I took my 1993 Mazda to Advantage Auto in Johnstown Pennsylvania. I told owner Tim George that if the bill was going to be a couple hundred dollars to forget about it, i was going to junk the car. He said the bill shouldnt be more than $100 or so. Four weeks later i got a call that my car was done. Four weeks. The bill was $450
I was VERY! Unhappy. I had already told him i couldnt afford this. I had to pay if i wanted the car back. Assuming that this FIXED the problem and the car was in working order i paid him. On the way home however i noticed that the car was still doing THE EXACT THING I TOOK IT THERE FOR. The problem was not fixed. I returned the car. SIX WEEKS after that, i got another call saying it was fixed this time. This was all after numerous phone calls stating that i REALLY needed my car.
When i got there i was handed ANOTHER $450 Bill. I was in shock and disbelief. I was being billed AGAIN for work that wasn't done and was already billed for.
Neither time did i recieve a phone call from advantage auto stating how much the repiars would cost. I was told my car was done, come get it. That was the last straw.
I refused to pay, not only because i wasnt given an estimate either time (as required by law), but because i was charged TWICE for the same thing that wasn't fixed the first time. I was told that i wasn't even charged labor (i guess he felt bad) and the whole cost was for a part. An ECU, which i found in 5 area junkyards for no more than $150. So i guess he got ripped off too and was passing the savings onto me.
I told him i was taking my car and not paying, that he could sue me for the bill. He said that if i step foot on his property he's calling the cops and i would be charged with trespassing.
I drove past the business and found my vehicle blocked in on all sides, now it was time for the district magistrate to step in.
I started filing a law suit against Advantage Auto. THEN ONE DAY, i was told that my car was seen driving around the local town. After going to the business to investigate where my car was, i was told this:
I DONT KNOW WHERE IT'S AT. It hasn't been here for a month i assumed you took it. And i was tired of this whole thing so i said to hell with the bill. I guess it got stolen.
The person seen driving the car MATCHED HIS description.
I am convinced he stole my car, simply becuase of a statement made to me after i refused to pay:
"You'll get that car over my dead body, and if you DO find it... It wont be running."
So now i am without a car, (i only had liability) and have no way to prove that he actually stole it. All i can hope for is that civil court will rule in my favor.
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