This place is beyond disgraceful. Based on my experience, they overcharge, perform substandard…read morework, refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes, and the owner, Brian Spellissy, was extremely rude and confrontational throughout the entire situation.
I brought my Volkswagen to Reliable Auto for several repairs, the primary one being a radiator replacement. Replacing a radiator requires removing a significant portion of the vehicle's front end. When I got my car back, it was obvious it had not been reassembled correctly.
The radiator was not properly secured, my front bumper was essentially thrown back on, and more than three-quarters of the factory bolts, screws, and clips are now missing. I honestly don't know how the bumper is still attached. My passenger-side headlight is not bolted in and now sits pushed forward instead of being flush with the body. Plastic splash shields are hanging underneath the front bumper, and my bumper now has scratches and cracks that were not there before.
I later learned that the technician I specifically requested--because of his Volkswagen experience--was out sick the day my radiator was installed. According to him, the technician (Mark) who performed the work left the removed hardware on his toolbox instead of reinstalling it, and when confronted about it, refused to put it back on the vehicle.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of the problems.
Shortly after leaving the shop, I got onto the highway. Because the front end had not been properly reassembled, part of the driver's-side wheel well trim came loose at approximately 65 mph and began violently striking the side of my vehicle and driver's window. It created an extremely dangerous situation that could easily have caused an accident.
The radiator replacement also required the air conditioning system to be evacuated and recharged. During the course of investigating the problems with my vehicle, I was informed that the shop does not have an A/C refrigerant recovery machine required to properly recover refrigerant during this type of repair. According to information provided to me, refrigerant is vented into the atmosphere rather than being properly recovered. If true, this is not only environmentally irresponsible, but also a violation of federal environmental regulations. Based on the information I received, I will be reporting this matter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency so it can determine whether any violations have occurred.
In addition, after the radiator replacement, my air conditioning no longer worked. I later learned that my A/C compressor had seized and now requires replacement. I was also informed that PAG oil, which is essential for lubricating the compressor after the system has been evacuated, was not added back into the system. If that information is accurate, it would explain why I am now facing the expense of replacing an A/C compressor following what should have been a routine radiator replacement.
When I returned to Reliable Auto to give them the opportunity to make things right, I first spoke with Service Manager Nick Hamel. He inspected the vehicle and agreed there were multiple problems before bringing out owner Brian Spellissy.
From the moment Brian walked outside, he was immediately defensive. There was no apology and no willingness to discuss the issues professionally. His response was essentially, "What do you want me to do?" I told him I simply wanted the mistakes corrected. His response was to tell me to sue him, order me off his property, and threaten me with a no-trespass order if I ever returned.
I have never experienced customer service like this.
Because Reliable Auto has refused to correct the damage or accept any responsibility, I now have no choice but to pursue every available avenue available to me, including filing complaints with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, the Better Business Bureau, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DOT, and any other appropriate regulatory agencies, as well as seeking compensation through the court system.
After reading many of the other reviews, my experience unfortunately does not appear to be an isolated incident.
If you value your vehicle, your safety, and honest customer service, I strongly recommend taking your business elsewhere. There are many reputable repair shops that stand behind their work, take responsibility when mistakes are made, and treat customers with professionalism and respect.
Finally, if Brian Spellissy chooses to respond to this review, I encourage prospective customers to read his response carefully. Based on my experience, every concern I raised was immediately denied or shifted back onto the customer instead of being addressed, as he does in every other negative review. Businesses earn trust by acknowledging mistakes and correcting them--not by denying responsibility when the evidence is sitting right in front of them. Accountability matters