I did an oil change shop and had the same thing happen to me they overfilled then engine with way too much oil. Unfortunately I had already given them a good review by the time I discovered the excess oil and I had to take it back and point out to them what they did and they did a completely new oil change. I just hope I didn't damage anything while driving around with too much oil for a month or so. You're right you really gotta watch people when you get your car done unless you have a mechanic that you trust implicitly.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Again Vince, you haven't really made a case for "damages" that I can see, You admit that your car and credit were not damaged.

the damages were financial.

@ wrote:

You admit that you volenteered the payment.

yes, to avoid collections for non-payment.

@ wrote:

Due to a technicality of the work order not being signed, you are probably due a refund of the money paid.

legal disobedience is not a technicality.

@ wrote:

I don't see any malicious intent on the part of the MSC,

nor was there any inferred.

@ wrote:

nor reason that they would be financialy repsonsible to you for the money you paid the mechanic.

negligence in the client representation was cited.

@ wrote:

They did not request shoppers to pay for unauthorized work. In fact, I think I read that there is a specific instruction to not have any work performed.

the work was performed prior to notification and without permission.

@ wrote:

In the end, I don't wish you financial harm and hope the credit card dispute solves the problem, but the title of this thread is misleading.

in your interpretation. we disagree with each other.

@ wrote:

You need to better understand the nature of the work we do, I think.

and you may need to better understand the law. it has the greater authority.

@ wrote:

The complaint that the client was innapropriate and the MSC failed to step in and help is valid, but that's where it ends.

okay.

@ wrote:

What don't you amend the post to accurately replect what took place?

i'm not seeing the inconsistency here.

@ wrote:

Intelleshop refused to assist you with getting a refund when the brake inspection client performed unauthorized work.

in what way does this contradict the OP? they are completely consistent.

@parkcitybrian: "Goaded you into what???" You made the choice. Pure and simple. SMH

(heart)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2015 11:46PM by stilllearning.

"jerry, jerry, jerry...."

@stilllearning wrote:

@vince: Apparently that worked with your parents when you were a kid. As an adult, and surely you know by now, you take responsibility for your own behavior.

actually, my living parents are criminals. and my mother died when I was young. so my experience is nothing like yours. now behave yourself and stop being so biased. there are two sides to any story. if you wish to gang up on me, it'll backfire on you.

@vince: So because your "living parents are criminals" makes you think you are exempt from taking responsibility for your own behavior?

(heart)

Deleted by admin.

@stilllearning wrote:

@vince: So because your "living parents are criminals" makes you think you are exempt from taking responsibility for your own behavior?

(heart)

what behavior are you referring to? we may not have the same moral interpretation. are you referring to forum rules? or your individual conscience? or the law? or msc guidelines? what are you referring to? i've appointed you as my moral authority, so please educate me.

This is getting derailed. I am stepping out now.

My only suggestion to you Mr. Vince is you have posted your piece and some forum readers may appreciate your contribution. At this time you should cease taking this argument in so many directions. This is Mystery Shop Forums not therapy. I was like you many years ago, trust me forum PVP does not get results.

I wish you the best of luck.

Seacrest Out.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2015 11:56PM by Customer_Service_Police.

@vince: I agree with @Customer_Service_Police. If you would like to discuss it further, please PM me.

(heart)

@vince wrote:

@SteveSoCal wrote:

Intelleshop refused to assist you with getting a refund when the brake inspection client performed unauthorized work.

in what way does this contradict the OP? they are completely consistent.

The fact that you cannot see the difference between accusing the MSC of causing you financial damage by misleading you and simply pointing out that they were not helpful when a problem occured is probably a good reason why so many take issue with your posts. It's not consistent in my opinion.

They are well known crooks.

I'll continue to do the oil change shops, as I really put them to the test and being very vocal and observing them like a hawk still beats doing it myself.

If they are willing to do anything shady while I am staring them down as a male, then I can only imagine what they would to to a middle aged female who is sitting in the waiting room drinking coffee and watching the TV.

When I reported that I stopped them by yelling into the shop bay when they started to do something absolutely wrong, I was given a shop score of "10" with a Sassie multiplier. When I poked them about resetting the computer so the oil change light would not come on and then told them that I wanted my oil change period for pure synthetic to be 5,000 miles and they did not write it as I requested, it was definitely something corporate wanted to address.

My oil changes are underpaid for the observation I provide as I won't get my hands dirty if I can get free synthetic oil change and some cash and use a coupon. I did one shop and the instructions did not say not to, and I didn't like the oil filter brand the shop used, and provided my own and they had a line item discount $2 for "customer provided filter"

I feel as if I am doing a service to do the shops like this.

