St. Germain, LLC dba Midas

Review: On Aug. 24, my wife and I brought in both our vehicles to this location for an oil change and service. At the end of our service, several gaffes had been made by this business' technicians including a failure to put the correct mileage on the oil service sticker, to reset the dashboard sensors in my wife's car and to return her tire lock to the vehicle. I've been going to this facility for several years so I at first said, it's just due to new technicians. Well, four days later, my engine was smoking from an significant oil leak that had not been present before I took my car for the most recent oil change. I then took my car in again and told them the issue and the timeline and when I asked how this damage could have occurred, the only suggestion they provided was "standard wear and tear." Well, I checked up several auto mechanic websites online regarding damage to a Saturn Vue's oil housing and one of the most common reasons cited for damage to this part is by an inexperienced mechanic's over tightening of the cap. When I suggested that this was a possible reason for the damage, Mr. St-Germain refused to discuss this, became hostile and then made extremely inappropriate statements to me. Those statements, specifically, angered me because he claimed he told a customer who complained about his work that he would " [redacted] his wife and [redacted] him if they complained."Desired Settlement: An apology and the $192 Mr. St-Germain charged for the parts. I'm willing to accept the cost of labor I've already paid for.

Business

Response:

On this date august 24th. [redacted] came in for an oil change and service. An oil leak was observed in the oil filter housing and relayed to [redacted] via the Midas courtesy check. This car takes a spin on filter. Not a cartridge filter that goes into the housing and then is screwed onto the housing dock like some vehicles. The leak was above the filter where it meets the engine block. Not where the filter attaches to the filter housing. [redacted] was made aware of the leaks and explained said charges for parts and labor to be done. He subsequently declined the repair initially and left. On august 31st he Came back saying there was an oil leak and smoke from the car. We explained to him it was not due to what we did and even showed him the problem again. We gave him an estimate for the repair to housing and for the repair to be made. He agreed and gave us the ok to repair. When the vehicle repair was completed [redacted] was contacted to come and pay for and pick up his vehicle as it was completed. When he arrived he starting arguing with our counter girl Tiffany about the charges and claimed we were the ones who damaged the vehicle in the first place. He made the other customers uncomfortable; Sam had him enter the shop away from the customers to talk to him and remedy the situation at which point [redacted] started name calling and saying obscenities. If said housing had an internal cartridge and not a spinoff cartridge it is possible to cause a leak from over tightening. But due to the fact it is a spin on filter you cannot over tighten and ruin the housing to where it will leak. Also as stated before the leak was behind the housing where it attaches to the block. Not the filter. Also the oil pan was leaking and was also made aware of this. Rubber gaskets can deteriorate and cause leaking from standard wear and tear. Regarding the statement Sam supposedly had said this is not true in any way shape or form. He takes this business very seriously and would never curse or say anything as rude as the statement that he was alleged to have said. The statement is false and untrue.

Consumer

Response:

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because the statements made by Mr. St-Germain are inaccurate and false. Neither Mr. St-Germain nor his representatives made any representation as to any leakage during or immediately following the Aug. 24, 2015 service. As evidence, I present a carbon copy of the courtesy check and invoice from this service. This courtesy check does not indicate or specify any such oil leaks discovered during this service as engine oil is listed as "good." The representative who completed this form also did not circle or specify any specific issues requiring immediate attention either verbally or in the written courtesy check. The representative also did not indicate any problems that might result in burning oil emanating from the engine block. Based on Midas' own check, there is no indication of any oil leak or oil smoke emanating from the engine block at the time of this check. Days after this service, however, oil proceeded to burn significantly enough from the engine block after only five minutes of running time. I also dispute Mr. St-Germain's claim that any estimate was provided for service completed on Aug. 31, 2015 as no such representation was made verbally or in writing by Mr. St-Germain. When I attempted to probe the cost prior to service being completed, Mr. St-Germain proved evasive and would not provide a dollar figure or a dollar range but he did say he would call at 9 a.m. on Aug. 31 to provide me with an estimate. Mr. St-Germain, however, did not call. I then contacted the business shortly after 9 a.m. and was told Mr St-Germain was at a doctor's appointment and that I should call back later. I then called back at 11 a.m. to try and find out how much this issue would cost. It was only then that I found out how much this would cost and the alleged reason for the burning oil.With regard to the dispute between Mr St-Germain and myself, as I've said, Mr St-Germain made statements to me when I tried to find out the reason for the problem on my vehicle that made me extremely uncomfortable and upset, specifically, making statements that I took to be as an implied threat. Mr. St-Germain was aware I had come into his shop and that I wanted to speak with him but he waited in his office, alone, for 10 minutes waiting for his counter representative to say whether I'd left. It was at this point that I paid, that the counter girl let Mr St-Germain know this, that he came Mr St-Germain came out of his office (which is directly attached to the customer waiting area).

Regards,