Colorado Auto Fast Emergency Auto Fast, 'Tony', Garces, Marco Fernandez Shady operators, don't pay contractors, employment scammers Wheat Ridge, Colorado

This is not a good company to contract with, in my opinion and experience. They seem to regularly have insufficient funds to cover paychecks, say "the check is in the mail" when it isn't and play a lot of games; like not answering your calls, not giving you work if you confront them about being two paychecks behind (or bouncing checks), saying the mail was returned as 'person not living here', etc.

You would do better, in my opinion, to work for the competition, or just throw your money on the ground and burn it (if you work for them).

And by the way, they are filed as a dba and a Corp., with Emergency Auto Fast as their parent company, however, they are not properly registered with the Secretary of State office and demand you be on call for nearly 24 hours (gross violation of DOT laws). The 'owner' doesn't even give his real name (my wife had to do some intensive internet searching to find out who he really was and where the business is located... the checks are written from a different company - located at an apartment- and address). Nowhere did they indicate that they are a corporation (until I threatened to sue for the $205 they owe me), and they fail to give you a copy of the contract they make you sign - which they flagrantly violate themselves and don't provide you a copy of.

We apparently aren't the only ones he has done this to. Be warned. I thought the warning I saw on craigslist.com about them was just sour grapes. I found out the hard way that it wasn't - it was 100% true. The ad ran about them, Posting ID: 3492526724, Posted: 2012-12-20, 6:18PM MST, is below:

{ATTN: COLORADO AUTOFAST BIG RIPOFF (Metro)
Do not apply with colorado auto fast - paychecks bounce, pay is very sketchy and owners are idiots.
please be warned this is a VERY shady operation.}

When I told the guy I suspect is the owner, Marcus Fernandez (who told me his name is Tony, but gives me checks signed by an indistinguishable name with 'Garces' written right after it), the amount he owed me, he called me a liar. When I explained that I had copies of all the invoices for the work I completed he accused me of trying to steal "sensitive" information.

I sent him a letter of demand for payment, listing all invoices numbers, their purchase order numbers, the amount owed for each and the amount owed total. My wife did a tremendous amount of searching and found as many public records as she could find and we sent the demand to all addresses listed, as well as in email form to the addies listed on their own website. The letter stated that when he pays me what he owes me, I will return any equipment and property that belongs to him. It also stated that, "Because of your history of bouncing checks (or not sending them at all), monies are due in certified funds or by meeting {me} at {his bank} and having the Teller verify funds for any check in the full amount due and owing, $205.00, or by delivering the amount due in cash with a receipt for funds received. Once funds have cleared for the outstanding amount, all equipment and property will be returned to Colorado Auto Fast." I indicated that, " Additionally, recovery of monies due will be sought from the original contracting party, whether {insurance company}, {towing company} or {motor club}," if he didn't pay the amount owed by January 24, 2013.

I received a response from him on January 23, 2012 saying I was "being fired for cause and that your contract as contractor with the company is terminated effective January 17, 2012 (sic)." (Which I found humorous as I had told him I couldn't work for him if he couldn't pay me - and he was two paychecks behind at that point - on January 13, 2013.) It went on to state, "We have been forced to take this action due to your violation of the company policies on GENERAL POLICIES art 7, art 20, COMPANY POLICY ON CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES, ILLEGAL ALCOHOL USE, AND DISHONESTY, art 5, GENERAL INFORMATION art Paperwork, bridge (sic) of contract for demands of cash payment on incorrect amount, for making copies of sensitive records of company paper work (sic), miss conduct (sic) with company dispatcher and company supervisor, also you refused to answer several service calls from 15:36pm on Jan 12 to Jan 16 (sic)." (All grammatical errors and omissions are exactly as typed in the letter) All of which was inaccurate and straight out lies. Suddenly I'm dishonest because he can't pay me? Misconduct because I stated flat out that I couldn't continue to spend what little money I had for weeks at a time without any kind of payment?

