Complaint Review: Reed's Garage - Forest Hill Texas

I originally took my 2000 SS camaro for ac repair.  I asked the technician to replace the condenser, accumulator, compressor, orifice tube and vacuum the system and recharge with oil and Freon. We agreed on a price of $575.00.  I was put off several days when we had a scheduled time. He finally worked on the vehicle on 05/30/2012.  I dropped it off with him about 8:20am.  He said he would call me in an hour which he did not so I drove back up there 3 hours later.  He indicated that my orifice tube was clogged and he said that he could replace it and recharge the system and it will fix the problem. 

I asked him how much it would cost and he stated that it would be allot cheaper.  I left and he said he would call me back when it was done.  Here again he did not call and would not answer the phone.  I drove up there at 3:30 because they close at 4:00.  When I got there my car was off to the side with my window down.  I got the key and started it and the compressor was making a loud noise and it was cooling at about 62 degrees. Some days it has been cooling at 75 degrees depending on the ambiat temp and humidity outside.

 He told my dad and me that the noise would go away after a few days and it should cool more as I drive it.  He stated that he had it cooling at 39 degrees.  I did not believe that story but gave him the benefit of the doubt and took my car home as he suggested.  He wanted me to pay $200.00 for replacing the Orifice tube and 4 seals and charging it with Freon.  I did not agree with that but had to pay to get my car.  I called him back the next day to let him know that there was still noise coming from the compressor and it was not cooling correctly.

He then said I should bring it back up there and I told him that we should go ahead and replace everything and that I would like to see the parts that he was installing and asked about the warranty on Labor and Parts.  He indicated that he had the parts but they were locked up in his truck.   He said there would be a 90 day warranty on the Labor and 12 months on the parts.  I had then scheduled a time to come back to have that done as that was what was supposed to be done originally.  He had excuses on several days for about 9 days that he could not do the work because of a family matter and then on another occasion he claimed his recovery machine blew up. 

Finally on the 13th of June I got to his shop and he was arguing with me and my dad and told us that my car was cooling at 62 degrees and that was the coldest it would ever get because I have an older car and a convertible and that he said if he replaced all of the parts mentioned above that it would cool the same as it is now.  I did some research and called the dealership Vandergriff and Bruce Lowry in Fort Worth and I was told that the air coming out of the vent should be cooling around 47-49 degrees. The gauges should be reading 20-29 on the low side and 200-250 on the high side.  I asked the technician at Reeds to hook up his gauges so I could see the readings and he had an excuse every time I asked.  I asked him for my money back or at least half of it and I would take it somewhere else.  He refused to give me any of my money back. 

I then took my car to another shop and had them hook up there gauges and the readings were 55 on the low side and 225 on the high side.  I then called him back and he said bring it up there so I did and when I got there and I approached him he got his gauges and put them on another car and told me he was not going to hook gauges up to my car and to get off his property.  I then lost my cool and told him I was not leaving and at this point I want all of my money back.  He then threatened to call the police and I got so mad that I got in my car after telling him that this was far from being over and that I will take every legal right I have to get my money back. Including contacting the BBB, Attorney General, filing a police report and contacting the news stations as they usually investigate claims like this. 

I then went to my bank and went home and I received 3 calls from him and he just called my number and did not say a thing but I could hear shop noise in the background.  He called once at 11:15 am, 11:58 am, and then a final time at 12:04pm.  Each time he did not speak and keep me on the line for approximately 6-7 minutes.  The last call he left me on hold and then started talking and he started telling me how he was so right in this situation and that he called the cops on me and he has recording of me losing my temper and that I assaulted him and the police told him that he could file several charges against me and if he wanted to? 

I told him very sternly that I was not going away until I got a full refund.  I never assaulted him as he stated.  He finally hung up and I called the police back and told them what he said and I was told that there were no calls dispatched to his location.  Yet again another lie I have caught this guy in. The last two calls that the police dispatcher had were non related and were on the 7th and 13th of June to that location.   I am very frustrated and I am seeking relief in this matter.  Anything you could do to assist me would be greatly appreciated and will save others from being scammed and taken advantage of.