BRAKE CHECK Unethical Business Practices San Antonio, Texas
This document is being written by Amber's father who is a 35+ year master vehicle maintenance technician.
On the morning of 9/19/09 at approximately 0730, California time, I received a call from my daughter Amber who lives is San Antonio, Tx.
She was at Brake Check in San Antonio having her oil changed on her late model Outlander. The vehicle has approximately 56,000 miles.
During the inspection, she was advised that she needed a complete brake job. This included turning the front rotors, installing new pads, turning the rear drums and replacing the rear brake shoes and that the vehicle also need both rear wheel cylinders replaced due to leaking.
She called me and sent me a photo of the left rear brake. When I viewed the brake photo it appeared that the brake lining was approximately 30% worn and I could see no visual indication of the cylinder leaking.
My daughter then asked Jesse Salazar, at Brake Check, how much would the brake job be. He stated: "the brake job will be $804.32". She then called me again. I explained to her that the price he quoted was "way to expensive". I told her to ask him for a written estimate for the entire job specifying all parts needed and cost of each parts and how much labor time and cost is involved.
NOW COMES THE INTERESTING PART. Jesse said to my daughter, "it is against company policy to provide estimates with parts and labor prices". He refused to provide anything in writing regarding his verbal quotation mentioned above.
Boy, if this isn't a RED FLAG I don't know what is.
Recommendation to all readers of this report.
Being a professional mechanic for 35+ years and working at a Chevrolet Dealership for many years as a master technician, I WOULD NOT TAKE MY PERSONAL VEHICLE OR TRUCK TO THIS OR ANY "BRAKE CHECK" FACILITY. THIS IS DUE TO THEIR "REPORTED" COMPANY POLICY OF NOT PROVIDING A CUSTOMER WITH A WRITTEN ESTIMATE INCLUDING THE TOTAL COST OF PARTS AND LABOR FOR ANY SUGGESTED REPAIRS.
Dad and Amber