ComplaintsforMarselli Precision Automotive LLC

• Initial Complaint

  03/12/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  This place charged me for a battery to replace after they had hooked up the device. They called and said I needed a new battery and it would be $300. I said I wanted to go to another place (because It seemed unprofessional to hook up the device then call and said it would be $300 more for a new battery. My dad said no to the $300 they wanted and he asked if we could take the car elsewhere. The lady said no they device is connected which confused me on why he would hook a device up ( to what he called a bad battery) The battery light was not on in my car. My dad brought them down a new battery . When I went to pay for the installation they charged me $ 89.44 for the battery installation. Firstly they didn't say anything about a installation price secondly why would they install the device then claim the battery was bad which I don't think was true . As a 23 . year old female I felt pressured and I feel this place was very unprofessional. They should never had installed a device then say the battery was bad, and when I wanted to bring it to another place they said the device was installed already. This seems pretty shady. I saw on the customer reviews there was another situation where they are accused of doing almost exactly the same thing. Please help me. Sent from ******* ***** *********************)

  Business response

  03/13/2024

  Hello and thank you for reaching out,

  This customer came in for a court mandated alcohol breathalyzer. ********** set up an appointment through a customer request to do a same day installation of the ********** breathalyzer equipment at which the price of installation was gone over with the ********** representative. Customer was quoted $150.00 for labor plus shop supplies, taxes, and parts necessary to properly install the breathalyzer equipment to meet requirement and guidelines per state of *********** and **********. As noted on attached ********** work order the quote was $200.00, the invoice for the installation of the device came to $182.58 (We do not want any customer feeling we would over charge them for work performed or doing anything "shady" as mentioned by the customer).  We brought the vehicle into the shop to perform the installation of the breathalyzer device. While performing the installation we have to open the hood after having part of the interior process performed. Technician noticed that the vehicle’s battery appeared in poor condition, the technician performed a battery test to find out if the battery was going to be able to maintain the breathalyzer device electronic parameters. The battery failed the load test in which I contacted the customer and a gentleman answered the phone. I advised stating that part of the device function the battery and charging system has to be in good operating condition, we happened to test the battery and it had failed the load test. I further explained if for any reason the battery is to die it can cause a lockout which will cost the customer a lockout fee and calibration fee. I advised to replace the vehicle battery we use ********** batteries, with parts, labor, supplies/fees and tax the replacement would cost $315.00. The gentleman said that was a very high price, I then responded the battery by itself is $200.00 plus tax in which he said he would bring me a battery. I then agreed, stating we will install the battery for the excess of the labor, taxes and fees excluding the cost of the battery, gentleman then hung up the phone (I assume he had heard that portion of the conversation). The gentleman then came back to the building with the battery he purchased from another facility, and I said alright I will contact you guys once we are finished with the process. We finished the ********** installation in the interim of waiting for the battery to be brought by. We then installed the battery brought down by the customer, and then calibrated the ********** device per guidelines of device system. Contacted customer to let them know the vehicle was ready for pick-up. When customer arrived for pick-up, we believe that the customer and/or the gentleman she arrived with were under the influence of some sort of substance due to how they began to act and smelled, the smell caused the building to become overwhelmed by the smell of said substance. During the pick-up and re-explanation of work performed the gentleman who drove her got very irate over the charges that were previously advised. We then requested he leave the premises or cops would be contacted. The customer paid for the work performed, we have attached signed work orders, the debit card receipt showing proof of payments, ********** work order with quote for ********** breathalyzer device, battery test slip, as well as a national labor time guide showing book time for replacement of battery and performing a cleaning service (of which both services were performed due to amount of corrosive material and build up on pre-existing battery terminals). At no time other than when dropping off the vehicle and upon pick-up had we spoken to the customer, we spoke with the gentleman on the phone. We also let customer know a few items in which we happened to see that deemed the vehicle unsafe for public road use and advised until they could afford or could have fixed the vehicle shouldn’t be driven on public roads and should be towed from the premises. Upon vehicle arrival the technician once within the vehicle noticed drug paraphernalia on the passenger front seat inside of an old food bag. We understand that everyone has their own day to day problems in the end of everything. We do not feel that we tried to take advantage or pressure anyone into doing something in this situation. Unfortunately, we cannot do anything in regards to refunding the court ordered installation, but are willing to maybe help out on the battery labor if necessary. We charged .5 labor to install the battery, clean the battery terminals of all corrosion and debris, apply a cleaner/sealant for preventative maintenance and battery terminal protection, which we believe is fair. Our posted labor rate is $134.99 plus tax per hour. If any information or documentation is requested or needed feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience. If determined or believed we unfairly charged the customer we have no problem coming to an agreement for any potential refund.

  
  Best regards!

  Customer response

  03/14/2024

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: There was no mention of an charge for the battery to be installed. My dad brought them a new battery(We didn't even see in person the claim of a bad voltage battery. We were never given the opportunity to see what the installer claimed to be a bad charge battery. Secondly the lady that called was trying to way overcharge for a new battery $200 plus (my dad found a brand new one for $120 which he dropped off with the lady. Their response seems like they we doing a whole inspection of my car. They were only asked to put a device in not do a tire inspection etc. The other stuff they claimed in their response is not valid, if I was under the influence of alcohol my car in which they just put the device in wouldn't have started. Because of this whole situation I do not feel comfortable in doing business with this company/ All we want is the battery installation charge refunded along with the device being taking out for free. and a refund for the installation,I cant continue a business relationship with a company that I do not trust.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* *****

  Business response

  03/15/2024

  We tried show you the battery slip but your father would not let me speak and continued to be loud, which is why we gave up and requested he leave the premises. We also said substance due to we do not feel it necessary to state the smell in which our building smelled of upon your arrival at time of pick up, that is your own personal lifestyle do at your own leisure; and are trying to not be offensive on your own accord. $199.95 is the MSRP of the ********** Battery in which your vehicle takes, which is what is in our inventory. That is the price of the battery by itself, not including labor, taxes, or any other fees as previously stated and explain to your father. The ********** device installation is set up through ********** as with removals, the fees are quoted to them and then to you in which you agree to before we end up with any work orders. If you would like the device removed it has to be set up again by them just like with the installation. That charge because it is a court ordered installation you have to go to them about, and we do apologize. The ********** devices we are basically an installer; we CAN NOT install them without the work order that they said with the quote in which we provide to them and they provide to you. If you agreed to the charge with them, we have to install the device using the previously dictated and agreed upon work order with **********. We understand and also agree that you and our business do not want to have a relationship with each other. As stated, you are correct about your father commenting about the inspection of the vehicle, in which my response was we did not inspect the vehicle, these were things we noticed while walking in the proximity of the vehicle. It’s the same concept of if you are driving down the road and have the common courtesy to inform someone their brake light was out. We were looking out for your safety, just as we do with all of our customers. Also due to liabilities and us having worked on your vehicle if we come across something safety related in plain sight, we have to make you aware if you knew or didn’t know about it, that was all we did was make mention of your lug nuts missing because it is a safety concern. Again, we reiterate, anything in regards to the ********** device has to be taken up with ********** directly, we do apologize. When your father said he wasn’t paying for us to inspect the vehicle we agreed and stated no we did not do a full vehicle inspection it was something we came across while walking around the vehicle. At this point, we do not feel a resolution between either party is going to come to an agreement in which the customer will be happy with.

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