So the issue stems from a visit to Ford of Clermont on August 31, 2009.
After the first key stopped working a few weeks later the second key stopped working so we towed it to Ford of Clermont at 1101 East Highway 50, Clermont Florida 34711.
During the first visit they asked me to sign something that authorized them to fix it if it was less than $115.00 I said yes and signed it.
On September 4th 2009 they called to tell me that it was the “Pats Transceiver” had gone bad and it would cost $503.00. This would include the part $23.00 and labor and taxes $470.00. I was shocked to say the least so I called a friend who is a mechanic for Lake County Sherriff’s office and asked if they were overcharging me. He laughed and said it would take him less than 90 minutes to fix. But that we would have to tow it back to a Ford dealership to have the old keys reprogrammed.
I was not able to fix it at that time so after I returned from our trip I called up another Ford Dealership in Orlando and asked them how much it would cost me if they did the same work. Their quote to me was no more than $175.00!
I consequently returned to Ford of Clermont on September 28, 2009 and asked to speak with the Service Manager. I share this information and her response to me after trying to add in the cost of diagnostic $115.00 was that the difference was now only $200.00 instead of $325.00. I asked if there was anyone else I could talk to and she told me no. I asked again and her response was “You can call corporate but they won’t do anything!”
I didn’t believe it so I did call corporate and talked to a “Customer Service” supervisor by the name of Kevin and he confirmed that “Each dealership is only responsible to us to sell our cars not fix them or what they charge to fix them!”
I still could not believe that I had no recourse so I then asked to speak with Ford of Clermont’s General Manager. He then went and dropped the price to 375.00 not including tax. Although it was still $200.00 more than the other Ford dealership I needed to get it done so I agreed.
Kelly Lisciak told me that they would get “right on it providing we have the part in…” I waited for 4 hours and then called up the parts dept to find out if the hold-up was the fact that they did not have the part in… After speaking with the parts manager he told me that they had the part there in stock.
But I still had not heard back from Kelly so I returned to Ford of Clermont and asked if they had started on my Explorer… Kelly told me sarcastically “I told you we would only get to it if the part was in… It is not in stock!” I told him that I had called 1 hour earlier and they had it in stock and that I would like my keys back and I would tow it to the other dealership. As he walked away he said “we didn’t want to help you anyway!”
To be honest with you I kind of figured that… This was our first Ford and since we have been in Clermont we have been told of the “bad name” Ford of Clermont had; that they were “Crooks and Liars.” I told him that that is what I had heard and another “service writer” by the name of “MIKE TIPSWORD” over heard what I said and called out “did you call me a crook and a liar?” I said “I said that I had heard that “Ford of Clermont” was a crook and liar. He proceeded to come from behind the desk walk about 15 steps and told me threateningly “Say it again!” So I did and he said to me “I AM GOING TO BEAT YOUR ASS!” I said Ok… and he got in my face.
At this point I told him I wanted my keys he proceeded to use profanity, to mock me, and threaten me. I said over and over I want my keys.
While I was waiting I asked to speak with the General Manager again. When he returned I told him what had happened and his comment to me was “well it takes two!” Then he said, “what the customer feels is not important!”
I have done everything I can think of simply because I cannot think of how what happened at Ford of Clermont can be right.
Since my situation was not resolved I went and stood in front of Ford of Clermont on the public property between the guard rail and the street on Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM with signs to advertise how Ford of Clermont has responded to my complaints.
I was picketing Ford of Clermont on a public area with a sign that said “I complained Ford of Clermont overcharged… Mike Tipsword said He was going to kick my As(s)”
Within 20 minutes a golf cart arrived with some sales representatives from Ford of Clermont and as the drove by one of them said you are a “effin Dic(K) but used the actual words.
Then Ford of Clermont called the Clermont Police department to try and intimidate me into leaving which of course did not work.
After the police officer Spankie threatened to take me to jail because she said “You cannot be here.” “You need to leave” I asked them for a ticket or a summons or something that showed she was forcing me to leave I wanted this so I could fight it in court. She wouldn’t but for 40 minutes she kept trying to intimidate me by threatening to take me to jail. After 40 minutes they left
However after the police left, a semi from Ford of Clermont tried to hit me and when I would not move he got out a said “I am going to run you over!” I then called the police and while I was talking to them the truck drove within 1 foot of me but hit the sign that I had in my hand and got between me and the road but the truck spilled out on the road and while I was talking to the dispatcher the truck driver revved up his engine so I could not talk to the dispatcher. When Officer Spankie arrived she marched up to me and told me “Ok now you have to leave!” I asked why she said it was becoming a public nuisance, my response was that I had been there from the beginning; it was the truck that was creating the issue. I told her that the truck driver drove at me and stopped a foot or so before hitting me then got out and threatened to “Run you over!”
I have filed a complaint with the Clermont Police department.
I will continue to go back out there until my situation is dealt with by Ford Corporation
So please help.
Gavan Searles
[email protected]
(352)978-2647
