Action: A chilly reply to car's AC problems

On June 14, 2001, we took our 1995 Pontiac Grand Am with 55,000 miles to Lawrence's Low Cost Auto Repair in New Port Richey, to have the air conditioning repaired at a cost of $635.95. The shop replaced the compressor. A few weeks later we took it back, because it was not working properly. We were told it needed Freon. A few weeks later, we had to take it back again. This time we were told it would cost $200 to tear out the dashboard to check the vents.

In May, we took the car to another shop, and it said the problem was with the compressor. It fixed a leak and replaced the manifold line for $272.95. In August, we had no air conditioning, so we returned to the second shop. It said it was the compressor and we could either take it back to Lawrence's or it could make the repairs at a cost of $500. We took it back to Lawrence's, but it said there was nothing wrong.

We have spent more than $900 to repair this air conditioning, and it's still not fixed. We only want what we paid for. Angelo Pizzuti

Response: Robert Lawrence, owner of Lawrence's Low Cost Auto Repair in New Port Richey, said he remembers you and your car. When you first brought it in, it had no air conditioning, the front seal was blown out and it wouldn't hold Freon. After the repairs, the air was tested, and it was 48 degrees. About two months later, Lawrence said you and your wife returned and complained that the air was not cold. He could find nothing wrong; it was blowing 45 degrees. About two months later, you returned again. The air at that point was 55 degrees. He said he used a dye that glows neon green under a black light to test the air conditioning system for leaks. None were found. Lawrence said he told your wife, with whom he had been dealing throughout, to return if there appeared to be further problems.

A year passed, he said, and she never came back. Sixteen months after he first worked on the car, she returned. He could still not find anything wrong, and there was no evidence of dye having leaked. He said he thought there was possibly a problem with the evaporator coil. It is underneath the dashboard, he said, and the labor is ordinarily $600. To appease your wife, he said, he offered to replace the coil for the cost of the part alone, about $200. She elected to take the car elsewhere.

Lawrence said there is nothing wrong with the compressor. It has been checked with gauges; it has been checked for leaks. The car is 8 years old and suggesting that any subsequent problems are due to the compressor he installed is like blaming flat tires on an oil change.

Stray charges on account

I want to know what to do or whom to contact when a charge (promotion) has been put on a statement without my knowledge or permission. This was done three times on one charge statement. I think there ought to be a law against this. B. Case

Response: The first thing to do if an unfamiliar charge shows up on your credit card statement is to contact your credit card company. You may call the toll-free number that is listed on the statement, generally on the front, but always follow up in writing. The back of your statement contains information on how to dispute a charge and where to send it. To preserve your rights, make sure you do so within 60 days of the date the statement was mailed to you.

You did not send us a copy of the statement in question, so we can't comment specifically on the mystery charges. From experience, however, we know that people often inadvertently "sign up" for something when they fail to read the fine print on an offer they respond to or a drawing they enter.

-- If you have a question for Action, or your attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write: Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, (800) 333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request for Action. Names will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright