Complaint Review: Nationwide Transmissions Larry Duncan

I found a transmission broker online who had my car towed to the Hometown Transmission and Engine Repair shop located at 3318 E University Drive Denton, TX 76208. I was told by the broker that the job would cost between $600 and $1100 unless there was any hard part damage. I had asked what would happen if this amount were close to $2500 and he responded by saying he has never seen it cost that much before. I was told I would know all of the costs up front before any of the work would be performed. This is even advertised on their website. This shop had performed all of the work on my vehicle but the transmission broker had provided the parts for the rebuilt transmission. I was asked to pay an initial down payment of $690 through an online credit card payment source. Before putting the money down I had asked for an itemized list of the work being performed. I was told at 4:30 PM that I had to have the payment in by 8:30 PM the same night or the price of the transmission would go up another $300 and I would be charged a $40 overnight storage fee even though they had been working on my car for over a week now. I told the broker I did not want to submit the payment until I had the itemized list describing the work that was being done but he promised me he would send it the following morning after I had made my payment because the price would go up if I didn't get my payment in by 8:30PM that night. If I refused their services then they were going to charge me $900 to put my transmission back together and charge me a ridiculous amount for the towing as well so they basically had trapped me into getting the work done. After I had submitted my first online payment of $690 I was told that the cost to repair my transmission would cost $2,500 because the catalytic converter was bad as well. I asked how they could not recognize how the catalytic converter was bad from the first diagnostic and they said you cant tell from the diagnostic. I asked another shop if this was true and they said you should absolutely be able to tell if the catalytic converter was bad from the initial diagnostic and that they were trying to scam me for more money. The broker still had not given me any itemized list describing the charges, yet demanded the payment or else the $40 overnight fees would start again. I made the second online credit card payment of $1080 so they could continue the work on my car and it was determined that $2500 was the final price and that I would make the final payment to the shop. When I called to pick up my car I was told there was a second catalytic converter that was bad and it would cost an additional $500 to fix and that if I did not have them fix the converter they would have to void the warranty on the transmission (once again the shop is trapping me into doing the work). I told him that I would pay the amount when I picked up my vehicle and to perform the necessary work. I called 3 days later to pick up my vehicle and I was told by the shop that another catalytic converter was out and that it would cost another $500 to fix. The shop called me the following day and said that they could give me a price break of $250 for the last converter. The shop called me the following day and told me that the converter they had ordered was discontinued but they had found me a replacement for $350. I told the shop I was very unsatisfied that this was not found in the original diagnostic. I was finally told I could pick up my vehicle but that I had to pay $1600 cash and I had to pick it up the next day or the $40 storage fees would apply again. I wanted to pay by credit card but first he said the machines were down. I then asked when they would be back up and if he could call in my card. He then changed his story to they don't accept credit cards at all. The website says they accept credit cards and when I asked about this the shop owner said that his company accepts credit cards however the work was performed by another company within his shop that does not accept credit cards. I was deceived the whole time in thinking that Hometown Transmission and Engine Repair had been doing the work because the car was at their shop. The shop refused to give me an itemized receipt for the work performed saying they had to bundle the package for tax purposes. I said I need a copy for myself that itemizes the work that was performed on my vehicle and that it was a simple request that any other shop would provide. They refused to give me the itemized receipt and demanded a cash payment if I wanted my vehicle back. The shop owner then went on to tell me that he was a member of the Better Business Bureau and I said that was great because now I know where to file my complaint. He also went on to say that he could have the complaint removed by simply calling it in because he did not perform the work himself, even though the work was performed in his shop. I am now out $3,500 and do not even know what I have paid for. The shop owner has refused to give me the last name of the transmission broker that he was working with claiming that he didnt know his last name even though they are doing contractual work together. I asked if they had any paperwork agreements and he said he would not provide me with any information and that I had to call the company myself if I had any issues. They refused to give me my old parts back as well. I feel completely scammed by this Hometown Transmission & Engine Repair shop and for them not to provide me with any itemized list is fraud. I have called around to other shops for pricing so I know that I was scammed by this shop. They seemed to know nothing when I started asking questions. This company is a scam and they are claiming to be a part of the Better Business Bureau. My vehicle does not sound or drive like it has been fixed properly and I do not know what work has been done because I have still not received an itemized list from anyone even though I had been promised one. I would like to take the highest actions possible and will continue with a law suit against all companies involved. I would like a complete refund of the $1600 for the work performed by an unauthorized shop within another shop and the fact that no itemized receipt could be produced for the work and they advertise that all costs will be known upfront. They also are advertising they are a member of the Better Business Bureau which they are not. I would also like charges pressed against the shop for false advertisement and fraud if possible. My transmission light has just come back on and Larry Duncan will not respond to my emails regarding the warranty information or how to get my car fixed.