Repair Costs: $750.00
- Tow,
- Diagnostics,
- Fuel Pump (Large amount of water in pump and fuel Line found)
- Fuel Filter (Water in filter)
- Spark Plugs, (Water Fouled)
- Idler Pulley (Damage Caused by Engine Severe Jerking)
- Serpintine Belt (Stretched Belt Caused by Engine Severe Jerking)
9.23.07 I filled up my Ford Explorer SUV at the Exxon Stop In, #87, located at 815 Orange Ave NE Roanoke Virginia 24012 with 15.03 gal. Of fuel from pump # 5 87 octane.
Immediately, vehicle had a loss of power and started to severly jerk, sputter;
it was as if the engine was going to come out of its engine mounts.
The noise from the engine became very loud at which point the vehicle died and had to be pushed out of the traffic on Orange Ave.
Prior to noted fuel purchase vehicle was running smoothly with no problems and a quarter tank of gas in it.
9.23.07
At the onset Stop In, Store #87 was contacted to inform them of the problem.
The clerk left a message for Lisa, (no last name was given), who was identified as the store manager.
9.24.07
Lisa called, during the course of the conversation it became evident the situation was not one that she could resolve. I requested contact information for upper management that would be able address the situation.
Ann Greys name and number was given (company admin assistant (540) 772-4700); I contacted her and left a detailed message of the current situation.
To date no return call from her was received.
9.25.07
Faxed letter to Mr. Newton detailing problem and request for reimbursement for repairs.
Total $652.17 (includes fuel, does not include
cost for alternate transportation)
9.26.07
Mr. Newton called left message
9.27.07
Sent fax to Mr. Newton thanking him for calling and forwarded copies of repairs via fax.
9.27.07
Mailed certified with return receipt signed copies of all faxed correspondence including color copies of repair receipts.
9.27.07
Mr.netwon call left message denying any fault for damage.
9.28.07
Received call from Nationwide Insurance's
Brad Sitzman. Stating he would be handling the claim.
10.1.07
Returned Mr. Sitmans call I was asked a series of questions, I answered them and referred him to the letters detailing all info. He stated he had them and would need to speak to the repair garage. Apparently his copies of the reciepts were not clear.
10.1.07
Mechanic called to say he had spoken with Mr. Sitzman detailing the repairs and the nearly 3 gallons of water that was removed from the fuel system. He then forwarded him copies of the repair receipts.
10.3.07
Mr. Sitzman called left a message stating they had concluded their investigation and that they would not be be paying for the damage caused to my vehicle.
10.31.07
I filed a complaint with the Virginia Department of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs Division and Division of weights and measures. The Consumer Services Division had given a deadline of 10.26.07 for a mutually acceptable solution from Stop In (Petroleum Marketers, Incorporated) Exxon.
To date no resolution.
On 10.25.07
Mr. Davis from the Department of Agriculture Weights and Measures Division contacted me, when we spoke the following day if was evident from the dialogue that he was Not an impartial investigator. I tried to go over the events leading to the vehicles mechanical failure and the water that was found by the mechanic, and even offered the sample of watery fuel sludge, that I have saved in a clear container from my vehicles fuel system. He was not interested in testing this sample. He kept repeating himself saying
How did I know their was water in the fuel I explained the vehicle was running smoothly with no problems then after filling up it was dead on the side of the road.investigator Davis said he had spoken to the individuals at the Fuel Station and had run his tests (which did not include the stick test, why I do not know). It would have been a good time to do this specific test, since it had been raining late the night before when the tanker filled up the underground tank.
I had him speak directly to the mechanic, the mechanic called me back to say that Mr. Davis was not interested in the facts he had to share with him either.
Things that make you go hm about the so called neutral investigation by Mr. Davis.
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