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Report: #750696

Complaint Review: Automotive Service Works - Winter Park Florida

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  • Reported By: Carol — Winter Park Florida United States of America
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  • Automotive Service Works 2822 Forsyth Rd. #440 Winter Park, Florida United States of America

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I contracted with this company on 6/2/2011 for engine replacement and paid $1300 for a used engine with 26K miles, carfax verified, 180 day warranty.  We agreed on $500 labor, paying 1/2 up front.  On 6/16, I finally got my truck to his shop (we waited for the engine to come in).  After many emails later, I JUST got my truck back on 7/5....33 days after contract, not in good running order, etc.  This guy claims a clutch cylinder went out due to excessive wear (so I had to cover the cost), then another part broke, then he needed more time, and the list goes on.  Over 10 times I was promised my truck would be done "tomorrow"...tomorrow ended up being 33 days! 

Once I finally made him stick with a date, he tells me I didnt alot him enough time to fix my truck and any other mechanic would tell me to f off!  So I pay him what I owe him....big mistake!  Truck isnt in good working order and he then tells me he put old spark plugs in it and i needed to go have all of this other stuff done to get it right...but his job was done.  Really?  He would not provide warranty information, carfax report, nothing regarding the engine!  I placed a stop payment on his final payment. 

He finally gives me at least a number for the place with the engine and low and behold....I find out he paid $995 (not the $1300 he said I was paying cost for) and the engine has 37K miles (not the 26K I was sold) and because he didnt follow the recommendations, I have NO warranty!  When asking the mechanic why he would commit fraud regarding the engine, he says it isnt fraud.  He offered a refund of the difference in engine cost but refused to warranty the engine (even though his lack of mechanics is what voids the warranty anyhow), then he puts stop payment on his check to me. lol...long story short....totally a fraudulent place, offered to pay him less the other mechanics fees and with a reimbursement of the engine, but he says to see him in court....I think that I will.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 07/08/2011 01:15 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/automotive-service-works/winter-park-florida-32792/automotive-service-works-matthew-lugo-most-dishonest-ever-winter-park-florida-750696. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
1Author
1Consumer
1Employee/Owner

#3 Consumer Comment

Good for you

AUTHOR: Ramjet - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, July 15, 2011

I love it, a person who can admit it when they are wrong and actually apologize.

You sure don't see much of that kind of character these days.

Congratulations!

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#2 Author of original report

Automotive Service Works is making things right!

AUTHOR: Carol - (United States of America)

POSTED: Friday, July 15, 2011

I posted a report regarding Automotive Service Works and it seems it cannot be deleted.  After some heated discussions, and some calming down, myself and the owner Matthew Lugo have come to some agreements.  Being uneducated in mechanics, there are things I assumed that I should have asked about, etc. etc.  There was a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding regarding the repairs to be made that have now been cleared.  Even though I was quite a handful to deal with as a customer, Mr. Lugo has been courteous and gracious in his offers to address my problems (I am a little stubborn and think that I know it all) and has made these offers in writing as well.  He has explained a lot of the things that I didnt understand and is still willing to accept me as a future customer. After learning the true processes I can only offer apologies in the way the I, myself, handled this situation up to and including the original report made here.  It isnt that the vehicle was repaired incorrectly, there were things that I didnt understand regarding the repairs.  (This was verified by a seperate mechanic so now I feel really dumb) While I was upset and felt shafted, I in turn forced that same feeling on him.  What was once a negative experience for us both, it is looking up and moving into the positive.  ASW has provided all documentation as agreed and everything is on par.   

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#1 REBUTTAL Owner of company

Saturn Vue Total Disaster

AUTHOR: Automotive Service Works LLC OWNER - (United States of America)

POSTED: Saturday, July 09, 2011

Automotive Service Works LLC has been servicing the Orlando FL area for over 8 years! Recently took on a job from a customer Carol Smith, who was interested in getting her 2004 Saturn Vue back on the road which has a 2.2L engine. During the conversation of having this engine replaced I was then very clear about what usually needed to be done. Made certain to explain that the engine being purchased followed the following guidelines in order to start the job unless declined.

*All Preventative Maintenance Items should be replaced
*Serpentine Belt
*Valve Cover Gasket
*Spark Plugs
*Ignition Coils
*Oil & Filters
*Fluids

After explaining to the customer that all of this had to be done I was told that she was on a "budget" of sorts and could only afford the labor & engine at this time. We then had a verbal agreement that this was fine and to go ahead with the engine install process. After receiving a deposit of half of the labor and full amount on engine I then proceeded to order engine.

Customer was notified that it would take 5-7 business days to receive and that I did also have to wait at least 2 days before towing her vehicle. She then agreed to wait and to "take my time no worrys".

*Engine Price that was given was a retail price, the price that vendor disclosed was not for customers info. (Of course as a retail customer I too would like to purchase everything at cost)
The Definition of a business is to make money not lose money. If you were purchasing from any other shop say "GOODYEAR SHOP" FIRESTONE SHOP" or larger franchise this wouldint have been an argument but because we are a smaller more humble auto repair shop we cant make money?

*Vendor info: Engine & Transmission World Orignally provided me with a quote and mileage on engine which is documented from its orignal receive date.

