Complaint Review: Sierra Automotive Repair

Face it, anywhere else but Reno, Washoe County and Nevada, you'd be a criminal.  That's why criminals LOVE Reno, Washoe County and NEVADA! The word is out these criminal and unethical behaviors described here are the NORM in Reno, Washoe County and Nevada.  Reno, Washoe County  and Nevada already have a bad reputation in the national media; a talk with home insurers confirms people and businesses are fleeing Reno and Nevada, and even Wall Street had DOWNgraded Reno REPEATEDLY to Junk Status.  These shocking behaviors by Reno businesses and Nevada public employees give a further black-eye to Reno, Washoe County and Nevada which Reno is now a  A Blighted Ghost-town and Nevada a blighted State.  This business has been notorious for years for their shoddy business and neighbor practices.

These shocking behaviors by Reno and Nevada businesses give a further black-eye to Reno and Nevada which are increasingly becoming and known as A Blighted Ghost-town and State both only to be way avoided.

Ripping off sierra automotive! So you think that you can take your car somewhere and that any diagnostic done is free? You are out of your mind if you think that.

"Estimate of costs required for certain repairs.
     1.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 487.6879, a person requesting or authorizing the repair of a motor vehicle that is more than $50 must be furnished a written estimate or statement signed by the person making the estimate or statement on behalf of the body shop or garage operator indicating the total charge for the performance of the work necessary to accomplish the repair, including the charge for labor and all parts and accessories necessary to perform the work.
     2.  If the estimate is for the purpose of diagnosing a malfunction, the estimate must include the cost of:
     (a) Diagnosis and disassembly; and
     (b) Reassembly, if the person does not authorize the repair.
     3.  The provisions of this section do not require a body shop or garage operator to reassemble a motor vehicle if the body shop or garage operator determines that the reassembly of the motor vehicle would render the vehicle unsafe to operate "

Not sure if there's somewhere else in nevada law, but the 50$ rule applies to REPAIR of a motor vehicle, not diagnosis. You declined the repair estimate, but you did take it in for a diagnosis which is clearly separate from repairs under nevada law. If they released your vehicle back, its likely because of whatever assault occured, not because of "the law"

Also, since when is the DMV a law enforcedment branch? I'm not sure how having the DMV call the auto repair place would accomplish anything. They aren't part of the legal system.

Also this is the sign that is to be at nevada buisnesses:

"STATE OF NEVADA
 
REGISTERED GARAGE
 
THIS GARAGE IS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES
 
NEVADA AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR CUSTOMER BILL OF RIGHTS AS A CUSTOMER IN NEVADA:
 
YOU have the right to receive repairs from a business that is REGISTERED with the Department of Motor Vehicles that will ensure the proper repair of your vehicle. (NRS 487.6871)
 
YOU have the right to receive a WRITTEN ESTIMATE of charges for repairs made to your vehicle which exceed $50. (NRS 487.6875)
 
YOU have the right to read and understand all documents and warranties BEFORE YOU SIGN THEM. (NRS 487.6871)
 
YOU have the right to INSPECT ALL REPLACED PARTS and accessories that are covered by a warranty and for which a charge is made. (NRS 487.6883)
 
YOU have the right to request that all replaced parts and accessories that are not covered by a warranty BE RETURNED TO YOU AT THE TIME OF SERVICE. (NRS 487.6883)
 
YOU have the right to require authorization BEFORE any additional repairs are made to your vehicle if the charges for those repairs exceed 20% of the original estimate or $100, whichever is less. (NRS 487.6877)
 
YOU have the right to receive a COMPLETED STATEMENT OF CHARGES for repairs made to your vehicle. (NRS 487.6893)
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
 
THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES"

Note that it says REPAIRS not DIAGNOSIS.

The law even goes on to say this is enforced by the director of the legislative counsel, not the DMV. Pure and simple, you may have been assaulted but you are also ripping off this garage by refusing to pay for services rendered.

I am not going to go into the alleged assault, but if that is true then there is no excuse for that and they should be prosecuted.  I would have one question as to the "investigation".  If you get "thrown across the room" and get hit in the back with a door, one would think you have some physical marks.  So when the police arrived what did they do?  Did they just take a report?  Did they arrest anyone?

However, while I will say it is great that you were aware of your rights in what they should charge you.  You also have to admit that it seems a little odd that you would know that, as you probably could ask 100 people(men and women) and I would bet that 95 of them would have no idea of this.

The reason this is mentioned is that someone who seems to be this aware of this law would also be sure that they got something in writing BEFORE they had any work(even diagnostic) done.  So one could think that you were going to try and exploit this "loophole" in getting free/reduced work done.   I believe that this is the law that the OP is referencing.

NRS 487.6875  Estimate of costs required for certain repairs.

     1.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 487.6879, a person requesting or authorizing the repair of a motor vehicle that is more than $50 must be furnished a written estimate or statement signed by the person making the estimate or statement on behalf of the body shop or garage operator indicating
the total charge for the performance of the work necessary to accomplish the repair, including the charge for labor and all parts and accessories necessary to perform the work.

Now as was pointed out previously it says "repair" not "diagnostic fee".  So based on that this law MAY not apply, the OP probably should seek legal advise as to if it would apply in this case.  But for this response let's say that it does.  In that case it appears that the shop would legally be entitled to $50, which is the maximum that can be charged without a written estimate.  So in that case they effectively got a "free" diagnosis when they may have been legally obligated to pay $50.

The account given was accurate and not exaggerated. The police report attests to the same.

It's quite simple, if any business charges a fee for a service, it must be disclosed in advance and agreed upon by the customer...and not extorted after the fact. They neither communicated that fact that they charged a diagnostic fee, nor did they obtain any form of consent. The Nevada DMV enforces the law that requires the auto shop to obtain written permission prior to any work and/or fee in excess of $50. As such, the DMV did intervene in this case, which resulted in the business' release of the vehicle and withdrawal of the illegal charge.

What Sierra Automotive Repair did was nothing more than their attempt to take advantage of a young woman, but when faced with an adult who would not stand for their dishonesty, they resorted to physical violence. When someone 6'3"/300lbs. assaults someone 5'6"/180lbs, knocking them across the room, the original report was more understatement than exaggeration.

The "rebuttal" filed was not a rebuttal in any way. The writer knows nothing of the situation, NV law, nor the events that transpired. Perhaps they don't want to think that in this day and age that such vile behavior still transpires, but sadly - at Sierra Automotive Repair in Reno, NV - it still does.

You took your car in to have it looked at. The auto shop did a diagnostic check and looked over your car to find out what's wrong. You declined to have the work done because it was too expensive but you dont think you shuold have to pay for the diagnostic check? The buisness provided you a service (Diagnosing your car's problems) and you refused to pay them for that service. As for the assault, what did they do to you? This story smells all blown out of proportion. As for the $50 rule in nevada, I'll have to look it up but those laws usually pertain to car repair. Having a diagnostic done on your car is not car repair. I'm sure it a standard fee, that seems in line for the prices around here to have a diagnostic check of a vehicle. Watch out for a counter-suit from them since yuo refused to pay for a service done.