I'm having problems with my car repair facility?

Question

I took my car into this repair shop for work under an insurance claim. After 2 1/2 weeks (all mechanical no body) I picked up my car and had to take it right back. The power steering went out (They were supposed to have replaced all the those parts.) It took me another 3 days to get it back. 3 weeks later they had to replace the rack and pinion. Once again a part they already replace. Kept my car four days. Then they told me my lower left balljoint was bad. They had just replace the control arms during the initial repair. We looked up the part number it only comes as an assembly and that I could have bought the part for 130$ less then they charged me. What should I do? Who can I report them too? Any suggestions??? they have pretty much held my car hostage for the rack and pinion because there are no billable hours for replacing the part.

The insurance company has already told the repair facility that they will not pay for any additional money for repairs that were supposed to have been completed per the original work order. Progressive told me that because i didn't take my car to their facility there wasn't much they could do.

I am also aware of the fact that many of the parts used during the repair are re-manufactured or used (this is per the insurance company)....

Answer 1

Get the insurance company involved right away, it's their job to make sure all the damages are fixed correctly and fully...explain the difficulties you are having and let them know you are not satisfied with the repairs. The ball joint should have been replaced as part of the repairs but you may have to pay what's called "betterment" ---that is, a portion of the price to fix it is charged back to you because it is a wearable item. You are getting a brand new part instead of a worn one. It's usually based on the life expectancy of an item and most insurance companies have guidelines that they go by for figuring out what percentage to charge you based on the mileage of the car and other factors. If the steering rack was not part of the original repair estimate and is related to the original damages, have the repair shop file a supplemental claim with the insurance company or get the original adjuster back to look at it. If it was part of the original repairs, the steering rack manufacturer should warranty the work. If you get no satisfaction, call the BBB and maybe get a lawyer.

Answer 2

most vehicle owners have a very poor understanding of how their vehicles work and therefore know that they are vulnerable to being taken advantage of, and at the same time far to many shops are too busy trying to get things done quickly and move on to take the time to properly explain to people what they are going to do and why. I believe that most all of the problems people have with repair facilities are caused by miscommunication and that goes both ways when a customer tells the service writer that they hear a noise and the mechanic takes it out and the exhaust is loud so they replace the muffler then the customer pays $300 and drives away only find out that the rattling swaybar links are still rattling, the customer is now angry because they spent all this money and their car is not fixed, but they did a poor job of describing their complaint, because the exhaust noise grew slowly the customer never noticed it and didn't care about that noise but how is the tech to know that then there is the fact that with so many intertwined systems and electronics controlling everything, many problems do not have clear cause and effect anymore leading to a higher than acceptable rate of misdiagnoses in the industry and how often when a shop replaces a $500 part that doesn't fix the problem does the shop eat that mistake, most of them don't and understandably that makes for irate customers i really don't believe most places or technicians are out to take advantage of anyone, but misunderstandings and legitimate mistakes are rarely handled appropriately leaving customers feeling as though they've been taken advantage of

Answer 3

This is why you go where the insurance company tells you. Since you didn't, you are on your own more or less.

The shop isn't ripping you off, they are just trying to fix your car. The days that it takes for each repair is common to either order in parts, or to fit your car into the schedule they already have. Not fair for some other customer to be bumped cause of your car. Just like you want to be bumped for someone else.

The fact that things have to keep getting fix is not uncommon for an accident let alone used or re-manufactured parts. I myself have had a ball joint put on and then had to have it redone 2 weeks later. Re-manufactured wore out that fast. I learned not to go cheap and to stick with OEM items. (original equipment manufacturer)

The most you can do is try to talk to the shop manager and explain that you have spent money with them and to see if they can help give a break on the $130 savings, etc. Since its a redo of a part that could of been done while in there, etc.

I've seen the same thing happen to the body side. Insurance says go to X body shop and customer goes to Y body shop. Later have major issues and feel they got ripped off. When in fact all they did was screw themselves by not going to X in the first place. Normally trying to save a few bucks. Saving a few bucks this way rarely rarely ever works.

When a car is in an accident, to the point things are replaced. And since you keep mentioning front end, I am guessing you got hit on the tire or something. A car is never right again. A shock wave has gone through the car and has slightly bent everything. In turn its all slightly out of wack. And it will just keep eating parts, having issues, etc for its life. Best thing to do with any accident car.. get it fixed, then trade it ASAP while it still functions.

Answer 4

Call your insuran ce company and tell them what is going on. It sounds like a scam just to replace parts thy should have replaced in the first place. The insurance company will look into it for you as well as trying to protect them having to pay for work twice.
It sounds like this place is tring to rip off the insurance company with more claims then it was took in for.

Answer 5

Since the insurance company is paying the bill they are the customer. They need to complain to the shop to resolve the matter. So you need to talk with the claims adjuster to get this fixed. If that does not work call your state insurance commisioners office.

Answer 6

your best bet is the better bissnesse hot line, give them a call i had to in the past i i got great satisfaction

Answer 7

Too bad you're not in California, there's other places to go to that will investigate your complaint.

Answer 8

Report them to BBB.That should help.