Complaint Review: Lee Myles-Tiger Transmission - Greg Kaiser - Phoenix Arizona

I thought that Lee Myles Transmission was a reputable outfit, but if Mr. Kaiser's behavior is any indication of what one can expect from a shop that displays the Lee Myles logo then I truly feel sorry for their future customers.

I have repeatedly tried to resolve this matter with Mr. Greg A. Kaiser and the Lee Myles Corporate office with no avail. It seems that Lee Myles is not the reputable firm that they would like the public to believe. (See www.leemyles.com) The Lee Myles Corporate office phone number is 1-800-631-1699. Mr. Kaiser has performed no work outside of pulling the transmission to diagnose and estimate the cost of repairs. If you look at his BBB report he advertises that the cost of this is approximately $150.00, much less than the cost of the $380.00 he is trying to steal from me.

From the 3 or so Phoenix peace officers that work the 30th street and Thomas beat to the AAA tow truck driver who was there to assist me, who each had 5 horror stories about the treatment they have personally witnessed from Mr. Greg A. Kaiser. It makes me cringe, just to think about the hard working Elderly and Hispanic people in that neighborhood, who have been taken for a financial ride over and over again. It just goes to reason that he has been ripping people off for so long that he is very comfortable with this almost commonplace practice.

Please help me inform the hard working people of Phoenix, so they may not have to endure the pain of Mr. Kaiser's very unethical business practice, by having their vehicle held for ransom. I have also sent my complaint to the BBB and to the Attorney General of Arizona, Janet Napolitano's, Consumer Information and Complaints Office, but they do not care.

On or about 11/26/2001 I was reading the news paper, when I came across an advertisement from Lee Myles Transmissions/Tiger Transmission located at 3029 E. Thomas Rd Phoenix, AZ. The advertisement states that for $480.00 they will repair transmissions from foreign or domestic Mini Vans manufactures within the 1984 through 1996 model years. The advertisement also states that the torque converter and hard parts are extra. My vehicle is a 1991 Dodge/Plymouth Grand Voyager, which falls into the advertisements stated classification.

I then had my vehicle towed to the Lee Myles Transmission repair shop stated above and talked to an employee by the name of Carlos. We discussed the state of the transmission and I indicated that it would go in reverse but not in drive. He stated that the shop's owner Mr. Kaiser was not in and that I would have to call back and discuss what I wanted done with him. I also told him that I had to go to Illinois on personal business and I would be gone for 30 to 45 days. He indicated that that was not a problem and to call back tomorrow and talk to Mr. Kaiser. I then gave him the key and left.

The following day I called the shop and asked for Mr. Kaiser and his first question to me was What kind of work are you in to be able to leave for 30 to 45 days. I told him that it was not important in determining the repairs my vehicle needed. I had a bad feeling that Lee Myles Transmission was not the reputable firm I had thought it was.

Mr. Kaiser insisted that the only way to diagnose the problem was to remove the transmission and physically inspect it. I then asked about the use of test equipment that other shops indicated they would use to diagnose the problem. He then reiterated that there was no such equipment and the only way to diagnose the problem was by physical removal and inspection. I asked what the cost of that was and he indicated that it would cost $380.00 for the removal, inspection and replacement. I then asked about the advertisement for $480.00 and he indicated that if after the diagnoses I wanted him to do the actual transmission repairs that the $380.00 would be waived and I would get a total package price. He then went on to say that if I wanted to provide my own transmission that I would be charged the $380.00 for the removal and replacement. I also restated what I told Carlos that I would be gone for 30 to 45 days and he assured me that there was no problem with that, so I then gave him the verbal authorization to do the removal and diagnoses.

Over the next 30 days I had several conversations with Mr. Kaiser, the first being that they had performed the removal and diagnoses and that he had 3 prices, $1,600.00, $2,200.00 and $3,000.00 which were a function of the warranty and the quality of parts used in the actual transmission repair. I asked about the advertisement for $480.00 and he skirted that question saying the cheapest he could do it for was $1,600.00. I told him that I needed to do some research and would call him with a decision. I felt that he was trying to cheat me.

