Muffler Man of Mt. Pleasant

We had a little bit of an accident in the snow. We hit a curb with the front of our car and had some minor damages. This was the closet shop. It was towards closing time for them. He gave me a list of what was wrong with the car and what we need to get fixed. He told me that tonight was the last night, and we had to order a specific part as soon as possible. He said it could be 14 days if we didn't order it right away. He was very short with him. He also wanted to replace a rim that had a been damaged. I asked him if we could see the used rim that he was looking at. He said it was A-1 rating, and that it was the best quality you could get. I asked him again if I could see it and he replied, "Do you want the rim or not?" I called the insurance company and they said that the adjuster would have to see the damage in order to do the claim. Once it is repaired, they will not typically pay for all of the damage. I thought we had it worked out so that they would cut me a two party check and that they would fix it. He hadn't sent in a paper that needed to be sent in for the insurance company to pay it. He told the insurance company that we could take the car with the two party check. When I got there he told me that I would not be able to pick up the car until it was paid in full. I had to pull money out of my savings. The rim seemed to be low quality. It's rusting all around the spokes, and the chrome is peeling off. The insurance company told me that he would have to take it back. He said that he would not send it back. My cousin has an auto body shop. He told me that salvage yards take stuff back all of the time. This guy would not even tell me where he got the rim from. He said that he would not give me their information. He then told me he was done with me and hung up on me.

Rebuttal to company response: On February 7, 2013 we slid into a curb with the front of our car.  We were able to drive as far as this shop.  Muffler Man inspected the damages and gave me and estimate.  We were not allowed to inspect the damages.  The estimate was high and I was worried about the charges.  He said they might not need to replace the strut so it would be less.  He wrote a new estimate omitting the strut.  He suggested I turn it into the insurance company since it was an accident.  I ask for the estimate with the strut on just in case it needed to be replaced, at least I would have all the parts possibly required to fix it.  I did not ask for 2 struts.  At this time I also ask if I could see the used rim before he purchased it.  He said it had an A rating which was the best I could get.  I ask again if I could see it and his reply was that it had an A rating.  I also ask if it could be fixed without putting a different rim on, and he said no.  I knew the price was high, but we were stranded and I needed my car fixed.  He did not offer us a ride home.   He did contact my insurance company the next day.  They told him the claim would be run through as a quick claim, but it could be Monday until it was reviewed.  On Monday I called my insurance company and they said everything was taken care of.  They had talked to Muffler Man and he was going to repair my car and except a two party check made out to me and Muffler Man from my insurance company.  I called him that afternoon to find out when my car would be finished and to thank him for accepting the check as payment.  He refused to let me have my car until he was completely paid and would not let me bring him the check as soon as I received it. (it was a two party check I could not cash it on my own.) He told me it was too late in the day for him to repair my car.  He said he would call when it was done and hung up on me.  At that point I was not sure when to expect my car back.  I called the insurance company and ask if the check could come in just my name.  They stopped the two party check.  Then I had to pay the bill and send it to the insurance company.  As a result I had to use my credit card.   We picked the car up Tuesday, February 12, 2013 in the afternoon.  I tried to clean the rim up the next day.  It is in bad condition and I could not get it to look like the other ones on my car.  That day I took it to my insurance company and she took pictures and agreed it was not what we expected.  She suggested I call Muffler Man and see if I could return it.  I called that day.  One day later not a week.  I called Lee?s Car Care and he ordered me a NEW one for $230.00.  $20.00 less than the used one.  Lee said this kind of item can be returned to the salvage yard.  I called Muffler Man again and he refused to take it back.  I ask where he purchased it from and he refused to give me that information.  I thought I could return it and get some of my money back.  He said, ?I am done with you!? and hung up on me.  My insurance company tried to work with him and get the same information and he refused to talk to them also.  I have contacted Angies List and the Muffler Man franchise.  They have both tried to help work this situation out with him.  He has no desire to work with anyone.     As I was gathering information for my claims dispute through my Capital One credit card I discovered the rim is not an A rated rim, but a C rated rim.  Because of the corrosion it will leak around the bead of the rim which makes the rim unable to perform the way it is intended.  He did not get his money back since the dispute is on going.