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Midas tried to install cheaper parts than what is on the invoice
travistee
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I had my brakes done at MIDAS. They gave me an invoice that listed the high quality parts that I ordered. They told me I could get a ride home and they would bring me back when it was done. They called to tell me that the caliper brackets had broken bolts and they had to order new bolts that take three days to get. While I was there I saw that all of the parts they were trying to put on my car were the cheapest available and not what was on my invoice. If the bolts did not brake they would have finished the job and I would not have known what I had. They agreed to get the parts that I originally ordered. I think I should report this to the police since they were caught in the act of trying to rob me. Besides the cheap parts I would have had no warranties since the parts did not match the invoice. It sounds like they were caught in the act of robbing me.
+3
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Definitely go to town on yelp twitter, and double check the parts before you pay them.
I'm not trying to flame midas , they already have enough of that, so I'm not going to post all over the web.
I just want advice before I go to the police.
The reason you fill out the report is if there is an issue later on you have a record, and it establishes the start of a pattern.
They have enough of that because they regularly do things like you are describing and are a shady company. This is not the first time I’ve heard about something like this where they overcharge for the part they are using.
Don't forget, if the caliper bracket bolts did not break they would have completed the job with the wrong parts and I would not have known.
If there would have been an accident due to the brakes, they would have said it was not their work since the parts did not match the invoice.
IMO, I think the police should be interested in an crime like that. I don't think they can say it was just a mistake because they would have gotten away with it if the the bolts did not break.
Actually if I am confident that the police will take the complaint I am thinking about using that as a negotiation point to lower the price in exchange for not going to the police. It's only fair that they pay a price for what they did.
BTW, they didn't pull any wrong parts. The manager has to order the parts from a parts store as needed, so he knew what he was doing.
Don't use the threat of going to the cops too extort money from them.
If you catch them, I guarantee they'll fix it. This is a scam a lot of places run on computers, too. I even lost a job for fixing it too often.
Here's how it works: somebody pays for, say, a 7800. You throw a Galaxy card in there instead, it'll show the same in device manager. Most customers who will be able to tell are going to be customers buying the card retail and installing it at home. Maybe a quarter of customers catch you, and of those half take a correction and half take a discount which is usually not the full difference.
The scam does t work if you stick to your guns and try to fight a lawsuit.
I think the police should take it seriously. In the case of an accident they would have covered up their responsibility by having no record of the parts they were putting in.
They could have sabotaged the brakes and hidden their responsibility. Sounds like a crime to me.
Also the fact that if the caliper bracket bolts did not break they would have gotten away with it.
Seems police should investigate crimes. I have some questions to online legal sources. We will see what they say.
They are fixing it, but if someone tries to rob me or kill me I would report it to the police even if they failed.
Call the non emergency police number file your report pay for what was installed and double check to make sure it is correct.
For example where I live blackmail is defined the extortion of money, property, or services from another by threatening to expose the person for a criminal act or other disreputable conduct. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
They are only risking 18 months Prison and the intent is way easier to prove for blackmail.
Could they get 18 months for what they did?
If I am not happy with the end result and they don't correct it then could I tell them that I will go to the police without it being blackmail?
Midas on a bad day will have to pay for you to get the job done again at a different garage.
Pick the car up, pay, and immediately go home, put it up on a jack and take one of the wheels off, if it's the wrong parts photograph it in detail. Repeat on the other wheel. Call the police and make your report.
High chance they will pull the "it's a civil matter," and do nothing past the report. You've got a few options now:
1. Go back and confront them. I guarantee they'll either fix it or offer a discount - I advise you settle for nothing except the right parts or a full refund, no partial refunds because that's a common part of the scam, refund 20% when the price difference would be 25% and still come out ahead. Keeping the scam going means always admitting the "mistake" when it's caught, you'll never do more than you were paid for and sometimes get away with less. Follow this with a complaint to corporate about the location and copious online reviews. Include the pictures in the reviews for sites that allow it.
2. Sue for what you paid.
3. Go somewhere else and get a quote for doing it correctly, sue for that amount as the cost of correcting the damage they did. Feel free to go to that really expensive place everyone hates because generally the plaintiff doesn't have an onus to find the best deal before suing to be made whole. You might not get any more out of it, since the money goes to the repair, but it'll hit them harder.
In both cases you may only get what you paid or the difference between what you paid and what they actually did - different places have different nuances to exactly what being made whole means. The more legwork you do the easier things usually go, though, preparation is good.
2 and 3 are easy. Small claims isn't really about "the law" so much as showing damage. They charged for A but only did C+, you are damaged and want to be made whole - defendants don't necessarily need to have broken the law as long as their action or inaction has caused you a loss. Dress well and be professional as if this is all just a mild annoyance, not much to it really.
What you can also do is make them show you the proper parts that were installed. Really do this, it is not unknown for them to say they are putting in the correct parts and not.
You can also ask for a discount for your inconvenience. Results will vary.
Other options involving small claims are not likely to be worth your time unless you are out of your car weeks and have significant damages.
Hevach is dead on. Although I've used The proverbial Jim Bob and usually he's like bring the parts you want put on and I'll put it on for 150 bucks.
If you want reimbursement and/or to ensure that the shop is appropriately penalized, complaining to corporate is the correct course.
Pluto was a planet and I'll never forget
It will probably be returned with something else defective.