Had front brakes and front wheel bearing replaced. Integrity said they would check everything and let me decide what I want done, which is fair.
Assuming they checked everything to do with the brakes, that would include the rear and front wheels, I would have expected Integrity to ensure all wheels were on tight, however, about a day or two later on the way home from PA the left rear wheel started to wobble. At first I thought it was a wheel bearing or tie rod, so I figured I'd fix it when I get home, as we lived several states away from PA.
After about 6 to 8 hrs of driving the wheel lost 2 lug nuts and 2 studs snapped off. Also the remaining 3 lug nuts were loose to turn with fingers.
After I got home and had the lug nuts/studs repaired for $40, I called Integrity and received a phone call back from Luca Palanca, the owner of Integrity. Initially he said we was willing to pay the costs to fix the 2 lug and 2 studs, about $40 in the state I live at, but then he started talking in circles with ' what if ' scenarios--what if someone was trying to rob your van??? My response: my van is a beat up with most of the paint missing off the top. No one would want to steal an old 1990s minivan, packed up to the hilt with camping gear, as we were camping in Meadville.
Then he said the next time your up here (meadville) he will split the costs of the repairs 20/20, since he can't verify if he or I or something else is responsible for mechanical issue.
I mentioned perhaps the lug nut were put on too tight and it stripped the studs threads, as I noticed that the other wheel lug nuts were on too tight, with at least a couple lug nuts malformed where I couldn't get a wrench on them. Luca said if the lug nuts were on too tight then the wheel wouldn't have came off, but Luca incidentally failed to realize that a stripped stud could also be the cause of the lug nuts coming loose.
I believe the lug nuts were tightened too much and stripped the threads of the stud or perhaps they were not tightened enough.
Luca Palanca was not willing to take the blame, even though it is clear to me that it was his shop that is the likely cause of the wheel almost flying off the van, after all, he was the last person to mess with my vehicle in a mechanical way, as most of my time in PA my family and I were at a campground with the van sitting in front of me and no one else around.
If he was the last one to mechanically mess with my vehicle then shouldn't his mechanics noticed the loose lug nuts in their inspection of my brake system?
I feel Luca Palanca does not represent the name of his company-Integrity, but rather blame everything else but his company-last people to touch my car, for my van almost loosing a wheel while my family and I were driving down the highway.
I feel Luca Palanca can't be trusted, nor will I ever return there, nor will i ever recommend their company to anyone in the future, unless, perhaps, they pay me $40 for the repairs of my wheel and/or at least admit that their shop is the cause for my van's wheel almost flying off while driving down the highway.
Aside from that, the people at the front desk were very nice and kind. So were the mechanics.
Luca on the other hand,--apparently doesn't want to save face.
* if something changes, I will amend my story.
Yankee
North Carolina,#2Consumer Comment
Wed, September 17, 2014
It has been sometime since I've re-visited Ripoff Report but was curious to see if my original report was commented on. Luca-the company owner of Integrigy Auto of Meadville, PA did leave a rebuttal to my original report.
First of all I'm a dude; however, some of info sent to Luca's business was probably in the name of my wife. Not sure.
Second, I do not know Luca or his business associates and have no personal beef with any of them. They all seemed really nice, and down to earth-good folk. The cross in the name of the business did draw to me to InTegriTy as I too believe in the Christian Way.
Third, I can only tell my story and it is by no means a lie. I only have my word, and both Luca and I know, that we will/are judged by it. Therefore there must be some miss communication here, as perhaps Luca got me confused with another customer or somehow the facts got blurred.
Now, I will attempt to address Luca's rebuttal line for line--for the most part.
Luca stated: No business likes to do transactions/business with customers from out of state because they usally do a CHARGE BACK!
Response: I have no idea what Charge Back means--honestly I don't, but will google it. I'm quite naive with the business jargon. Just saying.
