My name is Aaron and I have taken my 2001 Chevy Lumina to Jeff at advanced automotive twice in the last two years. I can't remember what the first issue was but Jeff took care of it and my car ran fine.
The second and most recent visit to Jeff seemed like all was going well until I realized he had damaged my car. (My car is dented on the hood already) I brought my car in to have a leaking water pump fixed, again he did a good job and my car ran great but when I went out to my car there was a giant dent in the back left door. I asked Jeff what happened and he said "my car was already dented so he assumed it was already there." I told him that dent is new and it look like a car hit it. He said he had no idea what happened then. When I got in my car I noticed I went from a full tank of gas to 3/4 tank and I suspected he'd driven it over the weekend that he had it.
I took the car to my dad who is a lawyer to see what he thought and he told me Jeff was liable for the damage and either needed to pay for it, fix it, or have insurance cover it. When I went to Jeff I had never mentioned my dad was a lawyer and confronted him about the tank of gas being less full and he said that the test drive and taking apart the water pump had probably emptied it....
I decided to let that lie go and said that he needed to cover the damage, fix it, or just have his insurance cover it.
He said he'd get back to me when insurance contacted him. A day later he said insurance told him "because it wasn't in his shop, but rather in his parking lot it's not his fault and I need to claim it through my insurance or just leave it." I then told him that I wasn't going to do that because my car was in his care and I didn't get it in an accident.
He again refused to take care of the cars damage he had caused, so I told him my dad is a lawyer and has instructed me to have him pay for it, fix it, or to contact his insurance to cover it and he acted super offended and said "I don't take kindly to threats." I told him I would never threaten him but wanted him to know I trust what my dad is saying over him. My dad was getting ready to contact him to let him know he'd take him to small claims court if it didn't get fixed but then Jeff called me and said I've decided in your shoes I'd want my door fixed so how about I find a door and replace it, so I agreed to that. Two days later Jeff couldn't find the correct door (color, interior material) so he said he'd called his insurance and they changed their mind and will cover it."
Finally after I got estimates from multiple shops and had an insurance rep come out and look at my door, they sent me a check for the damages to replace it.
I highly recommend never taking your car here because it's a dishonest shop. He doesn't record "miles in" like all other shops in town, and that's because then he can drive your car where he wants and only record "miles out." He will also try to blame you like he did to me for damage before he even tries to contact insurance which is exactly what he is supposed to have insurance for. read more