TOYOTA OF DALLAS TEXAS - SERVICE DEPARTMENT DECEPTIVE PRACTICES

SERVICE DEPARTMENT DECEPTIVE PRACTICES

On January 14, 2000, I contacted Toyota of Dallas (aka: Mr Toyota) 2610 Forest Lane, Dallas, Tx 75234 service department for an estimate to repair my passenger side front window. The window had suddenly stopped working and could not remain in the up position. The glass would slide down and since it is winter and potentially rainy, it could not go unrepaired.

I spoke to Lee in the service department and given an estimate of $210.00 for the regulator and motor and as he said, "worse case senerio, $249.00. (I also checked a couple of other places and was given approximately the same cost.)

On January 15, 2000, I took my car in at 9:00am, spoke the Simon Gutierrez (the service writer) and he told me the cost would be approximately $2l0.00. Their policy is that if you have $249.00 in repairs you get a free rental car.

Since my quote was not quite that amount, I authorized an oil change and ask them to charge me for an air filter, but not to put it on.

To bottom line this story, Simon contacted me at 3:53pm and told me that both the regulator and the motor would be required and the approximate cost would be $500.00. I was appalled and said that he was trying to RIP me off. Then he said that maybe he could give me approximately 15% off since I was upset, but he would have to check with his manager.

I returned to the dealership and had to pay $28.00 for the rental, since I bill was less that $249.00 and paid my bill for the oil change.

On January 18, 2000, I took my car to another auto repair shop and they replaced the only the regulator and even gave me the old part with an explanation of what was actually broken. The bill was $191.13.

To add insult to injury to this tale, I left a case of canned cat food on the back seat of the rental car. I contacted Todd in the rental department and he laughed as said, "That's the same brand of food my cat eats." He told me that the car was already rented out again and would contact me when it came
back. I haven't heard from either Todd or Dave the service manager, who said he would contact me regarding the cat food.

If it walks like a thief, and talks like a thief, it smells like a thief.....it's a thief!!!!!!

JERMINEWAY@aol.com