Cottman Transmission
Ripoff 'voided' warranty the business that doesnt give a dam

In July I drove from my home in WV to put my children on a plane in DC. As we approached the airport I notice my rear window literally covered in fluid. My transmission fluid was flying out everywhere.

I stopped frequently to add fluid, arrived at the hotel we were to stay in and began making calls. It took some time but I was able to locate a transmission shop nearby, Cottman Transmissions, who were very kind and helpful.
The transmission needed replacing and the cost would run approx. $2300. Having no choice in the matter I gave consent, rented a car and headed home where I caretaker for my parents in West Virginia.

One week later I returned to Va. To pick up my car and head home.

All was fine for a few months and the car started acting funny, making noises. I had it looked at locally and was told the flywheel was going. I contacted Cottman where Mark told me 'they had nothing to do with the flywheel and to have it fixed'. Mark also asked that whoever I had fix it please talk to him.
As a single mom, student and caregiver money is tight, the car sat simply because I could not yet afford to fix it.instead I rode daily with a friend to school and waited.

The car was eventually fixed, at least the flywheel was, but still it was acting funny and I called Cottman again.By the time I was prepared to have it fixed the car had locked into park and I had no choice but to have it towed. Under the impression that this service was part of the warranty work. I soon found out that the $430 tow is my own responsibility.

Parkersburg has got to be the most helpful people I have yet to encounter. They found that at some point recently the shift had been welded and contacted Va who refused to take responsibility for it. Finally the gentlemen talked them into replacing it (he told them they were the only people who could have done it) and Va complied, though still maintains they did not weld it to begin with.
One would have hoped that this would have been the end of my problems.

The transmission still is not repaired!
When Shaun (Parkersburg) contacted (Mark) Va yet again to discuss the current problems (back to my original concerns mind you) Mark said it isn't covered as I had the flywheel fixed by an unauthorized shop.

Va maintained a constant rudeness with anyone who called about work on my transmission. They were rude and would yell the home office number and hang up on anyone who called.including a friend who thought maybe she could help and called while I was away.

Today, Jan. 13 I finally was able to get a live voice at the home office. Donna placed a conference call to Va and Mark explained to me that the flywheel caused my problems, which Shaun stated that they were 'electrical' and he would not pay for repairs.
I brought up the hang-ups and rudeness, Mark stated that never happened in his office. Donna, our contact person, simply sat on the line and said nothing. When Mark issued forth the words "I am sorry Stephanie there is nothing I can do to help you... I void the warranty." Donna basically said, well that is it folks have a nice day.
Naturally I was enraged. I asked how Mark could possibly void the warranty and she told me there was nothing she could do about it each shop can void the warranty if they wanted.

OK! So, Cottman as a national chain doesn't back it's own warranties? It allows franchises to simply state the words and can do so willy nilly? It would seem so.
I insisted she get Shaun on the phone next so we could clarify things. Shaun did back the rudeness, the hang-ups and the overall problems and that this problem had nothing at all to do with neither an electrical problem nor the flywheel. And clearly stated he never told Mark it did!
Donna again stated there was nothing I could do, offered up court as the answer and would not make any calls pertaining to the situation at all.
When Shaun told her that a regional manager (Mike) had witnessed a call to Mark and then called corp. To report it she suggested he contact Mike and talk with him. Although she did offer to make the call herself.
So, here I sit still without a car and classes about to begin again. It has been almost a month since my car was towed; I have no corporate recourse and live too far away from Va to seriously consider taking Cottman to court.
The overall injustice is what gets to me, the fact that Cottman can simply say 'voided' and there goes what I paid $2250 for in the first place, peace of mind my transmission is fixed.

I should also note here that when I was first told I needed the work I was told a 'new transmission' at no point did I know they meant 'rebuilding' mine. And were the invoice readable I might have been able to find that out!

Stephanie
Calvin, West Virginia
U.S.A.

Company: Cottman Transmission
Country: USA
State: Virginia
City: Sterling
Address: 23035 Douglas Court
Phone: 7038341733

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