US BANK manipulates books for $40
May 18, 2009
The other day, I found out the amount I had available on my US Bank Student Visa was different than what I knew it to be. Yep, I had $13 available, which I saved for gasoline purchase (emergency situation). Then I find out I am $40 over the limit.
Here's what transpired: US Bank changed the $13 to $11-12, then assesed a monthly finance charge of $12. This brought my credit available to over the credit limit by about a buck. How they choose to maniplate this interest amount to where it makes my account go over the $500 credit limit so they can charge me the $39 over-limit fee is a wonder.
Understand what I just stated? I have $13, they change it to by the time this new amount is figured in, I am now over the limit by pennies. This way, they can now charge me the over-the-limit fee of $39. I am a full time student and have been the past 7 years and this is the first time I caught them doing this. When I requested they reverse this decision, they scoffed at it and stated they extended this courtesy to me already.
Of course, my reply was: as many times I think I got ganked, this is how many times I will request the bank change it back. Makes sense to me. If they do it to me 4 times a year, I am going to request the change 4 times. They say it can only be done once, but I say then either you just do it once, or I will continue to pester you until I am satisfied.
Since the final decision came from the Office of the President of US Bank, I now can report this incident to the world and now I can have some significant satisfaction. I thought Bank of America was the worst of all, and they still are, but US Bank just showed me they, too, can steal from poor people. --rty
Well, here it is in September and the US Bank is doing it again. These people are slick. I just found out I was charged again. I called to see how much I had available, and was told $20, so I used this for gas, to make it to school for the week, knowing on Thursday, I could make a payment. Now I find out by a representative that I was already overdrawn by $12 before the $20 gas purchase. This can not be, since the bank does not allow to draw against it (Credit cards). In fact, that is how I found out my payment hadn't gone through; I attempted to purchase gas, and the card would not allow it. Meaning if I am over my credit limit, I cannot draw from it. So when the rep told me this, I knew it was not true. Someone is making a fortune from us, or US Bank is aware of it, and they are the ones pulling the strings. Either way, how can I have $20 available, use it then find out $12 was added against my account? They did this between Tuesday and Thursday. Do they wait until someone gets too close to the limit, then tack on the interest to bring us over the limit? Something has got to be done about this. If you have gone through similar actions, please contact us. thank you
September 18, 2009
PEP BOYS of GRANADA HILLS Rips client off for Phantom Tune Up
Pep Boys in Granada Hills charged $93 for a tune up , but only made my engine worse.
It cost another $132 to repair the mess. So, for a $93 tune up, it cost me over $200.
And, I still need the tune up, which will be another hundred now.
March 13, 2008--Los Angeles, CA--
On November 15, 2007, I took my 1999 Ford Escort ZX2 into the Pep Boys in Granada Hills for tires and a tune up. Since I am a full time Student, I could only afford to get this tune up now, because I feared I would not have the money when the time came that I needed a tune up. Do it now while I can afford it. Total Pep Boys cost: $538.40 including 4 tires, Tire Protection services ($87.88), Computerized Wheel Alignment for another $69.99 and the Platinum Maintenance Tune up for $93.75.
Here's my story:
PEP BOYS of Granada Hills, CA was paid to tune up my 1999 Ford Escort ZX2. It cost me $93.75 I paid for this tune up because I had the money, not because it was in need of a tune up at that time.
I am a full time student and Financial Aid (FA) is my only income. I had my FA money so decided to get this tune up now, because I did not want to be in the position of needing a tune up and not have the money for it.
I got the car back and it started backfiring, bogging down and the “Engine” light came on (stayed on). I took the car back to Pep Boys of Granada Hills and told the manager what was happening. His excuse was my car had an oil leak. Mind you, there are no oil deposits on my engine. I told him I have no oil leak, but he chose to stick to his story.
I know better than to believe an oil leak would cause my engine to run so poorly. He chose to see what could be done to correct this issue. I got the car back again, only this time it was worse than it was. Now it backfired more often, bogged down even worse and the Engine light stayed on 24/7. According to the work order, the mechanic's name is: Andres Lopez.
I take it back once more and this time he (Lizardo) refused to look at it. He tried to say my car had an "oil leak" and until I paid them to fix the oil leak, he would not tune up the engine any more. I proved it was not an oil leak, now he claims the problem is the “new spark plugs”. How can new spark plugs cause an engine to run so poorly? I can understand if the spark plugs all were burnt out or something; but brand new? My old plugs were in good condition as it was.
I refuse to believe any one with intelligence will believe new spark plugs would harm an engine like Pep Boys was trying to lead me to believe.
I finally came up with more money and took my car into another mechanic, one I have used before. It cost me $132 to repair the damage Pep Boys did to my car, but it runs like it did before I initially took it in to Pep Boys of Granada Hills.
I wrote Pep Boys about this incident and guess what their reaction was? Nothing. They never even wrote back or called or emailed me. I gave them all the information they would need to contact me, yet nobody ever did.
