Off to J.P. Court

[tcspeer]

I guess some of you remember back at the first of July the valves crashed in my 2.2. I went to Imports Specialist in Fort Worth and the guy behind the counter told me he would get me a 2.2 for 999.00 install it for around 500.00 and tow it for 100.00 all of this with E.P.A. fees and taxes came to a little more than 1700.00. Which I have the written estimate. He also told me before he installed it he would put my new water pump ,seals and timing belt on. About one week latter the owner called me and said he had the estimate for my car and it was going to be 2400.00. thats 700.00 dollars more than the first estimate. I told him he was nuts I already had the written estimate, he said well the pan came damaged on the engine they had shipped in and he could not let his mechanic do that other work he had promised and he would have to charge me. I then told him to ship the engine back and get one that was not damaged, and to leave the seals, water pump, and belt alone because I would change them when I got it home. About one week latter I went to get it and the bill was a little over 2100.00 he had done the work I told him not to do. I let him know I was not going to pay and he told me that I could not get my car. I said fine are you putting a lien on it and he said yes.

[tcspeer]

I then left for the Ft. Worth Court house. After getting through the detectors I asked where the small claims court was. I then went there and found out I had to go down the St. and file in J.P. Court number 5. On the way there I stopped at the office where you get the name of the owner of the busssiness. I found out it was Ivan D. Harris Jr. After getting to court five I had the chance to file on him for 52.00 or his bussiness for 52.00. But I could file on both for 92.00 so I took that. I then came home and checked him out on the B.B.B.(which I should have done first) This you must see. You can check it out by going to Fort Worth B.B.B. and then seaching Import Specialists. He is so bad at running up the price on people that the B.B.B. met with him in 2002 to try to reduce the numbers of complaints, they then went on to say that it has only gotten worse. I dont know how this will turn out, but I am asking for 30.00 dollars for each week day he has my car ( its my right hand drive work car.) I do have the first written estimate and one witness that was with me. I plan to take the B.B.B. report along with pictures of my shop which sets in my back yard and is well equipped and then ask the J.P. if he really thinks I would have given Ivan the go ahead on this for this price when I have done it so many times before. My nephew is a big shot at a large Auto Dealer ship and he told me I dont have a leg to stand on that they can get away with just about anything. If I dont have a leg to stand on then I will just show up in a wheel chair but he is going to see the J.P.

[webmeist]

So, what happened?

(Fingers crossed)

[tcspeer]

Nothing yet, the court mailed my papers back and said I could not file for 30.00 dollars a day I had to file for a set amount so I filed for 4493.00. He took my work car so I had to buy something to run my Rt. so the next day I bought a 97 Chev. Lumina for 4200.00 dollars and the taxes and fees were 293.00. It should come up for trial before 90 days. Check out his report from the B.B.B. I have it here. He has been sticking it to people for quite a while, I may not win but I am going to stand up to him.

 

 

 

 

 

Better Business Bureau at Fort Worth

101 Summit Ave., Suite 707

Fort Worth, TX 76102

BBB Reliability Report

 

IMPORT AUTO PARTS/IMPORT SPECIALIST

3248 W SEMINARY DR

FORT WORTH, TX 76133

(817) 921-3944

 

Local Business Start Date:January 1, 1984Principal:IVAN HARRIS JR, OWNERCustomer Service Contact:IVAN D HARRISPhone Number:(817) 921-3944Type-of-Business Classification(s):AUTO PARTS & SUPPLIESFile Open Date:July 1, 1979

 

The information in this report has either been provided by the company, or has been compiled by the Bureau from other sources.

 

 

 

Nature of Business

 

 

 

This firm sells auto parts both new and used. Some parts are special order and special order parts are paid for in advance and non-refundable.

 

 

 

 

 

Customer Experience

 

 

 

Complaints brought to the firms attention concern selling practices, service issues and refund practices. Specifically, complainants allege the final invoice is more than the original quote. Others allege the special order parts do not work and the company does not refund money on special order parts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When assessing complaint information, please consider the company's size and volume of transactions. Please understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them is often more important than the number.

 

The following data concerns complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's file opened in July 1979 or over the last thirty six months, whichever is less.

 

The Bureau received 28 complaints against this company during it's three year reporting period.

 

These complaints concerned:

 

Sales Issues (1)

 

Customer Service Issues (19)

 

Credit or Billing Issues (2)

 

Refund or Exchange Issues (4)

 

 

 

Repair or Service Issues (2)

 

They were closed as:

 

Resolved (13)

 

Unresolved (5)

 

The company addressed the disputed issues and exhibited a good faith effort to resolve the complaint (10)

 

 

 

Of the total complaints in 36 months, 9 closed in the last year.

 

 

 

Additional File Information

 

 

 

In September 2002, the company met with the BBB to discuss the basic cause of complaints. The company provided a copy of the invoice which states.... "No refund on special order, used or electrical parts, no labor warranty on used parts." At that time, the company has agreed to work with the BBB to eliminate the basic cause of their complaints. However, as of this date, complaints have increased in number and the cause of complaints remain the same.

