Following is a letter I sent to Credit First National Association manager about the whole incident, it explains what's going on.
I bought the car last year for about a $1000. It is a 1994 corolla that had 108 thousand miles on it when I took it in for repairs and is not even worth half the cost of the repairs that they did on it. I went in to get a simple brake noise checked out and before long they had the car taken apart and telling me a long list of things that needed repaired on the car. They made me feel it was unsafe driving the car and told me that I it was so bad that I needed a rental while they fixed my car. I had just moved to Georgia from Ohio and after talking to Firestone, I was fearful that my car was going to blow up or something if not fixed; they played on my fears.
They did not even allow me the opportunity to get a second opinion or even think about these repairs. They quickly got me a rental and told me to come back the following day. When I went back to get my car back, they handed me a bill with long list of repairs that I did not really need. I wanted to dispute the bill right then with them but for fear that they might not give me my car back or that they might do some damage to it, I had no choice but to pay them at that time just so I could have my car, my sole means of transportation, back.
What makes it even more disturbing is the fact that I had the whole car checked and repaired only weeks ago in Ohio before making the trip out to Georgia. I sent a copy of the bill to my mechanic, who checked the car before the trip, in Ohio to get his opinion on reasonableness and necessity of the charges. According to him, Firestone ripped me off and performed repairs that were not only unnecessary but overly priced as well; also, it seemed very unlikely to him that they would be able to perform all the listed repairs in one day unless a whole team of mechanic worked on it through out the night and into the next day. I am completely disgusted at the situation. I don't believe I am the first person that they have done this to as I did investigate around and found out that they are known to be rip offs in the area and only the new customers or nave people go to their shop.
I had around $608 on my visa and $1049 on my firestone credit card from the total charges. Since I went for a brake noise check, I was willing to pay for that but not all this made up bill of things claimed to have been done. I've paid my visa credit card company the $608 which is quite generous of me when all I should have paid was at most around $200. If your firestone credit card and firestone car shop were two different companies then this problem would have not lingered for so long nor would you be so adamant about not resolving the fraud but rather trying to collect the amount. You have been paid $608 which was charged on my visa but as far as the $1049 charge is concerned, I will not pay that. I suggest you write it off in your books or charge the firestone that ripped me off and have a educational seminar on Fair Business Dealings with Customers with them before you face a class lawsuit from the community in that area. Not only have you lost a customer for a lifetime for a quick buck but also any future customers as well that may come through myself or anyone I know.
The Credit First National Association collection manager told me to go talk to the firestone manager (George) again. This is what happened.
The store manager strongly told me that he will not refund even a single penny of the amount in dispute and is willing to go over the whole paper work again but in no fashion or state is he willing to even consider taking such an action.
This is as much as can be expected from a mechanic manager, no one will ever admit and say yes I rip you off, and it isn't till you see them exposed by a reporter on TV. Before then no one will admit to the fact that they con the nave customers off and will say they everything is perfect and what ever repairs were made were absolutely necessary and you signed for the work to be done and therefore authorized everything.
Firestone had signed me up for a credit card thru them to put the charges on. The Credit First National Association is a big rip off bully as well. Rather then trying to fight the fraudulent Firestone they kept telling me to go back to him and talk to him first. I talked to them 3 times and they always had the same answer.
Credit First National Association manager (Mr. Miller and their collections in charge lady (Marilyn Supple) wouldn't have it any other way. The whole amount on their credit card was $1049 and over a year's period of time it went up to $1300 or something just because 1. They refused to resolve the case in a timely manner and 2. They didn't put the account and the status of REFUTE but they let it stay open normally so the interest and late payment fees could be jacked up on it.
They messed up my credit report as well with their stupid account, putting it under delinquency status. And after that last talk with the merchandise i sent them letter of what happened and said they should do a charge back to Firestone. I never got a reply from them; my account was closed down and turned over to Collection Agency. Now I have collection agency on my credit report as well.
Now I have to deal with the collection agency people. I would suggest NEVER to do business with Firestone or get a credit card thru them. They'll rip you off big time.
The firestone shop is at 4219 Roswell rd, Marietta, GA and the CreditFirst National Association people are at PO BOX 81315, Cleveland, OH 44181.
Zahid
Hudson, Ohio
U.S.A.
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