Horror stories of Rip Off's in the auto
repair industry and elsewhere
My Story of how I lost my car at Tennyson Automotive Clinic
on 29th and Tennyson in Denver Colorado. Owned and operated by Rich Lamb
I have been working on a
1985 Oldsmobile Toronado for 5 years. Fixing it up as I wanted it to be a nice
collectors car. The Body was in perfect condition as well as the interior with a
nice stereo system. I'd recently installed a brand new stock crate engine
costing me well over $2,200.00. The car had been parked while being restored for
5 years. On July 23rd 2007, I stopped at Tennyson Automotive Clinic and spoke
with Rich Lamb. I questioned him on his services and he agreed to work on my
vehicle for emissions purposes. We agreed that I would park my car in his
parking lot and I would leave the keys in his overnight drop box the following
day. On Tuesday July 24th 2007, I had my wife follow me to Tennyson Automotive
Clinic on 29th and Tennyson and I parked my car in Rich Lambs place of business
as close as I could to the building. On Wednesday July 25th 2007, I stopped by
Tennyson Automotive clinic to check on the status of my vehicle. I drive by
Tennyson Automotive Clinic every day to and from work. Rich Lamb stated to me,
"I'm sorry but we didn't get a chance to look at your vehicle." I asked him if
he thought it would be done the following day. Rich Lamb agreed that he would
have the time to work on my vehicle the following day. On Thursday July 26th
2007, once again I stopped at Tennyson Automotive Clinic to check on the status
of my vehicle. Rich Lamb stated to me that he would once again like to hang on
to my car for one more day. He stated to me that he would like to be the one to
take it to get it's emissions. He stated to me that way, if there were any
adjustments the vehicle needed to pass emissions, he could do it and get the car
to pass. I agreed that I would allow him to take the vehicle for emissions and
return for the car the following day. I saw my car in his parking lot facing the
street with the window down and the car unlocked. That was the last I saw of my
vehicle. On Friday July 27th 2007, I once again drove by Tennyson Automotive
Clinic at about 7:00 am on my way to work. I did not see my vehicle and it
looked as though they were open for business. I thought to myself, "Wow, great,
they already took my car to get the emissions test. Maybe I'll get it back
today?" As soon as I got to work, my phone rang. The call was from Rich Lamb. He
stated to me that my car had been stolen. Immediately I left work and went to
Tennyson Automotive Clinic where I was also met there with a Denver Police
Officer. There it was determined that my vehicle had been stolen. After the
police report was taken, I asked Rich Lamb his liability surrounding my car
being stolen from his place of business while I entrusted him to take care of my
vehicle. Rich Lamb stated to me, "I have no liability of your car being stolen."
I left at that point. Once again I returned to work. As I did, the phone once
again rang and it was the police saying that my car had been found and that it
was at the Denver police impound lot. I once again left work and immediately
went down to the Denver police impound lot and they told me that I could not see
my car and that there was an arson hold on the vehicle. It took me one week to
finally get my destroyed car back. The car was stolen from Rich Lambs business
Tennyson Automotive Clinic of whom I entrusted to take care of my vehicle and it
was in almost perfect condition and a collectors item and now a burned up
totally destroyed vehicle. My vehicle had been stolen and set on fire and there
was nothing left on the inside whatsoever. The car was a total loss other than
the engine that I pulled and now have nothing to do with it other than store it
at a family members home and is only getting in his way.
I lost
my pride and joy simply due to Rich Lambs business performance and received
nothing as compensation!
Appraisers license Revoked, posted CL but was
flagged
Figured I'd give heads up to those seeking Appraisal
Services. We were a victim of a greedy broker who referred this appraiser to use
to inflate the value of our home for refinance. Though not realized until 2
years later, we found the appraisal valuing our home at $210k was totally
fabricated. We found this after actually noticing the first house pictured was
one directly across the street, a 2 bedroom rental. According to the appraisal,
it was a 5 bedroom brick ranch 1.8 miles away! Further investigating found that
the other THREE were fake also. We documented everything (two of the houses
pictured were actually occupied by people we knew), sent copies of the appraisal
to the Colorado State Board of Realtors in April via email. After conducting
their own investigation, I was informed yesterday that that the Board has
recommended REVOKING his license. If he doesn't surrender it, he goes before a
judge and he takes it. Appraisers Name:
TOM WATSON
Address : 13480 W 60TH PL
City, State ZIP : ARVADA, CO 80004
Date Submitted Online : 03/04/2008
Complaint Number : 2008030284
Please note that the "loan specialist" who referred him to
make sure our home was worth $210k was Jennifer Foss Whitmore, 1st Choice
Financial, so draw your own conclusion there. Please check your documents
thoroughly, and if these names are there, check them closer, and if they are,
feel free to contact me because more than one victims makes stronger review.
