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Ken Towery's Autocare Supercenters RIPOFF Caused $4000 of damage to my vehicle and would not pay Lexington Kentucky
At approximately 8:00am on 6/1/07 I took my car to Ken Towery Autocare on 2587 Nicholasville Road in Lexington Kentucky due to air bubbles in the brake system. I asked that they bleed the brake system and install new fluid. This is an elective vehicle maintenance procedure and all components were in working order. Prior to this incident, on 5/28/07 the vehicle was inspected by a non involved certified technician with a checklist that listed all braking components in working and safe condition.
At approximately 10am on 6/1/07 while the vehicle was being serviced by Technician: Corey, of Ken Towery I personally observed the technician stand three feet from my vehicle and run towards a wrench that had been place on my right brake caliper. He made heavy contact with the wrench which sheered the inside bleeder bolt off of the caliper rendering it broken.
At that time he walked to the left side of the car and worked on that brake caliper where I inspected and identified a large crack surrounding that inside bleeder valve. It should be noted that these were both the inside bleeder valves that have never been worked on by outside personnel as the standard protocol is to use the outside or outboard bleeder valve.
When I observed the damage done to both calipers I walked inside to the service counter and advised the manager: Steve Donovan of the damage. He spoke with his technician and returned stating, These things happen when dealing with seized bolts. At that time I walked away and contacted the Master Mechanic at Auto Motion in Louisville, KY, Bryan Rose for expert opinion. His deposition is enclosed. I was informed that due to the nature of aluminum calipers or any materials for that matter, it is standard protocol to heat the surface until the bolt can easily be broken free or else damage may occur.
I advised Steve Donovan of this conversation and he stated it is standard protocol for them to force the bolts free and he would not accept responsibility. He did not attempt to heat the caliper to work the bolt loose. He offered for me to pay in full for replacement parts and labor.
I declined and advised him that this is unacceptable that a working $2395 brake system should be brought to him for a routine elective maintenance (fluid change and bleed) and be rendered useless by their technician. He then required that I pay him for labor already performed in the amount of $52.08 for labor and cost of brake fluid. I paid due to the fact I believed I was forced to until court but I advised the manager I would be seeking legal remedy and I wrote on the receipt at the signature line Under legal dispute. He stated, Youre not going to get far with that. I advised him to put the wheels back on the car and it would be flatbedded by this writer to Audi of Lexington for inspection and repair. I have enclosed an affidavit from the findings of their master mechanic.
While waiting for the flatbed I observed brake fluid spewing in large amounts from the crack in the brake caliper as did the driver of the Tow Truck from CTS towing. His affidavit is enclosed. The amount of fluid flowing from the caliper was to the extent that all of the brake fluid was completely drained from the automobile within 10 minutes onto the bed of the tow truck.
It is my contention that not only was the vehicle inspected to be in perfect working order three days prior to this service but it would be impossible for this crack and these damages to have been there without the personnel of Ken Towery knowing about it due to the fact that the vehicle would have either have been completely empty of brake fluid or the fluid would have been spewing from it when it arrived and it was not. The caliper was in perfect working condition and the fluid was completely full and holding fluid (something it could not due after they cracked the caliper).
It is my contention that the service technician of Ken Towery negligently damaged an expensive brake system that was in proper working order leaving this writer stranded without an automobile. This writer then paid to Audi of Lexington the amount of $2056 to have working OEM replacement parts put on the vehicle so it can be safely driven with operable brakes. It should be noted that the brake system that was damaged and was on the vehicle was the AP Racing brake system model# AP2900 and sold the sole authorized distributor in the US named Brake Pros (for the amount of $2395. Enclosed is the price sheet and spec sheet for the damaged system in question.
The total for the kit to be shipped (using the least expensive UPS ground of the four options they offer) to the city of incident is $50.89) for a grand total of $2445.89 in parts that would be replacements for damaged items. Labor to have these parts installed would be $190 quoted from Audi of Lexington for a total for parts and labor to install damaged parts of $2635.89.
