My mother went to Dinh Auto Sales in Hampton, Virginia in September to see if Matt Dinh (the owner) could fix her car. He was referred by someone she knew and she thought Mr. Dinh would do a good job. He kept telling her all of the work he's done, his experience with repairing cars, etc. He told her he could fix her car which needed airbags, the fender repaired, front tire replaced and repaired. The pricing isn't a issue; getting the car back was!
He had to tow the car away from our house because it wasn't driveable. He asked her for a deposit first which was $800. That same day she gave him the $800 in a white envelope. Matt (as we called him) told us he could fix the car in a month. My mother wasn't rushing him but she did want her car and she knew that it might take time to get it repaired. When one month was up, being in October 08, she continually paid him regardless of him not calling us or telling us what the status of the car was in and if he was having any problems. My mom didn't think anything of it at the time.
She eventually paid him $1800; over the course of a month and a half she has given him $2600. The cost it would be to fix the car and get everything repaired. She continued to call him (keyword call him) to see what was going on with the car and to see if it was ready. He kept telling her its not ready, the car is shaking, I have to replace a valve, its not running properly, or he wasn't answering his phone.
So... Now that my mother has paid him all of the money he's still saying its not ready. We have gone down to his shop a thousand times to see what's wrong with it. To us, it looks like its finished but we haven't seen the inside. She didn't think anything of it because it takes time to fix a car and get parts and everything.
Everyday since the end of October we have been calling him and he isn't answering our calls, My Dad has called him and he doesn't answer but if we call from a number he's never seen he will pick it up. Now, we're trying to be understandable but what's wrong with the car? Why can't we take a look at it and see what's wrong with it? Why can't my mother get her car back from him? We kept going down to his shop every week sometimes twice or three times a week and he's either not there or he has his gate locked with two very big rottweilers outside guarding. I mean this is crazy. If we have paid you the money and you keep giving us the runaround saying its not ready, its not sounding right to me, then you're not COMMUNICATING with us to give us any feedback on the car and what's going on, you keep ignoring our calls and not answering.
Ok now that previous paragraph is occuring from the end of October 08 to the middle of November 08. After calling and going to his shop a thousand times as I said before. He kept telling us the car was ready in November the beginning so my mom is saying ok I'm ready to pick it up. There was excuse after excuse as stated above. The same thing is still happening to this day December 3. He has told us the car was ready and when we call him he acts like he can't hear us and he's yelling "HEllo, HEllo!" very loud several times. Not only has he done this with me but he's done with my Dad, my friend, my mother and my brothers.
I mean come on! My mother gave him the benefit of the doubt a few times but no you're keeping our car unwillingly. I just want people to know and I know my story was long but its real. (like me) Oh yea I forgot to mention while I was there in November with my family. A lady approached me who just picked up her car from here and said "I hope you're not getting your car fixed here." I said "No my mom is." Then she said "Well you're going to be disappointed." When I asked her why she didn't say anything because Matt was coming back to her car to give her the key. I didn't know what that was about but that should tell you something too. If my mom's car has been ready for a month I'll say, why can't we take it home if we have given you all of the money. Plus we have receipts stating that we have paid him. So what's the deal. If I have to call my lawyer so be it. This one is going down.
People please don't go to Dinh's Auto in Hampton, Va. He may be good at what he does but he's a CROOK to me!
Sincerely
0 comments