*Engine & Transmission World does have a warranty policy which states that items listed on there warranty must be replaced. (Customer DECLINED due to budget she did not want to hear that she needed to spend more money to complete this job right) The complete warranty info is available on there website for download. She says I did not provide her with the car fax info yet she called the vendor to find out a price? She could have easily inquired about a car fax info if it was important to her at that time. I am not Engine & Transmission World so I dont have access to this, and they did not provide me with this information. I would have had no problem getting this info if the customer themselves explained the issues in a respectful manner. Coming to someones place of business and getting in there face to get answers never gets you anywhere.

*Installation Steps including mishaps during install:

*Engine Prep for Install
*Installation of harness & Components
*Visual Inspection of belts & fluids
*Cooling System Bleed Procedure
*Clutch Bleed Procedure (failed due to manual transmission internal clutch slave cylinder failure)
*Contacted Customer to get authorization for replacement of internal clutch slave cylinder
*Authorization was granted ordered part & installed
*2nd Bleed Procedure failed due to plastic connection at clutch pedal slave cylinder breaking during bleed procedure
*ASW purchased clutch pedal slave cylinder at no cost to the customer and proceeded with bleed procedure a 3rd time
*After trying to bleed slave cylinder would not create the correct amount of pressure
*Found that possibly clutch pressure plate was out of alignment and needed to be re-aligned
*Notified Customer and was told to do whatever it took to repair this issue

During this installation process all communication was kept either through telephone or e-mail messages. Due to the issues above a mis-calculation of when the vehicle would be completed was estimated. But an understanding from customer was understood until day of pickup.

Customer was asked for at least 1 more day to assure vehicle was running properly and driveability was diagnosed due to manual transmission never being tested before. She then insisted that I give her the car or there would be a "problem". We then argued about the topic and she insisted to approach in an aggressive way. I then told her if she would like the vehicle same day to allow me more time but once again was insulted and told I was an idiot and other words. After vehicle was completed that day her "boyfriend" then test drove vehicle and came back and said the car felt like it was misfiring etc. I then proceeded to take a test drive with him and found that there was indeed a misfire due to spark plugs & ignition coils (she originally declined and would refuse to buy once again due to being on a "budget"). She then agreed and said and i quote "it could have been possible she needed spark plugs because if I used the spark plugs from the orignal engine then she could replace those spark plugs and ignition coils at a later time". She then payed with a check for the amount of $450.00. She drove off with the car and it didint here from her for 2 days after.
Her boyfriend then shows up two days later stating that the pull ticket with the warranty info wasnt the warranty info at all that he wanted it. He then proceeded in saying there was sand inside of the spark plug chambers and that it was my fault that I should have replaced spark plugs and other parts that was there responsability. I then said no she did not pay for those parts so those parts where never installed we re-used the spark plugs from the old engine due to being on a budget at this time.

*Carol Smith states that her 180 Day Standard warranty with Engine & Transmission World was void because I failed to replace parts she declined to begin with when explaining that the engine is "USED" and parts will need to be changed. Two things could have happend at this point, 1) if she didint have the money at the time to do the parts replacement reccomended by the warranty it could have been done at a later time which would have helped instead of calling Engine & Transmission World and notifying them now they know that they dont have to warranty anything for her (her mistake on this) 2) Having an understanding of what your buying is important "USED" means just that not brand new, its a mystery to me the installer as well when the engine gets to install even after 20 inspections by the vendor.

*A $450.00 check was given to cover the following:
*Labor that was due on delivery of Vehicle
*Parts Money owed for Internal Clutch Slave Cylinder
Neither of these full fillments were met due to a stop payment on check. (ASW had no knowledge of stop payment until after customer asked for an additional $300.00 for engine warranty etc.)
*Customer came to get an additional $300.00 from ASW without notifying us of a stop payment on check does this clearly state "STEALING"
*Basically Labor & Parts Money was stolen and ASW is the fraudulent ones?
*A stop payment on $300.00 was made because customer gave us no notification as to a stop payment on moneys due us and then came in asking for more without real explanation other then "I need to get my car repaired else where"
*Customer was told that the vehicle was covered for 30 days for installation defect and any concerns about the install we would take care of (Customer voided that when taking to another repair shop) At this point there is no way telling what happened at someonelses repair shop etc.

To conclude all of this I would like to also like to address that customer did not allow me to fully complete my job and  provide the documents she requested. She was rude and disrespectful which caused me to not want to deal with the situation at hand. She was insulting and thats something we dont tolerate here. If she had an issue with the service we would have gladly delt with it, but by cursing and being rude just wont get you anywhere in life. I believe there main motive was to not pay in full for the service and they pre-meditated the whole stop payment and get an extra $300.00 scheme. That is fraud point blank! ASW is not a fraudulent company! We service the public with respect and understanding. Its unfourtunate how desperate the public has to be to be an extra dollar.

As far as legal litigation, it is totally up to the customer at this point if she would like to pursue this in a legal battle we have nothing to hide. This consumer doesnt understand the purchase she has made and now wants to re-imburse herself for her own issues at hand. I would also like to state that there are various e-mails stating and threatening to sue ASW for the maximum allowed by the state which is $5000.00? I would like to know where does that fit in when she was the one who stopped payment on a check on services rendered and drove away with her car? WHO IS STEALING HERE? ASW is ready to defend itself against people like this and we have no problems in taking legal action.

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