I also request a refund of the labor charged and performed by Ken Towery Autocare on 6/1/07 in the amount of $52.08 due to the fact the labor performed was labor to damage the brake components and the parts part of the charge was brake fluid that had leaked completely from the caliper within 30 minutes of their damage to the caliper. The total amount of labor, parts, and repairs to replace the damaged components is therefore $4553.97.
NOTE, the following was written on my sales receipt from Ken Towery:
"BLEEDER SCREWS ON FRONT CALIPERS BROKE IN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR VEHICLE -- ADVISED CUSTOMER. CUSTOMER FEELS WE DID NOT PERFORM PROPER TECHNIQUE TO PERFORM TASK."
Michael
Lakeworth, Florida
U.S.A.
21 Updates & Rebuttals
Kay
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
OH SHUT UP!!!
#22General Comment
Wed, August 10, 2011
The guy won his court case!! All you little 'Judge Judy' wannabees aren't so clever either, are you?
DATSRacer
Georgetown,Kentucky,
United States of America
Tell the rest of the story Michael...What about the track day you did 2 days before the repair?
#22UPDATE Employee
Fri, December 04, 2009
As an employee of Ken Towery's at another location, this was the topic of discussion within our Manager Meetings for a long time. It just so happens that one of my client stumbled upon this in a Google search and asked me to look in to it. I remember this specific incident as I was part of the discussion.
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ken Towery's Autocare Supercenters RIPOFF Caused $4000 of damage to my vehicle and would not pay Lexington Kentucky
#22Author of original report
Sat, August 11, 2007
The $1500 is the maximum amount of allowable damages in Kentucky small claims court. They can allow $81 of court costs to be recovered as well if it is made clear the defendent should be responsible. There was no question in this case. The mediator prior to the hearing urged them to settle, but this is a company that does not accept responsibility despite even admitting in court their terrible practices. They never once denied they used a long handled ratchet and used heavy sharp force. They never denied they broke the bleeder screws which is precisely where the crack in the aluminum caliper was found. They worked on the car for over an hour with not a single notice of any fluid flowing out of any crack in the caliper. After they cracked the caliper the fluid spewed from the crack and the car eventually drained of all fluid. At that point the technician never even told his manager. It was me who went back into the customer area and told the manager. His response was for me to pay for everything. He even charged me for work performed including the fluid that had spewed out onto the floor after they cracked it. The judge had a memorable look on her face at that one.
This has never been about the money. I don't need their $1500. I wanted it to be proven that they can't keep damaging customer's vehicles and take no responsibility. Since the time of this incident I have collected several other people's stories and as much evidence as they still possess and was shocked how much I am not alone in this. I have even been contacted by email by several individuals. With the $1500 I am purchasing and maintaining a website dedicated to the stories from these individuals who felt wronged by Ken Tower's.
My actual damages are horrendous but this is really not the issue for me.
Here is my bill from Audi of Lexington. The total was $2056. This is just to have OEM replacement brakes installed while my custom AP Racing brakes had to be ordered, built, shipped from europe to California and finally shipped to me.
(((link redacted)))
Here is the bill to have the AP Racing brakes that were on my car...
(((link redacted)))
Here is my rental car bill...
(((link redacted)))
Here is there measly check that will fund a website dedicated to them...
(((link redacted)))
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
$1500 is NOT $4000
#22Consumer Comment
Sat, August 11, 2007
As I stated in my earlier rebuttal, this brake damage was hardly $4000 in damages!
The link worked and indeed the plantiff won a judgement of $1500!
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ken Towery's Autocare Supercenters RIPOFF Caused $4000 of damage to my vehicle and would not pay Lexington Kentucky
#22Author of original report
Fri, August 10, 2007
That's a lot of accusation and assumptions that turned out incorrect.
Here is another link to the judgment...
www.mjbmotorsport.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/judgment.JPG
img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/judgment.jpg
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
You did not prove your rip off
#22Consumer Comment
Thu, August 09, 2007
Bad link and no case on file . You never proved your rip off. You only proved your hustle.
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ken Towery Autocare Supercenter of Lexington Kentucky Ripoff Report... (((link)))
#22Author of original report
Fri, July 20, 2007
The following is the case number: 07-s-00518
You can also view it online looking up the Fayette County Courts in Kentucky.
