On 19 December 2006, my wife was involved in a automobile collision with our 2002 Saturn Vue. On 20 December 2006, our vehicle was taken to Joe Bullard Collision Center (1151 E. I-65 Service Rd. S. Mobile, AL 36606) because they are the closest Saturn Dealership. My vehicle insurance provided payment for the work that was to be performed except a two hundred dollar deductible ($200.00).
On 03 January 2007, I was telephoned and advised that the vehicle body work had been completed and the collision damage repaired. I drove to Mobile, AL with the intention of picking my wife’s vehicle up. Picking the vehicle up was imperative due to a collision with our other vehicle (2001 Chevrolet Suburban) that was being repaired at a local Chevrolet Dealership. When I arrived at Joe Bullard, I found that our Saturn was in worse shape. There was still damage to the vehicle and it was obvious that no action had been taken to repair those damages. We also found that there were serious defects in the workmanship and quality of work that had been done. Joe Bullard blamed these issues on the Insurance Company. I called my insurance and they sent a representative to evaluate the issues. I then told “Mike” the representative from Joe Bullard that I did not care what the insurance would and would not repair. I wanted my vehicle repaired to a pre collision state and I would spend MY money to ensure that the vehicle was repaired and I could deal with the insurance at a later time.
I left the vehicle for Joe Bullard to complete the work with the understanding that I wanted my vehicle repaired correctly. I was called on 11 January 2007 and told that the vehicle was ready.
My wife and I drove to Mobile, AL again and attempted to pick up the Saturn. When I arrived at Joe Bullard and examined the vehicle, I found that some of the same issues had not been corrected and found additional issues with the quality of the work. These issues range from one headlight assembly being larger than the original and the hood not shutting properly, body panels not properly aligning, and paint over spray on panels that were not painted originally.
When “Mike”, the representative I had been dealing with, approached me, I immediately requested to speak with the person that was over the Collision Center. Mr. Tom Clough identified himself to me as the man who was in charge of the body shop. I explained to him that I did not feel I was being given the consideration a customer should be given and the proper attention was not provided to ensure that the work was done correctly the second time. After much discussion and even suggesting that I would leave without paying the deductible, I agreed to provide Mr. Clough the ability to correct the issues with my vehicle. Additionally, I discussed my concerns for the collision center doing further damage to the vehicle if it were left with Joe Bullard. Mr. Clough ensured me that no one would intentionally damage my vehicle and the repairs would be of the highest quality.
On 15 January 2007, I was called and told that the vehicle was ready. My wife, my one and one half year old daughter, my sister-in-law, and I drove to Mobile, AL to pick up the Saturn. Upon arrival at Joe Bullard, I looked at the vehicle again. I found that some of the issues from the original attempt to retrieve the vehicle had not been corrected. I also found that there was no attempt to ensure that the work was done with any level of quality. I found that the body panels that were to be painted had not been taped off properly resulting in lines in the paint, there were bugs and other debris in the paint, and the panels still did not properly align. I addressed these issues with Mr. Clough and he stated that these issues could be corrected if the vehicle was left with him again. I referred to our conversation on 11 January 2007 where I suggested I would take my vehicle without paying and take it another shop. I told Mr. Clough that I would take the Saturn to the Chevrolet Dealership that repaired my Suburban correctly on the first attempt. I would have them repair the damages to the vehicle. If the amount of those charges were less than the two hundred dollar ($200.00) deductible, I would provide Joe Bullard with the difference but I would expect Joe Bullard to pay the difference if the charge to repair the vehicle exceeded the two hundred dollar ($200.00) amount of the deductible.
Mr. Clough told me “no, you are not leaving with the vehicle unless you pay!” I told Mr. Clough that I was leaving and he followed me out to the Saturn. When I attempted to enter the driver side of the vehicle, Mr. Clough placed his arm between me and the vehicle and then struck me with his elbow in my abdomen. I began yelling form Mr. Clough to stop assaulting me and backed away from the vehicle. Mr. Clough sat in the driver seat of the vehicle and I got in the passenger seat. I dialed “911" and spoke with the Mobile, AL Police Department dispatch.
Several policemen responded to my call but spoke with Mr. Clough prior to speaking with me. I was told that I had to pay the two hundred dollars or I could not take my vehicle. I had to pay or they would have held my vehicle and could have done more damage to it. I completed the necessary paperwork to take custody of my property, paid the two hundred dollars and left with the vehicle.
I took the vehicle to two separate shops to fix the damages. One shop found damage to the rear drive gear that could have posed a safety hazard. The other shop repaired the cosmetic damages. They found where Joe Bullard used epoxy to hold the panels together and even glued a damaged light lens together. All together, I am out approximately Three thousand dollars.
I sent complaints to the Better Business Bureau, The State of Alabama Attorney General Office, and several local Attorneys. No one has offered any relief.
Joe Bullard insists that they did not cause any damage, neglect to repair damage, or perform any substandard repairs. They have also referred this incident to their Insurance. Their Insurance Company is Zurich and is represented by Jennifer R. James Claims Specialist IV. Ms. James contacted me personally and told me to speak with her about this incident. I told her that I would not speak with her considering Mr. Joe Bullard told me to only speak with Dennis Tucker who works for him. I told her that she could speak with my brother who is an attorney in Mississippi. Ms. James did this and has since showed their intentions.