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

 

 

Additional Doing-Business-As Names:IMPORT SPECIALIST OF TEXASAdditional Phone Numbers:817-926-9704

 

 

 

Report as of 07/27/2004

 

 

 

Copyright 2004 Better Business Bureau at Fort Worth

As a matter of policy, the Better Business Bureau does not endorse any product, service or company. BBB reports generally cover a three-year reporting period, and are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information contained herein is believed reliable but not guaranteed as to accuracy. Reports are subject to change at any time.

 

The Better Business Bureau reports on members and non-members. Membership in the BBB is voluntary, and members must meet and maintain BBB standards. If a company is a member of the BBB, it is stated in this report.

[mbshop]

i guess you folks in texas have no protection. i'm in calif. we have the B.A.R..

 

they would shut this guy down in a heart beat. you only have to pay

for what the estimate is. also a shop cannot hold your car. that is theft

here.

 

george

 

I guess some of you remember back at the first of July the valves crashed in my 2.2. I went to Imports Specialist in Fort Worth and the guy behind the counter told me he would get me a 2.2 for 999.00 install it for around 500.00 and tow it for 100.00 all of this with E.P.A. fees and taxes came to a little more than 1700.00. Which I have the written estimate. He also told me before he installed it he would put my new water pump ,seals and timing belt on. About one week latter the owner called me and said he had the estimate for my car and it was going to be 2400.00. thats 700.00 dollars more than the first estimate. I told him he was nuts I already had the written estimate, he said well the pan came damaged on the engine they had shipped in and he could not let his mechanic do that other work he had promised and he would have to charge me. I then told him to ship the engine back and get one that was not damaged, and to leave the seals, water pump, and belt alone because I would change them when I got it home. About one week latter I went to get it and the bill was a little over 2100.00 he had done the work I told him not to do. I let him know I was not going to pay and he told me that I could not get my car. I said fine are you putting a lien on it and he said yes.

[tcspeer]

It's very different in Tx. If you get a judgement here aganist someone for a wrong it is very hard to collect. Wages here can only be garnashed for Taxes and child support. You can file an abstract of judgment with the deeds record of the county but here again most propery is protected. About all I can hope to win (if I win) will be my car back maybe without having to pay the other 700.00. However I can file the abstract againist him and it will haunt him for ten years. Or maybe I can get one of the cars he stole from someone else. I think if he has over two he can be forced to sell and give up the money. But I have not won yet so he may not have anything to worry about.

[photo2001]

I had a problem with the a.c. in an old car of mine, (not a subie). Repairs done at a mechanic. Two days later, it was shot again. Mechanic refused to give a refund. I found out that the local DMV would get involved, (this is in CT). I guess it has to do with licensing of the repair shops? Anyway, as soon as the shop owner heard we were going to the DMV, he gave a refund, after a bit of grousing. Coincidentally, this shop was right across the street from the DMV

Don't know if this applies in all states. Good luck!

[Guest Vickaroo]

I really hope you win your case.... It gets old to have companies take the working person all the time.... And it happens more then alot of people know. Tim and I have been taken a few times. One being the Webber we had done for DRTYGRL. They guys told us (I cant remeber the price?) but it ended up costing us almost 1000.00 by the time all was said and done and I do know it wasnt that much for the est. and Tim did all the foot work for the parts, ect. Needless to say we are not happy campers with this company. We will never use them again. Let us know if you win your case (really hope you do!!!!!) Vicky

[rigfennid]

Not sure of the cost or legal issues but maybe a billboard near his shop showing the BBB report? ya know, like standing out front and anybody that comes in, you just say "think three times before you leave your car" and hand them a copy of the report - you're just making people aware of his track record, so it isn't slander at all....

 

unfortunately for many people it seems the only way for them to learn is to get hurt, and if you hurt his business, he may wise up.... sad to have slime that that around

 

best of luck!

[slo5oh]

I have a good friend that used to say "I've never met someone tougher then my 10 best friends". Call the local police and see if this guy has the right to keep your car. If the police tell you that they don't get involved in situations like this (since the poilce try not to get involved anything) then take 10 good friends with you and walk into his shop (with your spare keys) and take your car back. I think the shoe should be on the other foot, take your car back and let him take you to court for the $ he claims you owe him.

 

Then drive it down to a locksmith and change the keys.

[SevenSisters]

Unfortunately, this guy’s got a lot more experience than you do with the repair laws in Texas. If you take your ten dumbest friends and steal it when he has a legal right to hold on to it, you’re in trouble.

 

Let the courts work it out and good luck.

[tcspeer]

I also filed a report with the B.B.B. so he now knows I am on to his bad reports he has there. I would think he will bring a lawyer to try to keep me from bringing this up, which is O.K. that will cost him. If I loose I will have ten days to file an appeal in county court. We have a new lawyer here in the small town where I work and this sound like one of the types of law that he practices, so I plan on talking to him if I lose in the J.P. court. Thanks for all of the tips and suggestions everyone has given. I will let everyone know how it turns out.

[tcspeer]

Well I guess the constable must have served the summons on them yesterday, I had a message on my phone from Imports Specialists to give them a call back.

[gbrand]

Is this the same Ivan Harris that used to be a State Farm insurance agent in South Fort Worth?

 

Just wondering.

 

Good luck and let us know how it turns out

[tcspeer]

This is Ivan D. Harris Jr. I done a internet check on his name and it brought up around eight or ten different ones with the same name and middle initial around this area. I would think they are probably different ones.