LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Car trouble sent one Las Vegas man to a local repair shop. But his problems went from bad to worse.
Slapped with serious sticker shock and unable to get his car back, he contacted Channel 13.
NIGHTMARE CAR TROUBLE
"It's been a nightmare," says Las Vegas resident Donald Miller.
He says his 2006 Chrysler Sebring recently started overheating, so he took it to a local mechanic.
"He said the timing belt was off," Miller said.
He agreed to an estimate for several repairs at just under $1,100 — but then he got a call.
"She called me back the next day, says it's another $1,900 for additional problems," Miller said.
He tells Channel 13 he said "no" to the extra repairs. But when he tried to pick up the Sebring, he says the shop claimed they did the additional repairs anyway. And when Miller refused to pay the nearly $3,000 bill, he says the shop wouldn't give him his vehicle.
"I've been without a car for a month and a half," Miller said.
That's when he reached out to Channel 13, and we called the auto shop for their side of the story.
The shop claims Miller agreed to all the charges. No one was available to speak on camera, and we can't name the shop since Miller signed a waiver releasing the shop of any liability.
"Repair garages are the no. 1 source of complaints in Nevada," said Kevin Malone, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. "The DMV does maintain a list of properly licensed businesses on our website."
That list includes dealers, manufacturers, emissions stations and more. If you have trouble with a shop, be sure to file a formal complaint with the DMV.
"We can take administrative action against them. We can issue them fines, take action against their business license. But that's the limit of our authority. If you're trying to get money back, you do have to go to court," Malone said.
In Miller's case, the shop he went to is properly licensed. He did file a complaint with the DMV and with his bank, which issued him a total refund after he says the shop charged his card for the full amount.
The good news is, after our call, the shop decided to give Miller his car back.