@scanman1 wrote:

I'll continue to do the oil change shops, as I really put them to the test and being very vocal and observing them like a hawk still beats doing it myself.

If they are willing to do anything shady while I am staring them down as a male, then I can only imagine what they would to to a middle aged female who is sitting in the waiting room drinking coffee and watching the TV.

When I reported that I stopped them by yelling into the shop bay when they started to do something absolutely wrong, I was given a shop score of "10" with a Sassie multiplier. When I poked them about resetting the computer so the oil change light would not come on and then told them that I wanted my oil change period for pure synthetic to be 5,000 miles and they did not write it as I requested, it was definitely something corporate wanted to address.

My oil changes are underpaid for the observation I provide as I won't get my hands dirty if I can get free synthetic oil change and some cash and use a coupon. I did one shop and the instructions did not say not to, and I didn't like the oil filter brand the shop used, and provided my own and they had a line item discount $2 for "customer provided filter"

I feel as if I am doing a service to do the shops like this.

You ARE doing a service. I will not take my vehicles in for the oil change shops, or any other shops. I know some of the people at those places and their reputations as shady crooks. My vehicles go to the (reputable) dealerships where they were purchased and they always will.

Regarding collection agencies and the return of the vehicle; If the fact that the work was done without consent was brought up and the vehicle was returned to the owner, I think that would basically nullify the point of their being any debt, and therefore nothing to collect on. If the police were involved and demanded that the mechanic return the vehicle, it would most likely be the same thing.

If the mechanic refused to return the car without payment, then you may have been able to hear their argment for why they thought payment was due and then been able to execute a chargeback ater paying to collect your vehicle.

If the slim possibility of the machanic letting the car go and then somehow reporting it as an unpaid debt took place, how would you expect the collection agency (who does not get involved for weeks, BTW) to get access to your social security number? Is your name so unique that your credit report can be acessed without a SS#, or did you somehow offer the SS# on the car intake form?

Lastly, I think it's safe to say that the claim of anyone's credit being destroyd by a disputed dept of $300 is somewhat histrionic. That's basically a small blip on a credit report. Not anything close to having it destroyed. If you were in process on closing on a loan or something of that nature, and your credit was on the cusp of being poor, I could possibly see the cause for concern.

In my opinion, you acted somewhat irrationally when there was a possibility of having this handled at the source. Making an attempt to handle the problem before rendering payment would in no way whatsoever put your credit score in any jeapordy.

Did you contact the Better Business Bureau when the repair shop is located? You can try the Chamber of Commerce in the city where the repair shop is located. You need to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or else the shop will continue to do the same thing to other customers. Good luck, and let us know your results. Okay!

@SteveSoCal wrote:

If the slim possibility of the machanic letting the car go and then somehow reporting it as an unpaid debt took place, how would you expect the collection agency (who does not get involved for weeks, BTW) to get access to your social security number? Is your name so unique that your credit report can be acessed without a SS#, or did you somehow offer the SS# on the car intake form?

i have a credit card with the auto repair chain. they have my social security number.

@ wrote:

Lastly, I think it's safe to say that the claim of anyone's credit being destroyd by a disputed dept of $300 is somewhat histrionic. That's basically a small blip on a credit report. Not anything close to having it destroyed. If you were in process on closing on a loan or something of that nature, and your credit was on the cusp of being poor, I could possibly see the cause for concern.

yes, i just closed on a home equity line and i'm on the cusp of being poor. i'm right at the line. one unpaid debt could knock me under for any major qualifying loan. this would include credit cards. my mortgage is fully paid off, but my income is low because i'm semi-retired.

@ wrote:

In my opinion, you acted somewhat irrationally when there was a possibility of having this handled at the source. Making an attempt to handle the problem before rendering payment would in no way whatsoever put your credit score in any jeapordy.

no, i didn't act irrationally. rather i fit the exact scenario that you just described. it's all a matter of risk. and i don't prefer to take risk with my credit.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2015 05:45AM by vince.

@gbarnes wrote:

Did you contact the Better Business Bureau when the repair shop is located? You can try the Chamber of Commerce in the city where the repair shop is located. You need to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or else the shop will continue to do the same thing to other customers. Good luck, and let us know your results. Okay!

no, i haven't done this yet. but it would be a good latter stage. thanks much.

@jackaroe wrote:

two words
SUE THEM
(Being Intellishop)
You WILL win

Based on what I have read here, given that it is all true as stated - Intellishop deserves to be sued to within a centimeter of it's financial existence. Perhaps it does need to be sued beyond that as an example - with some settlements going to innocent employee victims of this MSC, too. There is no excuse for this whatsoever. Intellishop needs to go down via litigation and an example and a precedent need to be set, if not for ethical reasons, for reasons of basic human rights over capitalism. Off my soapbox now.

