AAMCO Transmissions - Sergio Mgr. AAMCO Transmission is dishonest and conducts business under FALSE ADVERTISING. Their so called FREE ESTIMATES are not true. Ripoff Harbor City California

My problems with AAMCO began on May 23rd 2007. My transmission was slipping or not grabbing, so me not being mechanically inclined went through the yellow pages to look for somewhere to take my car. AAMCO's ad stood out from the rest especially because of the FREE ESTIMATE. So I called and spoke with a person named Sergio. Sergio informed me that yes they do give free estimates and I could drop off the car (1997 Chevy Venture) and he would take a look at it and give me a call within 1 day. On Friday May 25th still haven't heard anything, so at about 8:30am in the morning as my wife is riding the bus to work she passes AAMCO and sees my car sitting in the parking lot, so she immediately calls him on the from her cell. Sergio than gets on the phone and says yes we have up on the rack as we speak and he'll know something in a couple of hours. My wife than becomes upset because she know's he is lying. He insists my van is on the rack until finally he says OH!! the chevy venture oh yes we took the transmission out but put the van out side because we neede some room. After my wife gave him some choice words he told her he would get back to her that day. He than calls her back at noon and says he needs to take the car apart and that THE LABOR TO DO THE TRANSMISSION would cost $800. So after she tells me this we're both under the assumption that he was telling us the labor cost to complete the entire job he never once said it was 800 to take it apart. Before I committed to him I called for LABOR ESTIMATES from 3 other Mech's.

and they were all between $750 and $850. Also, for a completely rebuilt trans. would be between $1500 - $1700. So we decided to have him do it. My wife than called Sergio and had him go ahead and do the work. Now mind you I still think he's go to take it apart and tell me what the estimate would be and than I can decide. Well, when my goes to see him later that day he tells her it will cost $2700.00 put in a rebuilt transmission. My wife almost hit the roof. She than proceeded to tell just put it baack together and thanks but no thanks. Surprise, "Ma'am I will gladly do that after you me the $800 you me for the labor. To make along story short we've gone round in circles and short doing bodily harm to him, it is June 20th and my van is still up on the racks at his shop. Now after researching their website, it does state a free external estimate, however NOWHERE IN THE ADVERTISMENT does it state FREE EXTERNAL ESTIMATE $800.00 FOR INTERNAL ESTIMATE, had I understood it(which is hard to because of their DECEPTIVE ad) or had Sergio informed me initially that the free estimate only pertained to any external problems I would have shopped around. Oh and during the phone call between Sergio and my wife while she was on the bus she Expressed to him that she didn't want to get ripped off again like last person who did our trans. 2 years prior. She stated to him that the last person charged us 1495.00 and want to know what was his estimate and he said yeah that's about what it is going to cost no problem Mrs *******. Anyway I'm trying desperately to find help because for 1. I still have 3 payments left. 2. I have 4 kids and was forced to spend the last of my on a rental car 3weeks and just a car that runs half a** for 300.00 just ot get to work and kids to school. If anyone has any advice it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!!!

Glenn
San Pedro, California
U.S.A.