I dont know how to upload to this site but you may view the judgment on my photobucket account at:
smg.photobucket.com/albums/v714/bhvrdr/?action=viewt=judgment.jpg
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
Smoke free area
#22Consumer Comment
Thu, July 19, 2007
What is the year/ make/ model of your car? When you say Ap racing brake system, are you talking about the entire kit? Slotted- drilled rotors, brake hose, calipers, and pads? How many pistons is this caliper? I ask this because if you have a 4 or 6 piston caliper, you may have more than 1 zert/zerk/ bleeder on the caliper.
If you have an opposing bleeder screws, then it would make sense to remove the wheel to have access to both sides. If there is more than 1 bleeder screw, would'nt all of them have to be opened to do a proper bleeding? Why else would they be there?
You saw him take a 3 foot run, break a bleeder screw that went flying, and said nothing when he went to the other side and repeat. Okay. That sounds believable. You use your expertise to claim that inside bleeder valves are to never be worked on, yet, you just stood right next to tech and watched him break one side and then go break the other, Okay.
Bleeder screws are tightened to about 13 lbs. of torque.
You only state that Towry acknowledged that the bleeder screws broke while trying to remove them because they were frozen. On the receipt, they wrote that they were trying to repair vehicle? You never state it, but after re-reading all of your posts, I saw a big clue in your first post. You do not come right out and post it, but you give strong hints that Towry is claiming that the calipers already had damage to them.
It is my contention that not only was the vehicle inspected to be in perfect working order three days prior to this service but it would be impossible for this crack and these damages to have been there without the personnel of Ken Towery knowing about it due to the fact that the vehicle would have either have been completely empty of brake fluid or the fluid would have been spewing from it when it arrived and it was not. The caliper was in perfect working condition and the fluid was completely full and holding fluid (something it could not due after they cracked the caliper).
Your big argument, is that the only Towry had worked on your vehicle since the complete inspection just 3 days earlier. Then you make a little slip and post that you had tried to work on it after the brake inspection. It looks like Mike from Radford, Virginia hit it right on the head. Go back and read his post. You wrote that you tried to flush and bleed the brakes but you had problems. Got some air in it. Yeppers.
On the 18th, at 2:30 pm you post that you will take them to small claims court but only intend to ask for $1,500.00 because you're a nice guy. Then miraculously, you make a post at before 11:00 am. the next morning claiming you won the case in District court? You must be living life in the fast lane. I had no idea that the court system in Lexington worked that quick. What was the Docket No. of your case. It should be easy to look up. Would you mind scanning and showing the court award to us? I would be the first to say that I am wrong.
Don't continue to write that you would show us the pictures, receipts, affidavits, sworn statements, and court awards if only your comp was able to upload pictures. Since you have claimed that you have a killer doctoral degree and are board certified and have done many years of work in the ethics field, I would think that surely you would have access to a comp that can copy and send all of your evidence that you tell us you want to show. Prove your complaint of stop blowing smoke.
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
KEN TOWERY AUTOCARE SUPERCENTER WAS FOUND GUILTY IN DISTRICT COURT TODAY....
#22Author of original report
Thu, July 19, 2007
The judge was able to see the evidence presented by both sides and Ken Towery admitted once again to shearing the bleeder screw. They had worked on bleeding the car for an hour on the other caliper that they cracked and attempted to claim was already cracked. Of course the judge must have found that odd since the car was brought to them with full fluid in it and they were working on the car for an hour and didnt seem to notice any fluid spewing from the crack in the caliper but after it was broken fluid was spewing from it and the car would not even hold fluid anymore. She was presented with affidavits from both parties and the written admission that they had already broken the bleeder screw.
The juge ruled on the case immediately without recess and awarded me the full amount allowable by the courts.
Now we can add to the 21 better business bureau complaints 1 more complaint and to the lawsuits filed against them 1 more lawsuit. Hopefully they will change their practices some day.
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ken TOwery of Lexington ripped me off....
#22Author of original report
Wed, July 18, 2007
"You have so many holes in your story. If you don't mind taking the time. Please explain where the tech was standing when he started his 3 foot run, and where he ended up at. How else would he bleed the system if he were not under the car? You claim the tech was not under the car when the breakage happened? That would mean you are claiming that the tech removed the wheels to have access to the calipers."