So, this is how Pep Boys conducts their business? They hire people who can not even tune up a car? Who doesn’t know how to give a tune up? Who in their right mind would believe such a cockamamie story about oil leaks and new spark plugs being used as excuses as to why they failed to properly tune my car?
Isn’t work guaranteed? Especially from an established company such as Pep Boys? Since the incident, I’ve heard many horror stories about Pep Boys and how they burn people for money. They can cry foul here, but fact is fact. They burned me for almost $100 and tried to force me to pay another $100 to repair a phantom oil leak. Bottom line, it cost me not only the $93 from Pep Boys, but the $132 from the other mechanic (I kept all receipts).
I wish for everybody to know what PEP Boys did.
Ray Young
Engine doesn't look like it has an oil leak to me.
UPDATE!
March 14th, 2008
Guess who I saw outside of Pep Boys today? The District Manager happened to be there today, March 14, 2008. I actually had the opportunity to discuss my claim against Pep Boys with the DM. Well, once I told my brief story, he informed me that he would proceed into the store to discuss the situation with the Service Department Manager, then see what needed to be done, whether it be filing a claim or what.
Well, He asked me to stop in before I leave the area, which I did. He was talking with the Service Manager at the time. This guy looks about 6'2" grey hair, not balding, had a goatee and appeared to be a little overweight. He failed to give up his name, phone number or business card.
I attempted to retreive a complaint/claim form from the female cashier at the front of the store, but she stated they did not have one. I walked to the back of the store, where an open door was visible. I saw the Store Manager and the District manager inside seated, laughing about something. Any way, I asked one of the store employees to let the DM know I was present. He stuck his head out and asked me to wait for him at the front of the store for about ten minutes. I agreed to wait. I told the cashier in front that I would be in another store two doors down and let the DM know I would be back in ten minutes.
Well, ten minutes passed, I returned, asked if the DM ever returned to the front. I was told he did not return. In fact, she told me he was in conference with other employees. I waited another hour, but he never returned to speak to me. I left my card that had my cell phone number on it and stated when he returned, to call me and I would be right over. I finally left around 3:30p.m. and I am still waiting for him to call me and let me know he was ready to discuss possible terms. Thank goodness I did not hold my breath.
Is this how they conduct their business? I want the WORLD to know just what Pep Boys is capable of. That is about the dirtiest I've ever been treated by any mechanic or repair shop. Body shops are a different disaster altogether. I'll tell you about that one later. Let's just say the body shop employee vandalized my car, stealing everything of value, spit in my car, on the console and left it in shambles. Who are they, you ask? DURAN AUTO BODY on third Street in East Los Angeles, CA. Then did not deny the deed, just disputed my claim, stating I could have made up a list of phantom items that were stolen from my car. I had the empty containers the thief left in my car and accessories to a couple of the items. Walkie Talkies (Audiovox--thief left the accories), Camera (Konika Minolta S414 Digital Camera--thief left the box it came in), Binocular/camera (Bushnell--thief left the case). My goodness! Am I in the wrong racket or what? --rty
FINAL DISPOSTION: I filed a complaint with Pep Boys last week (figured to try it one more time) and I received a phone call yesterday. I suppose a regional manager contacted me and asked about the incident. Once I tolkd him I have the receipts, he requested to view them. I told him I will drop them off on Friday (today). He then told me he will look at the receipts and get back with me. I hope this is the last of it. I just wanted a measley tune up, which Pep Boys could not provide. I paid them for one, and since they failed in taking care of it, I want my money returned to me. I also want and expect them to return the money I had to pay the other mechanic to repair their (Pep Boy's) handy work. They even charged me for handling of the four used tires they removed from my car when they sold me the new ones. The problem here is I asked them to keep the best one in my trunk, which they did. But, they still charged me for the handling of that tire. They claim they have to dispose of them, therefore they must charge the customer handling charges. I should have been charged for only three tires, not all four of them, since I am handling one of them myself. $1.50 and they still try to stick it to us. Over a dollar fifty! Whoah! I don't suppose they are going to be satisfied with charging me over $500 for the tires and all the added stuff they throw in, are they? Nope, they have got to squeeze another dollar fifty out of me as well. My goodness, what did I get myself into? --rty
AUTO INSURANCE CARRIER BURNS DRIVER:
This is a true story about a driver insured with 'INFINITY' Auto Insurance. She returned home from work one evening (January 29, 2008) only to find her car was missing. She immediately contacted the police department (Rampart Division). The person at the front desk gave her a phone number and instructed her to contact the officer who would be handling the case (Auto Theft). That sounded funny to me, but never the less, this is what transpired (I witnessed the events). I instructed her to contact her carrier immediately, and she could notify them 24/7 any day. She notified Infinity and they informed her there was already a claim number and someone had already reported the car had been in an accident on the West side. The car was taken from the Silver Lake area and driven all the way over there until wrecked, then abandoned. The information we got from the carrier was that a male drove the car, side swiped 3-4 autos, then the driver drove a few more blocks and pulled over, walked away from it and a witness had reported the accident. I would call it a collision, but accident? I don't think so.
