ComplaintsforA1 Discount Auto Care, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  05/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Description: The constituent visited A1 Discount Auto Care located at 4429 E Main St. Whitehall, OH 43213-3061 on July 27, 2021. She took her SC 430 Lexus to be repaired and they gave her the runaround. They never gave her an estimate and repaired her car without consent. When they finally returned the car, more problems persisted. This problem persisted through December 17, 2021. $799.68 was the total cost. She disputes that cost. VIN: *****************

  Business response

  06/07/2022

  YES MS. ***** WAS HERE FOR ELECTRICAL WORK ON HER  CAR ON 07/27/2021 WE DAIG THE CAR NEEDING A ALTERNATOR WE CALLED AND TOLD HER HER ALTERNATOR IS BAD AND SHE ALSO HAD A POWER DRAW FROM THE TRUNK LATCH  AND APPROVED THE REPAIRS AND THEN SHE CALLED HERE A FEW MONTHS LATER AND STATED HER BATTERY WAS I SEND A TECH TO HER HOUSE AND FOUND OUT SHE HAD A DOME LIGHT ON AND KILLED THE BATTERY SO JUMPED AND CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR AND IT WAS CHARGING ..WHEN SHE FIRST CAME TO THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING AT ALL  ON 07/27/2021    ANYWAYS IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND SHE CALLED ABOUT HER BATTERY WAS DIED AGAIN WE WENT BACK AND THE SAME THING THE DOME LIGHT WERE ON NEXT THING I KNOW SHE CALL A MONTH LATER AND TOLD SHE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HER THAT SHE DIDN'T NEED THE ALTERNATOR IN THE BEGINNING AND THAT'S NOT TRUE THE ALTERNATOR WAS NOT CHARGING AT FIRST AND WE FIXED THAT PROBLEM 

  Customer response

  06/10/2022

  [If you do not say why you are rejecting the company's response, BBB must close your complaint.] 
  
  Complaint: 17206605
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  June 9, 2022

  
  RE:  BBB Complaint ID 17206605, A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C
  
  Greetings,
  
  In response to A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C's response, I did take my car to this establishment on July 26, 2021.  I advised that something was draining my battery.  I never mentioned an electrical problem because I did not know what was the cause.  I spoke with ***** and requested him to run a diagnostic test to try to determine what was draining my battery.  I never received a call from ***** or any document advising me of the results of my requested diagnostic test.
  
  However and, surprisingly, on mid afternoon of July 27, ***** called and advised me that my car was ready.  I had not been notified nor advised of the results of the requested diagnostic test.  Additionally, I had not been notified as to any problem with my car, no discussion as to what it would take to fix my car, and no estimate of the cost to repair my car was ever discussed.  I was not afforded an opportunity to accept or reject A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C repairing my car, not even my requested diagnostic! Clearly, I might have wanted another establishment to repair my car. A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C repaired my car without my authorization!  Again, A1 Discount Auto Care ignored the fact that I could have elected to have my car repaired at another establishment such as Germain Lexus of Easton who ultimately diagnosed my car, advised me of the problem, and obtained my authorization, prior to repairing of my car.  
  
  On July 27, when I arrived at A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C and asked, "What was wrong with my care?" *****'s response, "It was your alternator."  "We had to replace it." I asked, why didn't you call me to let me know the problems prior to repairing my car?  He stated that my husband told him to fix the car.  I asked, who brought the car in?  Mind you, I own the title to this car! My husband, Tuskegee Airman Don Elder, Aircraft Mechanic, P47 Crew, a diagnostic engine repairman, would not have given such a faulty decision "in the blind".  Thus, this repair was not authorized.  When I requested the return of my bad alternator, John replied,  "Oh, we send those back to the factory to be refurbished for resale."  I advised John that that the alternator was my part and it was suppose to return it to me.  Who makes a profit from the sale of my refurbished alternator?   
  
  You will note that in A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C's response, "We called and told her her alternator is bad and she also had a power draw from the trunk latch".  I was not aware of a power draw from the trunk latch until I arrived to retrieve my car on July 27 as it was noted on the bill provided to me.   Now, a trust issue and I chose to leave.  
  
  Ultimately, when Germain Lexus of Easton repaired the "REAL PROBLEM" with my car, I was advised that, since I was no longer having a battery draining problem after they repaired the real problem with my car, as a result, there was never a "TRUNK LATCH POWER DRAW PROBLEM"..  A charge for which, without my authorization, A1 Discount Auto Care billed me $250.00.
  
  I never received a call from A1 Discount Auto Care advising as to what was draining my battery.  The next time that I heard from A1 Discount Auto was when they called me on July 28, 2021 to advise that my car was repaired and ready to pick up.  Upon arrival I asked John what was the problem.  It was at this time, for the first time, John advised, only, that the alternator had to be replaced.  When John handed me the receipt, I was shocked to see a charge for, as noted on the bill, Trunk Latch Repair Draw, $250.00.  I never stated that there was anything wrong with my trunk and there were never any mention or discussion about my trunk.  If there was a problem, again, I should have been contacted and aware.  Yet, and, again A1 Discount Auto Care conducted an unauthorized repair to my car.  
  
