Bell Side 7 reviews and complaints

Homer Glen no longer needs Business Sharks! Bell Side 7 eventually will sacrifice their poor quality, overly high priced business. Don't think that you will be an exception to their bad reviews...
Old timers...there are 2 exceptional local competitors who are substantially lower in their prices and exceptionally higher quality repairs. I hope word of mouth changes these "has beens" and eventually their door hinges will become "rusty" from no customers walking thru their door!

Moving on from posting to Angie's List, BBB and Township Hall, etc...I cannot even rate as a "one star".
I brought my vehicle in a.m., described the exact problem AND exact solution, only in need of a verbal estimate. The service manager simply said to leave the key and they would call, he silently tagged my ken, no other conversation. Severalhours later after not receiving a phone call from Bell Side 7, I called and was given a very high $$$ for repair (3 times more than 2 local competitors, that were booked up). I told them no thank you and I'd be in to pick up my vehicle...I was told that it would be ready in "awhile" that it had to be put back together? I asked what had to be put back together, as the question of the estimate was only about a "exposed part" needing replaced. I arrived 5 minutes later and my vehicle was sitting in their lot, engine was not even warm...hmmm first untruth in communication. I went in to get my key and was told that I was being charged $46.00 estimate fee/for putting it on the rack...it was never remotely communicated to me that there would be a charge for an estimate, and certainly never told that it was going to be put on the rack for a "diagnostic check"...or I would never left my vehicle with them...and still don't understand why it had to be put on the rack for a "exposed part" and why I was told that it had to be "put back together", yet my vehicle was sitting in the lot 5 minutes later...engine not warm
My key was held ransom until I paid.
As a courtesy, "any business" I've dealt with has always been upfront and communicated to me, of any "fee" associated with my request...or in their case...of their business practice...evidently no one at Bell Side 7 actually communicates verbally. Their response was to point to a "very small sign" inappropriately placed in their office...I could not read it without my glasses...and again by no means in a convenient public viewing spot that would be a substitute for their non communications. The Service Manager or office person could not even give a reasonable or courteous explanation, or apologize which speaks for itself as deceitful. I'm a Senior Citizen and been around the block a few times, but did'nt see deceitfully grabbing my money this way coming!

I don’t know what happened with the previous gentlemen, but let me tell you a little about the service I get from Bell Side. Bell Side is now the only mechanics we bring our personal and service vehicles to (about 10 total). We are a small local business that had tried many, many, different shops in the area. We were referred to Bell Side about 6 or 7 years ago by yet another business owner who will also swear by them. They are family owned and take great pride in their work, you can tell as soon as you speak with them. They have been there for us every time we have called from oil changes to major repairs. They have always been quick and efficient something we are very great full for, considering the fact that for every day a vechicle is down, is a day of lost work for us. I think their prices are more than reasonable, you have grown men with experience work on your cars, something I don’t believe you can always count on at your “Quick Lube Midus Jiffy” chain type places. I feel compelled to type this because as I came across the previous rant it made me so angry, I am sure there is another side of the story. Please give them a try, you won’t regret it!

The following is a synopsis of the events leading to Bell Side 7's dangerous repairs causing additional damage and potential personal injury to me and passengers in my vehicle, for which I paid $793.13.

At this time I am looking for a complete refund of this amount and once received, I will consider this issue closed.

Sunday December 16th, 2007 (Approximately 7:00AM): While I was driving northbound on Cicero Ave in the furthest right lane. A snow plow pulled out of a side street and dumped snow onto Cicero Ave and backed up leaving a pile of snow in the middle of the street. I was driving about 5-10 MPH and hit the snow and slid into the curb. I continued to drive my car to an appointment in Lombard, IL. As I was driving I noticed that the car pulled slightly to the right.

Tuesday December 18th, 2007 (Approximately 8:00AM): I brought my car to your establishment (Bell Side 7 Garage) for what I thought would be a front end alignment. After evaluating my car you told me that the lower control arm was bent. You ended up replacing the lower control arm, hub and bearings, and did a front end alignment, pounded out the rim of the tire that hit the curb and placed that tire on the rear of the car.

Thursday December 20th, 2007 (Approximately 12:30PM): While I was driving westbound on 159th St towards La Grange Road, I heard a sound that sounded like a flat tire, at which point I thought I should attempt to pull into a parking lot. I turned right onto La Grange Road and car started shaking. When I went to turn left into parking lot at 158th and La Grange (near Jo Anne Fabrics) I heard what sounded like a soft explosion, lost control of my car, and couldn�t steer. I hit a curb again, and car wouldn�t move. I had the car towed by Apple Towing to Bell Side 7.

Friday December 21th, 2007: I picked up my repaired again car from Bell Side 7. You replaced a broken bolt with a new one. You explained that your technician / mechanic originally didn't replace the bolt, but reused the original bolt. You also informed me that the new bolt was stronger than the original.

Wednesday January 9th, 2008 (Approximately 3:30PM): I was driving my car when I noticed that the alignment appeared off. I called you at Bell Side 7 and told you about it and that I was afraid to drive it. You then told me to drive it straight to Bell Side 7 because you didn�t want to have me pay for an unnecessary tow if there way nothing wrong. I drove about 20 feet, lost all steering and ended up on a concrete median in Dicks Sporting Goods parking lot (facing Olive Garden). I had Apple Towing tow my car back to Bell Side 7. After looking at my car you informed me that it would cost me quite a few hundred dollars and that I should think about contacting my insurance company. I immediately called my insurance company. They made arrangements to tow my car to an authorized repair center.

Friday January 11th, 2008: Progressive Insurance Company came to pick up my car from Bell Side 7. They took it to Collision Revision Addison in Addison, IL. After assessing the car, they believe that most damage was caused by faulty repairs by the previous mechanic. After repairing the car they towed the car to Progressive Service Center in Schiller Park, IL for its final inspection.

January 22, 2008: I finally was able to pick my car.

Insurance Company took over

The following is a list of what insurance company did:

FRONT BUMPER

Overhaul: Front bumper cover assembly.

Repair: Front bumper cover.

Refinish: Front bumper cover.

FRONT FENDER

Remove/Replace: Right liner.

Remove/Replace: Right fender splash shield.

WHEEL

Wheel: Keystone Auto.

Remove/Replace: Wheel cover.

Remove/Replace: Wheel valve stem.

BODY COMPONENTS

Remove/Replace: Mount and balance tire.

FRONT SUSPENSION

Remove/Replace: Right front wheel hub.

Remove/Replace: Right front steering knuckle.

Remove/Replace: Right lower front control arm assembly.

Remove/Replace: Right front ball joint.

FRONT DRIVE AXLE

Remove/Replace: Front drive axle shaft assembly.

SIDE BODY

Refinish: Right rocker molding.

Remove/Replace: Right rocker molding.

ADDITIONAL COSTS AND MATERIALS

Hazardous waste disposal.

Paint/Materials.

ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS

Clear Coat.

Undercoating.

Right wheel well area.

MANUAL ENTRIES

Towing.

Front end alignment.

Lower ball joint pinch bolt.

Right front tire.