***CONSUMER BEWARE. AVOID THIS SHOP OR BE READY TO THROW YOUR MONEY AWAY***…read more
I am currently trying to recover $X,XXX from this rip off shop. I have filed a complaint with BBB, filed an affidavit to recover funds with my bank because this shop is a complete scam and a rip off!
A little background:
I bought a 1970's Mercedes. When I bought the car, I test drove it and It worked well for its age. One thing I noticed was the brakes, they were in terrible condition. I brought my car in to have the brakes repaired and asked Roubik (the shop's owner) - to check out the engine in case I needed to address any issues prior to my driving the car on the streets.
I was told my brake booster needed to be replaced. I advised the owner to proceed with the work after he quoted me $X,XXX range for the work. I get a call back a few days later, saying the car is ready. I pick up the car, test drive it for a block, and it makes a loud noise, and is dragging terribly. I bring it right back, Roubik checks the car, and there are ZERO fluids in the car. They drained the fluids and did not replace them. WHO DOES THIS!!!? I realize at this point, that I may be in for some trouble, but I have paid for the service by now and decide, people/businesses deserve a second chance. In the words of Charlie Murphy, "WRONG." After he fills up the necessary fluids in the engine and transmission (in front of me as he scolds his employees in Farsi), I take it on a spin and the car Draaaaags, not moving past 20 mph.
I immediately assume it is the engine or transmission. However, I am not a mechanic who runs a car repair business so I can certainly make stupid mistakes like this. I would not expect a business owner of a car repair shop to do this however. I digress...
I return the car as there is no way for me to drive it. He suggests for me to leave it to be "checked out". I was pressed for time and advised him I wanted my car repairs completed before 7/1/14. I get a call back end of June, "your car is ready". I once again pick it up. I drive the car home and it does the SAME THING. I tow the car back to them the next morning, realizing I will not have my car repaired by July 1. I leave the car at shop for them to repair while I am gone. I return 2 weeks later, and the car has not moved an inch. I am told I was not expected to return until Aug 1, and therefore no work was done. I am a cool and collected person, I let it slide, but do press for them to finish the work - which I had paid for already - to be completed by that weekend. I get a call, "your car is ready". I pick it up, test drive it and MY WHEELS CATCH FIRE! I pull over, and fortunately there is a fire truck at the same corner. The LAFD truck quickly extinguishes the flames. We all realize it is very odd since the engine is not at all affected. I call Roubik, tell him what just happened, and he says, "There must be something wrong with the engine"....what? I can make that stupid mistake, not a professional mechanic with a business that is supposed to know about cars and their repairs.
I tow the car in again...leave it for a few days for more "checking/repairs". I am called to pick it up and charged again for brake calipers this time. I take the car and it does not move past 20 mph. I am furious at this point but just want to get my car out of this limbo, and take it to an actual mechanic where within hours they tell me "the brake booster needs to be changed" WTF!!!?
I called Roubik immediately and demanded my money back. He tells me the guy is lying and wants to take my money... I refuse to bring the car back to this place, because it has been close to a month of back and forth with no solution. Roubik refuses, and things get heated over the phone conversation.
I proceed to have the new repair shop make the repairs (they rock btw, check my review in the future of their services, honest, direct, quick and dependable). My car is now running no thanks to Silver Star Automotive. The place I took it to, remedied the problem, test drove it themselves before returning the car to me - unlike this sham of a place that put my life in danger repeatedly.
I wish I could give them negative stars as they deserve them. I will say that if you need to fraudulently file bogus insurance repair claims, this is the place to go. I overheard the owner discussing such things as fudging repair costs to avoid salvaging cars - which is illegal and very dangerous - with a client and should have run away from the place at that moment, but I didn't trust my instinct and decided to trust this place. I'm writing this so that you don't have to make the same mistake I did.