YES, THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT I SAW HAPPEN. THE TECH HAD THE CAR AT APPROXIMATELY WAIST HEIGHT WITH THE FRONT WHEELS REMOVED AND WAS WORKING FROM THAT ANGLE. I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU WOULD CLAIM OTHERWISE WHEN THEY CONCEDE TO THIS. I WATCHED THIS OCCUR. IF YOU ARE STATING THAT IS NOT A PROPER WAY TO DO THINGS THEN IT APPEARS YOU ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION. HE WAS NEVER UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR WAS NEVER RAISED FULLY IN THE AIR. HE STOOD BACK 3 FEET FROM THE CAR WITH THE RATCHET ON THE INSIDE BLEEDER VALVE AND CHARGED AT IT SHEARING THE SCREW COMPLETELY OFF SENDING IT FLYING. I LITERALLY WATCHED THIS OCCUR WITH MY MOUTH WIDE OPEN. ARE YOU GETTING WHY I HAVE FILED THIS NOW?
"This may come as a surprise but it is not normal sop for a shop to remove wheels and bleed the brake system from the outside of a car."
I'M GLAD YOU STATE THIS. THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT I OBSERVED THEM DO AND WHAT THEY ADMIT TO DOING. THEY CLAIM THEIR PROCEDURE IS SOP AND ARE STANDING BEHIND IT.
It has been asked by all those who posted to your ROR but you still have not answered. You have an after-market racing brake system on your car. Two days earlier, you had a certified tech look at that brake system and it passed with flying colors. Your certified tech said that your brake system components were in working and safe condition.
Why would you go to a generic auto shop two days later to work on that brake system if nothing was wrong with the brakes?
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ASSUMING THINGS. THE TECH WHO INSPECTED THE SYSTEM HAD THE SOLE JOB OF INSPECTING CARS. THAT IS WHAT HE DOES AT HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING EVENTS. HE IS A TECH INSPECTOR AND MUST CHECK OFF ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS.
THE REASON I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A BLEED WAS BECAUSE YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CHANGE OUT THE FLUID AFTER HIGH PERFORMANCE DRIVING. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR HOME 4 HOURS FROM THE EVENT I STARTED TO BLEED THE SYSTEM AND GOT BUBBLES IN IT. I DIDNT HAVE ANYONE THERE TO HELP ME SO I HAD THIS SHOP DO IT BECAUSE I ASSUMED THEY MAY HAVE A PRESSURE OR PNEUMATIC BLEEDER.
PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAD ENJOYED MY EXPERIENCES AT THAT SHOP WITH VARIOUS WHEEL BALANCES DONE BY THEM ON THREE OF MY CARS. IN FACT AN EMPLOYEE OF THAT SHOP I CONSIDERED A FRIEND. THIS HAS BEEN HARD FOR ME AND PEOPLE TRYING TO STATE I AM SCAMMING AND ASSUMING THEY USED PROPER PROCEDURES WHEN THEY WERE NOT THERE TO SEE WHAT I SAW IS MORE DIFFICULT. AGAIN, THIS SHOP FULLY ADMITS TO BLEEDING THE VEHICLE WITH THE WHEELS OFF AT WAIST LEVEL FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS IS NOT DISPUTED BY EVEN THEM SO I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU WOULD. THEY ALSO CLEARLY STATED THEY ARE THE ONES THAT BROKE THEM. THEY EVEN PUT IT IN WRITING.
I WAS ADVISED BY AN ATTORNEY TO ADD THE COST OF ALL OF THOSE DAMAGES THAT WERE INCURRED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR BREAKING MY CALIPERS. THE RACING CALIPERS ARE CUSTOM UNITS THAT CANNOT BE EASILY OBTAINED SO I HAD NO OPTION BUT TO PUT OEM STUFF ON UNTIL I CAN HAVE A NEW SET MADE.
