S&S Automotive - S&S Auto SINGLE-MOM PREDATORY TACTICS Cleveland, Ohio

HERE IS THE NEW COMPLAINT THAT HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC FOR CONSUMERS ON THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WEBSITE

Scott Smith of S&S Automotive (Wickliffe, OH) is beyond SHOWING BAD FAITH WITH CONSUMERS.  Scott Smith's activities border on CRIMINAL! After reading the excerpts of this complaint that has been filed, I noticed a familiar theme. 

S&S Automotive strips parts off their customer's cars.  Remember they stripped my car of its entire FUEL SYSTEM so it comes as no surprise when you read the excerpts from the complaint filed on 1/4/2010 below:

COMPLAINT #602773

 Consumer: I WITHHELD THE NAME FOR CONSUMER PRIVACY

 Purchase Date 1/01/2009 [I purchased a car on 3/27/2009] Total Price $1,357.00 "...Consumer brought this vehicle into supplier [S&S Automotive] about 1 1/2 years ago...Supplier said they wouldn't charge him any storage fees...supplier has been promising they'd return the car for months, but now they're saying it needs more work...on 1/15/10-he went to look at the car yesterday and saw it was still not done and they have been pulling parts off of it. He wants the car back together...consumer requests supplier release his car and refund his money."

brackets mine

I went back to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office website to check the status of my complaint; to see if the website had been updated and found another complaint against Scott Smith dba S&S Automotive.  This brings the talley up to 6 complaints total of which 5 complaint statuses are on state level.

The new complaint has been filed as of 1/4/2010 so my intention of proving Mr. Scott (dba S&S Automotive) as having a history of derailing consumers is proving to be very TRUE.

I also found some interesting CIVIL COURT CASES (WILLOUGHBY, OHIO-LAKE COUNTY) REGARDING Mr. Scott of S&S AUTOMOTIVE. A few of these civil cases show that Mr. Scott also has some serious trouble with paying his bills.  Defrauding creditors and consumers seems to be the order of the day for Mr. Scott Smith. But back to the facts.

By Mrs. Scott's wife, Joan Smith's own admission in a letter dated to the Ohio Attorney General, she revealed the gas tank had been removed by Mr. Scott's employee and placed into the trunk of the car.  My question at this point is:  Why hadn't the gas tank been placed back onto the car once I told Mr. Scott that I could not have the car repaired?  My next question is:  Why did Mr. Scott and his "porter" (as Mrs. Joan Smith so eloquently put it) remove the gas tank, fuel pump and other pertinent components of the car; then Mr. Scott NOT DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION AT THE TIME OF THE PICKUP? 

Next question:  Why was this information only disclosed to the mechanic after a phone call was placed to S&S Autmotive and not before?

Next question:  Why was this "admission" only revealed after a letter was received from the Ohio Attorney General's office? (but not disclosed or "admitted" when responding to a letter received from the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU)

Here is an update from RICHARD CORDRAY OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE

REF:  COMPLAINT NO. 591710

LETTER DATED 1/21/2010:

"Dear (my name here):

I have been corresponding with the above-named [S&S Automotive Center] supplier requesting a response to the allegations made in your complaint.  As you can tell from the enclosed letter, the supplier is not willing to offer an adjustment.  I am unable to take further action to resolve your complaint through our dispute resolution program. 

Dispute resolution is a process designed to assist both parties to a dispute in reaching a mutually satisfactory resolution.  It involves compromise, and when a supplier is unwilling to compromise, our program doesn't work...Limitations of law, staff and time prevent us from taking further action in every unresolved complaint.

A variety of civil remedies may be available to you should you decide to pursue this matter....although we cannot guarantee the business will participate.

I regret I cannot be of further assistance to yo in this matter...

Respectfully submitted,

RICHARD CORDRAY, Attorney General of Ohio, Mary Ann Patter; Consumer Proctection Specialist; Consumer Protection Section "  [located in Columbus, Ohio]

brackets mine

I have reviewed some of the Ohio Attorney Office complaints received regarding S&S Automotive.  In each case, S&S Automotive has REFUSED to make good on ANY OF THE COMPLAINTS that have been filed! 

