Joey's Illusion Auto Body & Paint

I would like to start off by stating, long before this vehicle arrived at my collision center, it was at many different collision centers. Each collision center had the vehicle for several months. After dealing with this customer and his vehicle, each collision center passed on the job due to the...

customer’s problematic attitude/unprofessional mannerism towards them. We are willing to provide writing testimonies from shop owners if needed. The vehicle remained at a Detomaso specialty shop, which repairs these types of vehicles and sales parts. From my understanding per the customer, his vehicle stood still for over a year, from the information I have gathered the customer was trying to be the project manager by ordering parts to disperse the insurance money for his profit. It’s another reason why other body shops decided not to assist him with his project. If he wanted to open a body collision center, he should take the precise measurements in doing so. We spent over 2 weeks going through the mess he created and spent countless hours reviewing the original estimate written by the insurance company to properly put this puzzle back together. This was all done at no cost to the customer, and after all paperwork was fixed, we were able to create the first supplement for additional missing damages. In response to the alleged allegations for the 1970 DeTomaso Pantera,  a vehicle that is over 47 years old, as you can imagine, finding a (NEW) un-used part would be very difficult and next to impossible. For example the customer ordered a used fender that was over $2,000.00 dollars, it took over 6 months to receive it. It also required, over 30 hours of body work which was needed to prepare it so it can be used. My point is that a lot of his parts are new to this vehicle and much overpriced.  They are very rare parts with high costs. We have no control over what everything will cost for his vehicle. The customer demanded receipts for everything purchased for his vehicle and he accused us of reusing his old front bumper. We didn’t have what he was requesting due to the vehicle getting tossed around between collision centers. He then demanded his used front bumper to prove that we didn’t used his old part (which we provided him with). Normally all old parts are thrown away because they are damaged, keeping in mind that he had requested this 8 months later when the work was complete. After proving to him that we didn’t used his old bumper, he began asking for older parts. I felt as he was trying to find something wrong with his vehicle, at this point we have declined to provide any further documents to him!

Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:The complaint is that 1) I was charged and paid for parts that were not installed and 2) overcharged for installed parts, and I want a refund of the overpayment.I appreciate the response from Joey’s Illusion Auto Body Repair, to be referred to in this response as the  “Body Shop Owner”.  Ad Hominem attacks and hearsay notwithstanding, the issue is not about prior repairs or the process prior to arrival at his business, nor his opinion on whether or not I am a difficult customer. I paid the majority of the costs from my own checking account, or certified check with additional supplementation from the insurer. The Body Shop Owner accepted the job and contracted to perform specific actions as per the estimate he provided. Enclosure 1),  This Revdex.com complaint is not about quality of his auto bodywork/paintwork or timeliness.The Body Shop Owner stated in written (email) correspondence on 3/13/2017 that all repairs were completed as per the estimate. Email attached, enclosure 2)See enclosure 3) pdf file, areas in question are highlighted yellow.The parts in question are:  1) "new" windshield weather strip ($1148.83 including markup and sales tax),   2) new outer door handles ($114.88 including markup and sales tax), and  3) Body shop Owner was paid for the entire allowance for the front bumper ($3382.81). The Body Shop Owner paid $1293.30 for the bumper, not the entire allotted amount of $3382.81.  The Body Shop Owner’s total, including markup and sales tax was $1618.63 The door handles and windshield weatherstripping were not new items, new items were not installed, but rather the owners old parts were installed.  Also, to further explain, the allowance for the front bumper was just that, an allowance to acquire the part. The body shop wanted the entire allowance for the part rather than the price they paid (plus the allowable markup and sales tax) and have not been able to show me a receipt for the part. As this is a rare car, the number of suppliers of parts is small. A short online search reveals two suppliers (in the USA) and the price for the bumper was far far below what was charged or allowed to be charged.   Specific Details to my complaint: Door handles -The Contract/Estimate from Body Shop Owner supplement of 6/29/2016 shows a request                for two front door handles at $85.00, plus an adjustment of 25% ($21.25), plus 8.125% Texas              sales tax ($8.63) totaling $114.88,  this price was paid in full to the Body Shop Owner. I have          asked for receipts showing purchase of these parts, but none has been forthcoming. -Pictures attached (enclosure 4) show the drivers side door handle is cracked, weathered and is obviously not in new condition, the original door handles have been re-installed. -See attached estimate and Highlighted areas. Enclosure 2  Windshield Weather strip is also tagged in the repair order/estimate showing;                - W/Strip Windshield  “NEW PART” with the cost allowance associated of $850.00 , plus 25%         markup ($212.50) and 8.125% Sales tax $86.33, totalling $1148.83 this price was paid in full to     the body shop owner. The Windshield weatherstrip was not replaced with a new part, the old           existing weatherstrip was re-used in the windshield re-installation per the Body Shop Owners       own admission. -Attached please find a signed statement (enclosure 4) from Mr. XXX XXXX who accompanied the day the car was delivered stating he overheard the discussion between Body Shop Owner and myself wherein Body Shop Owner admitted he re-used the old (original) windshield weatherstrip and a new one was not used. I have asked for any supporting receipts from the Body Shop Owner and none has been provided. -See attached estimate and Highlighted areas. Enclosure 1  Front Bumper – in the repair estimate, there is an allowance of $2500 plus 25% markup, plus 8.125% sales tax,  totalling $ $3378.91. This amount  was paid in full to the Body Shop Owner. I am not asking for the entire amount, but rather the difference between the actual cost of the bumper and allowable markup/taxation amount charged by the Body Shop Owner. Panteras by [redacted] (Paramount, CA) lists this bumper at $1293.30 (plus 25%, plus 8.125% sales tax) for a total of $1747.98 - See: part # 23002D at web address https://panterapartsusa.myshopify.com/products/23002D  -See attached estimate and Highlighted areas. Enclosure 1 I agree with Body Shop Owner that body and repair parts for this car are expensive. I disagree that I should have to pay for parts that were neither purchased nor installed. Additionally, a markup of over 109% on the front bumper is not a reasonable charge for an easily available part. Body Shop Owner’s contracted markup rate is 25%. The front bumper is available from at least two sources (Panteras by [redacted], Paramount CA, and Pantera Parts Connection in Reno NV, both companies have the part in stock for immediate delivery and supply is not an issue for this particular body replacement part). I further disagree that “all repairs were completed as per the estimate” as proven in this statement and evidence attached. I have included the Insurance company on all correspondence. The insurance company pays me for my monetary loss and devaluation of the vehicle due to the collision, irrespective of what repair is done. The Insurance representative is XXXXXX XXXXXXX at Assurant, his contact number is: available upon request. Demand: I am asking for the money that I paid him for “new” parts to be refunded, plus the unused portion of the allowance for the front bumper:Specifically –-Door handles - $114.88, new parts not purchased, new parts not installed, 100% of this charge should be re-imbursed-W/Strip Windshield - $1148.83, new part not purchased, new part not installed, 100% of this charge should be re-imbursed-Front Bumper- ($1747.98 paid by Body Shop Owner to purchase bumper, including 25% markup) $3378.91 charged to me and paid by me, the difference owed to me = $1630.93Total refund = $2894.64I am more than willing to pay for the shipping fee for the front bumper, but since a receipt cannot be produced I am unsure what that may be.Alternatively, should the Body Shop Owner disagree with settling this matter by refunding the overpayment, I am willing to proceed via Civil Litigation utilizing The Texas State Attorney General and the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/BC/htm/BC.17.htm Specifically, Section 17.46, (b), (6,) (9), (13) and (22).  The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act allows Treble damages ($8025.36) and attorney fees (actual costs in the thousands/tens of thousands of dollars) to be awarded to the complainant. The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices act specifically covers auto repairs in which the repair facility charges for work that is not performed, this includes charging for new parts and new parts prices, overcharging and utilizing a used or nonexistent part where a new part has been claimed.The charging of sales tax and collection on parts not purchased is also a violation of Texas law and the Texas Comptrollers Office may be notified if the matter is not settled.  Attached Enclosures:1)      Body Shop estimate of repair2)      Email correspondence between complainant and Body Shop Owner attempting to resolve the issue3)      Written Statement of Witness (Mr. XXX XXXX) as to Body Shop Owner’s admission re-use of old parts4)      Photos of outer door handle and overall position on car, labeled: Pantera Door handle 
Regards,
[redacted]