Took my 1998 Ford Exploder into Cottman Transmissions in Sherwood, Oregon on a Wednesday. Dan told me that it needed a new motor for the Transfer Case, as it was stuck in FWD Low. I asked how long it would take and was told two days. I told Dan I want an update of the repairs as it progressed. He agreed.
By Friday, at 1:00 PM, I had not heard from Dan. I called Cottmans. Mitch, the manager or Owner (who really knows???) told me that they had not started and that Dan was assigned to do the work and was off until Monday.
After reading Mitch the riot act about their false promises and how they have violated all of their Code Of Ethics points, he agreed to get someone on it immediately and also offered a $100 discount to offset rental car fees that were needed due to the delay.
On Monday, at 3:00, I had to call to see if they were done. The said that they needed to check the input shaft from the Motor to the Transfer case because they could not get it to fit. Seems they never thought to "check" the input shaft from the Motor to the Transfer case, which had jammed up the gears and locked it into FWD Low... Yeah, riiiight!
So, it took an additional day to get my car back on the road. When I went in, the invoice reflected the $100 discount and stated it was for "Rental Car Fees." I then showed then a Cottman Corp. News Release that stated that if you pay in cash or credit card they would take an additional $125 off the bill. I also showed them the Cottman Corp. Coupon for a $100 discount off any "major" transmission work.
Dan called Mitch. Mitch told him to only "honor" one of the discounts, so Dan took the smaller of the two, (the Cottman Corp. Coupon) off the bill. I gave him my credit card and signed for the $1,620.
I went to my credit card web site to pay my bill and what to my wondering eyes should I see... But a second charge from Cottman Transmissions for $100... A day after I paid in full and got my Exploder back!
When I contacted Dan, I was told that Mitch only wanted to give me one discount. I reminded him that the first $100 was because of their delays and false promises and that the other one was a Cottman Corporate coupon. I also told him that he could not produce a signed invoice for the $100 and that represented fradulant unauthorized use of a customers credit card and that he had 24 hours to correct the theft or I was going to file charges. I was assurred that it would be taken care of today, 2-21-06.
NEVER, EVER DO BUSINESS WITH ANY Cottmans Transmission shop. If you do, then "buyer beware" and check you credit card for several months, as they will try to sneak any discounts back onto it, thinking you will not catch it!
As for their Corporate Office, they never get back to anyone registering a complaint. You cannot call them directly, even if you try of pose as a potential franchisee... So they can avoid talking to disgruntled customers at all costs.
Please, Please take you vehicles somewhere else!!!
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