I took my car to get an inspection sticker yesterday. I am female and I went alone. (my first mistake) They said my car failed because "the rear struts are leaking". They offered to fix it for $178.00. Instead, I took the car to my dad and had him look at it first. He was a mechanic for 30 years. He says there is nothing wrong with the rear struts. Now what do I do? The store I took it to already tore off half the sticker and said I need to come back there to get the new one once it is "fixed". I paid 18.50 for the failed inspection. I need some advice. I live in Maine.
2007-08-21 11:38:30 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Sorry that you feel like these people did this. Go to another but reputable tester and have the inspection done. hopefully you will pass this one. when you pass, go back to the first one and ask for your money back . If they refuse, go to the local television station and see if they have someone that will raise the question to them and air out the problem.but only if you passed a different place
2007-08-21 11:53:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Maine. Just to clarify for those who don't know the law. In Maine the inspection station must remove half your sticker so that the police know you got inspected and failed inspection. However this does not mean you have to have the work done at their garage. Get it checked somewhere else. Since you say that your dad was a mechanic then its up to you to prove that no defect exists. Take dad with you (make sure your car is up to snuff) and maybe it will be okay and they give a sticker.
I do not believe that you are required to return to them. You can go to another and pay another $18.50. Check with the state but I dont believe you have to use them if you feel they are sticking it to you.
If you car does not have strut problems and they are just jerks let me know if they are in the portland area so I can stay away.
You should also call the state police, better business bureau and the consumer protection division to report them. This is what I knew would happen with a sticker system like they have gone too. Some garages sure do take advantage of people.
2007-08-21 12:15:50 · answer #2 · answered by friendly advice from maine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Missouri, if a car fails and the owner believes that its a mistake they are allowed to take it to the highway patrol and they can verify if there is a problem or not. If no problem is found the highway patrol contacts the inspector and tells him to pass the vehicle as no defects were found. Also if the highway patrol doesnt find an issue the State licensed inspector or shop can face issues
2007-08-21 11:46:30 · answer #3 · answered by Christian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can call the state patrol or you can go to another inspection station i don't know the law in maine in tx. suspension and brake tests are limited to the test drive and visual inspect from a walk around inspector can not pull wheels or raise the car to inspect these items. sounds to me like he was over reaching to make a sale I would go to another station and pay to have it reinspected. if it passes then make an offical complaint. and don't forget to tell your freinds about it word of moutjh is the strongest weapon against mechinacs that try to oversell their customers.
2007-08-21 12:06:48 · answer #4 · answered by tott1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
best thing to do is take it to another shop and get a second opinion. if they say nothing is wrong, then have them do the inspection and give you a sticker then report the other shop to the bbb. if they say they are leaking then you will need to have the fixed to pass. good luck.
2007-08-21 11:46:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
have dad take it to an inspection station and pay the 18.50. the second opinion will tell the truth of the matter.
2007-08-21 13:34:52 · answer #6 · answered by skid 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not sure about Maine but in Missouri you can have it looked at by the state highway patrol.. if they were to agree with your father they will resolve the issue and bring the heat down on the inspection station.. good luck to you
2007-08-21 11:48:31 · answer #7 · answered by John St.Louis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what they did is illegal. They cannot tear off the sticker unless they are going to replace it with a new one. They did that so you will have to take it back to the same shop. I would call your local Bureau of Automotive repair and talk to them.
2007-08-21 11:46:34 · answer #8 · answered by turbocivic89 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
send your dad in with the car to get it re-inspected i guarantee they wont pull that B.S. on someone who they don't think they can screw.
2007-08-21 11:48:09 · answer #9 · answered by MR.ZASS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