My car was having brake issues and I needed to know what the problem was. I had the brake fluid filled and bled only a few weeks earlier and then experienced similar brake problems a few weeks later. I thought that maybe there was a brake fluid leak that was causing the issue. I was going to drive the car to the garage, but the battery had died and needed to be charged. I called triple A and had them send someone out to jump it. It was Doug Malone of Malones garage. After he charged the battery, I asked him if he would tow it to his garage and take a look at the brakes (I described the problems that I was having and told him that I suspected that there was a brake fluid leak), and also to see how much it would be to fix the door lock on the drivers side. He said no problem, give me a call in a few days and left with the car.
A few days later I called him, and asked him how much it was going to be to fix the stuff and he told me "the car is all done, I put in brake pads, replaced the ball joint, door lock and it's all done. It's gonna be $453." I only had about $200 to pay for the repairs. I was very frustrated that he fixed it without calling me to at least give an estimate, and fixed the ball joint (which I didn't even request to be fixed). I asked "don't you usually call to let people know what the problem is and give an estimate?" He said "some mechanics do, we just fix what's wrong with it" I just was shocked and just said "wow, ok. I don't have that much money right now, your gonna have to hang on to the car until I get the money." He said no problem and told me that he would park it in the lot for me. I was at least appreciative that he stored it for a month and didn't charge me for that.
The core of the complaint is that he fixed the car without my permission and without an estimate. I was planning on making the bare minimum repairs because I am selling it. Whoever buys the car can make any other repairs. This caused me frustration and financial distress.
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