Took car to have a paint/body repair estimate done for my insurance company's need of ""supplemental estimate"". Car sat outside with windows down, exposed to excessive rain and snow, as are several other expensive customer cars, for several weeks. I have pictures for proof. Had to call and email shop owner daily, and he either dodged my calls, or lied stating ""I'm just about to get to it"". Finally I had to drive across town just to see my car, and get some answers. Still had not done anything aside from pushing the car in the shop to make it appear like there had been progress.
Owner could not offer me any information (other than that clearly obvious) as to what he allegedly discovered to be wrong, and he seemed surprised at a few things here and there, especially my inquiries for him. Owner asked what future plans were for the car, I said I wanted to eventually restore it, and later on I’d completely repaint it, but at this time I just wanted it back on the road. Owner stated he understood, and would provide me an estimate for repairs, and also provide an estimate for other services he suggested, but would do no further work.
Owner then began to mention my insurance co said they'd cover up to $7000 in damages to the car (at this time they had only authorized approx. $5500), and he said he could try and get them for more money. I told him I was a law enforcement officer, and wanted no part in illegal insurance scams. Owner seemed upset, but did not argue.
After I left that night it took several more days to hear back on my car. No written estimate had ever been done. Finally decided to just tow my car elsewhere, yet owner billed me $105 to ""push car in shop, and visually look at damage"". Owner then began to tell my insurance company fabricated stories about how he was authorized to fully paint the car, which was not authorized by me. I have then, and am still in regular contact w my insurance agent, so he knew shop owner had been lying. I finally paid the bill, and had my car towed out.
Was later advised by tow driver that gas tank appeared to be hanging loosely from car, and that the top part of the gas tank was left exposed to the rain and snow. Driver also informed me that my car's driver door would not open from inside, or outside, and my windows had again been left down while car was yet again exposed to bad weather, and to possible thefts.
My car was given to shop owner’s care with the gas tank fully intact, and nothing exposed to the elements. Both of the doors worked just fine, and the windows worked fine as well (and still do), so there was no need for the car to be left carelessly exposed to harm. When I tried to ask for a breakdown of the charges the owner was trying to justify on my car, he had no significant response, except that:
""I personally reviewed the Insurance Repair Estimate.
4 Employee’s pushed your Vehicle into the Shop and onto a Lift.
With the Vehicle on the Lift, myself and one employee reviewed the Insurance Estimate.
We removed the Fuel Door & Fuel Sender Bolts to view inside the Fuel Tank.
We could not find any additional Damage that was not on the Estimate.
We then met with you and reviewed the Vehicle.
We Pushed the Vehicle outside for the Tow Truck.""
Owner has shown his intent to be vindictive, and cause further damage to customer cars when they do not want his service. I have also spoken with several other corvette owners complaining of similar attempts at insurance fraud, overcharging for services where they used poor quality parts to attempt to fix cars, and even additional new damage caused by shop, and not repaired.
Public should know about poor work ethics (esp. when charging for estimates never given), dishonest and deceptive tactics, general lack of care for customers cars (drive by any time of day, or night and there are at least 5+ expensive cars just sitting outside), and retaliatory damages to vehicle caused by shop.
Private attorney has already been contacted, and is generating estimate of damages caused by shop/owner, and media has been contacted.
Corvette Connection Reviews
Took car to have a paint/body repair estimate done for my insurance company's need of ""supplemental estimate"". Car sat outside with windows down, exposed to excessive rain and snow, as are several other expensive customer cars, for several weeks. I have pictures for proof. Had to call and email shop owner daily, and he either dodged my calls, or lied stating ""I'm just about to get to it"". Finally I had to drive across town just to see my car, and get some answers. Still had not done anything aside from pushing the car in the shop to make it appear like there had been progress.
Owner could not offer me any information (other than that clearly obvious) as to what he allegedly discovered to be wrong, and he seemed surprised at a few things here and there, especially my inquiries for him. Owner asked what future plans were for the car, I said I wanted to eventually restore it, and later on I’d completely repaint it, but at this time I just wanted it back on the road. Owner stated he understood, and would provide me an estimate for repairs, and also provide an estimate for other services he suggested, but would do no further work.
Owner then began to mention my insurance co said they'd cover up to $7000 in damages to the car (at this time they had only authorized approx. $5500), and he said he could try and get them for more money. I told him I was a law enforcement officer, and wanted no part in illegal insurance scams. Owner seemed upset, but did not argue.
After I left that night it took several more days to hear back on my car. No written estimate had ever been done. Finally decided to just tow my car elsewhere, yet owner billed me $105 to ""push car in shop, and visually look at damage"". Owner then began to tell my insurance company fabricated stories about how he was authorized to fully paint the car, which was not authorized by me. I have then, and am still in regular contact w my insurance agent, so he knew shop owner had been lying. I finally paid the bill, and had my car towed out.
Was later advised by tow driver that gas tank appeared to be hanging loosely from car, and that the top part of the gas tank was left exposed to the rain and snow. Driver also informed me that my car's driver door would not open from inside, or outside, and my windows had again been left down while car was yet again exposed to bad weather, and to possible thefts.
My car was given to shop owner’s care with the gas tank fully intact, and nothing exposed to the elements. Both of the doors worked just fine, and the windows worked fine as well (and still do), so there was no need for the car to be left carelessly exposed to harm. When I tried to ask for a breakdown of the charges the owner was trying to justify on my car, he had no significant response, except that:
""I personally reviewed the Insurance Repair Estimate.
4 Employee’s pushed your Vehicle into the Shop and onto a Lift.
With the Vehicle on the Lift, myself and one employee reviewed the Insurance Estimate.
We removed the Fuel Door & Fuel Sender Bolts to view inside the Fuel Tank.
We could not find any additional Damage that was not on the Estimate.
We then met with you and reviewed the Vehicle.
We Pushed the Vehicle outside for the Tow Truck.""
Owner has shown his intent to be vindictive, and cause further damage to customer cars when they do not want his service. I have also spoken with several other corvette owners complaining of similar attempts at insurance fraud, overcharging for services where they used poor quality parts to attempt to fix cars, and even additional new damage caused by shop, and not repaired.
Public should know about poor work ethics (esp. when charging for estimates never given), dishonest and deceptive tactics, general lack of care for customers cars (drive by any time of day, or night and there are at least 5+ expensive cars just sitting outside), and retaliatory damages to vehicle caused by shop.
Private attorney has already been contacted, and is generating estimate of damages caused by shop/owner, and media has been contacted.