He had already sent me two payments (checks) through the mail to my correct address, so I know they had the correct address. Suddenly, however,  they, "also we get back the mail that we send to you twice." And, "the address that we have on file was {incorrect address}, after review you file the address has been corrected, you never give opportunity of explanation to the company supervisor." (All grammatical errors and omissions are exactly as typed in the letter)

So where are these mysteriously misaddressed and returned letters (envelopes please)? He refuses to produce them. In addition, they, "have been force (sic) to fully charge you for the entire company equipment unless you return the equipment on (sic) the next 10 business days from the date of this letter to the following address by mail Colorado Auto Fast  P.O. Box 2142  Wheat Ridge CO 80034 If you refuse to return the equipment the following charges will apply to you and the commission will be hold (sic) for the value of the equipment and you will pay any money owe (sic) to the company, decals will be deducted because cannot be use it after or before equipment return." (All grammatical errors and omissions are exactly as typed in the letter)

The letter then lists outrageous prices for heavily used equipment in addition to a mysterious "Recovery Fee" of "$50.00 plus 4 miles ($4.00 per mile)  $66.00", totaling $431.97. He states what he owes me as $160.00 (which I can prove as incorrect through the company invoices with originating purchase order numbers). So now, according to him, I owe the company $271.97.

The letter ends with the following threats, "... if payment is not made we will send this account to collections. Also we demand that you stop making commends (sic) or false stayment (sic) and using the company logos and stop impersonating as representative (sic) of the company immediately. If you don't stop you will be responsible for paying compensation for damages, loses to the company and attorney fees." (All grammatical errors and omissions are exactly as typed in the letter)

I think he is addressing me going straight to the originating companies for payment of the money owed for specific services rendered by me on their behalf through this guy. At least, I hope that is what it is because there is no way that I could be mistaken as masquerading as him or as being from his company in any official capacity. I absolutely do not want my name associated with him or the company - they are, in my opinion, incompetent fools and crooks. Although, now that I think about it, he could be referring to my statement in my demand letter that reads, "Concurrently, a formal complaint will be lodged with the P.U.C., D.O.T, Colorado Department of State, and any/all businesses that contract with Emergency Auto Fast dba Colorado Auto Fast." And I was serious. His response letter clearly indicates that he has no intention of paying what is owed to me, so I have sent out the letters/emails asking for payment directly from the companies that contracted the work to be done on their behalf (They will actually go out in the mail first thing in the morning - the emails were sent tonight however.) The formal complaint letters to the state agencies and stated companies are being written after I complete this accounting so that they can also be sent out in the morning.

I am tired of people/companies like this thinking it is okay to screw over the little guy. I work hard, do what I'm asked, try not to make waves and do the best job possible. What does that get me? No payment for work completed and some clown making flat out lies in order to get out of paying me. I got a clue about the money situation when he kept changing his story from, the check was in the mail to he was getting ready to mail it. He apparently can't pay the people he hires for this position. Maybe most guys might just write it off as a lesson not to do business with people through craigslist.com, but this really hurts me where it counts - my ability (or inability when I'm not paid) to pay my own bills; to provide for my family.

It's so outrageous it's hard for me to believe or take seriously, but it's reality. Maybe they can get away with this kind of garbage in their home country, but it shouldn't be permissible here in the US, where we have laws and regulations specifically for this reason. You can't just arbitrarily decide not to pay someone because you evidently don't have the money and then make up lies to back it up. That's why contractors keep copies of invoices they submit; so they get paid for the work that they do. All the work, not just the work a company feels like paying them for.

It is my opinion and experience that this company, and its representatives/owner, are dishonest scammers looking to make a quick buck off the backs of people trying to earn a living in the current economic climate. Stay away, stay FAR away from these shysters.

The other thing that strikes me is that as a customer, you don't know if the guy showing up in your hour of need is mad at the owner and willing to take it out on you. It's a dangerous place to be when you are in such a vulnerable position. And in the end, everybody loses and the unsuspecting companies who contract with this company end up looking bad through association.