Currently, I am waiting to test drive a new Chevy as my thank you to the service department at Gaudin Ford. I took my 2011 F-150 there o have the oil sending unit fixed ($8 part) because I believed my extended warranty was still valid. As I was with the service rep Jeremy, he informed me that the warranty was no longer valid and that it was a number because they could have fixed it for free otherwise. He then said "sign here and we will get you fixed up". I signed, right under the part that said "Estimate $140".
An hour later Jeremy called me and said it would be $500 to fix (yes, $500 for an $8 part). I laughed and said no thanks, also reminding him I had the same exact part fixed on my other Ford Truck there a month ago.
When I went to pick up my truck they refused to release it to me unless I paid $118 diagnosis fee. I refused and Jeremy came up to cashier desk and said he had informed me there would be this diagnosis fee. Not once did her verbally tell me that and I asked for his manager, Ethan.
Jeremy and Ethan stood outside cashier office, right in front of me for a few minutes and Ethan came in and said "Jeremy says he told you about the diagnosis fee verbally"(blatant lie). I then informed Ethan I would be disputing charge and he replied that I signed a contract (a work order and quote are not the same).
I then paid and signed then receipt "payment coerced" as I fully intend on disputing the charge. I then asked for Ethan's biz card, to which I was told he doesn't have one. Figure that, a manager of the Gaudin service e department does not have a business card.
Gaudin Ford is extorting customers into paying for work they did not do; they unilaterally take measures to make the customer believe they have no rights or protections from their misleading business practices. I encourage anyone who goes here to record the initial interaction to see if the diagnosis fee is ever verbally stated. Also, they will slip it in into the issue description part of work order as "diag140" which in my opinion appears as a work code for their mechanics as opposed to it actually saying "diagnosis fee $140"
Thanks Gaudin Ford Service Department for encouraging me to test drive a brand new Chevrolet 1500 4x4!