Most of the complaints have that FAMILIAR RING TO THEM.   For example A gentleman from Cleveland, Ohio (will remain nameless due to his right to privacy) purchased a vehicle from S&S Automotive AFTER I FILED MY COMPLAINT with the BBB (www.bbb.org) unbeknownst to myself.  The total purchase price was $2,500 (will not name the make and model of the car due to complaintant's right to privacy). This gentleman then proceeded to drive the car.

ONCE AGAIN THE COMPLAINTANT'S CAR MALFUNCTIONED and the complaintant finds that this car had a SALVAGED TITLE.  Now I researched this information and found out that a car with a salvaged title means the car had either been in a wreck or had flood damage.  This information MUST BE DISCLOSED to any buyer YET S&S AUTOMOTIVE (WICKLIFFE, OHIO) did not DISCLOSED SAID INFORMATION TO THE BUYER.

This shows that S&S Automotive CONTINUES TO DEFRAUD AND DERAIL BUYERS!

S&S Automotive and their owner Scott Smith has a REPUTATION for not MAKING GOOD WITH COMPLAINTS AS MY COMPLAINT IS STILL PENDING THEIR COMMENTS ACCORDING TO THE OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

This is all I have and I will continue to find out MORE as new developments occur.

Thanks for responding to my rip-off report!

This is actually NOT THE CASE OF BUYER BEWARE.  In fact this car was a great running car.  This dispute is not over BUYING the car.  The dispute is over REPAIRING the car.  I bought the car back on March 27, 2009.

The car was "down" on Apr. 23, 2009.  I was told the car would be repaired and running the next day.  When I called to pick up the car, the date was pushed back over and over until I stated I wanted my money back.  The owner insisted he'd fixed the car as soon as the part came in.  The part came a week later, now the story changed to part + $300 labor.  I wanted to pay for the $110 part but I refused to pay the $300 labor. After owning the car for only three weeks.  

I filed my first complaint against the owner in May 2009 because he refused to fix the car after he stated he would fix the car. Once the BBB (http://www.bbb.org) closed the case, he stated he would hold the car intil I could get it towed off the property. 

Once I called to inform the owner the car would be towed, he asked me one more time to fix the car.  I stated that no I already found someone else to fix the car.

It was during this last phone conversation that the owner stated, "oh ok." Next thing I know the car was gutted out and stripped of its entire FUEL SYSTEM AND BATTERY, BATTERY CABLES, and other stuff.  These systems have  nothing to do with a back tire.  So the owner needs to come up with a better story than, "check the trunk, the gas tank may be in there."

So no this is not an issue of 'LET THE BUYER BEWARE'.

I want you to check out the damage this owner did to my car while in his custody.  It's also on this report.

I am so glad you had a chance to read my report.  Your comment is greatly appreciated.

I feel for your situation I really do, after 911 we lost everything now we are being laid off again both my wife and I but I would never think a 15 year old car would come with a lifetime warranty and never break.

I think they call it caveat emptor(buyer beware) since you got an armchair attorney manual

I have the total damages tallied up for the damage to my car while in the custody of Scott Smith of S&S Automotive.

Most of the damage to my car ocurred when the gas tank and fuel pump were "stripped" from the car.  However Scott Smith disclosed to the BBB (http://bbb.org) back in August (2009) that the only damage that my car sustained was a  roken "arm" that would cost me $110. (Documented with the BBB) PLUS labor for a total of $325 (He told me it would cost $400).

