While my car was in his shop he drove it thru the Portsmouth tunnel, h... read more While my car was in his shop he drove it thru the Portsmouth tunnel, he said to match the headlight. I got the bills because it is my car, he admitted it was him that made the charge. I sent him every bill I got, now its been sent to a collection agency. I cannot renew my license plates that expire the end of this month until its paid. For awhile he gave me excuses, then it was flat out lies. Now he is ghosting me. He owns his shop, I live on social security month to month. He was my trusted mechanic for 16 years. He used to say I wasn't just a customer I was a friend, with friends like that I don't need enemies. I would have given him 0 stars but not an option.
Charged 400.00 to put a radorator hose and themostat on my sons car.
WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2016 I’m a 74-year old disabled vet whose 2007 Chry... read more WEDNESDAY, 6 JULY 2016 I’m a 74-year old disabled vet whose 2007 Chrysler Town & Country Touring van (my sole source of transportation) was having cooling issues. The temperature gauge had recently gone up to the top & back down again on several occasions. I checked my radiator for fluid leaks (found none) & levels (added 50-50 anti-freeze). The problem continued. After checking the internet for the best auto repair businesses and, with all their excellent reviews, contacted Champions of Chesapeake Auto Repair who said they give 20% off to seniors! I told them I would have AAA tow my van to their place of business. While waiting for the tow truck, I received a call from Dennis (?) telling me that Mike (?) said to have it towed to their secondary shop (Great Bridge Auto & Transmission Repair); so I did. Later, I received a call from Ryan (?) telling me that my van had a blown head-gasket and needed an engine replacement (estimated cost: $3400 used to $5500 new); plus, there might be issues that hadn’t been determined because this was the primary one! I’ve been retired since June 2006, receive my monthly income @ the 1st of each month, have very limited savings, and could not possibly pay for an engine replacement. I told Ryan I’d have to have AAA tow it from their shop & requested their bill for service ($79). Faced with this awful dilemma, I called the place of business from whom I’d purchased my van, explained my problem & was referred to another repair shop with whom they did business. The next afternoon that repair shop’s service manager (Joe) called & told me I did NOT have a blown head-gasket but a cooling fan failure & my van was ready for pick-up (cost: $408)! WOW, what a difference! As a result of this fiasco, MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH THIS SHOP!!! Their faulty & costly diagnosis is INEXCUSABLE! An auto repair business without integrity & trust in analyzing a problem is totally OFF-LIMITS to me and should be for anyone! TOM BOWLES, Lifetime Chesapeake Resident
