Family Auto Service - (Chuck) Dishonest to the umpteenth degree!!! Shame on you! Scam Artist Lynbrook New York

I visited this repair shop for the very first time last March, 2013 for an oil change after receiving a discounted coupon thru Amazon Local or Groupon, etc.

Manager at the time, Steve, was very friendly.  After working on my car, I was told that my break drums needed replacement.  I was surprised as I had replaced them less than a year ago at a service station in Queens, NY.  I felt there had been some squeaking in the brakes - so I said go ahead and replace them - which they did.  The repair person for that job was Chuck.

While waiting for the work to be done - I saw they had some used cars on their lot for sale.  What caught my eye was a Hyundai Santa Fe (2001).  It had high mileage (about 137,000) but looked great and ran well too.  Steve explained to me that the car recently had new tires installed and lots of other work to make it in tip-top shape - and assured me that if I needed to drive to California - that I shouldn't have any problems with it.  Hearing that from a local mechanic sounded good to me.  I came back later with my wife, as the car was really for her - she loved it and we bought it for more than the blue book price - because of all the work we were told had been done.

Within a couple of weeks - started having trouble - first the driver's window got stuck in the down position as a thunderstorm started - I got drenched trying to lift it up.  I brought the car in the next day, Chuck examined it, told me that unfortunately it needed a new motor in the door to life & lower the window.  I was angry to say the least but agreed to have the work done saying I'd speak to the owner (Steve) - but he was away on a business trip for what I was told at least a month.

Paid about $250 - $300 for that repair (I think - not positive as it was awhile ago - in April.  Aa afew days later came back as window was getting stuck again, even though the motor had been replaced.  I was told they'd check it out.  Later I was told that the rubber gasket that the window traveled between was warped and causing the problem, and was probably the reason the motor had burned out.  Now I was livid.  I got a call from the owner saying they'd give me a break on the repair - only charging for the part and doing labor for free.  That was another $150 or so.  I wss further told that if I didn't do it - I'd have ongoing problems with the window. 

A few days after the work wss performed - I noticed that as I locked and unlocked the driver's side door, that there was a rubbing sound - similiar to a chain scraping against metal - which I assumed was the cable that locked & unocked the rear hatch. I figured that while door had been removed to replace the gasket that something was hooked back up correctly.  I came back to the shop - spoke to Chuck agiain - and he said he didn't notice any sound and that I could leave the truck with them but would have to pay an $80/hr (approx) diagnostic fee.  I didn't want to do that.

During this same visit - i noticed a plastic washer type object on the floor under the brake pedal - as the rear window break light wouldn't go off.  I thought perhaps something had happened while working on the door - but Chuck said no - thats something that happens as cars age and that I could have the pedal repaired which I did for about $60.

Nice - in less that a month after purchasing this vehicle that was supposedly in tip-top shape, I had already spent over $600.  But I knew when I purchased the car there was no warranty - it was as is - my mistake was believing the mechanic / store owner.

Everything went fine when shortly thereafter (or at the same time) the car radio began turning off and on on its own.  I was told, again by Chuck who was now the on-site manager of the shop that he could replace it for me, at approximately $300... which I refused to do - as I knew of places nearby that would do a replacement with a quality radio/cd player for $125.00 total including labor.

I wasn't going to go back to this shop until I spoke to the owner about all this - to see if we could come to some financial agreement reimbursing me for some of the money I had to spend - but Chuck nformed me that Steve was traveling extensively and  returned to Baldwin (or Bellmore) to reopen their original shop.  However, I needed an inspection and figured how bad could it be with all the work recently done just before the purchase.  Well, surprise, surprise -- I was told that I would pass inspection but that the car needed a new radiator for wsome outlandish price - which I couldn't afford and wouldn't do w/o checking elsewhere first. I was also told it needed work on one of the azel boots.  Total jobs were gtoing to run between $600-$800.  When I told Chuck I'd have to wait - he told me to be carefull as the radiator could go at any time.

As a result -we kept the car on the driveway most of the summer because I've been out of work and couldn't afford these repairs.  At that point I was resigned to the fact that I made a serious error in buying a vehicle this old w/ so much mileage and trusting what I'd been told about the great shape it was in. 

I asked around and found a place that a family friend works in (collision place) and he said I should bring the car to the person they use to replace radiators and other mechanical work when repairing cars with serious damage done in accidents. Well, I went there in the fall and after extensive pressurized testing was told I did NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIATOR.  I did however, need the axel boot work done - so I had him do it.

This is when I had proof that Chuck and possibly Steve the shop owner of Family Auto Service in Lynbrook were scam artists and thieves.  I've started to go over there several times to give him a piece of my mind - but figured I'd loose my temper and do something I'd regret later.  So I didnj't

In the meantime - I had gotten a copy of the repair history performed by FAS on this vehicle - and found that they had replaced the radiator 3 times.  The last 2 times under warranty - which means they probably use inferior materials or the mechanic was performing inferior work.

When I questioned Chuck about this he simply said - it's not unusual for a car with this much mileage and age to need radiators replaced over time.  Yeah right,l how many cars need 3 radiators and then a 4th within a few year period not as the result of an accident, etc/.

This guy is so full of crap - I don't know how he looks in the mirror.  If they've done this to me - I wonder how many other people have been cheated.

I now tell everyone I know to avoid this service station - Family Auto Service on Sunrise Hwy in Lynbrook, Long Island.

As this took place over a 6 month period I'm not sure I remember exact pricing and dates - but I do remember these events very clearly.  I know I bear much of the fault in being trusting of the shop owner - but it doesn't excuse out and out dishonesty.

They did me a favor which I should mention - if I paid cash for repairwork, they'd not charge sales tax - which could add up to quite a savings with all the work done.  However, keep in mind - that is illegal.