Late Friday night, Feb. 25th, I exited off I10 West stopping to turn left on Lamar Poole Rd. I stalled. Turning the key did not engage the starter, nothing. With help I pushed my vehicle onto the shoulder across the street from Johnson Tire Service which a passer by recommended I contact in the morning. My sister picked me up.in the morning called Johnson Tire Service to look at the car. "We'll have to tow it in to lift the car and check the problem." I consented.
They called with an assessment, a "broken" starter, not bolted down which hit the fly wheel, which had to be replaced. I explained that the clutch had just 2 days before had been replaced. Mike showed me the loose starter, which I photographed with my phone. I called Ideen, my mechanic in Stone Mountain GA and explained the problem. He apologized profusely and promised to fix his mistake and reimburse me for expenses incurred. He then purchased a used starter and sent it FedEx with the bolts, $85.00 total. It arrived 10:30 am Monday, Jan. 28th.
Johnson Tire Svc. Called Monday afternoon when the installation was done. I told them to put the damaged starter in my trunk to show my mechanic.
I picked up the car after paying my bill of $231.00 as follows
Towing $40.00
Diagnostic $79.00
Hazemat 1.19
supplies. 60
Subtotal $129.12
Parts. 00
Labor $94.80
Supplies. 95
Supplies. 47
Subtotal $102.86
Total $231.98
I drove out of the company lot and remembered the damaged starter. Returned and checked my trunk. It wasn't there. I reminded Mike. He seemed to wince, hesitated, went to the back. I waited while talking to the owner for 5 to 10 minutes.
Mike returned with the FedEx box open, pkging paper and the starter inside. I thanked him and left.
Later that week I received a Thank You note from Johnson Tire Svc.
In the meantime I had brought the starter to Ideen, my Stone Mountain mechanic. His boss signed an agreement to reimburse me for all expenses incurred by Saturday, Feb. 9th. Then I remembered the starter. Ideen looked at it. "This is the starter I sent you. See how it is marked for the warranty. This starter is not damaged."
I got his permission to pursue this dilemna and here I am.
I have sent a certified letter to Johnson Tire Service with an inquiry into their service to my vehicle, a charge of deception, a threat to report them to the authorities, newspaper, whatever it takes to turn things aright.
0 comments