his reaction when I said that it just had $700.00 worth of preventive maintenance done. He looked a bit sheepish, but he still said it had a hole.

I said something about talking to my DH about it, and I drove it away.

Every place where I drove after that, nothing was dripping. When I got home, I looked and it was bone dry. DH just opened the radiator and guess what, it's full.

I am so angry. We've spent a lot of money at this place, and there was no reason for him to try to scam me. It makes me question all of the past work that he's done.

It feels good to vent about this.

 

[Michelle]

Regina, I would be wicked ***ed as well.

That sounds like a total SCAM and the fact that he has done work for you before would also make me question what else he has pulled on you.

Good for you for driving away, and I think I'd find a NEW mechanic.

 

[BethR]

I would be LIVID, Regina! That is so upsetting. I would be back at that shop tomorrow and ask how your radiator miraculously "healed itself" and would ask "Now where in the world could all of that radiator fluid come from yesterday???"

 

[Regina]

I'm going to look into how I can report this to an appropriate agency.

It's so hard to find somebody trustworthy in this field around here.

Considering all the $$$$ we've spent there, I'm not only angry, I feel betrayed. Why would anyone do this to a loyal customer?

 

[doxdogy]

I would definitely report them. There should be a department of profressional regulation or soemthing similar to that can point you in the right direction. It is people like that give a bad name to all the honest mechanics that are out there doing a good job for people.

 

[Grog]

Was this mechanic also the owner? If not, I would call the owner and let him know. That might not help as he may be aware of the scams,so you should find out of there is a state agency you can call as well. Also it couldn't hurt to call the BBB.

 

[PandyPaws]

That's a shame...DH has worked for many garage owners like this in the past. His getting fed up with the cheating and lies is what led him to forge out on his own .The appropriate agency is The Department of Motor Vehicles.

 

[Mskanga]

I can totally relate to that...just recently I was told that I needed new struts in my van if I wanted to pass inspection , I drove the van home because I knew the guy was pulling my leg and I took it someplace else, I was told there that I didn't need them and it passed the inspection without a problem. Later on I found out that my Jack Williams in town works on commisions, that's why I was told I needed something I really didn't need. Sure enough I won't be going back there!