The Pep Boys review: Replacing alternator

On Monday, May 15, my car would not start when I tried to leave for a work appointment. After failed attempts to jumpstart the battery, Ihad the car towed to Pep Boys in Baldwin, as Iwork in Bellmore, and that is thelocation from where the car had to be towed. Someone from Pep Boys (Baldwin) called me to get details on why the car was towed there, and said he would call me back with an estimate. He called me back a short time later with an estimate of approximately $1400.00. While I had expected this to be an expensive repair, I felt that was high; however, Iwas stuck. It was too expensive and time consuming for me toget the car towed elsewhere, so Iagreed to have the work done. They completed the repair on Tuesday, May 16, and the total bill was: $1461.89. I thought that was quite high, so after I got home, I called the Pep Boys in Bayshore. Idid not get the gentleman's name, but he had an Indian accent I (think he was the manager). I asked him to quote me a price, and I specified the make, model, and year of my car, and he quoted me $850.16. I was furious. At first, I assumed that they took advantage of me because I was a woman. When I looked more closely at my itemized bill, I noted that there was work done that I did not want done. The ONLY reason I had my car brought to Pep Boys was for the alternator (and the battery fi it was too run down). The charges that I authorized to be completed included:

Alternator: $461.99 (-10% discount: 46.20): 415.79

Labor to install alternator: $249.00 (-10% discount: 24.98): 224.02

Labor warranty: $42.48 (-10% discount:4.25): $38.33

Battery: $199.99 (-10% discount: 20.00): $179.99

Battery installation package: $14.99 (-10% discount: 1.50): $13.49

Battery protection service: $9.00 (-10% discount: 0.90): $8.10

Prtctrs tmnl combo - $3.99 (-10% discount: 0.40): $3.59

There were other charges on my invoice that I DOD NOT AUTHORIZE, which included:

- A/C system leak eval $29.00 (- 10% discount: 2.89): $26.11

- A/C dye: $5.99 (- 10% discount: 0.59): $5.40

- Refrigerant (×5): $4.19 (-10% discount: 2.08): $18.87

- Evacuate & recharge: $109.99 - (10% discount: 11): $98.99

- Refrigerant service (X16) $4.19- (10% discount: 6.70): 60.34

Additional access interference $78.50 (-10% discount: 7.84): $70.66

- A/C alt w/p p/s belt $96.01 (-10% discount: 9.59): 86.42

- Cranks (no start) $99.99 (-10%discount:10.00): 89.99

TOTAL: $456.78

I was in agreat deal of distress that day. All I wanted was for my car to be able to drive; I was not interested in A/C or anything else. The fact that they did that extra work is not acceptable. That was taking advantage of someone who was in distress and needed help. Had I been in a more rational state of mind, then I would have asked more questions when I got the bill. Had this not been an emergency, my fiancée would have been with me, and this wouldn't have happened. I should be refunded for the work that I did not want done & did NOT authorize.