Meineke Car Care Center

on Monday July 19th I took my wifes 2011 explore to Mineke in Longmont on S. Hover St. because the AC was blowing hot. The guy looked under the hood, didnt start the car and said the compressor was no good. He said it would be about a 4 hour repair. We scheduled an appointment for Wednesday the 21st to drop the car off, they said they would drive my wife to work and then pick her up to get the car that evening. I contacted the warranty center, they approved all but 2 parts that were involved. I called the shop and told them not to do the expansion valves on Tuesday. That would have left me with the deductible of $100 that I would pay. Wednesday my wife dropped the car off. They told her that they didnt have a driver to drop her off. They ended up sending her with a random tow truck driver to drop her off. Wednesday night I got a ride from a friend to pick it up. Justin who was a complete jerk not only to me but to my wife as well said they have not started work on it and it would be done tomorrow (Thursday). I called Thursday and he was again a jerk and said he would call me when it was ready. Friday I called and was told that it would not be finished until Saturday because they had to put in a AC Compressor. He said they tried other things to save me money and it didnt work. Saturday I showed up at 2:40 to pick it up. I was told that the amount due was over $550! I told him that I have a warranty that covered it and he said sorry this is the balance in the notes. (A sheet of printer paper with a bunch of handwriting and pictures drawn were the "notes"). I told him that I brought with me $100 which was all I was told I owed. I even showed a 20% off Military coupon and was told that is not any good because they are billing the warranty company. He did not want the $100 instead said he needed the $557 and change. I asked him if there was a chase bank close he looked it up and said it was closed. He gave me my keys and said to come in Monday with the full payment that the manager would be there and would explain. I left and on my way home about 12 miles away the car starts to ding and the temperature gauge is to max hot. I found a safe place to pull off and shut the car off. I opened the hood and looked around, not being a mechanic I did not know what I was looking for. I Noticed a hose that was just hanging and was not connected. I called the Mieneke shop and he said that I need to call a tow truck and have the car dropped off there and it would be looked at Monday. Of course at my cost. He stated it was no fault of their own because they did not do anything with the cooling system. After the experience I had there, I was not taking another chance. This car has never had any issues as long as we have owned it. We have service records for it as we keep up on regularly. I had my car towed to my house. I connected the hose to the only place it can go. I added new coolant and it leaks from the side of the radiator close to the bottom. I called the ford dealership and discussed it with a mechanic who informed me that if it is dry and hot it is likely to crack. A new radiator installed will cost out of pocket $1470. I can not use my warranty because this was caused by vehicle negligence. The tow fee costed $180. Engine coolant costed $44 which is a total of $1694. I filed a report on Saturday and the id # is [protected]. From the beginning this spelled disaster. The guy that looked under my hood had no way of diagnosing it without even starting the car. And then with zero communication the task went from 4 hours to 4 days. I can understand a couple of hours difference. The way Justin treated my wife and I was not acceptable or professional. The difference in price was not discussed with me at all. I would not have had it done had I known the price difference. And now the new issues with this car has caused us unnecessary. We have contacted our JAG office for legal advice. I will pay the $100 that was agreed. I will also be sending this new repair bill to the shop. I forgot to mention the odor of cigarette smoke inside my car and we do not smoke.