I have a 1997 Ford F-150 truck. It is in excellent condition. I bought it new and it only has 39,980 miles on it. The brakes on it were not giving me any trouble. They were not squeaking or making any kind of noice and were stopping the truck just fine. But in trying to keep the truck in good running order, I decided to have the brake pads replaced on it.
For years I have used the same honest mechanic, but he recently closed his shop and retired so I did not know where to have the job down. I have seen commercials about Just Brakes and decided to call them. I called Just Brakes on Friday, January 23. I asked what the cost would be to have the brakes replaced on my truck. I was told $99.88. I asked if that was for each axle and was told that was for both axles.
I am 65 and retired and money is not that easy to come by for my wife and me. We have to be very careful financially. I was elated the brake job was so reasonable. I told the person I would bring the truck in the next morning, Saturday, January 24.
The next morning I was at the shop. The service manager asked what the problem was with my brakes. He asked if they were squealing or making noise or something like that. I told him they were not making any noise, but I just thought I should have the pads replaced at 40,000 miles so the brakes would not become a problem and be a major expense later on down the road. I was trying to save us money by replacing the brake pads before they actually needed replacing. Little did I know what I was getting myself in to.
The service manager told me that in 10 or 15 minutes he would be able to tell me if the mechanic had found any problems with the truck's brakes. I told him I didn't think there would be any problems, but I waited in the waiting area.in a few minutes he asked me to come into the working area. All four tires were off my truck and my brake parts were all lying on the floor in little piles. I have very little mechanical ability so I really was unsure of what I was seeing. He showed me the pads and told me they were wearing unevenly. He said you could tell by looking at them. I really couldn't tell myself, but I said ok.
He showed me shims and springs and seals and rubbed his white-gloved hand on my brake drums and showed me grease on the gloves. He said that even though my truck had few miles on it, the brakes were in bad shape. He told me if I were trading it in within the next couple of weeks, the truck would not have to have that extensive a brake job, but if I were keeping the truck, this all really needed to be done. He quoted me a cost of $664.31 plus tax. I am sure I looked visably shaken and I told him I had no idea it would cost that much. I asked him if some of the items he wanted to repair could be left undone. He looked at a couple of items on his list and said these things might last another couple of months before they had to be done.
I really did not know what to do. My truck brakes were in pieces all over the floor. I knew I did not want to come back in two months and go through this again. I was embarrassed and just wanted to have this over. I finally told him to go ahead and fix the brakes. I went home feeling sick. I received a call a couple of hours later and went back and got my truck. Thanks to a credit card, I was able to pay the $707.77.
Now I realize I have been duped. I wish I would have had them put my brakes back together and put my tires back on my truck and had gone somewhere else. But I was afraid if I did that, they might actually mess my brakes up and my truck would not even be safe to drive home. So I paid $707.77 for a $99.88 brake job. That's how stupid I am.
I know I am not the only one this happened to that particular morning. While I was there I heard another lady complaining about her bill being over $600 or so. Just Brakes draws people in with this $99.99 brake job talk and then pumps up the bill as high as they can. I am sick that I let this happen to me.
I paid at least $550.00 more than I should have. These people simply have no conscience. I do not understand why our state attorney general has not intervened against this company.
Harold
Fort Worth, Texas
U.S.A.
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