On March 17, 2010, I took my car to Capital Auto Body of Fairfax at 3156 Spring Street (22031). I was given an estimate of $713 for a minor scrape that affected one panel of my car. A month and a half later, with no change to the minor damage on the car (which had been resting comfortably in a secure, underground garage), I made an appointment to take it in for service--I took the day off work and arranged for alternate transportation (I was told the repair would take about 3 days). When I arrived the morning of Monday, May 7, I was greeted by assistant manager Khery Moye, the same employee who did my original estimate. As I filled out paperwork, he said he needed to double-check the estimate and look at the car again, as well as take pictures for manager Brenda, which he didn't do before. About 10 minutes later, he told me that his original estimate was off and that he made mistakes, and that at the time he did the original estimate, he was "just finishing estimating classes". He told me that the new total was now $1,236--a $523 increase, nearly 75% higher than the original estimate (this included nearly double the amount of labor hours he originally estimated). He acknowledged he made a mistake, mentioned Brenda's name a few more times as the one he was accountable to and said he could work in discounts to account for his mistakes (using 25% "student" discounts off some of the estimates like labor, even though I wasn't a student). My new total would be around $930. I told him that his error was pretty huge and that I couldn't understand how he could make such a big mistake, but agreed to leave my car because of the time I had taken off work (and the time my family member took off to transport me back). AFTER I say this and reluctantly agree to his new, higher total, he says he will go check with a technician to see if he can knock a little more off the labor hours. Another employee I have never spoken with comes in and the two talk in the background. Minutes later, I am passed off to this other employee who doesn't introduce himself. He brings up new paperwork, and tells me that they can't knock anything else off, and that while the new estimate total is $1,236, they will do the work for $1,000...if I pay cash, fully knowing that I am NOT going through my insurance company (a point that was made clear at the beginning of both visits to the shop). I'm so surprised by this new development, I have to calmly repeat it back to him to be sure I wasn't going crazy--yes, they wanted $1,000 in cash, despite having given me two lower estimates in the last 20 minutes. I tell him how Khery (now hiding in the background and refusing to come join the discussion) just quoted me $900 and change; the new technician shakes his head and says no, that can't be done. Stunned, I refuse to use them for the repairs and I leave. It wasn't even about the money; this was a minor repair, and if I had to pay $1,200-plus, so be it. But I refused to spend my money at an establishment using these corrupt business practices. One of the most shady experiences I have ever encountered anywhere. Capital Auto Body of Fairfax either intentionally uses this practice to get people to pay more after they have already been drawn into an appointment with a lower estimate (and taking time off work, and arranging alternate transportation), or employs unqualified people who can't do estimates and shouldn't be working the counter. It's all the more inexcusable given that this was a minor repair and one of the simplest, easiest estimates imaginable. Not only did the employee give me a bad original quote, he gives me a bad second quote that morning! And being passed off to a new person who doesn't introduce himself and tells me they can work a "deal" if I pay cash was the last straw--I'm sure the IRS would love to know about their attempt at illegal practices. Avoid them. (As an aside, I took my car to another shop the next day and was given an estimate of $882. I got the work done at this new shop; they did a great job and stuck to their original estimate, proving that Capital Auto Body's second, third and fourth estimate quotes weren't competitive to begin with.) Would give them zero stars if it was an option. read more