Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 07:43 pm, by: Tom Burgan(Burg)
Just thought I would report my experience I had with the dodgy tossers down at Adelaide Complete Car Care on Marion Rd. I took my car there to have the heater core replaced and for the 100K service, I spoke to Peter who is the owner (Italian guy with chest hair everywhere). When I got the car back he said he had done the heater core but if I wanted the timing belt done I would have to supply it because he can’t find one anywhere. I took the car away and all is fine until I get the car home, turn it off and the turbo timer doesn’t kick in. I look down to where the timer used to be and its just not there. Took the car back and said dude WTF, but before I gave the car back to him I reset my Apexi RSM which records how fast the car has gone, what revs it gets up to and things like that. I go back the next day and find the turbo timer has been put back in place but is not working with no power going to it. I checked the history of the RSM to find someone has taken it out for a joyride and gotten the car up to 83km/h and reved it out to 8500rpm. I asked the guy "Why did someone take it out for a ride if it was only having a turbo timer put back in and who was thrashing the balls off it"?!? The guy said to me "I don’t care what your computer says no one has taken this out for a ride, I don’t have people like that working here and why would I want to take it for a drive, we get better cars than that in here" then he said "And as for your turbo timer were not going to have it fixed because it wasn’t working when you brought it in". This whole thing is BULL, I am 100% certain that the timer was working when I gave it to him and now to boot I have just found out my aircon isn’t working and again I know it was working when I gave it in to him. What would you guys do in this situation??
Damn, that's no good Tom. I reckon stir up some bad publicity in your local area or local car forums maybe that will help. Or ring 1800 BAZZA and the punk...
Luke Nieuwhof wrote on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 07:58 pm:
or if that fails, Today Tonight
Nah Luke, housewives don't know what an Apexi RSM is and stuff. Too complicated for them. If there was somehting about dishwashing liquids in that story maybe he'd have a chance
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 08:06 pm, by: Tom Burgan(Burg)
But this guy reacons he knows my turbo timer wasn't working when I gave the car to him, so I could go to all the hassle of reporting him to CA but in the end its my word against his.
I think the best way to go about this is to put the bad word out on car forums. If any of you guys are a member of another car forum could you chuck a link to this thread on there. Cheers
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 09:05 pm, by: Ben Socratous(Socrates)
The only other problem is this...
Go to consumer affairs (a government body) and tell them that your mechanic killed your defectable mod?!? Good luck with that...
WTFs with not being able to find a timing belt, id he even try toyota, or the million and one other people that sel the silicon race belts?
Failing that, I know a few bikies, 3 commandos, 2 ex sas officers and an eplosives tech specialising in demo work. Maybe we could just say his workshop wasn't working when we walked in
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 09:33 pm, by: Clayton Webb(Clackers)
And that joint just opened up! Going to last a long time around here. Don't forget to let Peter Scott know so he can put it in the "Great Australian Mechanic Guide"
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 09:54 pm, by: Tom Burgan(Burg)
Hey Ben thats some funnyshit... so funny it just might work. Oh and I forgot to mention he has a massive Rottie that comes straight up to you to sniff your balls.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 10:13 pm, by: Tamatha Chapman(4ltrv8)
Tom Burgan wrote on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 08:06 pm:
But this guy reacons he knows my turbo timer wasn't working when I gave the car to him, so I could go to all the hassle of reporting him to CA but in the end its my word against his.
As to contacting Office of Business and Consumer Affairs, it isn't illegal to have the item in the car, only to use it. So as for them being concerned with its use - don't worry.
When you ring them, they will call this 'wog' and inform him of your complaint. His own words and poor excuses will hang him. OCBA's investigators are trained to recognise BS. They do courses and training that is also done by cadets in the police.
So after you ring, fill out a complaint, they call him, he panics when he hears of the consequences. Therefore you get your money back that you would have paid and they have to reimburse you for the damage to your car.I would get onto OCBA as soon as you can to start action.
If you are a member of the RAA they also have a legal department for advice for situations such as these.
eg I had a car at a mechanics they left it out overnight. Idiots tried to steal it with half an engine. Damaged both door locks, fuel release, petrol cap, major wiring damage, add to this the massive scrape into the crease line of the bodywork which was recently resprayed I wasn't happy for them to 'touch it up'. 1 call to OCBA and car was repaired at their cost by other businesses (crash repairs, auto elect, locksmith etc). Oh and I never paid their repair bill.
BUT, all this takes time and depending if you have patience it's up to you whether you follow them for compensation OR just let EVERYONE see his bill and then show them the bill to repair his damage. Word of mouth is VERY powerful and can do major damage to a business.
Good luck and am sorry to hear of yet another person being ripped off. For future get quotes, ask heaps of questions and if possible get it in writing. Photo's from your mobile can also be used as proof of condition.
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 01:54 am, by: Kev LeLeu(Kev)
Time's like these I turn to the good book which reads "If the lord is my sheppard, then he must be from New Zealand" It's a shame there's people like him around just waiting for people like us to come along. I'm after airbag shockers and CMI Toyota told me $1,200 each I contacted Neil Griffiths at Rush and I got them for $880 each I saved $600 just bye making a phone call. You really do have to watch out for these mongrels. Sue the •••• out of him and get a V8
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 08:30 am, by: Nathan Stringer(Stringer)
I've been using AMA for about a year now, for replacing an evaporator, a re-gas and a compressor replacement. all but the compressor were done by Pete in my driveway. I've been pretty happy with his work, though I admit I didnt think to much of the new workshop, they seem to have lots of people just 'hanging around'. When I picked my car up the suspension was set to 'sport', I just figured someone bumped the switch..... Now you've got me thinking
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 09:10 am, by: Ken Bruns(Uncle_ken)
Sorry to hear about your problem Tom, that sort of thing really gets me! I suggest an extra strategy as well. Over the next few days/weeks we all ring up individually and have a word to this guy that have heard what he is like and that we are telling as many people as we know NOT to go there for work. After a while he will be dreading phone calls and if he has any good staff, they might take this oppurtunity to go! The best part is that it's entirely legal!!
