- Report: #185682
Complaint Review: American Engine Installations - Baton Rouge Louisiana
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
American Engine Installations
503 W Watkins Rd Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Baton Rouge, 70814 Louisiana, U.S.A.
Phone:
602-275-7159
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
American Engine Installations ripoff dishonest fraudulent billing and fraudulent service Baton Rouge Nationwide
For starters, my engine locks up so I bring my car in to the local shop. The diagnostic center tells me that I need another engine, so I am charged for that. They take my consumer information, and tell me that they do install "brand new engines."
I was so happy, that I handed them the grand total of $2,589.69. $1,485.00 for labor, $833.36 for parts, After I hand them the money, they tell me that I will have my car back in about 2-3 weeks. I ask them why so long, and they tell me that each engine installed must come from the "main company that manufactures (my) engine." The long wait is the shipping time.
I sit and sit and sit; it has been 2 months from 12/28/05 to 2/17/06. I call Baton Rouge office, only to be told "your car is not ready yet because your engine has not yet arrived." I ask them why not, and they say, "all of your new parts must be ordered in order to rebuild your engine."
I happily pick up my car on Feb. 10. It rides ok for a while, then all of a sudden, I starts to violently rattle and knock on my way back from taking a friend to the New Orleans International Airport on Feb. 16. So I took the car back on the next day, on the 17. I am told by the secretary "Mrs. Ana" that there is nothing they can do, because I did not follow directions under the 3-year warranty to change the oil at 500 miles. I did change the oil in order to travel 120 miles to and from New Orleans within a week of repair! My oil change reciept that they requested "was not exceptable because it was written out." That receipt had the name, address, and phone number of the mechanic that did it.
First of all, I was not told that I would need the oil changed to begin with on a brand "new" engine. Second, I took my knocking vehicle and had another mechanic I know in Brusly, La to look at it, and he said that the engine is not new. The manifold, and other parts he had mentioned were all old. He said, not I, that the engine was rebuilt with the old parts, with only a new block. That's probably what took so long with your vehicle.
He and another one of his mechanics told me that they will not touch the vehicle because I can take American Engine to small claims court because I was way overcharged. Plus, I was lied to about the engine being "new", and it started knocking a week after I pulled it off their lot and given them $2,589.69 cash, the first "1,485.00 as the downpayment for their labor for them to even get started! I got back not one red cent of my money, so I plan to sue and get it back with proof of purchase.
They are a ripoff, and do not deal with these people!! They need to be shut down.
Tressa
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
U.S.A.
I was so happy, that I handed them the grand total of $2,589.69. $1,485.00 for labor, $833.36 for parts, After I hand them the money, they tell me that I will have my car back in about 2-3 weeks. I ask them why so long, and they tell me that each engine installed must come from the "main company that manufactures (my) engine." The long wait is the shipping time.
I sit and sit and sit; it has been 2 months from 12/28/05 to 2/17/06. I call Baton Rouge office, only to be told "your car is not ready yet because your engine has not yet arrived." I ask them why not, and they say, "all of your new parts must be ordered in order to rebuild your engine."
I happily pick up my car on Feb. 10. It rides ok for a while, then all of a sudden, I starts to violently rattle and knock on my way back from taking a friend to the New Orleans International Airport on Feb. 16. So I took the car back on the next day, on the 17. I am told by the secretary "Mrs. Ana" that there is nothing they can do, because I did not follow directions under the 3-year warranty to change the oil at 500 miles. I did change the oil in order to travel 120 miles to and from New Orleans within a week of repair! My oil change reciept that they requested "was not exceptable because it was written out." That receipt had the name, address, and phone number of the mechanic that did it.
First of all, I was not told that I would need the oil changed to begin with on a brand "new" engine. Second, I took my knocking vehicle and had another mechanic I know in Brusly, La to look at it, and he said that the engine is not new. The manifold, and other parts he had mentioned were all old. He said, not I, that the engine was rebuilt with the old parts, with only a new block. That's probably what took so long with your vehicle.
He and another one of his mechanics told me that they will not touch the vehicle because I can take American Engine to small claims court because I was way overcharged. Plus, I was lied to about the engine being "new", and it started knocking a week after I pulled it off their lot and given them $2,589.69 cash, the first "1,485.00 as the downpayment for their labor for them to even get started! I got back not one red cent of my money, so I plan to sue and get it back with proof of purchase.
They are a ripoff, and do not deal with these people!! They need to be shut down.
Tressa
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Engine Soltuions
Irving,Texas,
U.S.A.
Engine Solutions Response
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Fri, June 05, 2009
American Engine Installations (AEI) went out of business October 31, 2008 being unable to survive the economic downturn. AEI has always made its best efforts to provide quality products and services to its customers in a timely manner. Sometimes this was not possible due to supplier issues (AEI utilized over a dozen engine suppliers,) shipping issues, staffing problems, unpredictable workflow, parts availability, or unrealistic customer expectations. With all that said, AEI was not perfect and had its challenges. The engine replacement market is probably the most difficult to insure customer satisfaction within the automotive industry. With there being so many unknowns and variables most general repair shops avoid this line of work. Still, the vast majority of the company's clients were pleased and satisfied with the products and services provided by AEI. Ripoffreport.com reports as of May 12th, 2009, of nineteen complaints, 3 are duplicates; leaving 16 complaints over a 6-year period, five of those were filed after the company went out of business; or to put it another way, less than three complaints per year. In truth, there were many additional complaints filed with various city BBB's, and with various State Attorney General offices; although, many of these represent the same complaint filed with both agencies. In total, during the reporting period there may have been about 350 complaints of one kind or another. AEI operated about 45 shops, mostly franchises and about 15 owned by the company. It must also be remembered that not all customer complaints are reasonable, realistic or accurate and that it is not possible to satisfy every issue to everyone's liking. AEI sold or installed about 7,000 engines per year, and during the reporting period about 42,000 engines were sold or installed. Resulting in a complaint percentage of less than 1%; not an unreasonable percentage given the industry and scope of work. Reported complaints were addressed by the company, and a reasonable effort was made to resolve the issue at hand. Both the Colorado and Texas Attorney General's offices have taken action against AEI. Both cases have been settled; AEI was not convicted of anything and admitted to no wrongdoing. AEI had been a member of the BBB for about ten years, and had always been in good standing (to be so, a company must be reasonable in addressing customer complaints and/or issues.) AEI was dropped by the BBB pending the Attorney General's actions, which were not resolved, before AEI terminated operations. All AEI warranties have become void as a result of AEI's bankruptcy and closure. A proposal had been made to the Texas Attorney General for the continued support of AEI warranties for the balance of their outstanding terms. This proposal was denied by the Attorney General's office, leaving AEI customers with worthless warranty paperwork. As part of AEI's settlement with the Texas Attorney General, a penalty was paid to the state. These funds were to be made available to AEI customers presenting valid claims against the company. Should you have a claim, some restitution may be available to you through the Texas Attorney General's Dallas office.
