Vince's Auto Body, Inc
Complaint 231371 Details

Auto Accident 2/11/2013: original car body repair work extended from 2/13/2013 to 3/05/2013. The addition work that this complaint focuses on: 3/8/203. I took my car into the repair shop mentioned, in this complaint; before I took the car to the repair shop there was no problem with the alternator or the battery or my signal blinkers. When I got the car back the alternator was damaged, and their explanation was a flimsy; they told me the alternator just went out on its own. I do not believe them - given my assessment of them being akin to pathological liars. There are several reasons for this conclusion.
The damage was to the front end, passage side: the insurance company informed that they had concluded the accident did not cause the damage to alternator, and they would not pay for the repair. I was told my car was driven to ensure nothing else was wrong with it as a complimentary service to ensure my car was in good working order; that is how the damage to the alternator was discovered: however, there was no mention of the Engine light being on and no mention of the ABS light being on and no mention of a cut in my tire; but yet I was their intention was to check out the car and ensure it was in good working condition before returning it to me. As to my car-engine was dying out, I inquired into whether or not the battery’s water level had been checked. I was told that all the car's fluid levels had been checked. They told me they were not sure what the source of the problem was; I took the car to an auto parts store to have the battery and alternator checked. I found that the radiator level was extremely low, and the battery levels were low.

Additionally, I inquired into why the headlight replaced was not a factory issued product, and I was told the insurance company would only pay for aftermarket parts; I called the insurance company and informed me that was a lie, and they would most certainly replace the headlight with the appropriate part. The other oddity was, that the passenger-side blinker light stopped working. On making arrangements with them to find out what was wrong with the blinker, they told me they would have to send the car to an electrical shop, and they would need the car for a couple of hours; in my opinion, I think they were trying to scam me out of some more money. I refused, and when I went back to have the appropriate light put in I made I made it clear to them, I was not going to pay them anything for addition labor not approved by the insurance company. After they replace the headlight and did their own search for the blinker light problem, I was told the mechanic found the blinker works if it is not pushed all the way into position. A few hours later the blinker was working perfectly again.
Please note, I paid for the car tow back to their shop to have the alternator repaired. If all they wanted to do is cheat me out of more money, I figured it was best or safer to take the car back to them; I reasoned, if they did, in fact, damage my alternator, assuredly something else was maladjusted; it as a guess, if I paid them to fix the alternator they would right whatever else was wrong - something that could have caused a serious accident if found later, then sooner. Yes, I do believe they would put a customer's life in danger per chance to make more money. I am not under the impression it is a race issue that motivated the deceptions; however, questioning other customers may alert your office to ongoing questionable business practices favored by the employees at Venice's auto body shop.


A car is a weapon that can wipe out whole families in an instant: I would think Congress would be, as with gun laws, equally interested in tighter legislation for background checks for people in the auto repair industry.

This is a formal request, to your office, to assist me with the return/recouping of money paid - I paid to Auto Body for the new alternator and a one-hour labor charge to change the alternator. Additionally, I was under the impression that insurance companies are bound by policy to ensure that the condition of a car when repaired is to be returned to a customer in the same or better condition than before an accident. I mentioned the situation/problem with the alternator to GIECO insurance company’s claims adjustor, and he insisted that in no way could the incident/ accident have caused the alternator to malfunction/break.

Additional comment: Cars are deadly weapons: I believe background checks (and display of them in shop lobbies) are in order for auto mechanics and repair shop workers as well. Just because it is difficult to prove who is accountable for a car accident and deaths that follow as a result …it is time to stop ruling out what I have assessed to be more than obvious. I believe the American public is at least at equal risk with auto repair workers as they are with people who carry a gun.

I swear the above in the whole truth to the best of my ability.