In my initial report, I stated that the car was destroyed and made totally NOPERABLE.  Here are the details of the damage and what it cost to get the car back running again:

1 [illegible] module $65

1 battery $50

1 interlink arm $80 (Scott Smith quoted $110) 

1 fuel tank (used) $90

1 fuel pump $130

1 pump "can't read" $9.50

1 box of fuel wires:  $10 

TOTAL PARTS:  $434.50

TOW FROM SCOTT SMITH'S GARAGE TO THE MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED MY

CAR'S GARAGE:  $150

Labor:  $350

Accessories:  $20 (fuel)

TOTAL COST $954.58

TAX:  $76.36

TOTAL LOSS:  $1,030.86

Here'ss what the mechanic had to say about what he witnessed when the

car initially arrived at his shop:

ANALYSIS DATED 12/11/09:

"Car arrived with fuel tank missing, battery gone, "ISP"(?) [illegible] Module, + [illegible] fuses all gone.  Had no fuel pump; fule tank wires were also cut off."

I remember how upset the mechanic was when he called to inform me of the damage done to the car. In fact he was so upset that it was HE who stated I should seek legal recourse! 

He has also taken many photos of the damage.  I sent my email address to him today (12/23/09).  I should have some photos of the damage soon.

Now how could Scott Smith NOT FILE A DAMAGE REPORT with the Wickliffe, Ohio police department.  If vandalism occurred at his shop, it appears he was not worried enough to contact the police.  He didn't even contact me to notify me of such horrific damage done to my car.  In fact when the mechanic contacted Scott about the damage, Scott Smith emphatically replied, "check the trunk, maybe the fuel tank is inside there."  The mechanic stated that he felt as if this was an "insult to his intelligence" especially considering he is a professional and knows when "foul play" has occurred.

Ok. This is the latest update to my report.  I am not ANGRY. I am more disappointed in how this whole situation has ESCALATED when not at all necessary.

At this time I am seeking $950 + $172 (Rainbow Muffler + lifetime warranty) + $34.00 (compensation due me for the two weeks I had to catch the bus while Scott Smith played mind games with me and the BBB)+ $1030.86 (to make the car operable again) to get the justice I seek.

If I incur legal fees for legal consultation, THAT WILL BE EVEN MORE MONEY Scott Smith will owe me!  So far this is not the case.I have MORE THAN ENOUGH INFORMATION FROM THE RIP OFF REVENGE BOOK I PURCHASED LAST WEEK.

There are now a total of 5 registered complaints against S&S Automotive out in Wickliffe, Ohio.  They can be found at http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov

Complaint #241802 filed 10/7/2003

Complaint #314767 filed 8/7/2006

Complaint # 591710 (MINES!) filed 12/9/2009 PENDING

Complaint # 594560 (NEW COMPLAINT!) filed 12/14/2009 PENDING

I bought Ed's RIPOFF REVENGE (ret. $21.95) and I am learning to gather

pertinent information regarding my personal complaint against Scott Smith

the Owner.

I find the latest complaint particularly interesting because they are also

disputing a "used vehicle sale".   The PROBLEM AREA of the report is stating there is a dispute over the issuance of a title for the car.  So I'm trying to get more information as I type my updated report.

My complaint is unique in which the owner chose to show "bad faith" in two

areas:  (1) "failure to deliver" and also (2)"failure to disclose damage" done to my car while left in his custody.

So far the RipOff Revenge manual is well worth its weight in gold because I am only BEGINNING to understand how to obtain the justice I seek for being not only RIPPED OFF, but also how the Owner just brushed my complaint (even after BBB agreed to arbritrate on our behalf) aside like a finished bag of chips.

If there are more complaints out there against S&S Automotive (Wickliffe, OHIO) please come forward.  There is so much power and strength in NUMBERS.

Thank you!

Thanks for finding me report and commenting on it. I didn't think ANYBODY would see my report considering how fast the report got moved past the first 15 pages of the website. 

I want to say that I got MORE THAN what I paid for!  That's the thing about it.  For $950 the car was QUIET, good on GAS!   I found a really good deal!  The problem didn't start with the repair the problem started AFTER I STATED I WOULD HAVE SOMEONE ELSE FIX THE CAR. 

