Just Brakes Latest Victim of RipOff Just Brakes--Just Your Wallet Largo Florida
Last Thursday, I took my Toyota to Just Brakes for, yes--their 99.00 brake special. 5 and 1/2 hours and $735.00 later, I ended up with NO brakes--and NO car.
Today, (Sunday) for the first time, I drove the car a short distance. I ended up having to pull over--because of the hideous grinding coming from the front and back. I made it into a drugstore parking lot, and knew I had to leave the car there. I went inside the store to notify the manager that the car had to sit for awhile, and then had to call a tow truck. I also had to call a family member to take me home.
I distinctly remember the store manager telling me that when I left, I would hear a slight rubbing noise, which, with the cars and brake jobs I've had in the past, NO mechanic or manager has ever told me that. I thought that was very strange, but drove it home with very little noise, and no other problems.
I'm not very knowledgeable about car mechanics, but I'm also not all-out dumb, and I know that I've been taken. The car is being towed to Just Brakes tomorrow morning (Monday), and they WILL repair it--at NO extra cost. I have several people involved to help me, and I will have to post an update after this is resolved--if it is.
I found a St. Pete Times News article from June of 2004, in which THIS store, among three in the Tampa Bay area, was the target of a Police Operation Sting and Criminal investigation. Almost 4 years later, they're still doing this.
I'll post an Update very soon. Wish me luck-hopefully, those of us in FL,and across the USA,can organize a Class Action Lawsuit against these leeches.
Barbara
Largo, Florida
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Barbara connors
Largo,Florida,
U.S.A.
Last Update--Car Re-Repaired after 5 days--"Not to Worry" they said...
#4Author of original report
Fri, December 14, 2007
Finally got my car back yesterday (Thursday, 12/13/07). Again, it was no
big deal to them, that I had no car for days, or even that they had no idea
what they were doing in the first place. No apology--ever.
Oh--and the car was filthy. Greasy black fingerprints--not just all over the wheels, but on the sides of the car itself.
Please, please.....warn everyone you know.
P.S. The man sitting waiting for his car when I picked mine up--had a bill
for $600.00. Imagine that....??
Barbara connors
Largo,Florida,
U.S.A.
Just Brakes-"No Brakes"--still has my car (Tuesday)-Thankx RipOffReport for this Most Excellent Website!!!
#4Author of original report
Tue, December 11, 2007
It's now Tuesday, and Just Brakes still has my car. More work to be done--but now, yesterday's re-repair and today's re-repair playaround/runaround has cost me $00.00. And will remain so. After this happened, I visited an independent Mechanic (found by chance), who gave me a professional quote for this same exact brake job/work. It's almost $400.00 cheaper than what Just Brakes has soaked me for.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) I will finally have my car back (released on parole?).
I will be headed for the above-mentioned Mechanic, who, after hearing of
my nightmare, has agreed to do a complete inspection of Just Brakes "handiwork", and will give me a detailed report concerning what they did and did not do, if it's completely safe to drive again, if there's any permanent damage done, as well as a road test drive.
When I went in yesterday, Store Manager Mike showed me what else had to be done. The so-called brake tech who worked on my Toyota was standing there, and couldn't look me in the eye. Mike insisted (over and over again) that he and the tech had thoroughly road tested it, and all was "fine". I simply told him "I don't believe you". He proceeded, in front of employees, customers, and their uniform vendor (they all got brand new uniforms--imagine that!), to loudly argue with me.
When I contacted the Corporate Office in Dallas, TX, the Regional V.P. of Operations returned my call, and alerted the Largo store that I had a problem and was being towed in. He was aware of the emergency situation that I had, with total loss of brakes, and having to pull over (after a very short distance), and abandon my car. He had no real reaction or response, and simply ended the call with "Sorry for the inconvenience--have a nice day"...so nonchalant and flippant. I've heard more concern from people who have dialed a wrong number.
This is nothing short of a nightmare, and if it weren't for the help of family (rides home, rides to work, rides to this criminal enterprise, rides everywhere), I would have had to rent a car (and walked, or taken the bus to get there). Tomorrow will be 3 days without my car. As well as the lost day of pay from work on Monday (10 hrs pay), that I will never see. Obviously, if my car had been competently fixed the first time ( "we're not perfect" was Mike's response/excuse), then I'd be on the road again by now.
But, that's part of the plan-to get you back in there for more $$$--but that didn't work this time for them--and they know this.
One more Update, and this will be over with, until the future Class Action Lawsuit appears, and we'll see the "Building for Sale" sign up in front of every Just Brakes store in the U.S., not just the Largo store.
Thank You so much, RipOffReport, for having this website here for us!
Barbara connors
Largo,Florida,
U.S.A.
JUST BRAKES (or is it NO BRAKES?) UPDATE: The Next Day
#4Author of original report
Mon, December 10, 2007
This morning (Monday), my car was towed (thank you AAA and Keller's), back to Just Brakes for a RE-REPAIR. I had emailed Corporate in Dallas the night before. They responded by calling the Largo store, to let store Manager Mike know that the car was on it's way. They also said this, after I had let them know that I had to pull over/dump the car in an emergency manner: "Sorry for the inconvenience--have a nice day". Like dialing a wrong number-very flippant/nonchalant.
I had it out w/Mike on the phone--when I said that I could have been injured in a serious accident due to major brake failure, he said: "We're not perfect"...
???? When I showed up at the store, behind the tow truck, they were all on it like flies. They immediately went to work on it, although I still don't have the car back. Many hours of so-called "repairs" again-and it's there for the night.
Another Update? Guess so.
I lost a full 10 hours of pay from work, which I'll never see. The tow was already covered. When I explained this to Mike about losing pay, and being out, he just didn't get it. Again--no big deal.
The so-called Technician that worked on it (Fiqiri Collaku), couldn't look me in the eye the whole time I was there. When I authorized a re-inspection for the
re-repair, I was shown the "alleged part" that was causing the rubbing. Mike proceeded to insist that the car had been road-tested before calling me for pick-up, but I knew that was a lie. The rubbing was still there--why didn't I turn around and take it back? Because Mike assured me that the rubbing was normal and natural, and that it takes 5 months-!!!! for the pads and new parts to "seat"--HUH??? NO mechanic/garage manager in the past has ever told me that as I was picking up a car from repairs. ???? And-just as convenient--they were closing for the day! Mike proceeded to argue with me in front of employees and one customer, and I wasn't about to waste my time.
This is all about trust--no more. The car comes home tomorrow. Another update tomorrow.