chatsworth auto upholstery

I called and spoke with the owner Javier. I let him my type of car, model and year and that I needed the back window replaced. He said it would be $250 and I made an appointment. I had my brother take my car there to have the work done. While there, he spoke with Freddy, who said the price was actually going to be $350. I spoke with Freddy by phone who said because of the top on the car, it would be the higher price. I decided not to have the work done and found another company that did the same work for $250. I don't feel that they are trustworthy or reputable.

I called Canoga Auto Body in Canoga Park for a referral to an auto upholsterer in my area. They recommended Chatsworth Auto Upholstery in Chatsworth. I went there on April 7,2011 and spoke to the owner, Javier, and after discussing what I wanted done and looking at my car, he gave me a written estimate of $3,500. and assured me that the work would be completed in 5 days as he had a crew of four men. Chatsworth wanted 50% up front instead of the customary 15 to 20%. I gave him a deposit of $1,000.00 and told him that I would give another deposit before I actually left him the car. On April 29, 2011, I returned and gave him an additional $800 and scheduled for the work to start on May 13, 2011. The car was to be finished on Thursday of the following week and ready for pick-up. I called on Wednesday, May 18, to make sure that my car would be ready the next afternoon but Javier was not certain as to when he would finish with it and it was taking longer than he thought . I asked him if it could be ready by next Tuesday and he said He would try but he would let me know. I spoke with him on Tuersday morning and he said he was having problems and the work was going slow and he was pretty sure that I could have the car by Thursday afternoon. At this point, I was alarmed at his total lack of professionalism and somewhat off handed manner. Finally, I received a call from him on Thursday morning, May 26, 2011 that my car would be ready by noon.When I got to his shop, I carefully looked at the upholstery and after feeling that the work was done as contracted, I paid him the remaining balance of $1,700.00 plus $97.50 in tax for a total of $1,797.50. IIt wasn't until the next morning when I was driving to an appointment that I noticed my radio station had been changed and the fuel gauge registered much less than when I had left the car. But I almost couldn't drive and nearly had to pull over when I noticed that I was looking through a completely different windshield! I am certain that I would have noticed all of this the day before on the drive home from the shop except that I live less than a mile from it and I was so relieved to have my car back. When I arrived at my destination,I called Javier and of course, he denied having done anything wrong. His last words to me were "II don't know what to tell you." I tried to file a stolen property report at the Northridge police station but was told that it was a matter for Small Claims Court. I called Union Bank because I had used my debit card for payment but they could only dispute the work that was contracted and the work had been done, so there was nothing they could do. So if I want to have the same factory issued windshield which has a built-in antennae that came with my Infiniti Q 45, it will cost me ( according to Miller Infiniti in Van Nuys ) $1,009.26 plus $200.00 for installation. And that is my experience with Chatsworth Auto Upholstery.