AAMCO TRANSMISSION INTERNATIONAL RIP-OFF St. Mary's Georgia
We are suing AAMCO! We need a copy of their warranty. The one they gave us at the time of repair is conveniently illegible and AAMCO International refuses to provide us with one that can be read. Any ideas on how to obtain a copy?
In December of 2001, AAMCO replaced the transmission on my daughter in law's 1990 Mercedes. In November 2002 the transmission began slipping so she returned to the shop that had done the work. They told her that they no longer had an AAMCO franchise and that she would have to call AAMCO International. After four phone calls, she was told that there was no franchise in Savannah, GA (where we live) but that they would pick the car up by flatbed tow and take it to St. Mary's GA (about 100 miles south) for repair under the warranty. They picked up the car on December 16, 2002 and we haven't seen it since.
The St. Mary's shop have claimed they couldn't get a part, they got the wrong part, then they couldn't find the right tool to adjust it, and finally that the tool was too expensive and they refused to purchase it. We called 1-4+ times a day for 10 weeks. We called the "home office" for AAMCO in Philadelphia at least a dozen times.
Each time, we were told that it would be checked on by a supervisor and they'd call back. They also promised to fax us a copy of the warranty. They did neither.
Meanwhile, the garage in St. Mary's decided the car needed a new water pump. We authorized that repair, but then they said the car needed a new "barrel belt". They were told that the barrel belt had just been replaced within the last 6 months and that if they had damaged it, they would have to fix it! (The barrel belt miraculously "healed itself", because we heard nothing more about that!!!)
We reported all this (along with a dat by day diary of our phone calls and conversations) to the BBB and the Governor's Office for Consumer Advocacy on Feb. 24.
Finally, we turned it over to our lawyer. He called 5 times to AAMCO INTERNATIONAL in Philadelphia, PA and they wouldn't return his calls. He finally succeeded in talking to Mr. Mike Mapp (Customer Service...a loose term!) who promised to call him back (after he checked with his supervisor) and fax a copy of AAMCO's Warranty. He did neither.
The St. Mary's people won't talk to any of us, the AAMCO HQ won't return calls. So to break the impasse, we have no choice but to sue for the return of the car.
Carol
Savannah, Georgia
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
TRANZMN
Richmond,California,
U.S.A.
JAMES THE TECHNICIAN/CUSTOMER
#9Consumer Comment
Wed, May 14, 2003
Well james !!!! first it seems that your a customer who had YOUR transmission repaired an a few stories later is giving incorrect technical advise without the factual basis or spelling attributes.So james ~~~~~~what the reel deel bro??? lookz like u got sum issues~~~~~so before you say sumthin don't let your mouth spend what your butt can't cash~~~~~~~~~~Be reel!!!!!! THE TRANZMN
James
Phila,Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.
AAmco warranties .."whatever you do, dont go to AAmco"!!!
#9Consumer Comment
Sun, May 11, 2003
go here
http://www.aamco.com/main/
warranties/warranties.html
they have a list of all thier current warranties that should be aplicable to any shop that has thier name. For anyone who is reading this , I have read over 100 complaints about aamco service as well as their customer care, IT STINKS. I have recently had a transmission job done to my car and word of mouth from people i didnt even know was, "whatever you do, dont go to AAmco"!!!
Joe ~THE TRANZMN
Richmond,California,
U.S.A.
I know aamco very well from the inside out
#9Consumer Comment
Fri, May 02, 2003
dear Carol: The interest i have in this matter is not important at this point~~but~~~I know aamco very well from the inside out. At this time i want to use my technical/legal/business skills.
Sometimes in automotive transmission repair there are many factors that come into play to solve problems. When people have problems a solution might be within their reach but they just don't know about it.
Shop / customer / technician but if everyone keeps a cool trigger finger an comunicates things can be worked out. I see this situation as maybe a combination of all combined. So Carol~~~are you willing to let me help you?? If you give me info on the symptoms /how it drives/under what conditions/and how the car came to need exhaust work~~~maybe i can help?~~
Carol
Savannah,Georgia,
U.S.A.
To Mr. Joe
#9Author of original report
Fri, May 02, 2003
Sorry for the delay, we have been out of town. On the other hand, I don't know WHO you are, or why you have taken such an interest in this case.
No, all is NOT well. I think perhaps (pending legal action) I should probably leave it at that.
Are we through with these people? I don't think so.
Joe
Richmond,California,
U.S.A.
I guess it must be fixed
#9Consumer Comment
Wed, April 30, 2003
During the conversation with Mike Mapp he said that you picked up the car March 25th. If its right or not no one knows? You haven't responded so all must be ~~~OK~~~~~~~The Tranzmn
Joe
Richmond,California,
U.S.A.
AAmco response
#9Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 28, 2003
Dear Carol~~~~~I spoke to Mike Mapp he returned my call in about 10 mins from the time i called we spoke about the problem. He said that a governor cover could be a problem but~~he could not give me the complaint or symptom~~~~But~~~if its governor related it sounds like a early/late shifting problem~~~~this could be a cable problem/linkage/vacuum/exhaust a problem not related to the work~~~~If you give me more info i might be able to give you a direction other than the transmission to look at~~~~~~questions to you~~~how is the engine running? what diagnostic work has be done? When you take your foot off the pedal does it shift then? Or it does not matter~~~~~
The Tranzmn~~~~~~
Joe
Richmond,California,
U.S.A.
HOW TO ASK FOR PAPERZ
#9Consumer Suggestion
Mon, April 28, 2003
The shop that went out sends in on a weekly basis a report of jobs collected on. A sheet that lists "invoice numbers" and customer infomation license etc. And most important amounts this is how you can ask for your warranty information. Also if you paid by credit card you can get your charge reversed for up to a year (if he account is still open) also if you need to track down the original owner of the shop a filing of a (d.b.a) doing business as~~is required which lists the owner/home address/phone/ss# etc~~~this is public record~~~~your best solution is to serve head office in PA. And bring them to the table or they can default and you can have them served with a order of examination an take it out of their bank instead of them taking it out of yours~~~~~~THE TRANZMN
Joe - Consumer Advocate
Richmond,California,
U.S.A.
WARRANTY REPAIRZ ..Sue AAMCO head office ~~they have to show up or the lose by default.
#9Consumer Suggestion
Sat, April 26, 2003
This is a sitation that happens when the intershop warranty program fails. Since all of these shops are independent of each other but~~~~are bound by the franchise agreement to take care of warranty issues.
Most likely the shop is missing the (qualified) person to repair this vehicle successfully. The original shop is no longer there for a reason!!! Most likely lotza C/B ~~ Come backs~~~The costs for this is a burden to the warranty shop. Most likely this is not the only comeback from the failed shop.
Sometimes they have more business from the comeback side than the paying side. Since you have a contract for services performed and failure during the warranty period. You must file the lawsuit in the original county that the contract was executed.
Sue AAMCO head office ~~they have to show up or the lose by default. Then you can sue the name since they are the ones who have guaranteed performance on the terms of the contract when they took your car. (100 miles)~~~~~THE TRANZMN