Action 9: Customers claim car repairs were never done at local mechanic

ORLANDO, Fla. — Action 9 stepped in after customers claimed they paid for rebuilt transmissions they never got, and the man running the shop has a history that covers nearly 15 years of local complaints.

Teywonia Byrd paid Central Florida Transmission and Auto Repair $2,000 to have her transmission rebuilt.

“Oh, I was completely devastated. Like I just felt betrayed,” Byrd said.

She claims after repair, her Hummer kept shutting down, but manager Mike Horine said it wasn't his fault.

Byrd took it to three transmission experts who found internal parts looked original, not rebuilt.

“Parts do not lie. I have my original Hummer parts in which he claimed he replaced,” said Byrd.

Armand Tanasecu said he had a similar experience.

“I don't trust them,” said Tanasecu.

He paid the shop $1,300 to rebuild his car’s transmission.

He said the rebuild failed and so did four attempts to correct it.

Then he found multiple complaints about Horine's history online.

“And I was scared at that, I knew I was screwed,” said Tanasecu.

According to state records, Horine operated five other repair companies.

His Remanufactured Transmission shops were rated “F” by the Better Business Bureau.

In 2009, Action 9 exposed a pattern of complaints, like a woman who paid $2,700 for a failed repair.

Action 9’s Todd Ulrich went to the new location for answers.

“I've got customers who've paid for rebuilt transmissions but say that's not what they got,” said Ulrich.

“Which customers you referring to?” asked Horine.

“Teywonia Byrd got receipts showing parts weren't replaced. How did that happen?” asked Ulrich.

“She needs, if she has an issue, she has to take it up legally,” responded Horine.

Court records show least seven consumers sued Horine and his shops since 2002. Six were promised refunds.

“You had a different company name but very similar complaints,” said Ulrich.

“And it's been sold,” said Horine.

“And here you are,” replied Ulrich.

Byrd paid another shop $3,000 for a new transmission. “Mike stop doing this to people,” she said.

Both consumers filed state complaints, but mediation attempts failed.

Ulrich said, if possible, it’s best to use credit cards to pay for repairs, ask for replaced parts back and check a shop's complaint history.

Cox Media Group