Complaint Review: Tilden Car Care RPB FL

 I ask that you please take the time to read and review this creep. He is part of the South Florida Tilden Car Care family. This is Theodore (Ted) Russo; the owner of Tilden Car Care in Royal Palm Beach, FL. Theodore Russo is a felon, a scam artist, a predator, an incompetent bold face liar and will take advantage of anyone’s good nature to make a profit! See Russo’s mug shot at Arrest.org. His other court records are also available online for viewing. His scams are well documented online and the Tilden management has and will not do anything about this vile mouthed representative of theirs. Search his name on Yahoo/Google, “Theodore {Ted} Russo Tilden Car Care of Royal Palm Beach, FL”.

Read all of the complaints about Tilden Car Care and Ted Russo. It is NOT just me complaining here!! I am writing because this happened to me and many others like me and nothing is done about it! How long does Tilden think they can let Ted Russo get away with this? I drove to Tilden’s in RPB, FL for a flat tire repair and to find a place I could have my vehicle serviced when needed. There are a lot of auto repair shops in the area and I was hoping to find an honest auto shop that I could trust. This is exactly what happened to me when I went to Tilden’s Car Care of Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Theodore Russo said that “I can’t have just the flat tire balanced, that I need all 4 tires balanced”.

Russo then tells me that he can’t balance all 4 tires and put them back on my vehicle without a front end aliment. Tire rotation was extra. I was getting hit left and right by this jerk. By this time I just should have left but I needed my vehicle now and stayed like an ignorant, helpless auto customer that Ted Russo preys on. While servicing the flat tire, Ted came out front and said “that my vehicle wasn't safe to drive”. That “he cannot let me drive it the way it was”. That “I need a fuel injection cleaning or my truck won’t run”. That “I needed a new Goodyear Sepintine belt –“it’s going to brake” {Ted fed the man in front of me this very same line - No Joke}. That “I needed four brake pads replaced”.

He charged me $15.00 to remount the spare tire up under the vehicle! I ended up spending $480.00 for work that should not have been done. I take care of my vehicle yet Ted gave me a list of things he said “must be done or it doesn't leave his shop”. I was shocked that all of this work was needed but like a fool I put my faith and trust into Russo. I thought that “He was the owner and he must know what he is talking about,” boy was I wrong. I looked at this new Sepintine belt and could not even tell if it was new or not. My vehicle ran no better after the fuel injection cleaning. But the scam goes on. Ted did have the gall to ask me if I’d like “Welcome Discount Card” for another $75.00. This “valuable” yellow card has “Over $500.00 worth of free savings”.

It included “4 Free Oil Changes”, I thought for 4 oil changes it was worth the $75.00 so like a sucker I opened my wallet to get my CC. “We only take cash or debit for this service”. I thought it an odd request but paid with my debit card. So Ted changed the oil and filter. I specifically asked for 6 quarts of 5w30 oil, the oil the manufacturer recommends for my vehicle. Ted put 5 quarts of 10w30 in it. Nothing was said that I needed another quart of oil either. He let me drive away anyway; I thought I was good to go. I just so happen to stop at Walmart right after leaving Tilden’s and I checked all the engine fluids to see what I needed to pick up. That’s when I saw the oil was low on the stick. I picked up another quart of oil and put it in the engine.

It doesn't end After driving 3000 miles I called to make an appointment at Tilden’s for a filter and oil change. I was trying to use the “yellow card of savings” which Ted sold me. Ted answered and said that “we are too busy and can’t do it today”. Alright I’ll come back. I drove to Tilden’s 3 days later and with no customers or cars in sight he said he was too busy. The 3rd time I drove there he again said” he’s too busy to change the oil”. The fact is he did not want to do it and had no intention of doing it the first place. Ted snaps at me “Were not Jiffy lube”!! “You should have told me this when you took my money” I said. I asked for a refund and said I have wasted enough time with you over this”! “I have had it with your foolishness”!

“Ted said that “the yellow service card is nonrefundable” and” I can’t give you the money back and that he was sorry”. I was absolutely floored!! Nowhere on this card did it say anything about it being nonrefundable. I asked if this is the treatment he would want if he was the customer. I’m sorry he says again. I asked Ted to explain to me why the money is not refundable; he had no reason and just muttered some unintelligible words. At this time I did not want Theodore Russo of Tilden’s Car Care to touch my vehicle again! I knew that I was taken for another scam. Ted began yelling at me to leave and I had to leave, I was so angry. That evening I searched Yahoo/Google for Russo’s name and was absolutely furious as to what I found.

Other customers just like me that have been scammed by Theodore Russo. In fact the other customer’s complaints are a lot like mine!! Now why would that be? It is because Russo is actually doing these things to good trusting people!! Doesn't anyone get it yet?? I first tried to contact Ed Novetti, the Tilden South FL district manager by email on Tilden’s own website. I sent them 3 emails with no reply. I then called Ed Novetti at 561-845-3367. I told him of what had taken place. Ed Novetti had no idea at all as to what to do about this and he didn't care either. In turn Ed calls Ted, and has Ted call me. This is verbatim what Theodore Russo said to me on the phone. “You’re a f***en piece of s**t and don’t ever come back!!” and hung up like the fowl mouthed coward that he is, this so proudly spoken by Theodore Russo a Tilden Car Care specialist?

Are you kidding me?? I was shocked!! I tried 9 times; yes 9 times to call Ed Novetti back over a period of 2 months for an explanation. He is either not there all the time or you could leave a message on his secretary’s voice mail for a call back. We’ll guess what, that’s right he never called back! The South FL Tilden Car Care representative’s that I have dealt with first hand are rotten! Tilden Car Care Corporate is said to be proud having Theodore Russo represent them. I could see Ted’s merit award on the wall. Ted Russo will purposely steal from you by telling you lies, changing his story and flat out not remembering what he has said to you. Then he picks your pocket of all the money he can for repairs that are not needed to your vehicle.

Theodore Russo of Tilden’s Car Care in Royal Palm Beach, FL is counting on it that you do not take him to court. The court fee starts at $80.00, plus your time to get the form, filling it out plus taking time off from work and getting a sitter. Then going to court and taking a day off from work and getting yet another sitter. The anger and frustration of the matter is maddening! How many customers can afford this when they just gave their money to Russo to fix their vehicle? This is exactly how Theodore Russo gets way with all of the scams he pulls on a trusting public. That you will not take him to court!! Russo will take you for every penny he can the very first time he sees you.

He does not care about having returning customers. Theodore this is your MO and no one is making anything up! YOU’RE BUSTED!! This is who you are and this is exactly what you do to people! Due To Theodore Russo’s criminal history, and threats made to me I cannot sign this letter in fear of retaliation from Theodore Russo upon me and my family. If you do not believe me and the other customers that have complained about Ted Russo and Tilden’s Car Care then I say take your vehicle to him and see what happens next. Ted Russo’s Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Registration No. is MV83940 Issue Date: August 1, 2013 / Expiration Date: July 28, 2015 This will not be soon enough!!