Complaint Review: D.K. Lane Lake Gaston Car Care - Henrico North Carolina

On March 2, 2004 my Mazda Protegee would not start following a 65 mile trip. I was able to push start it and took it to Auto Zone where the customer service rep determined that the alternator was bad after performing a diagnostic test.

Since Lake Gaston Car Care is close to my home and the owner is a member of the Chamber of Commerce where I serve as Executive Director, I decided to see if they could replace the alternator. The owner, D.K. Land indicated that he would get me a new alternator at this cost of $134.00 with a life-time warrantee. I agreed to have him replace it with that alternator and also asked him to do a oil change. Approximately 2 hours later he phoned and told me that my car was ready. To my surprise the bill came to $247.10 which included $100.00 in labor, however, he did not do the oil change.

Before I left Mr. Lane reminded me that I had a lifetime warrantee and that I shouldn't have any problems, if I did to give him a call. Right then I felt ripped-off, by having to shell out $247.00 but what glad that my car was ready since I had a business appointment that evening.

On March 5, 2004, I had work at a court house approximately 80 miled from my home, but, felt confident that my car was running properly. On returning from my assignment I noticed that the lights and radio were not working and stopped at the Exxon Station to see if they could charge my battery. The Mechanic checked my vehicle and informed me that I had a bad alternator. It was clear that I was not going to make it home since the battery was totally drained.

I phone Lake Gaston Car Care and explained the problem, since they had supposedly replaced and fixed the alternator problem, and asked if they could send a wrecker for the car. Mr. Lane called me back and said that he was not going to send a wrecker and that I needed to find another way to get the car back to his shop and hung up.

A few minutes later he phoned back and said that he felt bad and that he would send the wrecker for the car later in the day. I phoned a friend for assistance and he came to pick me up. We decided that we would try to get a charged battery and try to drive the car home the next day. My friend stopped by Lake Gaston Car Care to see if they had ordered a new alternator and if so, he would put it on the car for me. Mr. Lane informed him that he was going to tow the car and replace the alternator, never indicating that there would be any charge.

On March 7, 2004, Mr. Lane phoned me and told me that my car was ready and the charge was $120.00. Shocked. I said for what?

He explained that the alternator belt was bad and that was why the alternator failed. He also said that I could have drove the car home myself without having it towed. Why didn't he replace the belt the first time if it was so worn instead of letting it go knowing that it was in poor condition if that is really the case. I feel as though I have been lied to and taken advantage of. I don't know if he damaged the belt or what the case is but

I feel that to have had to dish out almost $400.00 for a bad alternator is way too much!!!

Rochelle

Henrico, North Carolina
U.S.A.