The first thing she did was ask about a rental until her car was recovered from the tow yard, appraised and repaired. Well, they never would authorize that. I told her she must have access to a rental until her car is repaired, but she informed me that she was told by her carrier that she is not covered for a rental. How can that be, I asked? Who in this world is going to have insurance but not have the access to a car rental paid for by their carrier? I told her I would sue for each day I do not have access to a rental until the time comes that this case is settled or until the 30 day limit, whichever she could win in court.
Now, I listen to messages on our phone and here is a man named Jose who stated according to the detective handling the case this driver loaned her car to her son, who wrecked it, therefore they are having difficulty deciding what course to take. I wondered out loud, if She filed a police report, and her son actually did drive the car and wreck it, why aren't they both incarcerated? I don't care what opinion a not-so-intelligent detective believes or thinks; unless the police have charges set against the two of them, there is no false police report, nor is her son liable for driving the car, which, by the way, I know for a fact that he did not steal it, nor was it loaned to him.
The issue the police and insurance investigator have is: there are no points of forced entry (no broken windows). The ignition wires were not pulled out from under the dash, either. Well, in today's world, I think this type of auto theft is of the past. Being in the business I am in, I have a working knowledge of how an auto can be swiped without breaking into it using the devices described by the investigators. There is a thin, flat length of metal known as a 'slim jim' which is used by Tow truck drivers and is sold practically anywhere, that is used to open any car, van, SUV or truck door without having to break any of the auto's windows. Those days are gone. Today's criminal has a little more intelligence, and drug addicts can be very ingenious when it comes to making money. Addicts are not especially ignorant, uneducated people. They sure aren't stupid today. Another piece of logic used by the investigators: no wiring exposed. Well, I can tell you under oath of knowing a person who literally stole cars many times, and he never once broke a window, nor did he ever use the ignition wiring underneath the dash board to start the engine. No, he actually would go to underground parking garages and walk, search each auto for an open window or unlocked door, which is not very hard to do. Once he gained entry into one of the vehicles, he normally would locate a spare key which belonged to that particular auto, start it up, and drive off.
Never once did he have to steal an auto the way the investigators described had to happen for this driver to have her car stolen. I don't care how suspicious these people are, it only shows their ignorance, to me. I knew of people who would have a handful of remotes, walking around, or riding bicycles or driving cars, pushing the remotes searching for that one vehicle or garage door to open. There are so many ways to steal a car or burglarize a vehicle or garage.
This particular car was stolen and once it was recovered, we searched for the spare key which was in the glove compartment. Well it no longer was there. I can only conclude the thief managed to gain entry by means not specified, located a key (in the glove box) and drove off with it. The culprit ended up running into the sides of a few cars which lead me to believe he probably was either drinking or drinking and using drugs at the same time. Most people do not side swipe cars, especially 3-4 of them, unless they are somewhat inebriated. The reason he finally pulled over was because the car was no longer drivable. I wonder where he could have gone with a fender as damaged as this one was. I, personally, did not see the car after the collision, but I can only imagine how badly damaged it must have been.
The insurance company is attempting to get out of paying her what is owed to her. Her Insurance payments were over $2,400 a year and I know if anyone pays this much for auto insurance; they must have rental cars (in case of accidents) in their policy. They burned her out of a rental, which caused enough grief, made it difficult for her to make it to her work and back each day, and she was very limited in where she can now go without a vehicle. Limited to either going by bus, or getting rides from friends and family. This is no way to conduct a business with customers. I hope she talks to an attorney regarding the grief, punitive injuries she has endured, the cost of transportation each day she is without compensation from the carrier, the value of the car if not damaged, and any thing else she can think of. The detective browbeat her, practically calling her a liar, trying his hardest to coerce her into submitting, which, of course, didn't work in his favor. This company is trying to do her dirty, and they haven't a leg to stand on. They are wrong and I'm sure she isn't the first person they've pulled this on. The difference is: she will act on it. I will not rest until she is compensated for every penny that is owed to her. We are discussing filing a civil case (small claims) against the Insurance carrier (up to $8,000).
She files the complaint, being the victim, yet she is treated like a criminal. Nobody needs to interact with cops who act like this. No wonder they are not very trusted or liked. I hope she lodges a complaint against him as well. It was not necessary for him to treat her with such contempt and hostility.
--rty
After filing a complaint with the CA Department of Insurance, I copied a listing of complaints about insurance companies for the past three years (2005, 2006, 2007) and out of 50 companies, Infinity is ranked 47 (2006 Rankings), but has the 2nd most complaints lodged against it. Farmers is 1st.
Note: Complaint Ratio is based on the number of Justified Complaints to 100,000 Earned Exposures.
(Statistical Analysis Division, California Department of Insurance, Personal Auto Insurance, Steve Poizner-Insurance Commissioner)
Follow up: Infinity settled with the driver in November 2008.