Freyaldenhoven Automotive

I took my car here for new spark plugs and wires. I was told that it was going to be 171 dollars plus tax. i scheduled an appointment for today at 9 a.m and was told it would take 2 hours. I was the only appointment for the day when i made it on monday. They open at 8:30 i dropped it off before 9 and asked them how much it would cost to put in an egr valve. I was told as long as we don't break the bolts it will only be a couple of bucks. I said ok if you have time and it's only a couple of bucks go ahead and do it. Around noon i called to see how it was going because I hadn't heard anything. I was told by the receptionist that she couldn't find a mechanic so she would have someone call me back. I called back at one thirty eight seeing as they had had my car for it's two hour repair for 4.5 hours. I was told that he was on the phone and would call me back. At 3 having not heard anything i called back again talked to the mechanic and he told me that they had just got it into the shop and where working on it. At 4:07 i got a call telling me about my 25 point inspection nothing was said at any point in time that putting the new egr valve that i had brought was going to be more than a couple bucks. At 5:30 i went to pick up my car. I was told my bill was $343 and some odd cents. I asked why so much and said that the price was only 171 plus tax and he said the egr valve would only be a couple of dollars. She turned to the other guy and said he wants to know why so much he said well we had to put on the egr valve and clear the codes. I said well the egr valve was going to be a couple bucks. And who asked you to clear the codes i have a coder and can take the two seconds it takes to clear them myself. He took the egr valve price off so my 171 dollar repair that now i'm supposedly not being charged extra for now still cost me $265.79 that's 94.79 more than 171 now i admit you have to add tax but tax was not 94.79. As a person who's dad has been in the auto repair business i can tell you most shops don't operate this way as my father has been in the auto repair business for over 50 years. As a mechanic shop i would defiantly not and will not tell anyone to use them. However if your looking for a great receptionist she would be an awesome and valuable asset to your team she is very helpful and friendly. more

I took my 69 VW bug to Freyaldenhoven after another mechanic messed it up, they called me after they diagnosed the problem and explained they could fix it and save me some money by salvaging the crankshaft which was damaged. I was thrilled, but several weeks went by and no word from them, so I kept trying to call back only to have their receptionist keep telling me that Roger (the owner I assume) would call me back, which he never did. Another week or so went by and I finally called back and demanded to speak to Roger to find out what was going on with my car. Roger finally came to the phone and explained that the crankshaft was ""beyond repair."" Upon asking a few more questions it became obvious that they themselves had messed up the crankshaft salvage job and had damaged it beyond repair, and were trying to bide time by avoiding my calls until a new crankshaft came in that THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME FOR (>$1000!) I let them know that that was unacceptable since I was promised that the part could be reused, and asked them for a written documentation outlining everything they had done to the car since it had been in their shop (at least 2 months because of the extra time they had tried to buy.) I was told to come get the car and I would not be charged, as if they were doing me a favor by completely destroying a salvageable crankshaft and then not charging me! When I arrived to pick up the car I again asked for a written documentation and Roger screamed at me from behind the counter with my dad and a couple other clients sitting there in the shop. I got my car and left and I want to be REAL clear about this to anyone reading this who works in this shop: the only reason I did NOT have this settled in court is because I returned the car to the first mechanic who worked on it diligently over the next few weeks (and provided a free replacement crankshaft which YOUR SHOP screwed up) and got it running perfectly, free of charge. Obviously there are other clients of this shop who are very happy with the work they provided (in fact the glowing positive reviews are the reason I took my bug there in the first place) but I would not recommend this shop to anyone after the way I was treated and particularly after they would not accept responsibility for completely destroying my engine. The only reason they get one star is because of their attempt to salvage the crankshaft and save me some money (which I appreciate-- I am not an ingrate.) But once they botched the job to the tune of >$1000 repair all they had to do was pick up the phone and let me know what had happened. Instead I had to wait weeks and go through several phone calls to find out the truth, only to have them attempt to charge me for their mistake. Bottom line-- if you have been going to them for years and had no problems, I am sure you will continue to do so. For anyone else thinking about using them, be REAL careful and ask for their initial diagnosis IN WRITING, in case they try to swindle you like they did me. more