We had requested info on transmission repairs through a website called FindATrans.com. On Sept. 24, we received info from AAMCO of Puyallup, quote #214318, Contact: Mike. He called me at work on my cell and gave me the information for Glen and Jay, and said they would call us. I informed them that the transmission was shot on our 2003 Neon and needed to be replaced.
They called daily, stating that they did free towing to their shop, and back if we didn't have any repairs done. They offered free estimates, financing and warranties.
I didn't feel that we had the financial wherewithal at that time and did not make any commitment to have any work done, period.
They spoke with my husband on October 15 and he had them come in the afternoon and tow the car to their shop at 12006 Pacific Hwy SW, Lakewood, WA 98499.
Jay called and said over the phone that it looked like it would be under $1,000, but that they needed to finalize the estimate with further examination and he would call the next day.
Jay called Thursday the 16th, and Bob went down to discuss the estimate with him because he didn't feel that they were accurate in their estimation of the repairs needed. Jay told him that it would be about $1,200 and if he would give him a check for $400 as a down payment, he could get the financing arranged.
Bob gave him $400 down and Jay said he would call him back Friday the 17th, with more information on a finalized estimate. At this time, he said the rough estimate had jumped to $2,000.
On Saturday the 18th, Jay called and said that the estimate was now at approximately $3,200 so Bob drove down there to discuss the estimate and get the paperwork to fill out for financing, even though Jay said that the financing was not a problem at all. He did not have a chance to talk to him after 45 minutes and got the paperwork from someone else and left.
At NO TIME have we received a written estimate, at all. The only thing with my husband's signature on it is a copy of the Advance Deposit Receipt for $400.
No work was authorized in writing or verbally and we certainly don't have any paperwork stating the estimates as they increased daily.
Monday, the 20th, Rocco (or Rocky) called and left a message. Bob called when we got home after work and Rocco asked if we had the paperwork filled out for the financing. Bob said we would get it filled out and down to them on Tuesday after work.
Tuesday the 21st, we had 2 phone messages when we got home from work. One was from Rocco, and the other from the girl that works the counter. When Bob called, he was told that we had to pay them $1,500 for work they had already done to the car. Bob said that he had not authorized any work to be done to the car, and that we were still waiting for a written estimate and to submit the paperwork for the financing.
Rocco said that there was no guarantee for financing, and even if we did get financed, they still wanted another $1,100 for the down payment and then they would let us know what the monthly payments would be on the balance, if we were even financed.
Bob asked about Jay, who had made the statement that financing was no problem and was told that Jay was no longer there.
Rocco said that the $1,500 would cover a battery, which they replaced, and a reseal on the transmission. Again, Bob stated that he never once authorized anything more than an estimate.
Wednesday, October 22nd, I called Glen at the Puyallup store to find out what was going on because they had promised us free towing, and free estimate. He told me to call Rocco.
Rocco explained to me that it was legal in the State of Washington to use code words to obtain verbal authorization over the phone. He said that when Jay was talking to Bob on the phone, Jay asked what Bob's dad's name was. Rocco said that because they knew what Bob's dad's name was, that was all the authorization they needed to replace the battery.
He said when Jay asked what Bob's mom's name was, Bob's high school, and the last 4 numbers of his Social Security over the course of the next 3 phone calls, that he was verbally authorized to do further work, up to the $1,500 amount they were now demanding in cash. When being asked these odd questions, Jay told Bob oh, it's just some personal info.
I reiterate, at NO TIME, we have not seen, signed or received a written estimate, at all, in any way, shape or form.
The Washington State Attorney General's Office assured me that they have never heard of the law that verbal code words are an acceptable method to authorize repairs and told me to file a complaint with them on both counts, unauthorized verbal repairs and no written estimate received.
We don't want the battery that they replaced, we want our own battery back. We will pick up the car and have it towed home ourselves. We feel that this is nothing but intimidation, criminal extortion and blackmail, and after researching the company and reading other horror stories of abuse and mistreatment, we don't want them to touch anything else on our vehicle.
We don't believe they deserve the $400 down payment either, and would like that deposit refunded in full, to us.
I will update this report after we hear back from them on our complaints filed with the WA State Atty General and the BBB to let you know what happened.
Katherine
Tacoma, Washington
U.S.A.
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