31st Avenue Service Center Inc.

Dear [redacted], I am responding to complaint ID [redacted] made on [redacted]. On Friday, March **, 2016 [redacted] came to the above stated shop and dropped off the keys to his 2008 Audi A4 with Louie stating that his...

car would not turn on and if they could diagnose and fix the car. As a first rule of thumb Louie charged the battery, when the car still wouldn’t start a diagnosis was done and was realized the starter wasn’t good. Louie spoke with [redacted] explained the problem and [redacted] agreed for 31st Avenue Service Station to fix his car. After changing the starter the car started so the following step Louie took was to check the charging system alternator since the battery had died and make sure it was ok. Louie turned the car on and off about four to five times as a final check. Since everything was running fine, the car was parked across the street waiting for [redacted] to come pay the bill and pick up his keys. [redacted] came to pick up his car which was ready later that same day and NOT left over the weekend to be repaired as [redacted] states in his complaint. Louie handed the keys to [redacted] and asked him to please print his name and address on the top of the receipt and that he would filled out the remainder. The content of the receipt provided to him states but is not limited to what was done to the vehicle, the cost, Paid in Full, and dated 03-**-16. A copy of that receipt can be submitted upon request if [redacted] has not already done so. On Saturday Morning the next day the car was not there which means the client drove off with the car. Saturday the shop closed at 2:00pm and reopened again on Monday morning 7:00am. [redacted] went to Louie’s partner Jimmy since Louie is off on Mondays and said the car caught on fire Sunday midnight and that he had the car towed back to his house. When Louie went back to work on Tuesday morning he went to see what had happened. After viewing the damage Louie noticed that the car was burnt on the passenger side engine area. Everything that was above the turbo was damaged due to the fire but not the turbo unit or anything below it. The items Louie observed that were burnt which were above the turbo unit, included ignition coils, gas lines, air filter, and everything else located above the turbo. The starter which is located under the turbo and the turbo unit had no damage to it. After [redacted] expressed his feelings, Louie tried to explain to him that he was not at fault. Louie told him I have been at this location for 31 years, and you are my neighbor why would I want to do something like that to you or anyone else. I have been a mechanic for many years my knowledge of cars and reputation is what keeps me in business. Louie proceeded to explained and showed him why the starter or the installation of the starter did not cause the fire. Louie told him if I was at fault for the fire the car would have caught on fire when you turned on the ignition which uses the starter and not as you were driving it. Louie also explained to him that the starter was not damaged due to an overheat of the unit, and finally explained that the starter is sealed so flames cannot escape the unit. Louie told [redacted] he would call his insurance and he did. The insurance Utica First did an investigation and they said that the installation of the starter and the start solenoid was not responsible for the cause of the fire. Utica First Stated in the report that “[redacted]” A copy of the report can be submitted upon request. I have also come to learn after speaking with a representative from Utica First that they gave [redacted] a few options for a resolution on this matter one being for [redacted] to hire his own company to do an investigation and that Utica First would work with that company as a joint investigation. To my knowledge, at the time of me writing this response letter [redacted] has not taken any steps on pursuing that matter. Contrary to what [redacted] states in his complaint, (They are trying to take advantage of him knowing that he is a college student and think he doesn’t know better). It is understandable to feel frustration on the above matter especially since from my understanding [redacted] does not have Fire and Theft coverage. That is why Louie, the employees of 31st avenue Service Center Inc., and Utica First have tried to come up with a fair and reasonable resolution for [redacted], but holding Louie, and/or 31st Avenue Service Center Inc. liable for something they didn’t do wrong is just not fair, and unjust. Thank You for Your Time on This Matter Tina S[redacted]. [redacted]
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