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 10:15 am, by: Katrina Bruns(Katrina)
Daniel Czechowski wrote on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 08:04 pm:
housewives don't know what an Apexi RSM is and stuff. Too complicated for them Sheesh Daniel.. I'm not that bad LOL
Anyways, I agree with everyone. That would tick me off to no end.. document every single thing you can.. contact others and see what the word around town is on this guy.. and this is just me, but I would bad mouth him every chance you get. A soarer is an awesome car.. how dare he diss it!!
Dumb question.. what is consumer affairs equivelent in the US? Thinking its the same as better business bureau (BBB) here.
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 02:29 pm, by: Shane Ilich(Ferret)
just pull an "ACA" and set him up.
another member ring up, sound like a complete novice, book your car for a service, and get your girlfriend to drop the car in, to heighten the impression.
BUT first take photos of everything in the car, and get videos of everything working, all clearly timestamped.
then drop the car in, and hang around in the background with a camera ready. catch them on film taking it for a joyride if they do. then when you get the car back, take photos of it in their yard, and videos of everything thats sposed to be working, and see if there's any differences.
then send it all in to Ray Martin. and tell the mechanic to get some practice running away from cameras/reporters with a jumper pulled over his head.
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 02:52 pm, by: Samantha Hornby(Marla_singer)
Daniel Czechowski wrote on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 08:04 pm:
Nah Luke, housewives don't know what an Apexi RSM is and stuff. Too complicated for them. If there was something about dishwashing liquids in that story maybe he'd have a chance
Daniel, I'm genuinely surprised at you for this comment.
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 03:37 pm, by: Katrina Bruns(Katrina)
HAHAHA.. Yeah, I was a bit suprised by the comment also Samatha LOL. If I was local in Australia or New Zealand, I would call the guy and give him a piece of my mind.. no doubt in my mind. Or play with him a bit.. call and ask what he does in terms of example of what was done to Tom's car.. .ask for examples of stuff he has done and such, in detail. And if you call, make sure you aren't up on a caller ID.. here in the US those things are annoying as can be. We have a code we can block our number from showing, but it costs grrrr.
Ok maybe I shouldn't have used the word 'housewives' ... no offence to anybody. I was just trying to point out that Today Tonight never has anything "informatively useful" on. All they ever show is miracle this, miracle that, how to save a few cents on groceries (durr, pick the cheapest item, dead obvious stuff) and yadda yadda yadda. 1 in 10 of the things they show may be interesting and half engaging.
If they were to run this story, half of it would be explaining to the average Joe and Jill (not a housewife ) what a turbo timer is and and APexi RSM... don't you think?
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 04:51 pm, by: Tom Burgan(Burg)
Cheers for all your support guys, I think that phone call idea is a good one or just call him up and book big jobs so he clears a whole days work for your car. Then about lunch time that day call and say "sorry cant make it and can I come in tomorrow instead?" or call and say you heard he steals turbo timers and thrashes cars and you'll give the job a miss. If anyone does this your a absolute champ in my book. Let us know how you go and I will tell my friends to do the same.
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 04:58 pm, by: Katrina Bruns(Katrina)
Well Daniel.. its one of those things.. if the show doesnt interest the person or they have no idea what is being talked about and doesnt want to learn it.. they would just start clicking channels..I would kill for a show like that here (that isn't run by complete morons) If I had a more australian sounding sound to my voice I would deffinelty call that shop and make a HUGE appointment and cancel 15 minutes before I had to be there.. sounds like fun Especially if he was going to have fun with my car.. no way, dont think so
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 05:57 pm, by: Ben Socratous(Socrates)
Tom, is that the place that's in what looked like three shopfronts, something akin to a salon? Thanks for the heads up, was almost thinking of checking them out. Your idea sounds sweet, false bookings are sooooo good to get back at people. Had this clown prank call me for ages, so one night when we were slightly tanked... we decided that it would be fun that at 1:30 in the AM we ordered him 8 pizzas from 4 different shops, an emergency plumber, a sparky and 3 taxis. He never called again
Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 06:05 pm, by: Ben Socratous(Socrates)
BTW rotties are no problem, I hate them with a passion!!! That's the reason that my teeth are crooked, had this one run into me when I was knee high to a grasshopper, bolled me over and took half my teeth out! I have this theory with big dogs now, I just stare at them, don't move, just glare at them, they usually leave me alone! There's this truck yard i deliver to now with a doberman and a german shepard that hide when I pull up, some guard dogs they are!!!
Sorry people, but I have no love for dogs anymore...
Previous
the punk... 
... no offence to anybody. I was just trying to point out that Today Tonight never has anything "informatively useful" on. All they ever show is miracle this, miracle that, how to save a few cents on groceries (durr, pick the cheapest item, dead obvious stuff) and yadda yadda yadda. 1 in 10 of the things they show may be interesting and half engaging. 
