SUBMITTED: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
POSTED: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I found an ad on craigslist.org as well for the Daytona area for a company name of Better Built Mobile Automotive Services. I called the number listed and Don Grondin came out to diagnose my van under the premise of a $50 diagnosis fee, which was refunded if he did the work. He told me my van needed a computer. He charged me $398.00 for a computer which costs about $109.00 from Autozone. This was on Oct 13th, 2009. So I wrote him a $50 check, and a check for $398.00 and he said it would take a week for the part to come in. That "he had a guy" in Miami who was sending it.
I called him a week later and he said he just now had ordered the part, and it should be here tomorrow, to call him then. I called him the next day, no answer. Three days later he called back to say the part was in, and he would come fix it the following day. He never called and never showed up. Finally two weeks later, he showed up and dropped off the computer, and stated that our battery did not have enough CCA (cold cranking amps) to turn over the vehicle. That it needed at least 1200 CCA. I have a 1989 Ford E 150 5.0. It only requires 550 CCA and my battery has 800 CCA. More than enough, when I mentioned this to him he got attitude and told me that the battery isn't his problem, but that he could borrow a jump box from another tech in the area. He'd be here that afternoon.
Not only did he not show up, but no phone call either. We called the next day and he said "I never said that." In regards to coming out and installing the computer. He said "I'm making a special trip out there today.." He did finally show up, he spent a lot of time messing with things under the hood. And came back in and claimed to have installed the computer, when I asked to see the old computer he refused to show me, claiming "there is a core charge."
The computer for my van does not reside under the hood. It is in the passenger side dashboard. So I knew immediately he did not change the computer. The van did not act any different after he left, he blamed the brand new battery.
After reporting the company to Consumer Services I found out that the company name was not "Better Built Mobile Automotive Services" like on the business card given to me by Don Grondin, it was "Dusty's Better Built Transmission Automotive Services" out of Jacksonville FL.
I do have a copy of this illegal business card as evidence in my growing case against this alleged "company."
Upon calling the owner listed with Consumer Services, John Bayless, I spoke with his wife and she said Shawn Bayless is now the owner, and refused to give the phone number. Again, illegal business practices.
About one half hour after contacting Consumer Services Don Grondin called and told me he'd come out and "do what he said he'd do and his bosses told him to cut me a check for $398.00" He came out and did something under the hood of my van again, and then told me his bosses would be mailing me a check on Wednesday Nov 11, 2009. He called me 2 before mailing it to confirm the address he was mailing it to, so I thought he might actually be trying to redeem himself at this point.
It is now Nov 18, 2009 and still no check. I know you can get mail from anywhere in Florida in less than 7 days. This whole company is a huge rip-off. They are still advertising under this company name in Daytona Craigslist. I have the direct cell phone number to Don Grondin. The company is still operating (for those who had a problem with Dusty's) but under another illegal name. If someone is planning a class action lawsuit, please contact me, I have my phone records, the illegal business card, a mechanic who can testify about the computer, and witnesses. Let's stop these people from ripping off more.