This happened back in August however when I saw the other complaints listed here, I thought I would include my horror story with Midas. After having my water pump replaced on my car (1997 Ford Contour) I was told by the mechanic (not midas) that I needed to replace the hose (which connects the radiator, water pump etc. The cost of the hose is about 80.00 and they did not have the hose in stock.
Since it was a Friday, he suggested that I take it somewhere where they had the hose in stock and have them replace it as the cost would be about the same. I drove the car home (about a mile) and called Midas the next morning. They did have the hose in stock, and gave me about the same price as my mechanic. I drove the car to Midas (about a mile and a half) and left the car for them to fix. Never did my tempature gage even go near the Hot point. I called back two hours later and they said that the car was finished. I went to pick it up and the car was still being worked on.
About five hours later, I went to pick up the car (after being given the run around on the phone) and they inform me that my car must have overheated as the oil was a greenish color. I told them that the car has never overheated. I asked to speak to the manager yet he was out of the building. The shop closed at 3:00 and it was now quarter to three. I decided to drive home (very stupid of me to take the car in this condition however I didn't have the slighest clue as to what was coming). I never even made it home.
The engine seized about a 1/2 mile away from Midas. I ended up walking home and calling them. Of course they were already gone. They purposely had me wait to pick up my car until closing time so that they could say that I overheated the car! I called the Manager who referred me to the Owner who then referred me to his insurance company. The owner sounded reassuring like everything would be taken care of. I was shocked when his insurance company called me fifteen minutes later and told me to "prove it". He said the burden of proof is on me. He said take it to court. I'm sure I've got more money to spend on lawyers than you.
It cost me about 1200.00 to fix the head gasket only for the cars engine to catch fire about three months later. I am still paying on this car today. At the point it was destroyed, I still owed about 7000.00. These types of companies hire anybody, with no experience and don't really give a damn if they destroy others property. You see the same complaints over and over again. I wish that I had taken legal action. However at that point I was in no financial posistion to do anything.
Steve
Bolingbrook, Illinois
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