Pep Boys Did crappy work wheel falls off car, PepBoys says not their problem Ripoff Hicksville New York

This is what I submitted to the Better Business Bureau on February 16, 2006:

I brought my cousin's vehicle in for repair at Pep Boys on January 9, 2006. They replaced two ball joints, a track bar, and performed a four-wheel alignment. As my cousin was driving the vehicle on the morning of February 6, the front left wheel fell off. He lost control, but luckily did not hit anything or suffer any major injuries. We explained what had happened to the service manager (Kurt J. Fassrainer) at Pep Boys who said everything would be taken care of. He then later called to say it was not his problem and that he wasn't concerned with what we had to say. I then spoke with the area director (Sammy) who assured me everything would be taken care of. On February 15, my cousin spoke with Pep Boys customer service, who once again said it was not their problem. I feel that Pep Boys should repair all damage to the vehicle as a result of the wheel falling off. I don't know the extent of mechanical damage, but there is body damage from where the wheel got jammed back into the fender, as wheel as tire damage.

I also feel that Pep Boys should reimburse my cousin for the insurance coverage on the vehicle for the time that he has not been able to use it. Pep Boys has had the vehicle in their possession since February 6, 2006.

After filing this complaint, I spoke with a woman named Virginia at the PepBoys corporate office. She had me to send her an estimate for all the damage to the vehicle and told me she'd see what she could do. A couple weeks later, she called back and said although it may be their fault, it's one of those times where you just lose out. She told me someone had backed into her car in a parking lot and she was stuck paying for it, and that this was the same kind of situation. I asked her how she could tell me that she knew they were responsible for the damage but still do nothing about it. She said she was sorry, but again it's just one of those times when you lose out.

Everyone I delt with at PepBoys was nice in the beginning, but turned out to be unbelieveably unprofessional in the end. PepBoys has lost my business forever as well as the business of my friends and family. Next time I need a car fixed I will go to a real shop.

Christopher
N Massapequa, New York
U.S.A.