The air conditioning on my 1992 Ford Ranger pick up truck went out in July. I took the truck to Midas in Brownsburg, Indiana for service. I was informed the truck's a/c was out of freon.
I paid $217 for a pressure test and all new freon. I was told the system looked fine with no leaks. About one month later the a/c quick working. I took the truck back in.
I should have figured something was up with the shop because after arriving, a customer who had just driven off the lot had a tire fall off.
I was told this time the condensor on the a/c was shot and it needed to be replaced. The cost would be $800. The mechanic showed me where all the freon had leaked out of the a/c system from the prior pressure test. The manager said the previous work was under warranty only if I had the new condensor installed.
I left and contacted the Midas main office in Illinois on 9/23/05. They said they would conatct the shop and the owner would be contacting me within three days.
On 10/3/05, I contacted Midas customer relations again and they said they would call the owner, who would call me. Within 15 minutes, my phone rang. The owner said he did not get the email regarding my original complaint until "late Friday (9/30/05)"
All ready I knew I was dealing with a liar and it only got worse. He claimed the pressure test "does not always detect leaks" in the a/c system. I had consulted with two different mechanics in the last month at other shops and they said pressure tests should always show leaks or the mechanic is inept.
I asked him if that is the case, why wasn't I was told the test was unrelaible originally? He could not give me a satisfactory answer. I then said I should get a full refund for the $217. After arguing for about 15 minutes, he agreed to refund one half of the money but not any more. He said I bear "half of the responsibility" for the a/c not working. (I still do not understand that one).
I plan on taking this case further and have only begun to fight. I learned Midas has very few company owned stored and the majority are franchises held by individual owners.
If this owner is any indication of who Midas sells their franchises too, then I would recommend staying away from any Midas shop. Their prices may be lower than other shops out obviously not worth the headaches.
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