My van broke down on a Monday night. I only had $60.00 on me, so I called Cottman's because it was a familiar name and I presumed they were reputable because they are a nationwide chain, and they offered free towing. That was my first mistake.
While on the phone with the center manager, I explained that the transmission had gone out. It wouldn't go in reverse. He suggested a RID or something like that for $85.00 to determine what the problem was exactly. I said okay. Mistake number 2.
I live from payday to payday, have no savings or credit card, but that's my problem. I asked if they thought the repairs would be more or less than $1000.00 and the manager said he "couldn't say for sure". I asked how much it would be if I had to get a whole new transmission and he said he "couldn't say for sure ". Now I had a similar vehicle that was 4 yrs. Older and needed a transmission and it cost me $500.00 total. So I figured it would be somewhere around a $1000.00.
When I called them to find out what they found out, I was told that they had taken the transmission apart, that reverse and first were gone, that I had a cracked housing, and that I owed them $565.00 for what they had done so far.
I magine my shock when they said the total cost of repairs would be $2800.00 on a van only worth $2200.00.
What kind of place would even start working on a car if they knew the repairs were more than what the car is worth? So far they have had it 31 days and it's not done yet. I had to pay them $1600.00 before they would even order the parts, and this is my work vehicle. I can't work without it, but you can bet they'll want their money before I get it back.
I'll let you know what happens next. If they had just said yes it will be more than $1000.00 I wouldn't be writing this.
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