Meineke Inspected and Rejected Car Because of Non-Existing Conditions Tappahannock, Virginia

 when dealing with a company like Meineke !. always take a witness, 2. get everything in writting, and if you still have a problem with them contact the attorney general office file a complaint.

Meineke included the narrative of Trooper M. E. Dunaway in a rebuttal. It is hard to read, so I have included the text. Had Meineke taken care to properly fill in the inspection receipt, a lot of this problem could have been avoided. It would not have avoided Meineke stating that the cost to do the repairs in its own shop would be around $1,300 which was $400 more than Tallie's Auto Center charged. I note in the Meineke rebuttal that is not addressed, nor is the fact that a credit check was done without my permission. I have been advised by several sources that in doing that, Meineke "dinged" my credit standing.

I still do not recommend Meineke for state inspection or anything else. I felt I was discriminated against because I am an elderly female. I had a right to get a second opinion on the rejection. I did and I am glad I did. 

 Narrative from Trooper  M. E. Dunaway:

On April 26, 2013, I was contacted by Randall Davis. Mr. Davis advised he had the above vehicle at his shop and the owner wanted him to check the vehicle over because it had been rejected by the above station. Mr. Davis is an inspector at Tallie’s Auto Service in Tappahannock, VA. He advised that all the rejected items on the vehicle did appear to be defective EXCEPT THE BRAKES. He advised the rear brakes look ok and the front pads looked ok. (Note: Mr. Davis' findings did not match because as you will read further on, Mr. Sparrow "may just" have filled in the wrong box on the receipt.)

 On April 29, 2013 I went to Tallie’s Auto Service in Tapphannock to look at the above vehicle. Inspector Davis took both front wheels off so I could look at the brakes. THE LEFT FRONT PADS WOULD HAVE PASSED INSPECTION. The right front side pad was worn down and would not pass inspection and the rotor was defective. The inspection receipt showed Inspector Sparrow (Meineke) checked the left front brake, not the right front. All the other rejected items marked should have been rejected as the receipt showed.

 On April 29, 2013 I went to Meineke Car Center and spoke with Inspector Sparrow about the inspection of the above vehicle. Mr. Sparrow advised he MAY have checked the wrong box when he filled out the receipt showing the left front brake was defected and it appears that Inspector Sparrow may have just checked left front instead of right front on the rejection sticker.

I wish I could change the title of my complaint but I don't think it is possible. The problems that failed the car did exist and were repaired. See my update. 

 Tallie's owner manager called in the Virginia state police mechanic who upheld Meineke's inspection findings. Tallie's mechanics ordered the necessary parts, performed the repairs in a timely fashion and guaranteed their work. Their charges for parts and labor amounted to four hundred dollars less than Meineke's quote. Not wanting to return to Meineke for another inspection, Tallie's was asked to reinspect the car.  I was very relieved and satisfied with the work done at Tallie's. I recommend them for mechanical work and state inspection. They are a family-owned small business and their mechanics do not work on commission as with some franchises.

There is no malice intended by me. The first report was true as far as it went with what happened and what i was initially told. The matter had not been processed and had not been concluded.  I respect the Virginia State Policeand know their mechanic must be an honest judge of the repairs needed in order to be passed.

 I feel other consumers, especially elderly females should know what happened. I was told after I wrote the first report by Tallie's that since the car was deemed to need the repairs by Meineke and the state police mechanic concurred, that they had to be done all at once and within 15 days to pass state inspection. I probably should have waited until it was all over and written one report.

By the way,when  I typed "Meineke" in a Google search there the first hits are from Meineke, of course and then lots of complaints from all cover the United States. That is how I found this site.

I still maintain that a credit check was run by Meineke without my permission and their charges for parts and labor were quoted substantially higher than Tallie's, so my suspicion was well-founded.There is paperwork from Meineke and Tallie's to substantiate that. The car belongs to my daughter and is now, thanks to Tallie's, reliable transportation for her and her children at what I considered a fair price. Thanks for the opportunity to tell "the rest of the story."

Ms. Sandra B**** of West Lafayette, Indiana, recently filed a Meineke Corporate Complaint and posted a similar complaint on RipOffReport.com with regard to a Virginia State safety inspection performed on her vehicle April 26, 2013 at the Meineke Care Care Center in Tappahanock, Virginia. 

Meineke disputes Ms. B**** s complaint and states that her allegations are false, malicious and without merit. The following information will prove that the inspection performed by Meineke Car Care Center was in fact done correctly. 

Matthew Sparrow, the inspector at Meineke, failed Ms. B**** s 1996 Subaru Outback for the following: Brakes, Other Lights, Steering, Suspension, Exhaust System and Windshield Wipers.

Ms. B**** declined repairs and subsequently had her car inspected by another station for a second opinion. According to Ms. B****, the inspector at Tallies Auto Service in Tappahannock, Virginia, told her that her car had no major problems and would have passed inspection with only new windshield wipers and a couple of bulbs.

       However, Randall Davis a safety inspector from Tallies Auto Service contacted Virginia State Trooper M. E. Dunaway and confirmed that the items the vehicle failed for were in fact valid and arranged for Trooper Dunaway to inspect the vehicle himself.

Trooper Dunaway also inspected the car and concluded that Meineke s inspection was performed correctly and that the car should have been rejected for the defective items. A copy of the official "INSPECTION STATION COMPLAINT/REPORT" filed by Trooper Dunaway is attached for reference.