The transmission in my vehicle started kicking a bit and some warning lights came on. I took it first to my primary mechanic who I trust very much. He plugged in his code-reader and said he got codes for sensor solenoids which is something they don't do in that shop. I took my vehicle to Cottman. A mechanic named Randy was the only one there, the owner, Steve, was out. Randy spent an hour messing with my car and finally said he couldn't get his code reader to communicate with my car's computer. He said they would need to do a 2 hour diagnosis which he said would cost me about $100. I made an appointment to come back the next day. When I went back for the appointment, the owner Steve was there. He said the so-called ""diagnosis"" would cost me $105 per hour, and I needed to authorize 2 hours for the work. I asked him if it would take 2 hours, he said if not then he would only charge me for the time it did take. I should have stayed to watch them do the ""work,"" but I left, naively believing they would do the diagnosis and be honest about the results. When Steve called me back, he said the whole computer in my vehicle was out and it would need to be replaced before he could read any codes to find out what was wrong with the transmission. He said it would cost upwards of $1300, BUT he was going to deduct $150 for the cost of the [fake] diagnosis. How kind. On recommendation from a wrecker driver who said he used to drive for Cottman but had to quit because they are, ""Notorious for ripping people off,"" I took it to a small transmission shop. The owner of that shop said he didn't understand why Cottman's said they couldn't communicate with my computer, because he had no problems doing so. He plugged the code-reader in to show me what was coming up. Low and behold-it was the sensor solenoid, just as my primary mechanic said in the first place. This transmission shop owner explained a couple of options, quoted me a price for the part and told me the cost of the labor. Very reasonable. I went straight to Cottman, marched back behind the desk and told Steve to show me what he had in his computer in regards to my vehicle. He pulled up one page that only said they couldn't communicate with my vehicle's computer. I asked him if they actually did a 2 hour diagnostic for $100 per hour. He said ""Oh, you mean this"" and pulled some papers out of a file. I asked him if there was anything in his computer that said I owe him money and he said no. I told him to print and sign something confirming that I owe him nothing. He said he just didn't understand why I was upset. I told him I figured out his scam: (1) Lie to me about communication problems and claim that I need a whole new computer (2) Charge me $1300 for work that they were not going to do because it didn't need to be done (3) After pretending to change out the whole computer, he was going to say 'Oh, NOW we can communicate, and NOW we see the problem codes' in order to charge me again for the real problem. He didn't deny it at all, he just started talking about voltages. I told him I did not need to hear his voltage nonsense and told him to print and sign the paper so I could be on my way, which he did. Every mechanic that I have talked to (plus the wrecker driver) has said the same thing- NEVER GO TO COTTMAN TRANSMISSION. I have since looked at some other reviews and have found that this type of thing is pretty standard practice for them. Steve is a con-man, and obviously trains his mechanics (Randy) to take as much as they can con from their customers.
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