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Meineke, Bristol, CT Do NOT go to this Meineke bristol, Connecticut
I was just at the Meineke in Bristol Ct to have my steering checked out because it wasn't working properly. It was as if I no longer had power steering. It was checked out by Chris who informed me that I needed to have my power steering calibrated and it needed to be done at the dealership. He also informed me it wasn't dangerous and wouldn't "freeze up" on me I would just have to overcompensate on my turns. I went to the dealership following to ask them about it and was told that ." There is NO such thing as calibrating the steering on my car!" That it would need a new power steering assist motor and that it is "Indeed Very Dangerous" to drive. Chris at Meineke also informed me when I was there that I needed new "brake pads" and showed me an example of how thin my brake pads were. Upon further examination after leaving meineke it was determined that I definately do NOT need new brake pads and they were practically brand new! I am very very distraught about my service at Meineke and so glad I followed up with someone else. Why was I told these things by someone who is supposed to be an expert in these areas? Was it because I'm female and thought I didn't know anything???? Wouldn't someone in this field know if a car steereing can be calibrated or not?? Aslo, why was I told I needed new brakes??? Why was I told it was OK for me to be driving my car when in fact it is very dangerous???? Please explain. Thank you Monica Aiello
Vehicle Year: 2005 Chevy Cobalt Vehicle
5 Updates & Rebuttals
bristol
Connecticut,Meineke
#6Consumer Comment
Mon, October 07, 2013
I was suprised to read the dialogue regarding Meineke and Chris. As a woman I have found Chris to be fair, respectful and honest. As a military veteran I have found him to be in my dealings with him honorable. Chris doesn't need me to defend him in any fashion and that isn't what this is. It is my desire to state or rather put into writing my dealings with Chris and the gentlemen of Meinke. I have found that every employee that I've encountered has treated me with respect that keeps me returning as a woman and a veteran. I not longer check, something they don't know, to see if the price I'm quoted is fair market because they have earned my trust. I've had to sit at length twice to wait for my vehicle and during that stay I witnessed many people coming in and greeting Chris as if they've known him all of his life. Each time I waited for my vehicle it was because Chris and the men of Meinke accommondated an impromptu visit. Again, this isn't me attempting to come to the defense of Chris of Meineke but rather to state as a woman and a Veteran my experience has been the opposite.
Meineke Deliberately Lied & Misdiag
Terryville,Connecticut,
Wow....Such lies by Meineke
#6Author of original report
Tue, August 27, 2013
Unbelievable Chris, your response to my complaint.
First of all there was NOT another employee of yours in the office at the time of our discussion! None whatsoever! Why lie and make things worse for yourself.
Second, I specifically asked you if my car was safe to drive as I was leaving and you VERY CLEARLY told me YES it was fine ...no problems...just be careful not to overcompensate on my turns. Do you think I made that up?????
Its saddens me that you have so little honesty & integrity and that you would lie about such things. If you were any kind of manager or man you would have probably offered me a free service or tried to work with me instead of spewing lies and making matters worse for yourself.
Also, I spoke to YOU directly on the phone on one occasion. I just chose not to have further conversations with you after my first one as I didn't care to listen to your lies and coverups.
I will continue to discourage anyone from visiting your Meineke store. Especially women who you will try to scam!
Did your mother raise you this way????
Chris
Connecticut,Your complaint
#6UPDATE Employee
Wed, May 15, 2013
I was contacted by a customer and advised of your posting about the service you where given. We have made serveral attempts to contact this customer via phone after getting a complaint filed with our company. The customer only responded via email.
Seeing as you now have choosen to excerise your right to express your opinion in an outside format I will excerise my right to address your comments. I am the person you are refering to in your post and once again i am finding myself having to defend your statements. First off as the witness stated you where given a free visusal inspection and no diag was done. So how could we have mis diag a car when one wasnt done. Second. I told you you NEED to goto a dealer for this issue and I never, NEVER stated to you your car was safe to drive. I said " I can def see the hazards of losing your power steering esp when making a turn and that you really need to have the dealer check the car."