Luca stated: I felt so bad and told customer that I would pay what ever it cost just fax me a bill, she never did,
Response: Luca, I remember talking with you on the phone. I do NOT remember you asking me to fax the bill. I do remember you stating that next time your up this way(PA) you would give me some kind of discount. You also stated that perhaps someone outside the business intentionally loosened the lug nuts in somekind of auto theft procedure; however, the vehicle was at all times at the campsite in front of me. The feeling I got from our conversation was a rushed -- get out of my face and off the phone feeling--like I was wasting your time feeling. That's how you came across to me as a first time customer. Just saying.
Luca: paraphrased (drove 856 miles -- 3 campsites -- no way that loose lug nuts would last even five blocks)
Response: The next day after staying at Meadville KOA, we drove home--think it was about a day or two after your repairs.
The drive was first to Roanoke to visit my brother -- stay overnight. That is when the back left rear wheel started to make a weird noise. I remember telling my brother, that perhaps the wheel needed air. The next day I left for NC from Roanoke, on the way back to NC,-near the TN/NC border on I-26, the wheel started sounding horrible(thud, thud and steering was difficult). This is when I noticed the lug nuts missing and studs snapped off. I tightened the remaining 2 that were still there and drove home very slowly to Asheville, NC.
I don't remember if it was the next day or a couple days after, but I had the lug nuts and studs repaired. We drove our other vehicle in the meantime.
Luca: I recieved my money from her FALSE complaint!
Response: I didn't know they were going to charge you extra. I just wanted some compensation or even recognition that perhaps your guys thought the lug nut was on tight but missed it, or perhaps it was stripped or whatever. Just some acknowledgment--I could care less about the money, though, it is true, we are not wealthy, but live paycheck-to-paycheck like many people these days; but we do work and support a family of 5.
Luca: I tried calling cutomer on 2 numbers she left 5 or 6 times and Both phone numbers were and still are DISCONNECTED!
Response: True our phone number has changed a lot, but It was quite sometime after the our trip up to PA. I'd have to check the dates.
Sorry for the missunderstanding and misscommunication. I wasn't trying to scam you or whatever--I wouldn't even know where to begin. I was just telling my side of the story and felt ripped-off as a first time customer.
Water under the bridge, and perhaps if I'm up there again I will give your business another try.
Thanks for your time Luca
Luca Palanca
Meadville,#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Wed, October 09, 2013
I am Luca Palanca, Owner of Integrity Complete auto repair, This customer came to my shop because of a noise she was hearing in the FRONT of her Vehicle, when we removed FRONT tires ONLY, it was Diagnosted that customer needed a FRONT wheel bearing, while her FRONT tires were off we recomened FRONT brakes they were low, customer stated that she just had BACK brakes done but not front, she complained of having no money and she was from out of town, Being that we ARE a Christian based company, we Installed New front pads, new front rotors and a new front hub bearing for an unheard of price of $320.56, ( Shop around or get quotes) I did not make a dollar on this customer, I felt really bad! and No business likes to do transactions/business with customers from out of state because they usally do a CHARGE BACK! 2 weeks later I recieved a call from customer stating that her FRONT lug nuts were not tightened and that her wheel fell off, I felt so bad and told customer that I would pay what ever it cost just fax me a bill, she never did, what she did do is called her credit card company ans said she NEVER recieved merchandise that she ordered, when Visa/Mastercard mailed me her complaint, There was a bill for 2 lug nuts FROM THE REAR of her vehicle, I called the mechanic myself and he verified it for me! ( she lied to me, credit card co. and bank!) After further reviewing her Complaint, she drove 10 days and over 856 miles and stopped at 3 differnt campsites, There is NO WAY that loose lug nuts would of lasted even 5 blocks let alone 856 MILES, After The credit card company, her bank and my bank reviewed the case, They ALL FAVORED WITH ME! I recieved my money from her FALSE complaint! During this whole process, I tried calling cutomer on 2 numbers she left 5 or 6 times and Both phone numbers were and still are DISCONNECTED! Maybe she is going thru some financial stress and really needed money and this was her only way? The only thing that we can do now is PRAY for her and her Family and hope things get better for her!