I AM NOT OUT TO SCAM. IN FACT I AM NOT EVEN GOING AFTER ALL THOSE DAMAGES LISTED. I AM WILLING TO DO THIS IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR ONLY $1500 DAMAGES. I JUST WANT THE JUDGE TO SEE THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU CAN'T SEE BECAUSE I CANNOT UP LOAD PHOTOS ON THIS SYSTEM. I JUST WANT THIS COMPANY TO ADMIT WHAT THEY DID TO ME AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. IF I COULD UPLOAD PHOTOS I WOULD SHOW YOU THAT THIS COMPANY CLEARLY IS NOT STATING THEY DIDNT BLEED FROM WAIST LEVEL FROM OUTSIDE (NOT UNDER) THE CAR. THEY CLEARLY PUT IN WRITING THEY BROKE THEM. THEY ARE NOT DENYING THE LONG RATCHET WAS USED AND IN FACT STATED THAT IS EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE. THEY STATED, "YOU HAVE TO APPLY A LOT OF SHARP FORCE TO BREAK LOSE BOLTS."
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
U.S.A.
Gotta laugh!
#22Consumer Comment
Wed, July 18, 2007
I have to laugh!
I used to work at an auto parts supplier. The little "bleeding thingy" for bleeding breaks is called a Zerk.
Zerks can be replaced very easily, even when they are broken off.
How easy you ask? Just go to any hardware store that sells drill bits and ask to see some "easy outs."
Then, remove broken "bleeder thingy"
Install new bleeder thingy.
Hardly $4000 in damages. LOL!
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
The only hustle here, is being done by the person who filed the ROR
#22Consumer Comment
Wed, July 18, 2007
You have so many holes in your story. If you don't mind taking the time. Please explain where the tech was standing when he started his 3 foot run, and where he ended up at. How else would he bleed the system if he were not under the car? You claim the tech was not under the car when the breakage happened? That would mean you are claiming that the tech removed the wheels to have access to the calipers.
This may come as a surprise but it is not normal sop for a shop to remove wheels and bleed the brake system from the outside of a car. That would be the same as claiming an oil change place, would not take off the oil drain plug from underneath of the car. That they had to go from the top of the engine compartment and reach under the engine cradle to remove the plug.
Too much wasted time and work to do it that way. Your asking us to believe that the tech had a long handled ratchet sitting on the bleeder screw, the handle facing to the outside of the car, and then he did a 3 foot lunge at it. A long handled ratchet, a 3 foot runing start to remove a 5mm threaded short bleeder screw out of a aluminum housing? That is not even close to being a realistic story.
Sorry, did not happen. People do not use long handle ratchets to loosen bleeder screws. Most use a short box wrench. Because of suspension, shocks, coil springs, cv shafts, metal and rubber brake hoses, you have no room to use anything but a shorty box wrench.
Most calipers have the bleeder screw located at the side of the piston reservoir. It is not located in the caliper bracket. Most calipers are not centered at the highest point of the disc.
For those that are at the high point of the rotor, the bleeder would be at the center. In all other cases, it would be at the right or left side of the reservoir. The back side of the caliper is where people bleed it from. It is done from the backside of the caliper because it is practical and easiest to work on the bleeder from that position. The same goes for wheel cylinders.
It has been asked by all those who posted to your ROR but you still have not answered. You have an after-market racing brake system on your car. Two days earlier, you had a certified tech look at that brake system and it passed with flying colors. Your certified tech said that your brake system components were in working and safe condition.
Why would you go to a generic auto shop two days later to work on that brake system if nothing was wrong with the brakes? Why didnt you have the certified tech who had done the inspection, work on the brakes. It is easy to assume why he refused too. You should have left out the input concerning all of the expert techs. Then it would not have been so obvious that you were setting this shop up. Your certified expert most likely refused to work on the brakes, for fear of breaking the bleeders. You most likely knew from the specialist, that you had air in the lines.
You already knew that air was in the system. You were not able to repair it. Since your certified specialist had the wisdom to refuse to do the work, you needed to go to plan B.
Why are you demanding that the shop pay for both sets of calipers? The after market ones and the original equipment calipers? You of course keep both sets. You have no ethics. Your just a two bit hustler who keeps writing as though your making a legal argument. Also, everyone that has responded to you ROR has done so as a consumer comment, not as a employee rebuttal as you claim. Rebuttals are done by owners or employees of the business being complained about.
