Reviews

Review Details

• Review fromNoah P

  Date: 01/02/2025

  1 star

  Noah P

  Date: 01/02/2025

  I live in ********** and my college age niece brought in my 2007 ***** Fit because of a check engine light. I lend it to her to get around for school. She was advised that a comprehensive "Vehicle Health" evaluation was required and it was performed without contacting me. In addition to a scan for the check engine light, the evaluation also included an assessment of brake fluid, cabin air filter, "Load Test Battery", "Drive Belt/Tensioner", and engine oil. The estimate for the repair total was $961.31, including $294.17 for the evaluation, which is not applicable to the repair charges.I'm not a professional mechanic but it is a hobby of mine since high school, so I feel I have enough experience to render a reasonable opinion about this topic. Typically, what's needed to investigate a check engine light is an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) scan. An OBD scan on a car typically takes only a few seconds to a couple of minutes to complete. I contacted them (spoke to *****) and he said the full "Vehicle Health" eval was required to properly diagnose the problem and that my niece had agreed to it. I then called 2 other shops within a mile or 2 of the Yeagan's shop, both were under $350 including diagnosis, parts, and labor. So I called ********* back and asked if they could come down to $500 total and they declined to adjust the price at all. So I paid the full diagnostic fee and got the work done at one of the other shops. While it is not a crime to over charge for repair services, you can dispute charges if they were made in error, if they were fraudulent, or if a merchant does not provide goods or services as agreed upon. I believe at least one of the last 2 things apply here. To imply that the full comprehensive exam was necessary to diagnose a check engine light is simply false and to charge $300 for it without contacting the actual owner of the car sure looks predatory in my opinion.
  

  Yeargan's Top Notch Automotive Inc

  Date: 01/06/2025

  Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns. At ********* Top Notch Automotive, we strive to provide thorough, transparent, and professional service to every customer. Im sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. Id like to take this opportunity to clarify a few points regarding your *********** Yeargans, we conduct a comprehensive Vehicle Health Inspection on all vehicles brought to our shop, regardless of the customer, type of vehicle, or reason for the visit. This inspection is part of our commitment to ensuring every vehicle is safe and in optimal condition. Most of our customers are familiar with this process, but it is also clearly explained at the time of drop-off and detailed on our website. Importantly, this inspection is always conducted at no charge and is separate from any diagnostics or other services.For vehicles with a check engine light, we include a free preliminary OBD prescan as part of this inspection. However, as we explained to your niece, a full diagnostic of the error codes is a separate and more in-depth process, which incurs an additional charge. This is standard practice in the automotive industry, as an OBD scan alone provides only basic error codes and does not offer the full context or root cause of the issue. Before performing any additional diagnostics, we always provide a written estimate and obtain approval from the *********** terms of communication, we rely on the individual who drops off the vehicle to authorize work unless instructed otherwise. In this case, your niece (in discussion with her mother) approved the inspection and diagnostic process. It was only after the completed diagnostic and estimate had been discussed with them that we were informed the vehicle belonged to you and that we should contact you directly for repair approval. We promptly reached out to you and shared the same findings and estimate.When you countered our estimate with a request for a lower price, we respectfully declined. To maintain fairness and consistency for all customers, we do not negotiate pricing on a case-by-case basis. Our estimate terms and conditions, available both during the online approval process and on our website, state that diagnostic fees are due whether the repair is performed or not. Ultimately, you chose to decline the repair, paid the diagnostic fee, and opted to have the work completed elsewhere.We understand it is your right to seek services at another shop, and we respect your decision. However, the claim that we acted in a predatory manner or did not provide the service paid for is simply inaccurate. We were transparent about the process, diagnostic fee, and repair estimate at every step. The vehicle left our shop with a clear understanding of the issue and the necessary repair.If you have any further questions or would like to discuss this matter in more detail, please feel free to reach out. We remain committed to providing exceptional service to all our customers.