After doing some research on the costs of a rebuilt versus new transmission, which ranged from $650.00 to $2,500.00 respectively. I then phoned Mr. Kaiser with the results of my research and he indicated that the Phoenix based business, Phoenix Hard Parts, which was selling the rebuilt transmission, was not reliable and that they used inferior parts, etc. I did not agree with that, due to the fact that from talking with the owners of Phoenix Hard Parts that Mr. Kaiser's employees of Lee Myles Transmission regularly bought parts from them. Mr. Kaiser went on to also say that if I used Phoenix Hard Parts transmission that there would be no warranty from Lee Myles. I told him I understood that and that I would be there on 01/29/2002 to discuss further. He closed by saying that I could do what I want and if I decided to bring a transmission in he would install it and charge me the $380.00 for the removal and replacement.

I went to Phoenix on 01/29/2002 and purchased the A604 transmission from Phoenix Hard Parts in addition to renting a Ryder truck and auto transporter to tow my vehicle home. I then went over to Lee Myles transmission to deliver the transmission and torque converter to Mr. Kaiser. When I told Him I had brought a transmission to be installed in my Minivan he was irate. He said that it would not fit and started to get hostile. We then showed the transmission to his mechanic who concurred that it would fit. I thought the best way to handle this was to leave and come back when Mr. Kaiser had calmed down.

Upon returning to Lee Myles to speak with Mr. Kaiser, who now said the cost was $850.00 for the removal and replacement, which also included $45.00 per day for storage. At no time in any of our conversations did Mr. Kaiser make any inference to this storage fee. I told him we were doing what he wanted and that he was being unreasonable. I went on to say that I would give him $500.00 to just release my Minivan and I would just walk away. He would not do it. I informed him that he had not performed any work on my vehicle and more importantly I had not signed a work order of any kind to perform even the removal and replacement of the transmission. He said he did not care and if I wanted my vehicle it would cost me $850.00. I told him he was not going to rip me off and that I was going to call the police. He said go ahead, so I did.

When the police arrived they told me that I was not the first person to be cheated by his hard sell tactics. Upon completing their conversation with Mr. Kaiser, they informed me that he said he was filing a mechanics lien and that they could not do anything because it was a civil matter. I thanked them for their help and left.

I then went to do some research on the Arizona Revised Statues regarding the handling mechanics liens and personal property, which are part of Title 33 within the Arizona Constitution. Upon reading ARS 33-1021, which states When an article, implement, utensil or vehicle, except motor vehicles, is repaired or cleaned, glazed or washed, with labor, with or without material, by a carpenter, mechanic, artesian or other workman, such person shall have a lien thereon for the labor or material and may retain passion thereof until the amount due is fully paid.

I then returned to explain this to Mr. Kaiser, who said he did not care. I then called AAA Auto Services to tow my vehicle. Shortly after my call to AAA the tow vehicle arrived and while we were waiting for the police, Mr. Kaiser came around the corner in a motor vehicle and stopped in front of the AAA truck and got out and yelled get your (expletive) rental car off my (expletive) property right now. I responded to Mr. Kaiser by saying we are waiting for the police, we have done everything that you wanted Mr. Kaiser. He then jumped back in the car raced his engine and then proceeded to assault me with the car by pinning me against the tow truck and the car he was driving, causing me to fall to the ground in extreme pain.

The tow driver called 911, which dispatched the fire department and the ambulance arrived and took me away on a back board and neck restraint. I was transported to Maricopa Medical Center where I was X-rayed, diagnosed and treated for my injuries and was released that evening. The police filed Aggravated Assault charges and I have positively identified him to the detective, and still the police have done nothing. The State of Arizona does not seem to care about what happens to people in their state. Aggravated Assault does not appear to be a felony in Arizona.

On 02/01/2002 I went to the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles, where I received documentation to prove that there was no lien on my vehicle. The DMV also provided me with the policy and procedures for filing a mechanics lien. The procedure clearly states that if there is no work order, or if the work order or agreement is not signed by the owner of the vehicle, the mechanic must pursue a judicial remedy. It also states that a telephone confirmation between the mechanic and the owner concerning the work to be done will not suffice in lieu of the owner signature on the work order.

As of today, 3/08/2004, Mr. Kaiser still has my vehicle and due to his inconsiderate and unlawful behavior, I am in the possession of some major bills that total approximately $4,000.00 to $5,000.00.

David

Edwardsville, Illinois
U.S.A.