BAD mechanics can be found everywhere, but one driver who lost two cars after trusting a local shop has urged caution for others.
By the time police found his cars, it was already too late to save them.
A maintenance request gone horribly wrong (stock image)[/caption]
By the time the cars were located, it was too late to save them (stock image)[/caption]
Kentucky resident Shawn Long dropped off two cars, valued at roughly $15,000 combined, at a local mechanic shop and used car lot.
Their agreement was for the shop to get both vehicles running, at which point Long would take over for any remaining necessary maintenance.
Long drove by the shop several times to check on progress, but often found it closed early and usually wasn’t able to get his calls answered or returned.
He eventually got in contact with the shop’s owner, Thonsom Clark Bernardez, who goes by Clark, who assured Long that the work was being done.
Long later tried getting in touch with Clark to purchase a truck on the lot, but “knew something was up” when didn’t respond to that message, per local NBC news affiliate WLEX.
He drove to the shop only to find the lot abandoned and the owner unreachable.
Police later informed Long that the vehicles he had dropped off for repair had instead been scrapped after the owner closed up shop.
He never gave the shop permission to scrap his vehicles, per WLEX.
“It’s not pleasant to hear my cars have been scrapped, that’s for sure, but at least now there is some work being done in it,” Long said.
One of the two cars was a Chevrolet Lumina APV minivan.
Long has now urged other owners to “just be careful,” now all too familiar with how bad a trip to the repair shop can be.
Frankfort police contacted Clark at the number he gave to Long, but did not get an answer.
Assistant Police Chief Scott Tracy said several people are involved in the case, and an arrest warrant has been filed for one person.
Tracy also said that one suspect had been cleared in the course of the investigation, which a Frankfort detective is actively working on.
How to avoid being scammed at the repair shop
Motorautocar and the AARP have east-to-follow tips to avoid being scammed by a repair shop.
- Motorautocar suggests asking to see parts that have been replaced or to see old fluids after they were swapped. If the shop says that’s impossible or refuses, it could be a sign it wasn’t done.
- Ask for a walkaround of the repairs that were done. Most mechanics are happy to show you what was done in the shop. While being walked around, look for evidence of repairs like the area being cleaned off, shiny new parts, tool marks on the bolts, tools being out or nearby, etc.
- Before taking your car in, look at other customer reviews on Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Many customers only review a company if they have negative reviews, so keep an eye out.
- For costly repairs, consider getting multiple opinions. If two to three shops suggest identical repairs, it’s likely to be true.
- Test a new shop with minor issues you’re aware of to see if they add anything to the repair bill.
- If applicable, bring someone to the shop who knows about cars to have them double-check or read a repair bill.
- Get everything on paper. Not only is it important for your repair records, but it can help protect you if legal measures are necessary.
Source: Motorautocar, AARP
MECHANIC MADNESS
Stories similar to Long’s are plentiful, with a Houston man having lost his car for two years after it was stolen by one shop’s owner.
Other mechanics will instead hold vehicles hostage while charging owners unfair rates as another Houston man found out in May.
More common mechanic shop schemes include overcharging for basic maintenance by taking advantage of those who lack knowledge on the subject.
A shop owner in California unknowingly quoted an undercover officer thousands of dollars for a simple dent repair.
Other simple jobs that are commonly overcharged include oil changes, cabin air filter changes, and others, per expert mechanics.