After your complaint I interviewed the staff member present when i was addressing you and they confimed that i never told you the car was safe to drive. I advised you of several things. First I advsied you you need to have the dealer take care of it. then i advised you your brakes looked low and should be insepcted from a visual look at the in bound front pads from underneath the car when we where checking your p/s. Again no full brake inspction was done because it wasnt autherized. Seeing as you didnt pay for any services or allow me to do any work or diags what more can i do. I cant just take it upon myself to do a diag and charge you after the fact WITHOUT your permission.
You claim I endangered your life.. Excuse me but i didnt make the car, I didnt buy the car and I didnt do a diag on your car. I did my job to the fullest with the confines of what you allowed.
I would of been a crook if i told you you need a new p/s assist motor and charged you for something that is under recall from chevy. Yes the recall from Chevy. Public service announcement:: For those who dont know there are many TSB's and Recalls on Cobalts, and any other car with a ECOTech 2.2L engine with power assist steering. Check your Dealer to see if your car falls under them. It just goes to show that when you do the right thing there will always be someone to try and get over on you.
My only regret in this would be that i somehow didnt convey to you with enough insistance that your power steering was failing and needed to goto the dealer. No one would think that losing power steering when driving is a good or safe thing. what i take away from this is simple. I need to make sure that any time i come accross this problem again i make sure i express to them and that they understand thats not good.
I want to thank the customer who stood up for the service we provide and who contacted me and advised me of your post.
And for those who are wondering, this customer refused to contact the center via phone, only in a few emails. The head office was also advised of the customer complaint. A investiagtion was opened and found no wrong doing and the case was marked closed.
Meineke Deliberately Lied & Misdiag
Terryville,Connecticut,
Bristol Meineke
#6Author of original report
Sat, April 27, 2013
Sorry Dear but you obvious have the wrong person. My guess is that you either work at this Meineke or are a friend of someone who does. None of the conversation that you stated took place took place!! Sorry. I NEVER asked him how much money it was going to cost. I already new it was just a free diagnositc test. You need to have your hearing checked!! ALSO, there was knowone in there with a cobalt when I was there! Yet another lie you have made up. You appear very very angry...perhaps anger management would work.
Everything you have said that I did or said is untrue. But I give you credit for trying!
I have heard complaint after complaint since about this Meineke. If you want to continue to go there...by all means go for it!
OH, and its not about the service being free or how much it would have cost. Its about the safety of human life!!
NIKKI
HAMDEN,Connecticut,
I was there
#6Consumer Comment
Sat, April 27, 2013
I read Ripeoff report all the time and when i saw Meineke of Bristol i had to see what it said because i am regular customer, my surpise was that i was acutally there when this person was because i rememebr asking the guy upfront, Chris, right afer you left if that probelm can happen to my car because i have a colbalt too.
What i find most shoking about your "report" is how you could be so mis-informing to others. I dont know about your brakes but i do clearly recall you asking him about your power steering, You asked. Is it safe to drive? His response was, " well to be honest I can judege because i dont know what the exact issue is and i can see the hazard of that happening when your taking a corner and have to over companste." but you must of missed that when he told you you need to goto a dealer and pay them to figure it out.
As i have the same model i asked him after you left what was wrong and he told me that some of those cars have a issue where they have recalls.
Oh and by the way,,,, what did you pay for because i didnt see you give him any money???????????????????????????? In fact you asked what do i owe you and he told you if was a free inspection. Man the nerve of some people who just want someone to blame. Let this be a lesson, the internet is vast but you never know whos reading and they might have the a differnent version to your "story".
you attack a business that told you where to go to get it fixed and didnt charge you. Like i said ive been a customer of them for years and Im a women and I never felt that i was being taken advantge of, in fact the reason i go there is because they explain everything to me and i trust them with my car and the 3 kids i put in it every day. i am going to contact them and make them aware of your post and i hope they take action!!