What you are doing is very unethical. Your claimed education, or lack of it, has nothing to do with your report. For you to accuse those of responding negatively to your ROR , to work for Ken Towry, shows that all you want to do is attack the messenger, not prove that their message is wrong. I looked at the Towry web site. They show to have 16 shops located around Kentucky. I have never, ever , been too or even seen one of them. It seems that you have researched them well. I suppose you think, that since it is a large operation, they would be an easy mark for you.
Do not use the complaints on them to justify the hustle that you are trying. Everyone that has responded to your post, understands exactly what you are doing.
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ken Towery's Autocare Supercenters RIPOFF Caused $4000 of damage to my vehicle and would not pay Lexington Kentucky
#22Author of original report
Sun, July 15, 2007
Just to reiterate. There is no question of who damaged the brakes. Ken Towery themselves put it in writing that they are the ones who damaged them.
It's interesting the folks at Ken Towery are now submitting rebuttals here (yes, it is that transparent) but if Ken Towery wants to call into question my ethics in filing a complaint or trying to "scam" I dont think that will go far.
I am a board certified and licensed doctoral level provider who has 20 years of education with substantial work done in the field of ethics including being licensed under an ethics board. I don't think anyone would presume I would file a complaint on a matter of this little money in order to "scam" anyone.
If you want to research my own certifications you will not find a single ethical complaint against my license, ever, or any other complaint. You will also coincidenatally not find a SINGLE lawsuit or even a SINGLE better business bureau complaint ever filed by me until this occurance. Not much of a scammer am I?
Now Ken Towery on the other hand has the following in just the past 36 months.
www.bbb.org
21 Complaints
1 regarding Billing or Collection Issues
1 regarding Billing or Collection Issues
1 regarding Guarantees or Warranty Issues
1 regarding Failure to honor service under the terms of warran
1 regarding Product Issues
1 regarding Defective product
11 regarding Repair Issues
1 regarding Improper or inferior repair
2 regarding None of the Above - Indicate Repair Complaint Issu
6 regarding Repair Issues
1 regarding Repairs resulted in additional damage
1 regarding Unauthorized repair
7 regarding Service Issues
Anyone who would like to learn more can always email me and even feel free to stop by and take a look at the components and meet with actual certified master mechanics who will verify this all.
CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.
Mike
Macon,Georgia,
U.S.A.
You're a scammer. Period.
#22Consumer Comment
Sat, July 14, 2007
You stated that you took the vehicle in to have "air bubbles" bled out of the brake system but then said that the brakes were inspected previously and no problems found. Air in the system is a problem, therefore you contradicted yourself. Air doesn't just suddenly appear in a brake system for no reason.
Also, in order to remove a steel bleeder screw from an aluminum caliper, a professional would not use heat. Calipers or any other brake part should never EVER be exposed to heat in that manner. The part should be replaced. You are just trying to scam some free brake work.
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ken Towery's Autocare Supercenters RIPOFF Caused $4000 of damage to my vehicle and would not pay Lexington Kentucky
#22Author of original report
Fri, July 13, 2007
Yikes, not at all. I have never filed a complaint in my life which is easily verifiable. I took it to Ken Towery because I trusted them. You are definitely right, that was my mistake but hindsight is always 20/20.
I wish I had looked them up on Better Business Bureau prior to trusting them. 21 complaints in 36 months is absolutely unheard of when researching any other tire/brake/exhaust shop in the state and the neighboring states. Check it out yourself. Can you imagine that? 21 complaints. I should have checked them out better I guess.
The shop I usually take my car to is 90 minutes away and not as convenient but I should have gone that route. Luckily their master mechanic and ones from Audi have signed affidavits stating you do not use a long handled wrench and wind up and smash on aluminum brake components, but we all know that.
Mike
Radford,Virginia,
U.S.A.
A nice little scheme...
#22Consumer Suggestion
Fri, July 13, 2007
You know all these expert techs. You know how to do the job yourself. Why did you go to another shop? The answer is obvious. You tried to bleed them but found the bleeders were hopelessly seized. Your other experts wouldn't touch them because they knew that they would just break. So you tried to find a patsy to blame it on and buy new calipers for you.
