ComplaintsforAce Auto & Marine Electric

• Initial Complaint

  08/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  ******************************************************************************* Subject: ACE AUTO CLINIC STATE ID #******* 1239 S LINCOLN AVE CLEARWATER FL MADAM/SIR The first week of December 2019 I stopped by ACE AUTO CLINIC and met JOHN.by coincidence JOHN is also from NEW JERSEY during our meeting we realized we had done business in the past. I owned a automobile leasing company in NEW JERSEY SHORE AUTO LEASE,INC and I used the place where JOHN worked to do repairs I told him my 1998 ASTON MARTIN DUNHILL ADDITION #23 A very rare and collectible automobile value $60K to $70K had a inoperable convertible top .JOHN was recommended to me by a local mechanic as the go to guy with automotive electrical issues.On our initial meeting I told JOHN I drove the car down from NEW JERSEY APRIL 2018 I stopped in NORTH CAROLINA to visit a friend. I had the convertible top down when I went to put the top up but it failed. Fortunately the top is also operable manually.I got to my condo in CLEARWATER having limited parking. I rented a storage unit in PALM HARBOR.The power top is operated by a module in the trunk. There was also a problem with the driver's window; it functioned intermittently. On 12/15/2019 I dropped the car at ACE AUTO CLINIC The following day i stopped by to see JOHN admired the ASTON I I gave him a brief history of the car I owned for 15 yrs it had only 37000 MLS on it JOHN told me he could not look at the issue until after the HOLIDAYS I agreed JOHN told me he would not charge storage and keep the car in a available bay.again I agreed and gave him $500 in advance.I stopped by in FEBRUARY 2020.JOHN had removed the MODULE and gave it to me at that point I told JOHN I would order the part from ASTON MARTIN and have it shipped to the shop i would also get the complete wiring diagram from ASTON MARTIN downloaded on a flash drive JOHN responded "THAT WILL MAKE THE JOB EASIER". MARCH & APRIL 2020 the PANDEMIC was here. no news on the part in MAY I ordered it from a company in the UK I was back in NJ at that time I mailed JOHN a copy of the part order. SUMMER 2020 I was talking to JOHN every couple of weeks still no part was still on backorder.that's when JOHN told me of his idea to install a switch and a couple of relays to operate the top & drivers windows HE would put the switch under the dash not noticeable i agreed I told JOHN due to the PANDEMIC i would not be back in florida till OCTOBER 2020 every time i talked to JOHN prior to OCTOBER. HE told me the car was safe at his place. I believed & trusted JOHN. I did not return to FLORIDA until NOVEMBER due to personal health issues I got to CLEARWATER in mid NOVEMBER I stopped by the shop and met with JOHN. HE told me HE was going to start working on the ASTON but it needed a new battery I told him the battery was new before I left NJ JOHN told me his mechanic forgot to disconnect the battery while at the shop & now would not hold a charge so 11/23/20 I paid $678.25 for a new battery to get the ASTON running check the drivers window & work on the electrical issue at that point JOHN had the car for 1 yr I did not see the car I was told it was in the back garage. so I left DECEMBER 9 2020. I went back to NJ for the holidays JANUARY 7 2021 I had emergency heart surgery I did not return to FLORIDA until JUNE 2021 I called the shop I was told JOHN was on vacation again. Finally one morning in late June I met with JOHN and told him how disappointed I was "I WANT MY CAR FIXED" you had