Monday afternoon July 15 I made an appointment for new brakes to be put on my Jeep Cherokee the cost was quoted as $99.98 plus tax.
Tuesday July 16 at 8:00 AM Andr (manager) came to pick my car up, he didn't have a contract with him. When I asked him for the paper work he stated he had left the shop in a rush and didn't pick it up, but he would call me later to let me know what was wrong with my brakes. I was left with nothing in writing giving me a price of work to be performed I has asked for a $99.98 plus tax brake job and that's what I expected to get.
At 10:00 AM Tuesday I received a call from Just Brakes with an estimate of $650.00 plus tax; Robert the person I was speaking with stated there were several things wrong with my brakes. I listened, and than told Robert, to just put new brakes on and if I had further problems I would bring my Jeep back. At that point the bait and switch scam began, the manager of the store (Andr) got on the phone to advise me that I really should have the master cylinder replaced because it was leaking. He stated these repairs were necessary for the safety of my car and in addition that he would do all in his power to keep the cost as low as possible.
I agreed let them put on a master cylinder, the original brake job, and the cost of disposal of the old parts and brake fluid. I strongly feel the disposal of parts and brake fluid charge should be apart of the service charge, not a separate charge. The total cost of the above item came to $437.00 plus tax. Robert got back on the phone and asked for my date of birth to verify approval to do the work.
Tuesday at 4:13 PM, I received a call from a Mr. BJ Jones (lead tech.) of Just Brakes who advised me that in addition to the work I had agreed upon, I needed work that would now bring the amount of repairs up to $863.00 plus tax. When I protested and ask that my car be brought back to me, because I wanted to get a second opinion I was told by Mr. Jones that my car could not be driven unless the repairs he suggested were made. He would not drive my car back to me and I had two options 1. Come to pick it up or 2. Send a tow truck for it. When I insisted that my car be brought back to me in the same condition he got it, He said to me and I quote Let me tell you something this is my shop, I run it, you don't tell me what to do. After some comments on my part and his, I got to speak to the manager (Andr). Andr said that he would repair my car at no additional cost, but I would have to wait until the next day for him to get the additional part.
Wednesday July 17 came and I still didn't get my car back. The excuse was the Parts supplier sent the wrong one, mind you I got the phone call at 4:19 Wednesday afternoon with that information from Mr. BJ Jones who refused to bring my car back to me the previous day. Therefore I was left again with no other recourse but to leave it with them.
Thursday July 18 around 4:45 PM or so I finally got my car back. I can't prove it but I feel that my car was being held hostage because I would not allow them to take further advantage of me. I had asked for an itemized invoice of work done, including parts replaced. I have enclosed a copy of what was given to me. This is surely not what I asked for and if you read the comments written on this invoice more attention was paid to what was not worked on. The invoice indicates the brake work done on my car did not improve the safety the car.in my opinion all this extra language was put on to intimidate me.
I didn't sign the invoice because I felt at the time that I was being ripped, but I did authorize payment be put on my credit card. I recently read the article in the AARP Bulletin/July-August entitled Scam Alert sighting bake scams and now I am sure that I am a victim. I have attached a copy of the article.
Further the brake pedal was still going low, which was the reason I felt I need new brakes in the beginning and the brakes squeak very bad.
Monday July 23 I called Just Brakes to let Andr know that my brakes were still low and squeaking loudly. He said that he would come out on Tuesday, pick my car up bleed the brakes lines and have the car back to me that very same day. Tuesday afternoon the 24th Andr called to say he was short of help and would come to pick my car up on Wednesday July 25. To date I have not or heard from Andr or anyone from his shop since.
Saturday, July 27, I drove my car and by the end of my day I had no brakes at all.
Beverly
Lithonia, Georgia
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