Zurich nor Joe Bullard intend on compensating me for the loss I suffered as a result of doing business with Joe Bullard.
Joe Bullard and everyone involved persist in denying any of this happended even though I audio recorded our conversations and took photographs of the damages.
On 03 January 2007, I was telephoned and advised that the vehicle body work had been completed and the collision damage repaired. I drove to Mobile, AL with the intention of picking my wife’s vehicle up. Picking the vehicle up was imperative due to a collision with our other vehicle (2001 Chevrolet Suburban) that was being repaired at a local Chevrolet Dealership. When I arrived at Joe Bullard, I found that our Saturn was in worse shape. There was still damage to the vehicle and it was obvious that no action had been taken to repair those damages. We also found that there were serious defects in the workmanship and quality of work that had been done. Joe Bullard blamed these issues on the Insurance Company. I called my insurance and they sent a representative to evaluate the issues. I then told “Mike” the representative from Joe Bullard that I did not care what the insurance would and would not repair. I wanted my vehicle repaired to a pre collision state and I would spend MY money to ensure that the vehicle was repaired and I could deal with the insurance at a later time.
I left the vehicle for Joe Bullard to complete the work with the understanding that I wanted my vehicle repaired correctly. I was called on 11 January 2007 and told that the vehicle was ready.
My wife and I drove to Mobile, AL again and attempted to pick up the Saturn. When I arrived at Joe Bullard and examined the vehicle, I found that some of the same issues had not been corrected and found additional issues with the quality of the work. These issues range from one headlight assembly being larger than the original and the hood not shutting properly, body panels not properly aligning, and paint over spray on panels that were not painted originally.
When “Mike”, the representative I had been dealing with, approached me, I immediately requested to speak with the person that was over the Collision Center. Mr. Tom Clough identified himself to me as the man who was in charge of the body shop. I explained to him that I did not feel I was being given the consideration a customer should be given and the proper attention was not provided to ensure that the work was done correctly the second time. After much discussion and even suggesting that I would leave without paying the deductible, I agreed to provide Mr. Clough the ability to correct the issues with my vehicle. Additionally, I discussed my concerns for the collision center doing further damage to the vehicle if it were left with Joe Bullard. Mr. Clough ensured me that no one would intentionally damage my vehicle and the repairs would be of the highest quality.
On 15 January 2007, I was called and told that the vehicle was ready. My wife, my one and one half year old daughter, my sister-in-law, and I drove to Mobile, AL to pick up the Saturn. Upon arrival at Joe Bullard, I looked at the vehicle again. I found that some of the issues from the original attempt to retrieve the vehicle had not been corrected. I also found that there was no attempt to ensure that the work was done with any level of quality. I found that the body panels that were to be painted had not been taped off properly resulting in lines in the paint, there were bugs and other debris in the paint, and the panels still did not properly align. I addressed these issues with Mr. Clough and he stated that these issues could be corrected if the vehicle was left with him again. I referred to our conversation on 11 January 2007 where I suggested I would take my vehicle without paying and take it another shop. I told Mr. Clough that I would take the Saturn to the Chevrolet Dealership that repaired my Suburban correctly on the first attempt. I would have them repair the damages to the vehicle. If the amount of those charges were less than the two hundred dollar ($200.00) deductible, I would provide Joe Bullard with the difference but I would expect Joe Bullard to pay the difference if the charge to repair the vehicle exceeded the two hundred dollar ($200.00) amount of the deductible.
Mr. Clough told me “no, you are not leaving with the vehicle unless you pay!” I told Mr. Clough that I was leaving and he followed me out to the Saturn. When I attempted to enter the driver side of the vehicle, Mr. Clough placed his arm between me and the vehicle and then struck me with his elbow in my abdomen. I began yelling form Mr. Clough to stop assaulting me and backed away from the vehicle. Mr. Clough sat in the driver seat of the vehicle and I got in the passenger seat. I dialed “911" and spoke with the Mobile, AL Police Department dispatch.
Several policemen responded to my call but spoke with Mr. Clough prior to speaking with me. I was told that I had to pay the two hundred dollars or I could not take my vehicle. I had to pay or they would have held my vehicle and could have done more damage to it. I completed the necessary paperwork to take custody of my property, paid the two hundred dollars and left with the vehicle.
I took the vehicle to two separate shops to fix the damages. One shop found damage to the rear drive gear that could have posed a safety hazard. The other shop repaired the cosmetic damages. They found where Joe Bullard used epoxy to hold the panels together and even glued a damaged light lens together. All together, I am out approximately Three thousand dollars.
I sent complaints to the Better Business Bureau, The State of Alabama Attorney General Office, and several local Attorneys. No one has offered any relief.
Joe Bullard insists that they did not cause any damage, neglect to repair damage, or perform any substandard repairs. They have also referred this incident to their Insurance. Their Insurance Company is Zurich and is represented by Jennifer R. James Claims Specialist IV. Ms. James contacted me personally and told me to speak with her about this incident. I told her that I would not speak with her considering Mr. Joe Bullard told me to only speak with Dennis Tucker who works for him. I told her that she could speak with my brother who is an attorney in Mississippi. Ms. James did this and has since showed their intentions.
Zurich nor Joe Bullard intend on compensating me for the loss I suffered as a result of doing business with Joe Bullard.
Joe Bullard and everyone involved persist in denying any of this happended even though I audio recorded our conversations and took photographs of the damages.
View the first video yourself.
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