What is Intelleshop doing that's illegal?

I agree they have become an undesireable company to work for, and quit taking assignment from them years ago. Why is it such a hard thing for other shopers to walk away from a company that treats them poorly?

Instead, we continue to take crappy assignments from them and and put OURSELVES in financial jeopordy, allowing them to continue doing business. The blame lies on the shoppers who continue to take the assignments. Nobody forced them to do that. You are a small business owner and need to take some responsibility for the assignments you take on, the finances of your business and the condition of the equipment you utilize for that business.

I'm so sorry this happened to you, Vince; and am glad you posted it so that others can beware! This was truly a horrible thing and I know what you mean about the company holding your car hostage to force you to pay to get it back! If this had happened to me, I would be inclined to report it to one of those TV Support people, like "Help Me Howard" so that the case would air on TV and expose what this company is doing! It may also help you get a refund from the company if you have the receipt showing you paid for your brake job as well as the email you got from the MSC as proof they offered a FREE service as a Mystery shopper! I really think the public aught to expose these charlatans for who they really are and warn other unsuspecting people before they get taken! If we support each other, maybe we can cause some of these hideous businesses to stop stealing from innocent people! I wish you all the best - Try to get a refund somehow!

@Ladychancellor wrote:

If this had happened to me, I would be inclined to report it to one of those TV Support people, like "Help Me Howard" so that the case would air on TV and expose what this company is doing! It may also help you get a refund from the company if you have the receipt showing you paid for your brake job as well as the email you got from the MSC as proof they offered a FREE service as a Mystery shopper! I really think the public aught to expose these charlatans for who they really are and warn other unsuspecting people before they get taken! If we support each other, maybe we can cause some of these hideous businesses to stop stealing from innocent people! I wish you all the best - Try to get a refund somehow!

I agree the cheaters should be exposed but I find the belief of the OP that the MSC is responsible for fraud to be ludicrous. The client location is guity of fradulent behavior and the client's corporate office or franchiser should make good. The above is a bad idea, because the OP signed a ICA that included a confidentiality clause. He violates that clause if he identifies himself to the client location as a mystery shopper, or, worse, shows them an e-mail from the MSC.

I wouldn't have signed the work order and paid it in the first place, but a call to the Better Business Bureau, communication with the main client location, or a dispute with the credit card company would have already ended this. Cheaters cheat because someone lets them get away with it.

As someone else said, the melodrama the OP is creating here is truly like a Jerry Springer show.

I have done oil change shops and brake inspection shops in the past. Why do you think that intellishop had anything to do with the deception of this particular body shop. Unfortunately we are independent contractors. If the body shop charged you for work they did not have permission to do, that is who you now have the problem with.

@squireparty wrote:

@jackaroe wrote:

two words
SUE THEM
(Being Intellishop)
You WILL win

Based on what I have read here, given that it is all true as stated - Intellishop deserves to be sued to within a centimeter of it's financial existence. Perhaps it does need to be sued beyond that as an example - with some settlements going to innocent employee victims of this MSC, too. There is no excuse for this whatsoever. Intellishop needs to go down via litigation and an example and a precedent need to be set, if not for ethical reasons, for reasons of basic human rights over capitalism. Off my soapbox now.

fully agreed. appropriate litigation may potentially determine their ultimate response.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2015 06:04AM by vince.

@SteveSoCal wrote:

I agree they have become an undesireable company to work for, and quit taking assignment from them years ago. Why is it such a hard thing for other shopers to walk away from a company that treats them poorly?

Instead, we continue to take crappy assignments from them and and put OURSELVES in financial jeopordy, allowing them to continue doing business. The blame lies on the shoppers who continue to take the assignments. Nobody forced them to do that. You are a small business owner and need to take some responsibility for the assignments you take on, the finances of your business and the condition of the equipment you utilize for that business.

i fully agree with you. responsibility also rests with shoppers. however, this does not in any way exempt MSCs from their responsibility to guarantee the financial safety of it's sub-contractors.

in this case, the MSC places potential sub-contractors at financial risk without proper warning and pre-notification before taking on an assignment. it is not so much a malicious act, but a negligence resulting from a lack or pro-activeness to ensure sub-contractor financial safety. again, we may suggest that blame regarding safety issues may be shared by the sub-contractor, but this does not in any way exempt the MSCs themselves of their responsibility to pro-actively ensure the financial safety of it's sub-contractors.