Getzke Auto Repair

This customer dropped their *** *** SUV off and asked us to fix his traction control and four wheel driveAfter diagnosing the problem we found it needed a new wheel bearing hub assemblyin order to complete this job correctly other brake components needed to be replaced at the time due to
typical wear in the northern climates (rust, wear, corrosion, etc.) this customer was not charged for diagnostic timeThis customer worked out of town so obtaining a authorization signature in person was not possibleWe received authorization over the phone on 11/02/Parts for the job included: left rear wheel bearing, left rear brake rotor, rear brake pads, and parking brake shoesThe estimated amount for the work that needed to be done including labor was roughly $plus taxWe gave the customer the option of getting his own parts, however, being that he worked out of town he told us to get the job done, he needed the four wheel drive. On 11/04/we notified the customer his vehicle was done and gave him the final price of $which included NYS sales taxAt this time the customer expressed to issue with the bill and told us he would not be able to pick up his vehicle until later in the weekOn 11/10/the customer told us he was not sure if he would be able to pick up his vehicle for another weekThis type of communication continued for another weeksOn 12/01/the customer finally showed up and paid us only $of the $At this time he STILL did not communicate any issues with the bill. After he left he texted one of our mechanics expressing his disappointment in the price of the wheel bearing hub assemblyOur mechanic explained to him that he knew the price before the work was done and if he wasn't comfortable with the amount he should have told us before we completed the workThe customer replied "its ok too late now" We have documented proof of this text message. We attempted to contact this customer multiple times after this to collect the remaining balance of the billOccasionally, he would pick the phone and when we did get to speak with him we offered him the option of doing a payment plan if that would be easierThis customer told us he would be down to pick up his vehicle on 01/04/The customer never showedThe last time we had communication with the customer was 01/11/when our mechanic texted him inquiring about his intentions to pick up his vehicleThe customer once again stated he was out of town for work and would come to get it the following weekend when he returnedthe customer never showed up. After an entire month of calling the customer, leaving messages, and being hung up on we finally had our lawyer send him a letter on 02/05/explaining that if he did not pick up the vehicle in days we would exercise our right to a mechanics lien and seize the vehicle as paymentWe received no response from the customer in regards to this letter. On 02/10/a repossession company contacted us asking if the vehicle was on our propertyThe company had been looking for his vehicle since November and he was using our lot to hide it from the bankWe gave the repossession company our address and they paid the remaining balance on his bill and seized the vehicle for non-payment, no mechanics lien was filed. During the and 1/months of dealing with this customer we did not charge him interest, storage fees, or any penalty for leaving his vehicle on our property, unpaid, and without our consent. Our customers are our top priority and this is the first time we have ever experienced a situation like this after being in business for over yearsWe desperately tried to work with the customer by letting him take his time paying us and offering a payment plan. We regret that he did not have a positive experience at our garage and wish there was another option, however the vehicle is no longer our responsibility.

This customer dropped their [redacted] SUV off and asked us to fix his traction control and four wheel drive. After diagnosing the problem we found it needed a new wheel bearing hub assembly. in order to complete this job correctly other brake components needed to be replaced at the time due to...

typical wear in the northern climates (rust, wear, corrosion, etc.) this customer was not charged for diagnostic time. This customer worked out of town so obtaining a authorization signature in person was not possible. We received authorization over the phone on 11/02/2015. Parts for the job included: left rear wheel bearing, left rear brake rotor, rear brake pads, and parking brake shoes. The estimated amount for the work that needed to be done including labor was roughly $700 plus tax. We gave the customer the option of getting his own parts, however, being that he worked out of town he told us to get the job done, he needed the four wheel drive. On 11/04/2015 we notified the customer his vehicle was done and gave him the final price of $798.35 which included NYS sales tax. At this time the customer expressed to issue with the bill and told us he would not be able to pick up his vehicle until later in the week. On 11/10/2015 the customer told us he was not sure if he would be able to pick up his vehicle for another week. This type of communication continued for another 3 weeks. On 12/01/2015 the customer finally showed up and paid us only $200 of the $798.35. At this time he STILL did not communicate any issues with the bill. After he left he texted one of our mechanics expressing his disappointment in the price of the wheel bearing hub assembly. Our mechanic explained to him that he knew the price before the work was done and if he wasn't comfortable with the amount he should have told us before we completed the work. The customer replied "its ok too late now" We have documented proof of this text message. We attempted to contact this customer multiple times after this to collect the remaining balance of the bill. Occasionally, he would pick the phone and when we did get to speak with him we offered him the option of doing a payment plan if that would be easier. This customer told us he would be down to pick up his vehicle on 01/04/2016. The customer never showed. The last time we had communication with the customer was 01/11/2016 when our mechanic texted him inquiring about his intentions to pick up his vehicle. The customer once again stated he was out of town for work and would come to get it the following weekend when he returned. the customer never showed up. After an entire month of calling the customer, leaving messages, and being hung up on we finally had our lawyer send him a letter on 02/05/2016 explaining that if he did not pick up the vehicle in 15 days we would exercise our right to a mechanics lien and seize the vehicle as payment. We received no response from the customer in regards to this letter. On 02/10/2016 a repossession company contacted us asking if the vehicle was on our property. The company had been looking for his vehicle since November 2015 and he was using our lot to hide it from the bank. We gave the repossession company our address and they paid the remaining balance on his bill and seized the vehicle for non-payment, no mechanics lien was filed. During the 3 and 1/2 months of dealing with this customer we did not charge him interest, storage fees, or any penalty for leaving his vehicle on our property, unpaid, and without our consent. Our customers are our top priority and this is the first time we have ever experienced a situation like this after being in business for over 15 years. We desperately tried to work with the customer by letting him take his time paying us and offering a payment plan. We regret that he did not have a positive experience at our garage and wish there was another option, however the vehicle is no longer our responsibility.