Nobody's going to heat up a brake caliper while it's on the car to try and unstick the bleed screw. That would almost certainly ruin the seals, and also boil/coke the brake fluid inside.
You should demand satisfaction from the caliper manufacturer. They used improper materials for them to get stuck like that.
Michael
Lakeworth,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ken Towery's Autocare Supercenters RIPOFF Caused $4000 of damage to my vehicle and would not pay Lexington Kentucky
#22Author of original report
Fri, July 13, 2007
To answer the rebuttle...
Yes, I was standing within 4 feet of the individual working on the car. The shop is set up with bays that are directly on the edge of the building like many tire or exhaust shops. This company did also allow me in the service bay itself.
No one was "under the car." When bleeding a brake system you would not be "under the car" as that would place the brakes above your head and the brake bleed screws are located at the top of each caliper so having a car raised above your head would make it extremely difficult to bleed the brake system unless one was standing on a step ladder as well.
Anything else does not change the facts that the company admitted in writing to braking both bleeder screws and the technician did admit to standing away from the caliper and running at it with a long handled ratchet on it. He admitted this only after being confronted in front of his manager with the fact that I had observed him. They stated this is standard practice to brake loose seized bolts. I disagreed when it comes to delicate aluminum brake components and first consulted a master ASE technician who stated their standard practice on such a component would be to heat the component and at the very least to advise the customer they were having difficulty. No such thing occurred.
After further research it is also found that Ken Towery's Autocare Supercenter has a remarkable 21 complaints filed against them through the BBB in the past 36 months. This excludes individual locations of their stores that also have complaints filed. That information can be found online through the Better Business Bureau. That number is 700 times the number of complaints filed against the larger chain of tire/exhaust/brake shops in Kentucky.
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
asking for too much.
#22Consumer Comment
Thu, July 12, 2007
You claim that you were in the service shop watching the tech work on your car. That you were actually under your car while it was on the lift? I don't know of any shop that allows the customer in the service area. Insurance reasons and safety. I am sure that many people who read this report will agree that you only need a 6 or 8 inch ratchet and one hand to break the bleeder screw. I can not imagine, anyone, taking a running start to break a small screw, especially while working under a vehicle on a lift.
Changing the brake fluid is not elective as you claim. Contamination of fluid will break down the flexible brake hoses, seals in master cylinder, and seals in calipers. Moisture will get into and contaminate brake systems. It is recommended by most brake system manufactures, that the system be purged every 2 years. Some even recommend that it be done annually. Most people do not give regular service to their brake system, They wait until they have a failure with it.
Since you wrote that you already knew that there was air in your brake system, I don't understand why you say the repair was elective. Either you fix the problem, or your system will fail.
You claim that just a few days earlier, a certified tech, checked off that the brake system was in safe working condition. Why then go to someone else to work on the brake system if a certified tech already said that everything was OK? Why didnt you have the certified tech that ran the check list, go ahead and bleed the system? It was not in perfect working order as you claimed.
Are you demanding that the auto center repay you for the cost of the OEM calipers as well as a new set of aftermarket performance calipers? You likes you are expecting two bites at the apple.
You have tried to write your complaint in a format of legal jargon that implies you intend to start law school in 4 or 5 years. That is all fine and good. Just, don't blow so much smoke claiming to be an expert brake tech also. You made too many statements that show you are not. Good luck.
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
asking for too much.
#22Consumer Comment
Thu, July 12, 2007
You claim that you were in the service shop watching the tech work on your car. That you were actually under your car while it was on the lift? I don't know of any shop that allows the customer in the service area. Insurance reasons and safety. I am sure that many people who read this report will agree that you only need a 6 or 8 inch ratchet and one hand to break the bleeder screw. I can not imagine, anyone, taking a running start to break a small screw, especially while working under a vehicle on a lift.
Changing the brake fluid is not elective as you claim. Contamination of fluid will break down the flexible brake hoses, seals in master cylinder, and seals in calipers. Moisture will get into and contaminate brake systems. It is recommended by most brake system manufactures, that the system be purged every 2 years. Some even recommend that it be done annually. Most people do not give regular service to their brake system, They wait until they have a failure with it.
