Prior to June 2, 2014 I spoke to Dmitri Negru owner of Tech 1 Auto of Buford, Georgia to do work on a 2006 Dodge Stratus that I had purchased with a bad head gasket. I purchased the car to repair and resale.
We had agreed on a price of seven-hundred dollars for labor plus parts. The following is my understanding of what was to take place;
1. Tech 1 Auto would be providing the labor to remove the cylinder head to send out for machine work
2.The machine shop is to check for cracks and other defects i.e. bad valves, etc. at their cost.
3. Tech would reinstall machined head and supply soft parts.
4. I would pay for any other parts required.
On June 2, 2014 the Auto Club delivered the vehicle to Mr. Negru’s shop. I also contacted Mr. Negru and informed him of the vehicle in transport. Later that day I met with Mr. Negru to inspect and go over what work was to be done. Several days later Mr. Negru contacted me and said there were two valves that needed to be replaced. He also mentioned the water pump and timing belt and said they were fine since I was selling the car. I responded saying that if they need to be replaced go ahead and replace.
He charged me an additional $50.00 for two valves and never again mentioned any other parts.
On July 3, 2014 he contacted me by home phone and told me the car was ready and asked me could I be there by 4 PM. He stated he was going out of town to see his parents. I drove over in my pick-up and paid the bill mostly in cash. I then asked him, “What about a receipt?” He asks me who name did I want it in? I told him Classy Cars. He didn’t ask me for an address or phone number. This I found odd.
Later on that night after 10PM I returned to the lot to pick my truck up and discovered Mr. Negru and his mechanic working on a vehicle.
After the holiday I returned the vehicle to Tech 1 Auto because of a misfire from the engine. Several days past before I heard from the owner. When he finally contacted me he informed me of the check engine light on and there may be some codes in the system and then he asked me, what did I want to do? I responded telling him the light was on when I picked the vehicle up. He acknowledged and agreed.
He said it is showing two codes and two sensors would need to be replaced. I told him that was fine to go ahead and replace but save the old parts. (recorded)
When I returned to the shop several days later in the afternoon the owner was not in. I met with the mechanic who contacted the owner who appeared in less than ten minutes.
We started the vehicle and I asked Mr. Negru “Is this going to take care of the problem?”
He said, “I would sell it as soon as possible. I then asked Mr. Negru had he taken the vehicle for a test drive. He said he refuses to drive the car because it is not properly registered.
I asked him can we go together for a test drive.
He refused and said you can take it yourself after you pay the bill?
When I receive the bill I noticed that he also charged me for labor. I did not mind paying for the parts it was the labor I found unconscionable. I felt I was being charged for problems that should not have taken care of in the original repairs and the old parts were never returned. Nevertheless I did pay and the following morning the check engine light came on again. The next day I called the owner who now was quite surly and argumentative just hung up the phone when we started talking.
(The following morning I contacted Mr. Negru from home. This conversation was recorded and the most incriminating; his behavior became more suspicious and evasive.)
Mr. Negru tells me to bring the car in a third time but offers no guarantees this would take care of the problem. Then he began to disparage the vehicle. I then asked him the name of the machine shop that did the cylinder head. He refused to answer. I then asked him about the warranty on his work. He said there was none.
Tech 1 Auto Reviews
Prior to June 2, 2014 I spoke to Dmitri Negru owner of Tech 1 Auto of Buford, Georgia to do work on a 2006 Dodge Stratus that I had purchased with a bad head gasket. I purchased the car to repair and resale.
We had agreed on a price of seven-hundred dollars for labor plus parts. The following is my understanding of what was to take place;
1. Tech 1 Auto would be providing the labor to remove the cylinder head to send out for machine work
2.The machine shop is to check for cracks and other defects i.e. bad valves, etc. at their cost.
3. Tech would reinstall machined head and supply soft parts.
4. I would pay for any other parts required.
On June 2, 2014 the Auto Club delivered the vehicle to Mr. Negru’s shop. I also contacted Mr. Negru and informed him of the vehicle in transport. Later that day I met with Mr. Negru to inspect and go over what work was to be done. Several days later Mr. Negru contacted me and said there were two valves that needed to be replaced. He also mentioned the water pump and timing belt and said they were fine since I was selling the car. I responded saying that if they need to be replaced go ahead and replace.
He charged me an additional $50.00 for two valves and never again mentioned any other parts.
On July 3, 2014 he contacted me by home phone and told me the car was ready and asked me could I be there by 4 PM. He stated he was going out of town to see his parents. I drove over in my pick-up and paid the bill mostly in cash. I then asked him, “What about a receipt?” He asks me who name did I want it in? I told him Classy Cars. He didn’t ask me for an address or phone number. This I found odd.
Later on that night after 10PM I returned to the lot to pick my truck up and discovered Mr. Negru and his mechanic working on a vehicle.
After the holiday I returned the vehicle to Tech 1 Auto because of a misfire from the engine. Several days past before I heard from the owner. When he finally contacted me he informed me of the check engine light on and there may be some codes in the system and then he asked me, what did I want to do? I responded telling him the light was on when I picked the vehicle up. He acknowledged and agreed.
He said it is showing two codes and two sensors would need to be replaced. I told him that was fine to go ahead and replace but save the old parts. (recorded)
When I returned to the shop several days later in the afternoon the owner was not in. I met with the mechanic who contacted the owner who appeared in less than ten minutes.
We started the vehicle and I asked Mr. Negru “Is this going to take care of the problem?”
He said, “I would sell it as soon as possible. I then asked Mr. Negru had he taken the vehicle for a test drive. He said he refuses to drive the car because it is not properly registered.
I asked him can we go together for a test drive.
He refused and said you can take it yourself after you pay the bill?
When I receive the bill I noticed that he also charged me for labor. I did not mind paying for the parts it was the labor I found unconscionable. I felt I was being charged for problems that should not have taken care of in the original repairs and the old parts were never returned. Nevertheless I did pay and the following morning the check engine light came on again. The next day I called the owner who now was quite surly and argumentative just hung up the phone when we started talking.
(The following morning I contacted Mr. Negru from home. This conversation was recorded and the most incriminating; his behavior became more suspicious and evasive.)
Mr. Negru tells me to bring the car in a third time but offers no guarantees this would take care of the problem. Then he began to disparage the vehicle. I then asked him the name of the machine shop that did the cylinder head. He refused to answer. I then asked him about the warranty on his work. He said there was none.
Buford, Georgia