| Message |
Thought I would share this experience, hopefully will help someone else in a similar situation.
I got my Z last summer, did a little work on it getting it ready for safety inspection. It passed with no major problems. I got around to taking it in for emissions in October. I haven’t let anyone drive it yet so I was keeping a close eye on the person that was to perform the treadmill test. She pulled my Z up on the treadmill, set up the surrounding equipment, and then began the test. Everything was going well for about 30 seconds.
There are two small rollers that are above the large rollers the tires sit on. There are two on each side of the car. One of them on the driver side started banging into the lower body panel in front of the rear tire. I saw this and started yelling through the glass of the waiting room for her to stop the test. The roller was hitting the car over and over as she accelerated. I got her attention and she stopped the treadmill test. She called her supervisor James over and told him what I said. He had her just do an idle test with the car not moving. After she pulled the car out of the testing area I looked underneath to check the damage. The drivers’ side was fine but the passenger side was dented in with about a three inch arched line ground into the body. I told her about it and she said to talk to the supervisor.
I went to his office and he said it is impossible for their machine to cause any damage to my car. He refused to give me a damage claim form and told me it would do no good to make a claim because I won’t get any money for the damage. I wouldn’t leave until I got one. He said he needed pictures of the damage; I let him take as many as he wanted. He said he needed me to put my car back on the treadmill for pictures but I would have to wait in line again. He thought it was funny and told me if I didn’t like it I could leave. I still didn’t have my claim form so I got in line. After much arguing and nearly two hours of being at the emissions facility, I finally got my form.
The next day I called their District Manager (Davies) to make sure he got the form. He said he got it and needed to review the video tapes. He would get back to me the next week. After a month I called him again to find out what was going on. He said he would meet with me that weekend to review what happened, but it is impossible for their machines to cause vehicle damage. He claimed the roller would make a straight line and not an arch. He was supposed to call and set up a time but never called.
After not hearing from the district manager I finally decided to file a claim with the BBB. This is the complaint.
ESP of Maryland
1740 Twin Springs Rd., St
Baltimore, MD UNITED STATES, 21227
(410)737-2700
COMPLAINT INFORMATION: Date Received:1/24/2006 6:04:49 PM
Primary Complaint Classification: Repair Issues
Secondary Complaint Classification:
Complaint:
I took my vehicle (a 1990 Nissan 300ZX)in for emissions inspection on 10/11/05. The operator began the test and I saw the top small treadmill rollers hitting the side of my car. I got the operators attention and she got out to look. She saw that it was hitting and did an idle test instead. I looked at both sides when the test was over and saw damage on the passenger side in front of the rear tire. The operator told me to talk to the Supervisor (James Ly). He denied the damage was caused by them and wouldn't give me a complaint form because he said it would do no good to file a complaint. I was given a form after over an hour of arguing and them taking pictures, making me wait back in line to put it on the treadmill. They told me the car is too high for the rollers to even hit (not true, they then said that the rollers would have hit further up). I called Chris Davies on 10/14, he said he would look at the video and give me a call the next week (he never called). I called him back on 11/29 and he said he would meet with me that weekend at the White Oak station to show me that the rollers would have made a straight line and not an arch, denying they caused the damage. He said he would call back and arrange a time. I haven't heard back from him. When I took my car for reinspection (I failed the first time) at the Columbia station they told me my car was too low and it would have to get an idle test. The car has stock suspension; I have made no alterations to its height. The District Manager Chris Davies is the contact person on the complaint form but I can't seem to get him to resolve this. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Desired Settlement: Other (Requires Explaination)
Settlement Explanation:
I would like them to pay to fix the damage and to pay for a rental vehicle while it is being repaired.
Customer Service Rep: Mr.Chris Davies,
Product or Service: Maryland State Inspection
Salesperson: Mr.JamesLy
Payment Made: Yes
Purchase Price: 14
Payment Method: Cash
Purchase Date: 10/11/2005
Problem Date: 10/11/2005
Complaint Dates: 10/11/2005,10/14/2005,11/29/2005 The bureau that will handle your complaint is:
BBB of Greater Maryland
1414 Key Highway, Suite 100
Baltimore, MD 21230 -5189
Email: jduncan@bbbmd.org
URL: [ www.baltimore.bbb.org ]
Phone: (410)347-3992
Fax: (410)347-3936 After filing this complaint I finally got a call from the DM the next week. He became very cooperative and wanted to meet as soon as possible. I met with him at the station later that week. He wanted to put the car back on the treadmill. They even had the lane blocked off for me so I wouldn’t have to wait. He still denied it until they moved the small rollers. It pushed up against the car at the same spot as the damage. He agreed to pay for the damages and apologized for the incident. I had a check in my mailbox the next week with a lengthy apology from the company.
|
 |
