Complaint Review: Meineke South Elgin

I came here for a free brake inspection. As advertised they inspect all components of brakes for free. Which is asked for and did not receive. Instead he asks me if my brake pedal was soft. I say yes. He then tells me it’s $50 to put on the lift and diagnose. Even though he didn’t even perform the free brake inspection which would have revealed a busted brake hose. The oil was leaking onto the differential so this clown tells me that I need to change the differential and he could do it for $200. I denied the service. However his mechanics tried removing the bolts, they failed and broke the bolt head off the first one. Leaving me with a broken stud in the differential housing. I did not notice this until the following day. After repeatedly asking Dennis, how he performs brake inspections without using a lift, since all components are only visibly from underneath the car or behind the tires, he became irritated and then verbally assaulted me by calling me "f****** cheap”. Furious with this type of service and treatment I called corporate. And upon discovering the damage, they advised me to go back to the location and dispute it with the owner. The same guy who verbally assaulted me.

Upon my return the next day, I confronted Dennis with the damages and I tried to record the encounter. He tried taking my phone from me and then tried to physically assault and threaten me by making a fist. I filed a report with the police, who basically said the charges would be petty. So I didn’t press any charges. Corporate basically told me I was on my own and that they do not issue financial disputes. And since the owner had stated he won’t pay for damages that I was basically on my own. I miracously got a hold of the ceo and briefly explained the situation. I was contacted by corporate the next morning and awarded a check for the damages. This only included the physical damages done to my vehicle. This does not include the charges of the "diagnostics” that could’ve have been discovered through their free brake inspection. Also this does not compensate me for the time and stress I’ve endured at the hand of this incompetent and physically abusive owner.