MR. TRANSMISSION Liars, ripoffs, devious and deceptive practices. Spring, Texas
1816 SPRING CYPRESS
RD
SPRING, TX
77388-3519
Phone: 281-353-5600
URL: www.mrtransmission.com
They are crooks that practice deceptive and unethical practices including lying! I called to get an estimate on transmission replacement and was asked by Alex what were the symptoms before the car stopped. I explained to him the symptoms and was told by Alex that the problem was the snap ring and most people think its a $3000 dollar job but its a $120 part and $400 dollars in labor. He offered free towing with repair and to pick up my car that night. When I did hear from Alex (after he was released from jail that day) he said that they were getting codes from the computer. The codes were torque converter codes. He asked for my verbal authorization to remove the transmission so that he could find out what the problem was. Several days later Alex called with the bad news that I needed a new transmission and the cost would be $2838. When I said no thank you, he quoted me nearly $800 dollars in charges. $120 for towing, $489 for removing the transmission and another charge for inspecting the transmission. Excluding the towing is free with repair statement; the other charges were not disclosed to me when Alex asked for my verbal authorization. My husband gets involved at this point and the price is negotiated to $2200 dollars. Next, Alex would need a credit card over the phone to start repairs. This also was not disclosed to me prior to having my car towed there. After I contacted the corporate office with a verbal complaint, Alex lied and said that he did disclose the $489 and inspection fee when he got my authorization. Finally my car is ready a week later than Alex said that it would be ready. I had my friend call and ask what methods of payment they accepted and Alex stated cash, checks, and credit cards. About 45 minutes later we show up (on a
Liars and Crooks!! Stay Far Away!!!!!!!
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Bubba Lee
REd Deer,Alberta,
Canada
An Insiders View
#2General Comment
Tue, February 16, 2010
I worked as the "manager" (means salesman) in a reputable Transmission shop for a while.
The Loss leader free tow and diagnoses are common ways to get your vehicle into the shop. It should have been pointedly explained that if the repair was not done at this shop they would not be free but I know that repair order had it in the small print. Another Loss leader is the cheap oil change. A less than reputable shop can use that as an excuse to bill big $ for an un-needed repair. By the way a trans oil change should cost between $50 and $100 PLUS oil, filter and gasket.
Loss leaders are a BIG red flag. Good trans shops don't need to use them, in fact most good shops have waiting lists, only a few days but a wait.
Good shops make a point of laying out step by step and detailing what exactly things will cost at each step and the hidden things like the billed if not repaired at our shop.
The over the phone diagnoses (broken snap ring) is a HUGE red flag, no reputable shop does this, the most that should be said is it "may be" a minor repair, never ever quote a price.
Finally when the shop I worked for got into a dispute like this, first we recommended if the customer was feeling pressured because we had the vehicle that it go to another shop of the customers choice, at this point we were not going to make any money and there was another car waiting for repair so why deal with someone who thinks we are ripping them off.
If we got accused of being dishonest it became a case of you no longer have a choice we box your parts up, charge you the fee agreed to at this point and once we are paid, as a good will gesture, paid to have the car towed to the shop of the customers choice. (Yes we paid for the tow).
What I believe is the largest North American chain of trans shops tracks Their shops for rip offs, complaints and dishonesty, does Mr Transmission?
I hope the above will help others to avoid the rip off artists out there.