STS Tire & Auto Centers - Anthony Pizzo (Manager) Held my car for ransom after changing the price, then stole the money from my account using my card number! Ripoff Mastic New York

I had 2 unfortunate encounters with this company. The first was when my car started making this ear-piercing screeching noise after I had a new engine put in. I brought the car to STS Tire & Auto Centers in Mastic and they informed me that the smog pump needed to be replaced, for which I paid them $160. Then 4 days later, the same thing happened and when I checked underneath the hood, I noticed that the smog pump had not, in fact, been replaced...it still looked as old as the rest of the engine. When I called STS, they sent a tow truck to my house and I had to leave the car with the overnight for them to 'replace' the smog pump. I didn't even get an apology.

The next time I dealt with them was when my car started smoking really bad one day. I parked it and had them tow it back to their shop, where they told me I needed a new transmission which would be $1600. From what I'm told that is a lot for a transmission on a 6 cylinder ford. Since they had the car already I told them to go ahead and fix it. Four days passed, then five...six...seven...without so much as a phone call. Finally after the 10th day I called them and they told me it was STILL not ready and that it wouldn't be ready for another few days. They also told me it was going to cost me $1800 instead of the original $1600 that they told me. I had to drive to Queens the next day so I explained that I needed the car and the manager offered to get me a rental car - but I had to pay for it. So not only was I without my car and taking the train back and forth to work (about $40 a day), but I had to pay $140 for a rental for one day. The grand total came out to $2,004.56 - unbelieveable.

Oh, it gets better...Mr. Piazzo was 'generous' enough to split the payment up so I could give him the $1600, then the rest at a later date. Since I got the car back, I mysteriously had to replace the alternator, voltage regulator, and battery - I went to a different mechanic who charged me $100. Since then, I went in and put $100 toward my balance. I was having a difficult time catching up since that total is more than I make in a month. The manager then took it upon himself to use my credit card number to charge my debit card three times in a day until he had drained my account...$100, then another $100, then $46.80.

I never signed anything saying he could just charge my card, I never authorized those payments. It has to be illegal, what he did. I had no idea he did that until I went on my lunch break at work and my card was declined. I had to leave work 4 hours early to rush to the shop before it closed. He then refused to give me my money back...I tossed a chair, knocked over a sign and a plant...then I called the police. Only then did he say he'd give me my money back - if I made a verbal agreement to come in on Monday and give him money.

I will never, EVER take my car there again...what horrible people. I'd have him arrested for fraud and theft if I could. Even the police officer told me that the reason they probably charged me that much in the first place is because I'm a woman.

Elleyna
Mastic, New York
U.S.A.