S&H Truck Parts & Equipment

While traveling,1000 mi. from home, a mechanical problem developed in our 2001 Ford truck. We exited off the highway to a nearby travel center. The  mechanic there gave us a phone #  of a local tow service/ auto repair shop (S&H). We called them. The owner said he would be right up and tow the truck to his garage. He said "If I find that we can't  fix the problem, I'll tell you right up front".  So he came and towed it to his shop, which was directly behind the travel center. Once there, he said that the problem was irreparable, that the engine needed replaced and the cost would exceed the value of the vehicle. After thinking over our dilemma we found another mechanic and called him for his opinion. He said that it could easily be repaired, and to drive it to his garage (20 miles away). Needless to say it never needed towed in the first place. Went to pick up the truck from S&H and his bill was $211.25 (65.00 tow  - 146.25 to look at it, literally). We had no other choice but to pay it. We drove the truck to the other garage, and in a short time we were back on the road. The total bill was only $100. We continued our trip with no further problems.  S&H had been quick to respond, offered to pay for a hotel room,  buy us tickets to get back home, even buy our junk truck! Couldn't have been more courteous to us until we came to pick up the truck. His attitude changed immediately, no more mister nice guy. After talking to other people in the area, we found out that our situation was not new for him. In fact, he had several vehicles behind his garage under the same circumstances. We also discovered that his wife works at the travel center, in a perfect spot to take care of the stranded motorist. She repeatedly told us how badly she wanted our truck, and hoped her husband got it bought. The opinion of the local people is that S&H is simply a scam operation. Our experience certainly confirmed that. I will be giving a very favorable report on the mechanic that fixed our truck ( D&H Auto and Tire Service in Coden, Al.)  the real "good samaritan".