Cobbel Hill Super SCAM Service , SHELL station

I found this after my post.

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3661

Subject: I just found this on another web site

I just found this on citysearch:

http://brooklyn.citysearch.com/profile/32938630/brooklyn_ny/cobblehill_super_service_incorporated.html

http://www.beeby.org/blog/2007_12_01_archive.html

"Drove the car into Manhattan twice last weekend. On the way back from her second trip the car wouldn't start; it would turn over, catch, rev, and die, but it wouldn't stay running. Eventually we realized that the little "immobilizer" icon on the dashboard remained flashing after the car died, which indicated that the anti-theft device had kicked in and we'd have to tow the car. After some late-afternoon calls, dead cell phone batteries, and inevitable wrangling with AAA, the car was towed to Cobble Hill Super Service (I was unhappy last time I had service done there, but it was the only place I could find that would take it). The owner/manager assured me that they could fix the immobilizer on Monday, if in fact that was the problem. FIne. So he called me on Monday and informed me that the alternator was dead to the tune of $700 (he also told me that I need new struts and my battery is leaking). However, he was unable to get the car started... even when he strapped in a new battery. That sounded fishy to me so after he had bullied me into authorizing the repair I called him back and asked a couple more questions (me: "how do you know the alternator's bad if it wouldn't start?", he: "I've got computers that tell me" etc). I was in touch with some mechanics I know and they said it sounded funny too, so I called him back and cancelled the service... "Fine," he said, "I wouldn't work on your car anyway... are you questioning my diagnosis? Fine! Take it to the dealership and pay THEM to change your alternator. Come down here and tow your car away..." etc, etc. So I took half a day off work and went down there. It turns out that Cobble Hill Shell -- of all people -- is the outfit who AAA has called to tow my car! They cancelled the tow and procrastinated for nearly three hours while I stood on Atlantic in the cold. Finally after a dozen calls to AAA and an eventual death-defying, 55-MPH ride down 4th Ave in Brooklyn, we narrowly made it before the VW dealership in Bay Ridge closed. The folks there took a look at it today and chalked it up to a weak battery. They reset the immobilizer, reprogrammed the keys and we were on our way. It wasn't an inexpensive "repair" from VW, but they did the job right: no threats and no bullying. I will never go back to Cobble Hill Shell/Super Service and I recommend you don't either!
UPDATE: here's some crazy documentation on the VW TDI immobilizer system... I especially like the emergency override feature (from chittychittybangbang on tdiforum).
UPDATE: the car's been running fine this week."

Subject: Just found another.

This sounds like a similar situation as my original post. I have also contacted the DMV ,BBB ,and AAA. I cant believe this guy is getting away with this!!!!!



"STAY AWAY! THESE PEOPLE ARE LIARS AND CROOKS!

My girlfriend needed a jump yesterday and called AAA. When the tow truck arrived he claimed the battery was dangerous and he couldn't jump it. He told her it would need to be towed. When she asked for it to be taken to Firestone (we have a Firestone card) he told her he could tow it to his garage for free, but it would cost $90 to tow to another garage (Which isn't true, AAA will tow for 3 miles or under without charge). Once at Cobble Hill service center they ran a diagnostic ($70) and told her she needed a new battery, alternator, brake pads and struts. Complete B.S. She called Firestone and they recommended another tow company. When we called them they said it was the third time this month they've had AAA customers call to have their cars removed from this garage.

When we went to pay the diagnostic and get the keys I asked the manager (Tony I believe) what the diagnostic involved and he immediately flew off the handle. He told me they "hooked up a voltmeter" and mumbled something. He wouldn't give me a straight answer about anything they did and got angrier and angrier. Then, as we were paying the "diagnostic fee" he asked me if "I had a problem" because I was staring at him, he jumped up, stuck his finger in face and told me we could take it outside and "fix the problem". His breath reeked of alcohol (it was 3 in the afternoon) and it was just so bizarre I couldn't believe it. It was how I imagine people in prison act. He was like a rabid animal. My girlfriend asked him what his problem was and he said "You come back here and see how he's staring at me..."

The funny thing is once we got the keys the car started just fine. We were able to drive it to Firestone where they ran a real diagnostic, showed us that the old battery wasn't charging properly and needed to be replaced. The alternator was fine and the brake pads had plenty of life left in them.

Cobble Hill Service station should be avoided at all costs. These people are hostile, thieving filth. We are filing a complaint about them with AAA, Shell Oil, the BBB and the DMV. DO NOT GO THERE!"

Fraud abounds on CitySearch

by Exposing lies at Citysearch

Well, it remains to be seen about CHSS, Inc, but the one star is for the reliability of the "five-star" reviews on this site. After I experienced an incident identical to what many have described on Yelp (AAA towed to CHSS and suddenly a 2005 car that was recently purchased needed $700 worth of work, including a new alternator, battery,...) I looked online. If you look at ALL reviews that are five stars, you'll find people who are listed as living outside of Brooklyn (and sometimes even New York) who have numerous 5-star reviews for places all around the country. Many of these reviews are for car dealers or service stations where they somehow received service on their multiple cars in multiple states in the same month.

The unfavorable reviews are locals who have often reviewed other places in the neighborhood.

Judge for yourself.

Boo to CitySearch. Read Yelp.