If the car was truly vandalized like Scott claimed, why hadn't he notified me?  I had my phone number and my cell phone number.  He didn't file any claims with the Wickliffe, Ohio police NOTHING.  In fact when the mechanic came to pick up to car, Scott acted as if he didn't even know he still had the car (according to the mechanic), Next Scott claimed he lost the car keys to the car.  I finally called Scott to see what what going on and he only asked if he could repair the car.  This was 2 weeks ago.

He could have stated something had happened to the car when he talked to my mechanic and also when I contacted him personally 2 weeks. Nope! Instead, He only asked to repair the car.  When I refused, Scott only stated. "oh ok. Alright then." Then the mechanic called me to state that the car had been picked up.

When the mechanic started to work on the car, the car didn't stop so the mechanic put it on the lift.  This is when he noticed the gas tank was missing.  He called Scott who told him to "check the trunk of the car"  When the mechanic called Scott to state that the gas tank was NOT IN THE TRUNK, Scott then stated that the car must have been vandalized.

Next the mechanic discovered harness wires and other wires had been cut.

No this is definitely FOUL PLAY.  THAT CAR WAS HEAVEN SENT.

I just don't understand why a man would risk his otherwise GREAT REPUTATION AND GOOD NAME OVER A $950 1994 Regal.

I have a couple of questions as well. How many miles were on this car? The car is very old and the "arms" your speaking about, are they control arms? The cost for the part was $110, and the labor was the rest? How many hours of labor to install?

Taking into consideration it is a a $950 car the old cliche comes to mind, "You get what you pay for". Now don't get me wrong, I do not mean to insult you in any way. I can empathize on your situation for certain. I am trying to understand how "Scott" was to repair the car as a condition of your purchase? Or where you intending to return the car for a full refund? Do you think that perhaps the car was sold to you knowing it was possibly dangerous? Anything can break at anytime, especially on a used car. Was a carfax pulled on the car before purchase?

I feel for you my dear, I do. Being a single mom, looking for work in this area is beyond rough. I admire your perserverance, and respect the steps you took to ensure you were't making a mistake in buying the car.

You actually did everything right, except maybe have another unbiased, third party mechanic look over the car, which costs just a couple of bucks.

I did have my car repaired at S&S few years back, a simple repair. A thermostat I think it was, and water pump. They actually forgot to put the internal parts of the therostat back in and almost screwed up the car worse than it was. I agree the establishment isn't the most reputable.

But perhaps your "demands" (for lack of better word) where a little much. Scott, if the man had a soul, would of offered to repair the car, and let you pay over time as your situation bettered. He should of made it right.

Now at the end of the story we hear the car is totally disabled? What happened, what was wrong with it. Who did it? Was a police report filed?

From one mom to a next, I apologize for your troubles. and wish you the very best of luck. All car dealers aren't bad folks..really we are not. We are hard working, stressed out parents just like you.

Good luck my friend~

This whole situation with S&S Automotive is so bizarre. I know I cannot be the ONLY PERSON that has been scammed by Scott Smith. There must be other victims particularly single-moms out there because of the way Scott chose to destroy an otherwise car that was in EXCELLENT CONDITION for a 1994 car!

Scott denies all liability for a car left in his custody. He volunteered to keep the car in his custody because he knew I didn't have a job to get the car repaired. However as soon as I did find somebody to pick the car up, Scott asked to repair the car again.

I refused. next thing I know my mechanic stated the car was gutted out.  The Gas tank had been removed and wires were cut from under the hood.  The mechanic of my choice is taking pictures of the damage to the car.

If the car had truly been vandalized like Scott claims, why hadn't I been notified?  Why did Scott fail to file a damage report with Wickliffe (OHIO) City police?  Why didn't he disclose this information to my mechanic at the time of the pickup? 

There are so many questions that are left unanswered, but the car is totally disabled. 

How could a car that only needed a back tire rod fixed suddenly be gutted out and disabled?  Shame on you Scott. Shame on you.