David Giuffrida, Go-Green Automotive is a SCAM ARTIST / FRAUDSTER Internet

Farmingdale State College is severing ties with a  hybrid-auto service training firm amid complaints that the company failed to  deliver promised services.

The company, Ronkonkoma-based Go Green Automotive Centers, signed a two-year contract with  the school in 2011 to provide online courses on fixing hybrid vehicles for auto  repair shop owners, some of whom paid as much as $10,000 to participate in the  company’s certification program.

But Farmingdale is ending the program following what officials said were  concerns about Go Green’s operations. The school plans to offer similar training  without a partner, according to Patrick Calabria, Farmingdale State’s vice  president of institutional advancement.

Calabria declined to elaborate on the school’s concerns with Go Green’s  operations.

Go Green President David Giuffrida said the company’s contract with  Farmingdale State extends until September and that he wasn’t aware that the  school wanted out. He said the company was organizing a course for the coming  semester.

Giuffrida said Go Green’s 32-hour “comprehensive course” has been given to 60  repair shops in 15 states, although most of them are on Long Island.

LIBN contacted  nine Long Island service station owners who signed on with Go Green in the past  year or so. Eight said they did not get what they were promised from the  training program, the cost of which has since been reduced from $10,000 to less  than $3,000. They said the package sold to them promised an online course in  hybrid technology, hands-on training and marketing support, as well as parts and  products needed to maintain hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles.

So far, only the online course, which the station owners described as more of  an overview than in-depth instruction, and a few referrals, been delivered.

Go Green’s marketing materials also promise service station owners customer  referrals from the company’s website. Just one firm contacted by LIBN said they  have been sent business as a result of their contract with Go Green.

John Grasselino, owner of Islip Auto and Truck Repair in Islip Terrace, said  he “would like to see more for what we spent” from Go Green, but he did get “six  or seven jobs” through its referrals.

“I enjoyed the online training, mostly because it came from an accredited  university,” Grasselino said.

Auto repair shop owner Tim Luxmore said he paid $8,000 last year to become  certified by Go Green in hybrid vehicle technology. Luxmore, who owns  Baldwin-based G&S Automotive Services, said the online course was little  more than an introduction to hybrid technology, and the hands-on training or  customer referrals never materialized.

“I haven’t gotten one lead yet,” Luxmore said.

Brian O’Connor, who owns Brian’s Auto Service in Coram, said he received “no  real training” for the $3,500 he spent with the company.

“I was under the impression they would teach us how to fix hybrids and  generate business,” O’Connor said. “I’ve been with them for a year and gotten  nothing back.”

Another service center owner, Augie Palladino of Augie’s Auto in Smithtown,  said he paid $5,000 to Go Green more than a year ago and is still waiting for  promised tools and safety equipment from the company.

Giuffrida said the shops that are delinquent on payments don’t receive  referrals but others that are current do. He said Go Green’s promised hands-on  workshop will be held at the Career Institute in Westbury, likely “in the  spring.”

“We’ve lived up to signed agreements,” Giuffrida said in defending the firm’s  operations. “We’re doing the right thing.”

A previous Giuffrida-run enterprise, a Bohemia-based company called Unicom  Worldwide, faced similar complaints from customers who paid up to $15,000 for  kiosk-sized business centers designed for hotel lobbies, but never received the  merchandise.

Giuffrida was arrested in June 2000 and pleaded guilty to third-degree grand  larceny, a felony. He was sentenced to five years probation in 2003.

Calabria, the Farmingdale State vice president, said the school was not aware  of Giuffrida’s criminal record when it agreed to partner on the hybrid  training.

Undaunted by the split with Farmingdale, Giuffrida said Go Green would find a  new university partner to handle its online course and that his firm was  developing more advanced training for its auto repair shop participants.

“This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon,” Giuffrida said. “They’re going to be  very happy with the end result.”

Read more:(((link redacted)))