Budget Towing
Mechanic Kept Friend's Car 32 Days and Demanded $1500 Repairs

After the timing belt went out on a friend's car, I had it towed to a tow house/mechanic. He called after a few days and said the car needed a new timing belt, which took him a week to install. He then called 1.5 weeks later and said the valves had been nicked by the pistons and it would take another week and another $1200.

I agreed because I was familiar with this procedure. After another week, I called on Friday to see if the car was finished. I was dealing with "Tony," so I asked for Tony. I called three times in as many hours looking for Tony, only to keep getting the message that he would call me back. I tried again on Monday and finally reached Tony. He gave me the usual sob story about how busy he was. He said he was waiting for a part to be delivered, the car would be done as soon as the part arrived, and he would call me when it was finished. I called him on Thursday. The car was still not finished because they had noticed the cylinder wall was "scarred," and fixing it would cost another $1200 and take another 1.5 weeks. I thought, "This will be the last time I ever get involved with someone else's car." Anyway, I told him I would get back to him on Friday.

I spoke with the owner of the car and decided it could survive WITHOUT the newest problem being fixed, since it had just passed emissions, and the worst case scenario is that it might start burning oil soon. "BIG DEAL," I thought; the car does not have to go through emissions for another two years, and it is not really worth putting $3000 into it. Besides, what was this joker going to find next? Should I really trust this guy? I did not call until the following Monday to tell him to put it together. He said, "Pick it up on Tuesday." On Tuesday I called him, and he said it would be ready after 2:00 PM. "GREAT!!" I sent the owner and her beautiful twin sister to pick up the car.

To make a long story short, he harassed the women and acted very unprofessionally. After keeping the car for 32 days, he stated that if she did not want to pay the charges, he would be glad to request the title for the car and become its new owner, just because he supposedly found $1500 worth of "necessary" repairs. I do not dispute that they were necessary. I just think that in Phoenix, Arizona, the money could have gone to someone who would appreciate the business and act professionally. Anyway, the car sounds terrible, and he claims there is a 12-month warranty, but it frightens me to go back to this dive. Besides, I am not involving myself with anyone's car again, period.

Sorry about the length. I just want to notify anyone about this bad business: Budget Towing, Tempe, Arizona, 480-966-2735. I used Allstate Roadside Assistance to connect me to Budget.

Company: Budget Towing
Country: USA
State: Arizona
City: Tempe
Phone: 4809662735

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