  Because my husband had several strokes, I drove his car because it was more accommodating for him  entering and exiting the car.  Therefore, my car sat for several weeks.  When I noticed that it would die as a result of being idle, I began to keep a record of the times that I had to get a battery charge to start my car which was very abnormal.  The following are the dates that my battery had to be charged after A1 Discount Auto Care proclaimed that they diagnosed and repaired my car without my authorization:
  
  October    18        AAA, Battery Charge
  October    25        Battery dead  and  contacted A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C spoke to John
  October    26        Battery Charged, ***** said the problem was a light left on in the upper front of my car.  An auto light light that I never change
  October     29       AAA, Battery Charge
  November 12       Family member battery charge
  November 26       Car battery dead again.  Call A1 Discount Auto Care.  However,
                               AAA came and charged the battery
  December 12       AAA Battery Charge
  December 13       AAA Battery Charge
  December 17       Appointment, Germain Lexus of Easton, Jeff
  
  ****** also came to my home and charged my car battery
  
  *There was one other time, for which I do not remember the date, that A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C stowed my car to their shop and determined that nothing was wrong with my car.
           
  I believe that there may have been other times that I had to get my car battery  boosted that I have not, perhaps, mentioned.  If needed, please advise and I will contacted AAA.  However, I believe AAA limits is five battery booster per year.
  
  Germain Lexus Of Easton findings:  Customer States battery draining down has had alternator replaced if allowing car to sit for a day or more having to jump car off diag diag and found drain coming from after market radio.  Found excessive draw (80 MA).  Found draw in spec once 30 AMP radio  1 ruse remover.  Unplugged AMP, no difference.  Suspect draw is due to aftermarket radio or wiring for radio.  Removed after Market radio and reinstalled OEM per client request.  After installing OEM, draw was measured in spec less that 50 MA.  Installed factory radio back in car and drain was gone. battery and alternator working fine.   
  
  Germain Lexus of Easton returned all parts.  The alternator was never the problem!    And, per Germain Lexus of Easton, the "Trunk Power Straw Latch" was not associates to this problem.  The problem was the installation of the off the market Elite Stereo System.  The the complete diagnostic report is available, if needed.
  
  It is troubling and obvious that my car continued to have the exact same battery draining problem after A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C declared the problem fixed and charged $799.68 for what Germain Lexus of Easton actually diagnosis properly fixed.  After Germain Lexus of Easton diagnosed, serviced, and fixed my car, it is back to normal with no battery draining problems.  I attached a copy of Germain Lexus of Easton's receipt.
  
  As a resolution, I am requesting a full refund in the amount of  $799.68.  I look forward to your prompt response.
  Thanks you
    **** *****

  Business response

  08/02/2022

  i gave you all paper work on this claim  again i tell you we went by the book we called her and her husband and we told to fix the car we explained everything that was wrong with car and gave them the estimate and they us the green light to fix it and so did  i don't what else to summit to prove it   she signed the repair order and paid by credit card then she waits for months to say she didn't authorise the repair that's hard to believe        **** at A1 Discount auto  stands behind our work   thank you

  Customer response

  08/16/2022

  Response:  August 16, 2022
  
  A1 Discount Auto Care is fabricating the events of this transaction.  ***** knows that I did not authorize this repair.  Please note that A1 Discount Auto Care, LL C originally reported that my husband told ***** to fix my car.  Later, it was reported that he spoke to me via telephone and received authorization from me.  Now  they are reporting that he spoke to both me and my husband via telephone.  What scenario will be used next time?
  
  Again,  I was not aware of a power draw from the trunk latch until I arrived to retrieve my car on July 27 as it was noted on the bill provided to me.  Please request a copy of the written estimate that A1 Discount Auto allegedly discussed with me. And, again have A1 Discount Auto provide telephone records indicating the calls for which they say they called and received authorization for this repair.   I did not receive a call from A1 Discount Auto until the call to tell me that my car was ready for pick up which no authorization was given to repair my car.
  All I want from A1 Discount Auto is the truth and a refund.
  
  What happens if you don't pay your mechanic?
  If a mechanic has serviced your car and you haven't paid the bill, they may be able to establish a lien on your vehicle, which usually gives them legal claim over the car until you pay back what you owe in full. This is called a mechanic's lien or a garage-man's lien. A mechanic's lien is a type of possessory lien.
  
  Rule 109:4-3-13 | Motor vehicle repairs or services.
  Ohio Administrative Code/109:4/Chapter 109:4-3 | Deceptive Acts or Trade Practices in Connection with Consumer Transactions
  
  **** ** *****
  Human Resources Consultant
  Certified Mediator

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