Also know that the State did it's job here, which I give praise. On-line
complaints are easier and faster response - you can scan and send your
documents, whatever. And from someone who's been there, be careful of everything
you sign. It cost us the $210k, plus our hopes and dreams. God Bless,
Tim,
Just to list 2 among 1,000. So, because they are such
outright crooks, I will be contacting Homeland Security to voice my belief.
Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll find some terrorists hiding there! Do not
believe Billy Mays - I've lost all respect for this man and if I ever see him in
public, I'll voice my complaints and beliefs. And If I do not get my money
back, I will be closing all of my accounts with KEY Bank and finding another.
Latest Factory Defect
1999 Pontiac Grand Prix:
The 3.8L in the 1997-1999 Pontiacs
and Buicks (Grand Prix, LaSabre) non-turbocharged, have a serious defect - the
plastic plenum for the air intake and the Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve
conflict. The E G R valve hits much higher temps than the plenum can
withstand, causing it to creating a "hydro lock" cylinder, thus locking up
the engine. Big problem to figure out... More on this later.
How many people out there
have taken their car to a repair shop for what seems to be a simple fix only to
get slapped with some astronomical bill or estimate? Most of my most
valued customers are a result of that exact situation.
Example:
Kathy, a good friend came to
me in tears, a while back, because her engine was knocking. A little '98
Saturn. She had taken it to the Saturn dealership, who told her $5000.00
would be the cost for repair - replace the engine. True, it did need the
engine replaced, that's the result of not doing regular vehicle maintenance,
i.e., oil changes. In short, I found a low mileage engine from wrecked
car for $750.00. Her total cost was $1600.00.
Chris, another A. A. friend,
took his '91 GMC truck to
JUST BRAKES for their supposed $99.00 brake job. They gave him
a$2500 estimate. Chris had connections with an auto parts chain and
bought all the parts JUST BRAKES listed needed to be replaced, and brought them
to me to install. They had listed every brake component on the truck.
After inspecting the brake system, I found the only thing in need of replacement
was the front pads - part price $19.00, my inspection and labor charge $45.00 -
his total cost $65.00. JUST BRAKES has
brought me more business than all other auto repair shop combined. Chris
returned all the other parts.
ALL
DEALERSHIPS
The worst of them all are the
dealerships. People naturally assume that the place that made the car is
the best place to take the car. Wrong choice. Consider this: the
most expensive parts are made by the manufacturer. For instance, a Chevy water
pump from Chevy, $100.00. Same part from Advance Auto Parts, $19.00.
It has the same lifetime warranty as the dealer part. Consider
this: If the factory part was better, why did the one being replaced fail?
Most dealerships charge $100 plus, just to open your hood!!!
GRAND KIA in Thornton, CO. has
brought me business this way. $2000.00 to replace a fuel regulator in a
2001 Blazer. I charged the man $300.00 and $200.00 of that was for the
part.
As far as I'm concerned,
dealerships are the biggest criminal of all in the auto repair industry.
I've been with friends who's taken their car to dealerships because something
was suppose to be covered under warranty. I stand there and listen to them
tell the person outrageous tales of what they find and what it will cost.
And I suppose it's my knowledge of cars that makes it so hard to believe these
explanations, but it still floors me! But to watch them charge someone
$400.00 to replace a $15.00 part that only take 15 minutes to install is
unbelievable.
Whenever I get upset about a
shops business practices, I'll post them here. Or if you have a RIP OFF story
from a shop, send it here & I'll post it.

Always get a second opinion
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