Complaint Review: Plaza Foothill Systems

I took my car in for a diagnostic ($38) to get the scope of the A/C repair to see if its worth the fix. They called me back and said "We just have to replace a line. It will run you about $300 and you can come pick it up tomorrow." I agreed to the repair because they told me that was all that was wrong from the diagnostic. The next day they told me that the compressor was bad ($425). I asked why they didn't tell me that before doing the first repair. I was told "We can't test the compressor without the line. Thats just how it goes. You can come pick it up tomorrow." Although I was upset about it, I authorized the repair since I was already in it for $300. Now the bill is up to roughly $750.

The next day I call only to find out that the A/C still is not working and they don't know what it is so they need to bring in an electrical guy to look at it. I get a call five days later saying "You need a new computer (ECM) for your car ($800)." I told them not to do the repair beacuse I wanted to contact a specialist. I called a specialist who pulled up the A/C wiring schematics and informed me that the computer (ECM) did not control nor has anything to do with the functionality of the A/C.

I picked up my car that day and payed them $786.58 for an A/C that still does not work. I asked for the old compressor back at the time of that repair but upon picking my car up they told me that they already traded it back in. I requested the owner's number to resolve my concerns but they would not give it to me.

After calling several times I finally got a chance to speak to the owner. I tried to explain to him what was going on only to get a reply of "I deal with people like you all the time who get upset when their bill gets high, wanting freebies." After enduring foul language and personal attacks I requested a detailed reciept of the work that was done but he refused. I told him about the leak that was coming from my radiator directly behind the compressor they replaced, which was not there before, which he responded with "Your not getting any free work from me." then hung up on me.

In conclusion, I believe my rights were violated under the Automotive Repair Act by not returning my old compressor upon request and not providing a detailed description of the work that was done. Not covered under the Automotive Repair Act is deception; telling me it would be $300 to fix, then $750, then $1550 (AKA a money pit), as well as improper business ethics; using foul language, personal attacks and intimidation to get rid of me (the problem) and trying to charge me $800 for an unnecessary part. Upon inspection of the invoice I looked up the price of a compressor. I can get a new one for $248.99
autozone.com/selectedZip,91786/initialAction,partProductDetail/initialpartType,00082/initialR,APP173075/initialvehicleId,1958901/shopping/selectZip.htm).

They charged me $325 for a used one that has visible damage.

mike
Upland, California
U.S.A.