When in doubt, Act.

[DawnCt1]

When it comes to car maintenance and repairs, I am usually the one who takes care of that kind of thing so when I find a shop and a manager that I find to be honest, trustworthy and priced fairly, I stick with that business. They have earned my loyalty. I have gone to such a business for at least the last 5 years. It is a franchise, but the manager ran it as if it were his own. He put customer service FIRST. After sitting through car repairs, oil changes on aging vehicles, one gets to have a fairly accurate sense of the character of the manager, therefore I was quite shocked a couple of months ago when I went for service and 'Bill' (not his real name) wasn't there. When I asked, I was told that he was "taking several weeks off to go snowmobiling". This seemed totally out of character to me since he worked 6 days a week and rarely took time off. I wanted to call him at home but felt like I was being 'intrusive'. On the other hand, I always appreciated the professional way in which he did his job, that I had referred neighbors, friends and family to him, who were equally pleased. I finally decided to act. I looked up his phone number and left a message. I was happy that he returned my call. He had been suspended without any previous warning due to a dispute with the district manager. They fabricated an incidence of 'insubordination'. To bolster their case they said that he never worked on customers' cars, had disputes in front of customers etc and did this to deny his unemployment benefits. Today I went to an unemployment hearing with him and his lawyer as witness. The testimony of the company representative contradicted the written records, the representative blatantly lied, and when his lawyer said that I was in the waiting room ready to testify, the Unemployment referee said that it wasn't necessary; "It is very clear what has happened here". She is confident that he will receive his benefits. I am glad I picked up the phone and offered to help.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Good for you Dawn!!! That stinks that happened to him.

 

[Brit17]

It's such a shame when things like this happen ... but it's great when someone steps in to help the wronged ... good for you, Dawn ... you did a very admirable thing ...

 

[SwedishMeatball]

You went above and beyond what many people would be willing to do.

 

[DawnCt1]

Good for you Dawn!!! That stinks that happened to him.

It was such a dilemma for me because I didn't want to be nosey, but I wanted him to know how much I always appreciated him. Since he was locked out of the shop, couldn't take his personnel file, his personal notes, thank you letters, etc from customers, he would have had no way of reaching out to those customers who could help him, so he was very happy that I called. In my initial conversation, I told him that I didn't need to know what happen but that if he were working somewhere else, I wanted to bring my cars there. That is when he told me what happened and I gave him my telephone numbers if I could be of any help at all. I was glad that he called me.

 

[DawnCt1]

It's such a shame when things like this happen ... but it's great when someone steps in to help the wronged ... good for you, Dawn ... you did a very admirable thing ...

Its great to see the "little guy" win. Still, its an empty victory except for money. He can list them as a place that he used to work but it is five years at least, of his life, in a management position where he served customers in an exemplary manner, and yet he can't use it as a reference. That is a huge loss. I hope he goes into business for himself. I would travel because he is trustworthy.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow!

It is so easy for folks to advise you that it is none of your business, but you knew "Bill" well enough to realize that something was fishy. (and I dare say, I was scared that it was more serious than a job loss, like his life was in danger or something)

Good for you for following instinct even if it felt like you were intruding. It probably hadn't occurred to him that he could even source a witness, so good thing he also had that attorney.

Job well done, Dawn!

 

[dislaney]

Glad you took the time to act! Most people don't have the time or just don't care. It's a shame that he was treated so poorly in the first place.

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow!

It is so easy for folks to advise you that it is none of your business, but you knew "Bill" well enough to realize that something was fishy. (and I dare say, I was scared that it was more serious than a job loss, like his life was in danger or something)

Good for you for following instinct even if it felt like you were intruding. It probably hadn't occurred to him that he could even source a witness, so good thing he also had that attorney.

Job well done, Dawn!

When I hit the pot hole last winter and destroyed my tire, he wrote up the cause of the damage as due to the pot hole. That was instrumental in helping me to recover the cost of the tire from the property management company. That is just one example. We have had a couple of older "kid cars' that he kept running when I thought the end was near, etc. He had loyal customers that would have helped him too, if they had known, but no one was told the truth. Of course I didn't do anything but show up, but it didn't allow the company to get away with saying that he never worked on customer cars. He worked on mine and I spent enough time in there to know he worked on other cars too. The referee knew if there was a witness there, that what he was saying was the truth. I think his lawyer was a customer too. I know they were friends. I don't know what came first.

 

[lifenthetropics]

U r awsomer then most. Connecticut is a nicer place cuz u

 

[Topper]

You are such a SAINT! I pray God washes you with rainbows!

 

[LuvOrlando]

WOW Dawn, good for you. Some people are just so messed up, I just don't get them at all. That guy sure is lucky you were there for him. This is living proof how kindnesses can be returned, a few hours out of your time may have made a huge difference in this guys life

By the way, I'm glad to see you are fine. I was wondering where you went, you've been quiet for a while. As always I can't seem to shut myself up

 

[themilesfamily]

That is awesome! Good job.

 

[shortbun]

Way to go Dawn!! Glad your mechanic won his protest.

 

[DawnCt1]

WOW Dawn, good for you. Some people are just so messed up, I just don't get them at all. That guy sure is lucky you were there for him. This is living proof how kindnesses can be returned, a few hours out of your time may have made a huge difference in this guys life

By the way, I'm glad to see you are fine. I was wondering where you went, you've been quiet for a while. As always I can't seem to shut myself up

He is just a good guy. I was really glad to get my tire reimbursed, plus all of the other things that he has done over the years that he didn't charge for; repairing a flat, cleaning a battery cable, etc. I was just worried that he would think I was being intrusive. I am glad he didn't mind me calling and took it in the spirit that I intended the call to be.

 

[Aisling]

Wow, that poor guy would have gotten the shaft if you didn't step up. You did the right thing!

 

[PatsGirl]

The world needs more DawnCt1's

 

[JerseyJanice]

You go, girl!

 

[starrzone]

Dawn, you are an ! I wish more people (myself included) would act on instinct. Do you think there's any possibility that he would open his own garage/business? From the sounds of things, he has a solid customer base.

 

[DawnCt1]

Dawn, you are an ! I wish more people (myself included) would act on instinct. Do you think there's any possibility that he would open his own garage/business? From the sounds of things, he has a solid customer base.

Yes, He was talking about it the possibility today.