My dad's van was overheating today & he had the radiator replaced at Robert's Automotive when Robert still operated the business. The radiator was still under warranty so my dad & uncle took the van back to Robert's.
My dad told Leonard (the new guy) that it was overheating & asked if they could test it out to find the problem. Leonard told one of the mechanics to do a pressure test. My uncle drove my dad home & then Leonard called some time later to tell him that it was not the radiator but it was the hoses that were leaking.
He gave my dad a quote of around $350 to fix it. We didn't have the money to fix it right now so my dad told Leonard that he was just gonna come pick up the van & limp it home.
At that point, Leonard informed my dad that the pressure test would cost $60.00 & my dad would have to pay that before his van would be released back to him.
My dad was NEVER told that the pressure test would cost anything before he handed over his car key. On the phone my dad argued that he was never told there would be a charge. The response he was given: "Well you don't expect us to do something & not charge you! Any other mechanic shop would do the same!"
Not true. Garcia's Auto Repair (on Broadway & Mesa Drive, operated by Luis Garcia) has given us free inspections in the past & great prices.
We would have taken it there but my dad thought to was the radiator & Robert's is who the warranty was with.
If I could give it zero stars, I would. It is just really bad business practice to not inform the customer of the charges BEFORE the work is done. If it was me & my car (instead of my dad & his van), you can be sure as the sky is blue that I would have raised hell & threatened to sue (which is what the nice police officer suggested when we called the non-emergency to find out if the police could get involved but said it was a civil matter & to pay the $60 but then it would be well within our right to sue).
too long;didn't read: my dad was never told that the pressure test would cost anything until after the fact. If he had known it would cost, he would have said not to do it.
Next time we're going to Garcia's Auto Repair at 429 E Broadway Rd. Mesa AZ.