Complaint Review: MR TRANSMISSION/MILEX - Chamblee Georgia

I am writing this letter to file a formal complaint against MR TRANSMISSION on PEACHTREE INDUSTRIAL and the owner VERNON HIGHTOWER.  As of today 09/21/10 my 2004 Nissan Maxima has been at the Peachtree Industrial location in Chamblee GA since 08/16/10. On 09/17/2010 I had to call the local law enforcement to this location because Mr Hightower refused to allow me to pick up my vehicle due to paperwork issues that should have been caught when they occurred back on 08/23/10.

Week 1: 08/16 08/22 On 08/16 my husband contacted Mr Transmission in reference to our transmission problems. We were told they were familiar with the symptoms we described and it could be as simple as a sensor. The price we were quoted was $300 - $1500. We were told that it would take approximately three days to complete the repairs. On 08/17 I spoke with Josh employed at Mr Transmission who stated they needed to have a card on file so they could get started. I agreed to leave the card on file and gave him my debit card info over the phone.  The next day my bank account was overdrawn because they ran my card for $898.  We called the shop and I was told by Josh that it was company policy to get a deposit. I argued with him how can you charge my card without my permission or without giving us an estimate of the repairs.  He referred me to the owner.  On 08/21 I finally received a written estimate of $3252 to replace the transmission.  The labor cost was $898 the exact amount charged to my debit card without my permission. My husband called a Nissan dealership and was giving an estimate of $3000 and a 12000 miles/12mth warranty.  Mr Hightower agreed to drop $200 of the bill & give us a warranty for 18000 miles/18mths.  The car was already there, the prices were comparable, we were told that the repairs would be completed by the end of the week so we decided to go ahead and allow the franchise to complete the repairs.  MAJOR MISTAKE! On 08/20 we rented a car for a week.

Week 2: 08/23 08/29 08/23 I fax back to Mr Transmission an application for credit from GE Finance that the franchise offered as well as a copy of my bank statement showing where they had over drawn my account. I also requested in writing credit for the overdraft fees. I needed a co-signer so my daughter gave Mr Transmission her information over the phone. We were told by Josh at the Chamblee store that all they would need from her was a copy of her drivers license.  It was approved and according to GE Finance the money was sent to them on 08/23. We called several times during the week to find out exactly when the car was going to be ready. Finally on 08/27 were ready to pick up the car as promised. We were told there was a problem with a part and that it will not going to be ready until next week. We extended the rental a second week.

Week 3:  08/30 09/05 08/30 called the Chamblee store and we spoke with Josh.  Again we are told about a missing part that had delayed the repair.  No fixed date on when the car will be ready.  On 09/01 my husband and I went to the Chamblee store and spoke with Josh.  He stated that a wrong part was received and that the correct one was on the way and the car should be ready by Friday.  I asked Josh for the balance on our account.  He went to the computer at his desk (the farthest desk from the service bays) and stated that we currently owe $654.00. I asked him if they had already received the $1500 from GE and he confirmed that the money had been credited already.   On 09/03 the car was not ready.  I spoke with owner Vernon Hightower during my lunch break who told me that the information I received from Josh on 09/01 was incorrect and that there was a National Nissan back order for some time now on the valve body part needed to complete the repairs on the car.  He said that he expects to receive the part by next Tue or Wed but will not commit to when the car repairs will be completed.  He said that I was trying to trap him into saying when the car would be ready and if it didnt happen then I would accuse him of promising something he couldnt deliver.  I asked about a refund for our additional rental costs.  He absolutely refused to compensate me in any manner.  He told me that he will call me when the car was ready.  I advised Mr Hightower that I needed my car ready by 09/10 and disconnected the call. We extended the rental for a third week.

Week 4:  09/06 09/12 My husband called the Chamblee and Duluth stores and spoke with Josh and John Pruett in reference to when will the repairs completed.  Finally on Thurs 09/09 we received a call from Josh around 4-4:30 pm stating that the car was ready except that theyre having the computer checked out by the Nissan dealership and will definitely be ready by Friday 09/10. We called Friday and now car was not ready.  Now they claimed that the car was having computer problems and the car was at the Nissan dealership in Gwinnett being checked out.  We extended the rental for a fourth week. On 09/11 I called both the Chamblee and Duluth Mr Transmissions and left messages for the owner Vernon Hightower.  I requested a call back in reference to my repairs and compensation for the expense of renting a car for weeks. Mr Hightower did not return my calls.

Week 5:  09/13 09/19   09/13 We were told by Bobby that the car was at the Nissan dealership in Gwinnett.  I called this location and spoke with the service department who told us that they was no record of my car coming in for service under my name or the repair shops name.  We spoke with John Pruett and confirmed with him which dealership is supposed to be checking out my car.  I asked him why there was no record of the vehicle at the Nissan dealership.  He responded that they do not bring the cars through the front door.  They have relationships with certain mechanics so they take them through the back door to avoid paying the service fee which is over $100. According to John Pruett the mechanics at Nissan gave him a list of things to check out on the car including wiring etc.  John stated this could take 1-2 more days.  He said that the car was making a violent jerk when driving.  He also said that they installed the transmission correctly and the problem is with the computer.  John stated that we could pick up our car as is and take it home.  I asked if we would be refunded any of our money.  He said no.  We advised John that we wanted what weve paid for and that is our vehicle to be fixed correctly because we never wanted to have to bring our car back to them ever.  We rcvd a call on 09/15 from John Pruett and was told that the car was ready to be picked up.  My husband went to the dealership on 09/17 and was told that they were not releasing the car to us because they needed my daughter who co-signed with us on the loan from GE Finance for the repairs to come in person and sign the loan documents.  This loan was processed and approved on 08/23 and according to GE Finance the money was disbursed on that date.  From 08/23 to 09/17 almost a month, Mr Transmission had the opportunity to check and double check that they had all necessary paperwork.  We have paid to date $2398 and now our vehicle is being held hostage.  My husband spoke with the owner Vernon Hightower and he said that my co-signer will have to come in to sign the paperwork.  We asked why this was not brought to our attention before. The reason why her information was given over the phone was because she lived out of state which we informed them. Mr Hightower told my husband that he could refund the $1500 back to the GE account and we could pay them with another method of payment.  We again asked for compensation for rental fees, again Mr Hightower refused to refund us any of our expenses.  I contacted GE Finance again and was told that it would take 2-3 business days for the money to return to the account.  GE Finance also stated that the card had no actual cash value or access to cash.  The card does not have a VISA or Mastercard logo it cannot be used for anything except repairs at certain locations. We asked Mr Hightower why the Nissan dealership had no record of my car.  He stated that we called the wrong Nissan dealership.  We were giving this information by his employees.

I contacted the Dekalb police department and requested that they meet me at the repair shop.  While waiting for the Dekalb police dept, we met another customer of Mr Transmission name Alex who also had the same complaint.  He was quoted a very low price.  His car has been there for a month and he's also getting the run around. He has giving me his phone number and is also interested in filing a complaint.