On 04/01/02, the head gasket blew on my 1995 Mercury Mystique and I had it towed to John "Butch" Sanders garage in Lemay, Missouri, after being referred to him by a friend.
He promised he would replace the head gasket for $250, but required I pay the money up front because I was a new customer. After almost three weeks, several excuses for delays, and claiming that he had done numerous other required repairs (including having the head milled), I unexpectedly visited his garage and found my car parked in his yard untouched.
After the visit, he still claimed he had done the previously stated work and that the car repairs were almost completed. On 04/19/02, he phoned to say the car would be ready to pick up that evening.
When I went to pick up the car, he gave me an old head gasket that he claimed he replaced. After leaving his garage, I drove the car less than a mile, but had to pull over because it was over heating. At that point, it was undriveable.
I had the car towed to another shop (the shop "Butch" claimed to have sent the head to be milled). The owner of the shop did not know of a John "Butch" Sanders and doubted that they had milled any head for him. I left the car with them and they completely repaired the car and confirmed that no repairs had previously been made.
I took the old head gasket to a parts store and they were able to determine that it was a General Motors head gasket, a head gasket that in no way possible could have come from my Mercury Mystique.
I contacted John "Butch" Sanders via both phone and mail to get my $250 refunded. Although he promised he would send me a money order immediately for the full amount, I have not received anything from him and he will not respond to any of my calls.
This man is an outright liar, deceiver and a thief. He had my car for three weeks and did not touch it, but claimed he had completely repaired the car. He knowingly and willingly took my $250 with no intent to repair my car and no intent to return the money to me.
Cori
St. Louis, Missouri
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