I took my vehicle into the La Mesa branch of Rapid Transmission to have a code that came up during a routine inspection checked out for a trans celluloid when they checked out my transmission the code did not come back up, only a code P0171 which is a fuel system code. Instead of leaving it at that the manager Mark Saxton called me up and told me that I had metal shavings in my pan. I was confused because less than 3,000 miles before I had serviced the transmission, dropped the pan and changed the filter, we checked the fluid every day it has never been low on fluid it currently only has 50,000 miles on it. The report form Rapid showed the fluid level was good at the time of inspection, but Mark told me my transmission was burnt because it was low on fluid. When I asked for a list of parts and what was wrong I was shocked and amazed that he wouldn’t be able to get that to me he was too busy and then he told me he had just opened at 8:30 am he could get back to me in an hour or so. I never gave Mark or Rapid consent to drop my transmission and completely dissemble it. NEVER! I became angry as you can imagine that this man without my authority has now completely dissembled my transmission and yet can’t provide me with a reason why its bad or an itemized list of parts and labor so I can get other estimates. An hour later I got what looked like my 3rd grade daughter’s writing on a blank piece of paper, a price list which he had already given me not what I asked for a parts and labor list on letterhead from Rapid. Eventually when I had left my office it finally showed up. He told me all my clutches were burnt, metal shavings were in the pan and I was looking at a $3,000.00 dollar bill to fix it. I was skeptical to say the least when I called Mark Saxton and tried to question him about it and ask him to limit his conversations about my truck to me, and not my employees and friends he got nasty and loud and called me a “NI...”, yes that’s right a “NI...”. Mind you this man has never seen me and knows not what color I am, I had a black man standing next to me at the Home Depot who was very offended as this was on speaker phone while I was searching for hardware. I pulled my truck out of there and took it to AAMCO El Cajon where I found out there really was nothing wrong with my transmission. I took it to several other shops who agreed that there were no metal shavings and only normal wear and tear at 50,000 miles. So I called Mark Raines the owner of Rapid Transmissions and he acted as if Mark Saxton was his only begotten son “Oh Mark wouldn’t do that, Oh not Mark” wouldn’t listen to my other written statements, refused to pay for my transmission he said I needed. I have file a grievance with the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) and will see Mark Raines in court. In the meantime DON’T TAKE YOUR CAR TO RAPID TRANSMISSION IF YOU WANT IT IN ONE PIECE WHEN YOU COME TO GET IT BACK. AND DON’T WANT TO BE CALLED A NI... WHEN YOU SAY NO. AND DON’T WANT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS STILL IN GOOD CONDITION.
Sincere regards to all who read and heed my advice,
Matt James
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