Diablo Mountain Valley Chevron Smog Check Station Over Charge, would not honor quote or Coupon Ripoff Walnut Creek California
I went to a test only station to get smog tested that was shown on smogtips.com and I got a $10 off coupon ( I used this site 2 years ok with good results), and I was quoted $69.95 over the phone by this company for a smog check, My car failed the test so they would not honor quote or coupon. He then rudley told me if I wanted to use the coupon then as the HUGE sign stated "re-test for free", would not be valid, and I could take my car someplace else.
As I was sitting waitng for my car, 4 people had their cars smogged, all at different rates with no coupon. I was not the only one upset by this. I had just had a tune up by Saturn to guarantee my car would pass. And when I took it back to Saturn i was told nothing was wrong, and it should have passed. I later found out I wasn't the only one who "failed" there that sholdn't have.
Lisa
benicia, California
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Larry
Tucson,Arizona,
U.S.A.
License to steal
#2Consumer Comment
Sun, July 24, 2005
Many states have tried using licensed private garages to inspect smog or safety equipment. It is always a license for the garage to steal. Almost every car "fails" and the garage offers to fix it for a fee. Regular customers are more likely to pass than those who come in only for inspections. It's hard to believe that the Golden State cannot muster the resources to do its own inspections.
In Arizona, the smog inspections are done only at state-run inspection stations. They do no repairs. Yes, it is a pain in the a*s to sit in line for what seems like all day but is often less than 30 minutes. And, of course, there is never a testing station anywhere near where you live or work. But whether you pass or fail, you know that you have been treated just like the last guy. You never leave feeling that you would have passed if you had agreed to get an oil change and tire rotation.
Now, you are really going to hate to hear this: the testing fee in Pima County (Tucson) is $12.25 and ranges from $19.00 to $28.00 in Maricopa County (Phoenix). The rest of the state is currently exempt from testing.