To: Management of Hyundai dealer in St Augustine, Florida
From: Carol Pandza
Re: Bryan Payne, Service Department
On Saturday, 2/28/26, Steve Pandza and I began our trip from Naples Florida, where we had spent a month to New Jersey, our home. We were aiming to reach Savannah, Georgia that evening, taking turns driving Steve's relatively new pre- owned hybrid Hyundai Santa Fe.
The car had been running beautifully, when several hours into the trip, Steve thought he noticed the car running rough and accelerating slowly. We pulled over and it seemed to subside, so we kept going. I took over driving at one point and noticed immediately that the car would not accelerate past 60 mph. Then several dashboard lights lit up.
We were unsure what we were near but looked up and stopped at two Hyndai dealers along the way who told us they were too busy to help us and that we should find a hotel and wait for Monday. They would not even look at the car, although they were open and it was early afternoon.
We gassed up the car and kept going, cautiously, at about 55 mph. We stopped for gas again in St Augustine, FL. I looked up and saw a sign that we were near the St Augustine, Florida Hyundai dealer. We thought we'd try a third time. We got to the dealer around 5 pm. It was after hours but Bryan Payne and one other gentlemen were still working, closing out the month. They came outside and conducted tests on the car, taking over 30 minutes, and determined that the problem was likely a 12 volt battery that was over 3 years old and not charging. They had no access to parts to help us get a battery there but they wanted to help.
When Bryan learned we were trying to head home to NJ and reach Savannah that night, he said "where there's a will, there's a way". His wife called while he was with us. He spoke lovingly to her and explained he would be late as he was helping us. He asked if we would be open to this: he and Steve would go to a local place and get a new battery. He lived close by and would take me to sit with his wife Alexandra and their beautiful baby, Cylas. This was irregular but he was so willing to help us on his own time that we thankfully agreed.
I spent about an hour with Alexandra and Cylas while she held dinner for Bryan. Steve was accompanied by Bryan to secure the new battery. All in, this took several hours. Alexandra and Cylas were warm and welcoming, Bryan was a lifesaver, and Steve and I are eternally grateful. We finally reached Savannah after 10pm, tired but so grateful.
Sometimes today, it feels like no one cares about service or people. Bryan does care. And his actions showed it. You have a gem there, and I hope you know it and find ways to keep and reward him. He helped two strangers, after hours, on a Saturday afternoon/evening.
Bryan even gave us his cell number to let him know we arrived safely. He got back to us to check on us the next day. We will never forget that, or him and his family.
We took our time but now have been back in NJ for several days, with no further car issues.
Special mention to our local salesman from NJ, Pat Carmody, who called us back and tried to help from a distance. Our eternal thanks.
Carol and Steve Pandza read more