Complaint Review: Purrfect Auto Service #270 - Las Vegas Nevada

I took my 2003 VW Jetta to purrfect auto service#270 on Losee Road Friday 3/9/12 because the thermostat light was blinking so I wanted to have it looked at. I could not describe exactly what was wrong so the lady in the front convinced me to do a engine performance diagnosis for $49.99 so they could see exactly what the problem was. I agreed and paid
the $49.99. When the diagnosis was done the car mechanic Rico said it was the thermostat and another part but that he could fix it for $580.00. I told him that I did not have that much money so he said to pay him $380.00 now and then $100.00 on the first and the third when I told him I would have more money.I agreed and paid the $380.00 and
waited for three hours to get my car fixed as that is my ONLY source of transportation.

After three hours he said he needed to wait for the last part to come in so he could fix it but I told him I had to pick up my
son. He said to go ahead but come back the next day at 9:00am so he could finish it. I took it back to him Saturday at 9:00am as promised. I waited for two hours while he fixed it. Sunday the car had a funny noise when I first started it but it was ok. Monday I was taking my son to school and that same thermostat light that came on originally came back on. I drove another two or three minuted when the hood started smoking and the car cut off. I made it to the side of the road and called purrfect auto since he was the last one to touch the car and told him what had happened. He sent another guy from the shop to come to us and put some fluids in the car and drive it to the shop. When I got there Rico said he was busy but I could borrow his truck for a few hours and he would call me when he had a chance to look at it. He gave me the keys to his 1984 Ford Bronco and told me he would call me later. The gas tank was empty so I spend $40.00 to get 1/4 tank of gas at the corner store and drove home.

The next day (Tuesday) Rico called me and said it was the water pump and that he fixed it but I needed to pay him
$450.00. I told him he was not authorized to fix it he was just told to look at it and give me a call as I had already spent all of the extra money I had when I gave him the $380.00 the first time. He said to see what I could do and call him the next day. I told him I could not do anything as I know when I get more money and that would not be until the
1st. He said try. Wednesday I called Rico and told him that I could not find anymore money and to just fix what $380.00 could pay for and I would come and pick up my car. He said he already put the pump on and it took him four hours to do it and he would not take it off. I again told him that I did not authorize him to fix my car and if he was holding my
car because of the water pump just take it off and give me my car. He said no. He then said well I am not sure what to do because I am not  giving you your car back until I get ,y $450.00 and it is already done. I for the third time told him I did not authorize him to do any repairs on my car at all and I needed my car back as his bronco was extremely unsafe for me and my toddler as well as putting gas in it just to go to the grocery store was around $10.00. He said he would figure something out and call me Thursday.

 I called him and he said I needed to give him money but that I could come pick up my son's car seat and organizer out
of my car. Friday I went down and got my stuff out of my car and he told me to call him if I got anymore money. He also said he was waiting for an insurance company to send him a fax since he was changing insurance companies on the Bronco so as of now it does not have any insurance

.I NEVER authorized him to fix my car and I am still trying to figure out how this is not theft. I just want my car back.