July 20, 2008

• The Saga Continues…

  I’m getting tired of blogging about my car, but yesterday I went to have a SMOG inspection as it’s required after 6 years (that corrupt industry is a whole other blog topic for another time).  My car failed the electrical test.  The guy at the testing station asked me if the car had recently been serviced or if the battery had been removed.  Of course I told him yes.  What I learned was that it takes about a week of driving to get the electrical system in sync to pass the California test.  I payed $50 for nothing.  I wish Honda of Hollywood would have told me that.  Then, on the way home, the gas gauge suddenly showed “empty” when it had been nearly full the day before (and I’d only driven ten miles!).  So I went back to Honda of Hollywood.  They put it up on a lift and determined there was no leak, and the gauge just must have been stuck from the accident.  Grrrrrr!  Not how I wanted to spend my Saturday morning.  So here’s the letter I’m going to send to the president of Honda of Hollywood.  What do you think?

  Dear Mr. Robertson,

  My name is Carey _______, and I’m the person who owns the 2002 Honda Accord your body shop took 4 months to repair.  First, let me start by saying that Peter, in your body shop, was always courteous and professional to me, but that did not make up for the fact that this damage:

  

  took nearly four months (to the day) to fix.   It’s clear to everyone involved (including people I spoke to at Honda of Hollywood) that this car should have been totaled, and I must question the integrity of your business to embark on fixing a car that should have been in the junk heap in March when the accident occurred.

  This whole situation would almost be comical if it weren’t for the fact that I am currently facing out of pocket rental bills of over $1500 for an accident that was not my fault.  In addition, I have had to take several hours off work to rent, return and re-rent cars in the four months you were supposedly fixing my car.

  I have been a Honda customer for over 20 years.  I have used Honda of Hollywood exclusively to service my car since I moved to California six years ago.  I am mortified by the way this situation has been handled, and have documented it extensively in the public domain on my blog.  In fact, if you Google “Honda of Hollywood Customer Service” my blog is the #1 hit.  I have saved every voice mail your shop ever left me.  Many of them repeat the same untruths week after week.  (I lost count how many times the car was going “across the street to have the engine put back in”.)

  

  Sadly, now that I have the car back my problems persist.  Yesterday morning I took my car to get a smog inspection as my vehicle registration required after six years.  The car failed the electrical portion of the test, apparently because the battery had been removed for so long.  Your employees knew that I needed to get a smog inspection, and no one informed me of the fact that I had to “drive around for a week to get the electrical system in synch.”  After wasting $50 on that test, I realized that my gas gauge that had been nearly full an hour before, was now empty.  I drove back to Honda of Hollywood (for the third time in three days), and they proceeded to put my car up on a lift to check for a gas leak.  They had me stand under the car (a clearly posted OSHA violation) to tell me they couldn’t find a leak, and that the gauge had probably just been stuck.  (I won’t even go into the fact that you had my car for four month as apparently ran the tank empty not replenishing it before you gave it back to me!  When I had my accident in March, gas was practically $1 cheaper a gallon than it is today.  Classy!)

  

  When I walked across the street to talk to a Sales Representative about trading it in for a new car, they looked at me like I was crazy.  The bottom line is that you collected nearly $14,000 from the insurance company and after four months I still have a loose driver’s seat, a stuck gas gauge and who knows what other problems.  I suppose I’m going to have to consult with an attorney, as well as the Better Business Bureau, but I want to give you the opportunity to make this right.  I know that you are a respected leader in the Hollywood business community.  I also know that a few honestly well tagged Google hits can drive business away from any company in the 21st Century.  I hope that you will do the right thing here and correct this egregious wrong.  I await your reply.

  Sincerely,

  Carey ______

  ---

  
  

  On to happier things…
  Here are some photos from this weekend:
  
  

  
  Pad Thai lunch with Parvesh & Bhavin

  
  Tressa and I by the orange tree with the sun in our eyes.

  

  

  

  
  Spaghetti dinner at Aunty LuLu’s

  
  Strawberry shortcake for dessert!

  
  Tressa giving her favorite cousin a relaxing massage while Cole laughs in the background!

  

  
  Amos and I went here after Rock Sugar had an hour and 1/2 wait!

  
  This is a bit much!

  

  
  Fried clams on the half shell!

  
  Jessica & Hannah at brunch yesterday.

  
  Jessica, Seth & Hannah

  

  I don’t feel well today.  I’ve had the chills all day.  I get hot and then cold and then hot again.  In fact I’m sitting here with the ceiling fan going and a heater at my feet!  I really hope I’m not getting the flu.  I’m flying to Portland Wednesday and we’re renting a house at Cannon Beach for a few days.  I can’t get sick!!

  • 10:54 pm
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