the ASTON for 18 mths JOHN promised HE would give it HIS immediate attention.At that point I had $1178. invested with no results. I asked to see the ASTON JOHN said it was in the garage "I am really busy " Come back next week I will have it on the lift.I stopped back the following week the car was in one of his bays the hood was open JOHN said "my best guy is on it. I called JOHN a few days later and told him I was heading back to NJ. I won't be back till SEPTEMBER. Unfortunately, I had serious health issues. I did not get back to CLEARWATER till December 17,2021. After the holidays I stopped by the shop on a Sunday with my son. The car was parked in the corner with 9 other cars. I noticed a cracked windshield and 2 flat tires.I was absolutely PISSED OFF ANGRY The next day I went to the shop when one of JOHN'S guys told me JOHN was away to check.back next week I asked for the keys to the ASTON the worker the keys were in JOHNS desk the desk was locked I asked for JOHN'S cell number the worker told me HE can't give it out.I asked him why is the ASTON parked back there HE said it's been back there thats where JOHN put it. I stopped by a few more times every time I was told JOHN was out and would be back later FEBRUARY 2022 I was not doing well health wise MARCH 2022 I was back in the hospital for another heart angioplasty i did not get back to CLEARWATER until JUNE 15 2022 i went to the shop saw The ASTON was totally trashed I got in the car the smell was awful mold mildew musty paint peeling scratches flat tires he never used the car cover it was still in the trunk my $60,000 car was a disaster his worker told me JOHN had covid and would not be back for a couple of weeks.JULY 8 2022 I went to the shop JOHN was not there his worker said JOHN was away car is all done he gave me a bill for $3248.41 JOHN called me HE told the car was fully serviced everything was done per the bill I got in the car both windows were not working noise in motor 2 flat tires his bill said A/C was fully charged working fine A/c blowing hot The first item on his bill was another battery $444.00 thats the third battery in the car over 22 mths then there was a charge for $354 for window repair that still was not working and the passenger window was not working that always worked there was another charge for $1180 for wiring repairs back in 11/23/2020 his bill for $678.25 said the window was fixed and power top had faulty wiring & control module so if that was done back in 11/23/2020 why am I being billed again another major issue noise in the motor JOHN said its not my fault I said that car ran perfect back in 2018 when I drove it down from NJ basically he never started the car or did anything addressing the noise in the motor JOHN told me to take the car to his friend WAYNE PURDY to fix the noise in the motor that was caused by JOHN balant negligence WAYNE PURDY wanted $1500 just to look at the supercharger JOHN's responsibility as a repair shop to keep the car in the care and condition when it was dropped off its abvious JOHN did not take care of this car and keep it in the condition my Professional assestment there is probably $10,000 damage to ASTON MARTIN that is caused by his neglect the present day value of ths ASTON MARTIN is between $60,000 to 70,000 on 8/8/22 I got a text message from JOHN telling me to get this car out of here the business was sold the new owner takes possession on 8/20/22 now this is in your hands what do you do as the BBB my intention is to SUE his business and JOHN personally for the present damage PLEASE ADVISE REGARDS ********************** ...

