Read this carefully & make better decisions than I did... Took an inherited vehicle (in the family for 43 years) to British Auto repair. Reviews seemed "good." Owner (Paul) didn't scare me off. Car isn't driven much at all but, after owning it for 2 years, I thought an oil change might be worthwhile. Told him, "to let me know of any recommendations." Told him I'd be back in 2 weeks to pick it up. Called Paul 2 weeks later to find out it he had driven it into another car (collision) on their lot. Never got called/notified, no apology offered but told me he'd take care of it. I told him to take whatever time he needed, expecting a couple or 3 months would be required. I was crushed - my family member owned it for 43 years before leaving it to me, never had an accident and this happens at a "specialty mechanic?" Called monthly to check on it - did not always get in touch with anyone. Total wait: 6 months. Went to pick it up & was "greeted" with a $1300 bill! After bringing it in for an oil change, my car was damaged in a collision & several items appeared to get vendor-approved, none quoted to me or approved by me, just billed. Horrified, I paid to just get my car the heck outta there & didn't intend to ever go back. It was drivable enough to get home but one of the items (inaccurate fuel gauge readings) I paid for (without agreeing to) was in the same condition as I took it in. Couple weeks later, drove it (1st time since getting it back) & made it a couple blocks from the house when I heard a loud "roar" & saw sparks flying on the driver's side. Entire exhaust pipe (about 3/4's the length of the car) was hanging off & sticking out like a javelin on the driver's side. Limped home holding a scalding hot exhaust pipe using my seat belt. With a still-under-warranty fuel gauge repair needing to be corrected & the exhaust situation, convinced myself (such a bad decision) that I needed to take it back there in hopes that things might be "made right". Had it towed back to British Auto repair. Told him the body work had several inconsistencies (in a negative way) with how it originally arrived at his shop & about the exhaust pipe situation. The exhaust is on the same side of the car that he drove into the other car on his lot. Exhaust pipe on the same side as a collision, falling off, is a pure coincidence? Clearly, not.... Told him to take whatever time it took to get everything that I paid for, & that he caused, corrected. Called monthly & got the "my mechanic is out sick" reply that he apparently gives other customers who have been enduring long waits. 6 months later went to pick it up & was greeted with another bill for ~$1000! Paul told me the body work I pointed out as "not in as good as original condition" didn't get further corrections because it would cost several thousand dollars. In other words, it was considered my problem & expense to bear, not his. On the exhaust situation, he stated, "If I thought that the collision had anything to do with the exhaust components falling off, I wouldn't be charging you for repairing it." I reminded him that I've never had a problem with it before & that it was on the same side of car that he collided into the other vehicle. He didn't take responsibility for it. He also attempted to re-charge me for the still-under-warranty fuel gauge repair (& no, it still doesn't work) that I paid for before. I had to raise my voice about being charged for repairs to damage he caused & that were covered under warranty. He agreed to refund ~$100 for the warrantee repair on the fuel gauge but I was out of luck on the exhaust & proper body work repairs. I had to just get myself & my car outta there. Found on the way home that now the manual overdrive switch no longer worked. Poor car always left there in worse condition than it went in. I get that accidents happen but there were many opportunities NOT taken by this vendor to make things right or just plain "better." Of course, I'll never go there again & I warn anyone against trusting their cherished family heirloom here, like I did.
. read more