My stretched limo was damaged in an accident covered by Allstate, while I had a strong potential to sell it. At the insistence of Allstate, I took it for repair to a facility near my home to save time, during the third week of May. The car was fully stripped so that Allstate could inspect it and give the okay for repairs, commencing Monday, May 19th, per detailed email communications between me and the staff. Specifically, I had a clear understanding that the car would be fully ready in 5-6 days, as I had a group seriously interested in buying the car and taking it to Canada.
The car was not ready, and its readiness kept getting delayed to a three-week repair time, ending June 6. I asked Mr. Gikas, and he wrote me on the morning of June 6th, saying, "Come down and take a look at the limo this morning if you have time. I think you will be happy. Thanks."
When I went to get the car on Friday afternoon, June 6, I was told that the car had a minor alignment to undergo and that I should bring it back on Monday for its repair and final inspection. I paid my $500 deductible and left the repair shop, hoping to give a courtesy ride to my sister and family, who wanted to go on a cruise from SF.
When I took possession, I soon realized that there were several unsafe conditions in the car, either not repaired or improperly done, such as the hood alignment, bumper, sidings and many other factors. The worst was that the driver side door had a gap through which I could stick my left hand out. The car did not have a horn either. I brought the car back first thing on Monday, June 9th, and demanded a quality, timely finish of the job.
Later I met with two inspectors from my insurance company, who, to my disappointment, noticed and took note of the improper and substandard workmanship. They asked the repair shop to replace the cheap hood they had placed on my car and install a new one, to undo many of the problems. Again, several days passed, and Akins Body Shop still did not live up to its promise.
At last I took the car out of the shop, with them admitting to the untimeliness of the repair, and reluctantly. Finally Allstate intervened and paid me the cost of the improper and misaligned radiator support that has allegedly caused a series of misalignments (front left light, hood, doors, frame, etc.). But when I took the limo to a reputable shop one hour away from my house, they did not want to touch the car because of the poor job that had been done, and said, "This would be opening a can of worms."
Now my car sits unfinished, unable to sell, and I am left with a series of unfinished repairs and missing parts. The A/C or heating system malfunctions seriously and makes the temperature either extremely cold or hot, and the list goes on. They scammed the insurance company, which I pay for directly, nearly $10,000. They told me they would detail my car and give me a free detail on my second car, which they never did.
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