Complaint Review: Tires Plus Kissimmee and Ocala Florida - Kissimmee/Ocala Florida

8/7/13 I’m sitting here stranded in Monroe, LA because I took my van in to Tires Plus in Kissimmee, FL, on 7/21/13 to have New Tires mounted, balanced, aligned and my AC connected all with warrantees. I was moving out of state and wanted to make sure my vehicle was in Good order before leaving. I was told by the tech, Anthony, that I needed new lugs, that all of mine were stripped, and a Tie Rod replaced. Tires, tie rod and new wipers were done on 7/21, I returned on 7/22 and had AC Connected and lugs replaced. After 9+ hours to have these things done and more than 1100.00 spent, I was told that I needed a new compressor, I couldn’t afford it, so I declined. I was never shown any of the parts that they said needed replacing, my bad for not asking, I trusted them as I have been to the shop and bought tires there before. I went home, parked the van, didn’t drive it for two days, then when I only went a few blocks down the street, I had to have it jumpstarted 3 times in one day. I called the shop on 7/25 and told them what was going on, they were obliged to have it towed to their shop, at my expense of course. I declined and ended up, getting it started the following day. I had taken it to Advance Auto, as they were on the way to Tires Plus, just to see if they could run a diagnostic test for me, the attendant told me that if the “check engine” light wasn’t coming on, then there was nothing a diagnostic could do. (7/26)On my way out of town, I took it back to Tires Plus, after ½ an hour, they told me that I needed a new alternator. So, I sat in my vehicle, with my son, along with my two dogs and cat, while Anthony replaced the alternator. It was hot, stormy and loud! (not good on small animals) After 3+ hours later, he was done, I started the van, the “check engine” light came on. I asked Anthony to run the diagnostic on it, he said “nothing is coming up” I took his word, thinking well, I just had a part on, maybe that has something to do with it, I don’t know. Well, five minutes down the road, my van starts to overheat to the point that the temperature was in the red zone and was sending steam out of the radiator. I turned the vehicle off, and sat for about half and hour. I replaced the radiator fluid and water, then went on to Clermont, unable to turn on the AC that I just paid for a few days before. I attempted to call Tires Plus back, but they were already gone for the day. I called the following morning, (7/27) and they advised me to go to the nearest location, since I was already headed towards Ocala, I ended up at their location, but not before my van tried to overheat 2 more times. The Ocala store determined that the Fan was not turning on, they stated that I needed a relay switch and fuse (Ocala NEVER Told me they installed a “pig tail” on the fan) So, another 3.5 hours later, I was on my way again. I only stopped two times before I got to Alabama. Once for gas and the second time to let my animals potty. I noticed the fan running when I stopped, I just thought it was cooling down since I had been driving so long. When I got to Alabama about 10:30 that night, I stopped at my nephews for about an hour, I went to leave, and the van wouldn’t start. Battery was dead, fan was still going! I got a jumpstart, then went to my sisters, where I sat for 4 days. I called and played phone tag with the Ocala store until I left Alabama on 8/2, I was advised by them to take it to another location, on my way to Texas. The nearest Tires Plus was 60 miles out of my way in Ft. Walton, I decided to go to Pensacola, called them, found out that they had no tech available. So I drove straight through to Louisiana, not turning off my vehicle, even to fuel up. By 12:15 a.m. 8/3, I was exhausted. I stopped at a rest area, pets had to potty, and I needed a little rest. I turned the van off, disconnected the battery and proceeded to get a few hours of rest. 45 minutes later, we were ready to leave, since it was so hot & muggy and the mosquitoes were eating us alive. Tried to start the van, no go! We sat there for 8 hours, getting attacked by mosquitoes. Got no sleep, tried to jumpstart it 3 times, to no avail. Finally a gentleman took his battery out of his vehicle, placed it post to post with mine and started it. I drove straight through to Monroe to Firestone (Tires Plus is their affiliate). As I was coming over the bridge, maybe a mile from the shop, my fan turned off and my vehicle began to overheat again! I called the Ocala store, I was advised then about the “pig tail”. I sat 9+ hours at the shop in Monroe. The manager at Kissimmee, admitted to the Manager in Monroe that they knew my battery was marginal! They only wanted to replace the battery, since mine was burned out. Ocala admitted that they installed the pig tail and didn’t tell me. The “pig tail” that the Ocala store installed, burned out and fried my fan, fan motor, the new relay switch & fuse! Firestone put me, my son and my pets in a hotel. We were offered a rental car and repairs on the vehicle, they were going to charge it all back to Tires Plus!  Since everything I own is in the van, I chose to stay here, save the cost of a rental car and/or shipment of my vehicle. I thought I was being reasonable. I’m glad I didn’t accept the rental car, because I would be paying for it, since Firestone is going back on their word. I got an hours notice this morning, that now Firestone is not going to pay for our room past today (8/7) and that they believe it is an issue with the computer, not anything that they can do. They replaced the relay switch, the fan motor and fuses though. Then I was told that was all done for Free. Hello! I already paid for that to be done, along with warrantees. All total I spent nearly 2000.00 in tires, repairs, parts and warrantees in less than one week with Tires Plus, now I am being made to feel like I am some charity case that Firestone is having to pick up. I have filed a consumer affairs complaint with Tires Plus, Firestone gave in and  did approve one more day of hotel stay while THEY send my van to the dealership. If the dealership determines that this is a computer issue, then I am paying… Seriously??? I had my vehicle in Tires Plus shops, 4 times in one week. I have documentation that they claim that they conducted “courtesy checks” each time, an AC check and a Battery Check. You mean to tell me that not once did their technician ever pick up on a computer issue? They were too busy trying to sell my jobs and parts that I didn’t need, waste my time, inconvenience me, all for a buck! I also found out that my compressor is FINE! So, I am sitting here in the Middle of Louisiana, with no family, no friends, no vehicle and no money! I’ve had to spend money on food and pet stuff for the days that I have been here that I didn’t need to spend. Tires Plus is a RIP OFF!!! I’m upset with the way that Firestone is handling this situation as well. I feel lied to, cheated and stranded all for being a loyal customer!!!