Tony's Auto Works, LLC

SEE ATTACHMENTIn response to Complaint ID [redacted]  We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the complaint. Mr. [redacted] brought his truck in on Tuesday, Oct. 4 for the reason of an air bag light on on the dash, and no working trailer lights. He stated that he did not need...

his truck back until Friday for the weekend. Mr. [redacted] explained that a fuse under the hood, for the lights, kept blowing out, with any of three trailers, and even with no trailer plugged in. Mr. [redacted] and I agreed it must be a problem within the truck itself, with no regard for a trailer. I unhooked the trailer, and brought the truck inside and on a lift for inspection. It was determined by diagnosis that the air bag sensor as.faulty and needed to be replaced. I called Mr. [redacted] with an estirnate at that time and he ok'd. That repair was completed successfully. On inspection of the possible causes of the lighting issue, it was found that a wiring junction box under the back bumper was rusted and corroded. We spoke, and I let him know my findings, and proceeded to investigate further into the matter. At this time, I turned on the right blinker of the truck, the indicator said it was on, and went to the back of the truck to see if that light was working. It was not. I went to the cab and the indicator was no longer on, I turned on the left blinker, and nothing. I checked all the fuses once again, and the only one off was the original fuse that it had been brought in for. I was hoping to complete the repair by the deadline of Friday afternoon, but this complication of the turn signal switch failure made that impossible. Mr. [redacted] arrived to pick up his truck, he paid for only the air bag sensor repair, which is all I asked for, as I felt badly that I had not been able to complete his job in a timely fashion. I explained to him that I believed the junction box needed replaced, and also that the turn signal switch had failed, unfortunately, at the last minute, and that probably both those needed replaced. He left with his truck.  Mr. [redacted] came to the shop a week later, informed me he had those same repairs done by someone, and that he wanted me to pay for both repairs. $200. for the junction box, and $200 for the turn signal switch. He said that the tech that repaired it said I "could have" done something to ruin the switch, I asked if I could have the phone number for the tech, as I wanted to discuss his findings, and the job with him, to better understand what was done, and what he found. Mr. [redacted] would not provide this information, and stated he did not want to get a third party involved. He did not present any invoice or work order for the repair. Mr. [redacted] insisted that I "make it right" by paying him $400. He said the turn signals worked when be brought it, and didn't when he picked it up, and by disconnecting the trailer, I must have broken the switch (in the cab). I explained that sometimes things fail on their own. His air bag sensor, for instance, as no one touched that before it failed. He insisted I pay him, and would accept no other option, and would not let me contact the repairing facility to investigate further in order to base a decision on their finding. I told him we then did not have anything else to talk about. He then stated he would discredit myself and my shop in every way possible. I told him that he should probably go now. He did put this same complaint in a review on the Yelp site, to discredit me. I have been in business here for over 30 years, and I am ASE certified for all those years, . I have not had any bad reviews or complaints, that I am aware of, in that time. Without the ability to discuss the repairs with another (certified) or any technician, and no evidence of an invoice or work order, stating repairs or cost, I absolutely could not justify the demand for $400. Again, I did not charge him for the diagnostic time or lift time for the.wiring repair that I did not complete. He did get the diagnosis, however, which he may have given to the next tech for repair, saving him money. I do regret and apologize for the delay of Mr. [redacted]s repair, as just as his. car repair turned into yet another repair needed (turn signal switch), this kind of hold up with other jobs had put me behind. Sincerely, Tony H[redacted]