Purchased car from fellow in Baltimore MD, part of purchase deal was to have two catalytic converters who needed replacement replaced. He took it to the Meineke Muffler in Parkville/MBaltimore Maryland. They replaced the catalytic converters - but installed and sold him one new one, one old one. Neither one of them were the appropriate converters for the vehicle. They used multiple extra fitting and pipes to make something that shouldn't have been intalled fit. The Oxygen sensor was then placed in the wrong place.
Just under 3,000 miles, once the vehicle was in New York, the engine light came on. Diagnostics showed that the converters were not functioning properly. We noticed unusually low gas mileage as well.
We contacted a local Meineke in Hamburg, NY who confirmed out diagnosis. However, the sales receipt from the original Meineke lacked some pertinent info - such as the store location and number. He promised to work it out with corporate and fix the problem. However, after 4 weeks of calls, I realized that nothing was being done to remedy the situation. I asked for the paperwork back - warrantees for the converters and original bill, which I received.
I called the corporate office myself hoping to peacefully resolve this with replacements. Much to my surprise, their "customer Service" rep, we'll call her "Hadrian" said that we were out of luck. First, she accused the fellow who iriginally brought the car in of bringing in his own bad catalytic converters and having them installed.
Next "Hadrian" said that Meineke doesn't warrantee their work if the car changeds hands.
Then she said that Meineke doesn't warrantee the converters - and I need to contact the manufacturer of the converters, which by the way, is listed no where on the warrantee itself..
Then "Hadiran" the "customer service" rep said that there was no proof that two converters were even purchased and that the only thing she could see on the invoice was labor charges. $576.20 in labor? That amount is quite consistent with what other Meineke Muffler locations charge for the purchase and installation of two catalytic converters. Also, the bill DOES say "exhaist labor-install two new conv."
Next she said that perhaps if I sent the car back to Meineke in Maryland (I am in New York) they might look at it and I would have numerous charges though. She said this after I told her that the car was not driveable. I told her I will do that if Meineke pays for the vehicle to be shipped from Buffalo, NY to Maryland - of course she said "No, we won't do that"
Next she said that the car probably damaged the converters - but my mechanics and also the prior owner can attest that the vehicle is in excellent condition, excellent repair and has been well maintained. Also, there are no other indications upon diagnosis that there are any other problems other than the wrong and faulty converters were istalled by Meineke.
Now, after reading other reports on the consumer complaints I just want our money back - I don't want them ever touching this or any other vehicle of mine EVER! Why hasn't someone done something about Meineke ripping off consumers and ruining their cars? Why do they even have a "customer service" department?
0 comments