Cottman Transmissions ripoff, misrepresented billing and unsafe repairs New Port Ritchey Florida

In approximately April of 2004 I took my 2000 Durango in to this shop to have the transmission check out. They were very friendly and told me they would take care of me. I told them I had some concerns about the cost of service. I had just moved across the country.

Upon returning to the shop, they had pulled my transmission out of my vehicle and had told me they had done $400 dollars worth of work. I told him I was unaware that we were beyond the diagnostic phase of the visit. After this he pulled out the service order and said you signed here, that gives us the right to service your vehicle. He then told me that if I was unable to do the repair now, the minumum charge would be the original $400 + an additional $400 to put it back together. I then explained to him that there was a rule on the wall, #10 I believe that says if the repair is refused, there would be no additional charge. I got no where on this visit.

A couple of days passed, I returned to the shop. I explained to him that I felt this was a ridiculous charge, but I would pay the original $400, because I had signed the work order. After talking to the owner, he agreed to this.

Six months have passed. I am now able to get this repaired. I took it to a local shop that was recommended in the area. The local shop has now told me that the transmission was not assembled correctly. The parts Cottman had claimed were bad were not bad and there is some question as to whether this was the original pump. They said this pump was very much worn out and his quote was "2+2 just does not equal 4 with this thing." The pump wear did not match the tranny wear and there were bolts missing on the interior. Another quote from the local shop, "they must not have liked you very well."

This type of work has put my family in danger. This transmission had just a small amount of slipping, before this incident. After this it had all new symptoms.

Jeff
Palm Harbor, Florida
U.S.A.