🚀 go-pugleaf

Sloppy, defective workmanship and separate damage to my truck done 
during a horribly botched repair effort by Sterling Auto Body, 2002 N 
Britain Rd, Irving, TX 75061 (214) 492-2420.


Date of report: 5/18/2007 and 7/16/2007
Date of repairs: 5/14/2007 to 5/18/2007


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Defects and separate damage:

Paint overspray all over the inside of the vehicle, in the vents, on the 
seats, headliner, trim, basically it was coated.

Paint chipped on body just aft of left rear door.

Abrasion damage to separate plastic bed liner of bed. Area of abrasion 
exactly matches width and location of �Military Police� decal on back 
window. Employee stated that liner was removed and reinstalled. The 
sticker was damaged and had apparently been removed and re-affixed, 
sloppily.

White paint-like substance splattered in bed.

Paint chipped at front edge of bed�s right side at the level of the body 
crease.

Electrical tape found sloppily wrapping up right side wire connecting to 
rear window-defrosting element (integral factory vacuum deposited 
element). This is evidence of improperly handling the wire and the tape 
that insulates it.

Rear-window adhesive (kind of silicone or RTV adhesive) has squirted up 
from the adhesive space into the trim in the passenger compartment. Too 
much was used and it was incorrectly applied. (They contract out their 
glass work, and tried to blame it on the glass company -the roaches do 
scatter when the light is turned on!)

Vehicle�s 2-way radio system is inoperable. Tests show that the antenna 
system impedance no longer matches the system impedance. It is possible 
that the cable or the antenna mount is damaged and will have to be 
replaced. There is evidence that pliers were used on the electrical 
components of the mount, and the components are now loose. The employee 
writing up the vehicle was shown the antenna, cable, and radio system 
including amplifiers, battery, high power DC cabling, and filters, and 
was warned not to allow anyone to remove or install disconnect connect 
parts of it nor to �mess with� it, but instead to call me and I would 
come and do it. He was also advised that the energy stored in the system 
was as much as that in two common 12-volt automotive batteries and he 
ought leave it be. The employee, after seeing the system, agreed that 
they did not want to mess with it, and stated that it would not be 
necessary to do anything with the antenna or cable, and said that I 
would be called if anything had to be done to any part of it.

When the employees removed and replaced the rear glass of the truck, the 
body was gouged on the lower right corner area just below the window 
glass. They also left a shim stuck in the space.

The fuel hatch door has one rubber tip missing. This causes the door to 
slam shut onto a steel bolt instead of onto a rubber cushion. I guess 
they broke it off.

Body rubber molding at top left rear of cab is loose, especially at the 
front of the molding.
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Terms for Remediation:

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Sterling has proven to be incompetent and has shown gross negligence. A 
reasonable person would not trust them after this experience, nor would 
a reasonable person be compelled to allow Sterling to lay hands on the 
vehicle again. Time for me to take charge. I made arrangements to take 
the truck to the Chevrolet dealership to be repaired and corrected, and 
with the Allstate insurance adjuster right there to back me up, told 
Sterling, sorry, I can't trust Sterling to touch the truck again, they 
were just going to have to pay for it to be fixed elsewhere.



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Recovery

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July 18, 2007


Replacing the antenna mount and repairing the RF power amplifier 
repaired the damage to the radio communications system.

The vehicle itself was repaired properly at Van Chevrolet body shop. It 
took them 3 days to get all the over-spray off of everything and also 
out of the air conditioning vents.

They discovered the black plastic bed-top covers on each side were also 
damaged, having had most of the tabs broken off them. The tabs are what 
hold them in place on the bed and don�t have to be broken if one knows 
what one is doing according to Van.

In all, partly because they had to order a couple parts, it took 2 weeks 
to get it done. I had a $695 bill for a rental truck to drive while mine 
was in the shop.

The bill was presented to Sterling�s manager who argued about the amount 
for some time, after which I became vehement. He said he could have cut 
me a check but it takes two people to do so, one to write it and the 
second to sign it, a corporate control. He also wanted to talk to Van 
Chevrolet about what he considered excessive repair time. He said he 
thought Van was cheating him. I didn't understand that remark, because 
Van chevrolet and Enterprise car rental are two separate companies as 
far as I know. I told him that 10 days should be enough time to clear it 
up and would be OK with me, and he agreed without hesitation to mail me 
the check and that 10 days was no problem at all. That was a lie. Two 
lies actually, since they neither mailed me the check nor finished their 
business in 10 days. I don�t like being lied to. Liars are often con-men 
and/or thieves.

Several weeks went by, no check. The manager could not be gotten on the 
phone, leaving a receptionist to deal with me. She said the check was 
mailed to the rental car company on the 13th of July. This surprised me, 
since I had already paid the rental car company and the subsequent 
American Express bill that resulted from the rental. My complaints were 
ignored. Sterling Auto Body had effectively held onto my funds for a 
month. No apology came from the manager who would not come to the phone 
to speak with me, leaving it to a minion.

After the receptionist told me the corporate check number, the address 
to where it was sent, and the exact amount, I finished the call and then 
I called AMEX and disputed the charge to have it removed. Enterprise 
Rental will have their money this week as long as Sterling is not lying 
again. This outrage is the last straw, and one of the reasons this page 
is available. I wish to share with other honest people the details and 
feelings of my experience with Sterling Auto Body. I feel as though 
Sterling Auto Body believes there is a sucker born every minute, but I 
guess in the end, you can't cheat an honest man..


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So, what will Sterling Auto Body do for you?

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They did these things to me. I don't know what will happen if you use 
them. Take your own chances.

Sterling Auto Body damaged my property.

Sterling Auto Body did the worst work I have ever seen.

Sterling Auto Body left my vehicle in a filthy condition.

Sterling Auto Body lied to me.

Sterling Auto Body had people working who do not well understand English 
instructions.

Sterling Auto Body had me speak to people who have no authority, but who 
do have excuses, and for some reason, agreed with me but did nothing 
about it (customer service training 101).

Sterling Auto Body disobeyed warnings and instructions about costly 
special equipment.

Sterling Auto Body tied up my money for weeks because I complained.

Sterling Auto Body showed me their negligence.

Sterling Auto Body showed me their incompetence.

Sterling Auto Body showed me how untrustworthy they are.

Sterling Auto Body tried to hide substandard work and did behave 
dishonesty.

Sterling Auto Body treated me the customer like a victim to be predated 
upon.

Sterling Auto Body treated me like a stupid fool.

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