If I could give them 0 or -1 stars I would. Dealing with these guys has been an absolute nightmare, and I don't want anyone to go through what they have put me through. I passed by several auto body repair shops and stopped at this one. That was my first mistake fellow yelpers.
I took my vehicle for some major repairs due a collision, but wanted to keep insurance out of it. Shop owner Frank advised me that I could use after market parts if necessary to keep costs low. He lied. He also assured me that I could finance the remaining balance. More lies. I asked Frank to provide a contract stating such. He declined, and stated that he would draft up a contract upon completion of job. I adamantly suggested signing something at that moment, and again he declined. I documented the details of our conversation, and let him know that a contract was now in place. He agreed, but I don't think that meant anything to him. He gave me a bad feeling upon our first contact. I attributed it to cultural diversity and his age. An employee at the shop told me "that is his character." (his exact words)
After market parts were purchased, delivered. The shop received and inspected parts and said there would be no problem. Two days before delivery (which was 3 days after the promised completion date) Frank informed me that he could not use all after market parts. I asked how will this affect the completion date and cost. Frank assured me the job would still cost the amount on my revised estimate. He said there would be no delays, or price increase as a result of getting parts from his vendor. Lies. Later that same evening, he called again, demanded a copy of the invoice for the after market parts I purchased, refused to return my vehicle, and after market parts, breached our verbal agreement with regard to financing the balance and demanded payment in full. He lied again, that is his character.
It doesn't end there. I begged relatives, and was able to come up with the full amount two days later. Ironically, Frank then agreed to setting up payment plan. This was because he was able to inflate the cost of the repairs by refusing to use the parts I purchased. He lied, again. I looked over the itemized statement and noticed that the price of some parts DOUBLED from the initial estimate. When I called Frank out on this, he made condescending remarks, and said the shop manager made a mistake at first, used the wrong part, and this new price was the actual part required. Another lie. He agreed to the payment plan with the new amount. Frank stated that he would draw up a promissory note, which would be ready to sign at the time of pickup of vehicle. No. I made Frank highlight the terms of our agreement in writing, down to the last penny owed. He wrote on the estimate: the total of repairs, the amount I had paid as a deposit, the remaining balance to be paid upon pickup of vehicle, and the monthly amount to be paid over several months. I have it here in black and white. His writing. But he lies, so...
On the day of promised delivery, Frank sent a text message requesting personal information to draw up the promissory note. Ordinarily, this makes sense. But Frank is not ordinary and he is untrustworthy. He even went as far as contacting my employer (not corporate, but the actual branch where I work) to verify my employment and earnings with a receptionist; without my consent. When this came to my attention, I called Frank and he insisted that he would not honor the terms of our previous agreement without this information. My vehicle is currently being held hostage at the shop, even though I am prepared to comply with the terms of our recent agreement; regardless of how unfair it is.
I have already contacted the Bureau of Automotive Repairs, a private attorney, and I will contact the police to document the incident to better prepare my case in court. Frank (if that is his name) is a dishonest man.
Out of curiosity, I walked up and down Walnut St, and asked other collision repair shops about the integrity and reputation of Hilton Auto Collision. Not one shop had anything positive to say. All shops seemed to have respect for each other, even thought they are competitors. No one had nice remarks about Frank and his method of business. "We get people coming in here to fix their mistakes, all the time," one shop informed me. At another shop, I learned that Hilton Auto has been struggling financially for a few years, and Frank had the business up for sale. Frank makes claims that his health is declining, and this could be his motivation for taking advantage of people who would otherwise be loyal customers to his competition.
Would you want a friend or family member to enjoy this experience? Avoid this place like the plague. Frank and his lack of ethics will cause unnecessary and undeserving stress for what is already a stressful ordeal.