  Business response

  09/01/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/08/17) */ To Whom it may concern, November 2019 the above person came into my shop asking if I could get his car running, his convertible top working and Left Front power window. He then explained to me that the car was at a persons house and having this work done from a person who worked at a foreign car garage and was helping *** out. He had told me the car was apart ,the windshield had been broken and the L Rear tail light had been broken as well .*** told me the car had been sitting for a long time and he needed to get the car out of where it was. I agreed to take a look at car and see what I can do for him. The car was dropped off by a tow truck and from there i started to see why the engine did not run First. We had to put another battery in the car as the original was bad from sitting .after battery installation the car now cranks over but does not run. Upon further testing we found multiple relays missing from relay box. we had replaced relays and car now runs. we then repaired drivers side window, the wiring to window motor had been altered and repaired by a non qualified person. after putting wiring back to original the window now works. *** then showed me the wiring that someone ran to try and get convertible top working after further inspection someone had ran new wiring from switch straight to convertible top motor, which will not work. I then explained to him that the wiring has to be put back to original to properly diagnose convertible top issue. so after putting wiring back to original we then diagnosed the original problem to be the convertible top module/computer. I told customer then I have no acsess to parts for this particular car. *** assured me he knew people all over the country and out of the country to get parts for this car. I did look at car to see if there was any other way to possibly bypass **** part, but to no avail it could not be done because it operates the rear windows as well. I then told him we needed that Module/computer part. After much time went buy and several attempts to contact him he finally told me he could not find part. After that he wanted all the fluids changed and a new tail light that he had and asked if I could that in as well. After many attempts to contact him I was told he was in and out of hospital. *** then came in and wanted the air conditioning charged. So I charged up the air conditioning up and told him I will do that free of charge. *** Then Came in on a Friday about 5 weeks ago and said he would be here the following Monday. after 7 attempts or more of calling him and telling him he needs to please pick up car after he said he would I then had to leave messages telling him I have to charge him storage. The car was inside most of the time and outside under a carport. after everything was done the car has been sitting outside. My last & Final attempt to contact after he never showed up to pick up car was threw text, stating I am selling the buisness and he needs to come get his car. within 3 hours of that text he now showed up to inform me that he is calling the B.B.B. and this is where he is at. This car could have been brought home until he found his convertible top part. there was no reason this car should have been left here waiting for him to get this part.His poor communication skills and storing a supposedly rare car here was his choice. I have pictures to prove the condition of the car when it arrived and phone call from the last 18 months of calling him. The Car has been ready to drive away with air conditioning for over 2 months now at the very least. If You need further information please contact me @ XXX-XXX-XXXX. I have no other choice then to have customers car impounded by a licensed Impound yard, If customer does not want to pick up his car. Thank you for your time, Sincerely John ******* Owner Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/08/25) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) First of all The was driven to ACE AUTO CLINIC in DECEMBER 2019 not towed. The windshield was not cracked. The issues the 1998 ASTON MARTIN had was a inoperable convertible top a drivers window that worked intermittently a cracked rear tail light I provided the part that needed to be installed The top was operated by a computer module located behind the battery in the trunk of the car. I made it clear to JOHN I had owned the ASTON MARTIN for 15 yrs it had a value of $60,000 JOHN told he would not be able to get to it until after the HOLIDAY SEASON. JOHN told me he had a empty bay and would store it until he had the opportunity to diagnose it I agreed and gave him $500 cash in advance. Please reread my initial statement it is true and factual. Fast forward to summer 2022. After visits to the shop and phone calls I was repeatedly told JOHN was on vacation gone for 2 weeks then JOHN told me he had COVID.JULY 7 2022 I received a phone call from one of his workers The ASTON MARTIN was fully serviced and ready I went to the shop the ASTON MARTIN was parked in the driveway I got in the car it was moldy musty 2 flat tires neither window worked and the A/C blew hot air there was a bad noise from the motor. MY ASTON MARTIN was totally trashed. on invoice dated 7/7/22 I was charged for another battery $447 that was battery number 3 in 22 mths another charge $354. for faulty wiring drivers window back in 11/23/20 I paid $678 for the same repair $1180 for removal of total interior and remove wiring he installed to run a pair of relays which JOHN installed to by pass the module that was not available from the factory remember I gave him the wiring diagram from the factory on a flash drive which according to JOHN made the job easier and would make the quarter windows go down and the roof to follow he convinced me that was the solution back in 4/20 that was his choice another $590 for car running rough reason being he never started or ran the ASTON MARTIN FOR 22 MTHS.$641 for fluids and filters for a total of $3248 add the $1178 I already paid him JOHN said the motor noise was not his responsibility the noise was caused by his balant disregard to keep the car in the care and condition it was delivered that it needed to be checked by his friend WAYNE PURDY A EUROPEAN CAR SPECIALIST when I called PURDY HE WANTED $1500 JUST TO DIAGNOSE the ASTON MARTIN In conclusion now he wants $3248 for a car where the top don't work a noisy motor 2 inoperable windows 2 flat tires a totally trashed interior which his worker told me the interior was never removed like his invoice stated now he going to have the car impounded GOD knows where There are certain standards a repair shop must operate by sadly JOHN is above that In closing the present day value of the ASTON MARTIN IS $50,000 plus which I showed him in a copy of a add similar to my ASTON MARTIN JOHNS response is vague inaccurate When I confronted JOHN he was rude arguementitive and disrespectful and worse of all shows low character at this point What is your position sincere regards *** ******

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