Complaint Review: Mobile Virginia Maryland and DC Auto Body Company

Unfortunately, there is a family and affiliates throughout the DC metro area and near Baltimore that promise mobile auto body work that can pass as body shop work but over-quote and strongarm consumers for payment even on jobs that are unfinished or not as promised. Despite advertising as working for and owning their own repair shops, they are actually part of a "gypsy scam" throughout the region (see http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/1734273/1957049.html and search for the name "Kaslov" as an example).

One individual, completely awful, Cody Kaslov (http://www.peekyou.com/cody_kaslov/364478372, https://twitter.com/codykaslov, https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000724958535/96d92be027aa3b84c7ac5aaa4335021f_400x400.jpeg) also goes by "Joe" (http://www.yelp.com/biz/auto-body-alexandria). He and his associates circulate names such as Joe and Tom especially on Craiglist postings for mobile auto body work. 

He in particular has stopped to provide quotes and completed work with who he claims are his wife and kids in a van. He'll give the impression they came from a family event or had personal troubles requiring his family to be there. He's a quick talker, quotes an exorbitant price and rigmarole necessary to do a job but then comes down to a price offered. The day of the work, it's actually a total rush job. Nothing's taped off, streaks are everywhere but you would've thought he would've come with some huge operation when it's basically a bunch of paint cans. The paint's not even dry before he's ready to hightail it out, becoming pushy and overbearing when it's time to pay, even though the work does not match the quoted price or the labor estimated. He's either ready to "follow you to an ATM" (his words exactly) or hover at your house until you pay him. He'll actually get loud and posture as if he would harm you or your belongings if you don't pay the agreed upon price so you just give him the money so he'll leave. He and his associates are totally deceiving, definitely overpriced. Not even worth what I offered, definitely not what he quoted. 

Unfortunately, they are so numerous and pervasive. They change names and spoof phone numbers, having multiple ways of contacting them so they don't seem similar or connected but unfortunately, when you call, you get the same spiel and aggression. The best you can do is be wary of Craigslist postings in the DC, VA and Maryland area that offer same-day, mobile, and/or 60% discounted work and 20-35 years of experience. They try to vary their posts but you see the same promises and language throughout. They'll also use consistent phone numbers or spoofs of numbers (e.g. 571-882-9968, 703-867-8490, 703-459-5416, 718-314-8177, 571-226-0029, 410-841-9352. Other ways to notice them are through their "companies" [e.g. E&J Mobile Auto Body, 7220 Deborah Dr, Falls Church, VA 22046, 571-327-0744 (via Google listing)] and "websites": http://www.autobody.8m.com, http://touch.urbanretails.com/AdZone/AdDetail/008613, among suspicious others. 

Don't let any of these people come to your home, for your safety primarily, but also for your sanity.