Since you wrote that you already knew that there was air in your brake system, I don't understand why you say the repair was elective. Either you fix the problem, or your system will fail.
You claim that just a few days earlier, a certified tech, checked off that the brake system was in safe working condition. Why then go to someone else to work on the brake system if a certified tech already said that everything was OK? Why didnt you have the certified tech that ran the check list, go ahead and bleed the system? It was not in perfect working order as you claimed.
Are you demanding that the auto center repay you for the cost of the OEM calipers as well as a new set of aftermarket performance calipers? You likes you are expecting two bites at the apple.
You have tried to write your complaint in a format of legal jargon that implies you intend to start law school in 4 or 5 years. That is all fine and good. Just, don't blow so much smoke claiming to be an expert brake tech also. You made too many statements that show you are not. Good luck.
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
asking for too much.
#22Consumer Comment
Thu, July 12, 2007
You claim that you were in the service shop watching the tech work on your car. That you were actually under your car while it was on the lift? I don't know of any shop that allows the customer in the service area. Insurance reasons and safety. I am sure that many people who read this report will agree that you only need a 6 or 8 inch ratchet and one hand to break the bleeder screw. I can not imagine, anyone, taking a running start to break a small screw, especially while working under a vehicle on a lift.
Changing the brake fluid is not elective as you claim. Contamination of fluid will break down the flexible brake hoses, seals in master cylinder, and seals in calipers. Moisture will get into and contaminate brake systems. It is recommended by most brake system manufactures, that the system be purged every 2 years. Some even recommend that it be done annually. Most people do not give regular service to their brake system, They wait until they have a failure with it.
Since you wrote that you already knew that there was air in your brake system, I don't understand why you say the repair was elective. Either you fix the problem, or your system will fail.
You claim that just a few days earlier, a certified tech, checked off that the brake system was in safe working condition. Why then go to someone else to work on the brake system if a certified tech already said that everything was OK? Why didnt you have the certified tech that ran the check list, go ahead and bleed the system? It was not in perfect working order as you claimed.
Are you demanding that the auto center repay you for the cost of the OEM calipers as well as a new set of aftermarket performance calipers? You likes you are expecting two bites at the apple.
You have tried to write your complaint in a format of legal jargon that implies you intend to start law school in 4 or 5 years. That is all fine and good. Just, don't blow so much smoke claiming to be an expert brake tech also. You made too many statements that show you are not. Good luck.
Edward
Vine Grove,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
asking for too much.
#22Consumer Comment
Thu, July 12, 2007
You claim that you were in the service shop watching the tech work on your car. That you were actually under your car while it was on the lift? I don't know of any shop that allows the customer in the service area. Insurance reasons and safety. I am sure that many people who read this report will agree that you only need a 6 or 8 inch ratchet and one hand to break the bleeder screw. I can not imagine, anyone, taking a running start to break a small screw, especially while working under a vehicle on a lift.
Changing the brake fluid is not elective as you claim. Contamination of fluid will break down the flexible brake hoses, seals in master cylinder, and seals in calipers. Moisture will get into and contaminate brake systems. It is recommended by most brake system manufactures, that the system be purged every 2 years. Some even recommend that it be done annually. Most people do not give regular service to their brake system, They wait until they have a failure with it.
Since you wrote that you already knew that there was air in your brake system, I don't understand why you say the repair was elective. Either you fix the problem, or your system will fail.
You claim that just a few days earlier, a certified tech, checked off that the brake system was in safe working condition. Why then go to someone else to work on the brake system if a certified tech already said that everything was OK? Why didnt you have the certified tech that ran the check list, go ahead and bleed the system? It was not in perfect working order as you claimed.
Are you demanding that the auto center repay you for the cost of the OEM calipers as well as a new set of aftermarket performance calipers? You likes you are expecting two bites at the apple.
You have tried to write your complaint in a format of legal jargon that implies you intend to start law school in 4 or 5 years. That is all fine and good. Just, don't blow so much smoke claiming to be an expert brake tech also. You made too many statements that show you are not. Good luck.