Problem with dealer mechanic Alan Ortega, SMZ Autos, Roswell, GA

Maintenance/Repairs
1

Having issue with dealer mechanic in Roswell. The mechanic has kept $1,725 since July 2024 without repairing the car. In November 2024, he returned the vehicle with parts scattered across the back seat, leaving it in worse condition than before.

The details of the mechanic and business is listed in attached screenshot of complaint by another customer who posted it in December of 2024 in attached in Yelp.

Dealer mechanic, despite promising to refund the money that same month, he has yet to follow through. Each week, he assured the refund would be processed, but it never happened. When I try to see him, even after making an appointment, taking time off from work, he is not there.

It has come to light that this same dealer has had a history of customer complaints regarding deceptive business practices. The business is owned by an immigrant from Iran, a Shia Muslim.

I’ve filed a complaint with BBB and have thought of trying small claims court but I can’t even get hold of the guy. Even when I make appointment to see the guy, the guy simply runs away and the dealer keep on assuring me that he will be there next time.

Here are sample complaints from Yelp and rest of Internet:

  1. December 20, 2024 Ricky R., Georgia

MECHANIC ALAN ORTEGA AT SMZ AUTO STOLE $2,600.00 from me for a truck I wanted to get fixed! DIDN’T GET ANYTHING FIXED. And also had my truck impounded. And wants me to pay to get it out of impound. ($1,800.00) and counting. Save your hard earned money and move along. Alan Ortega is a thief. Short Hispanic old male with grey hair.

  1. July 6, 2024 Sincere J

This company has had my car since march 18 th for radiator replace and the tech here has wasted $4000 and still haven’t replaced my radiator


RickyR.complaint.2024.december
RickyR.complaint.2024.december1308×161 46.1 KB

ll, www.smzautoimport.com, 10775 Houze Rd, Roswell, GA 30076

2

Are you seeking help or advice?

Or are you just warning others?

3

Both. Would be nice to get money back but each time I’m there, the guy isn’t there.

It also sucks to know that the guy is still doing it to other people in Atlanta/Roswell area.

Filed a complaint with BBB.

4

The BBB is close to useless. Instead of relying on that group–which has ZERO punitive power–you would be better-served by filing a complaint with the Office of Consumer Affairs. In some states, this operates on.the county level, and in other states, it is a state agency. In both cases, they can file a court case for you. The BBB cannot take legal action on your behalf, and as a result, the BBB is not likely to be of any help.

1 Like
5

OK, let me contact them. I thought of going to small claims court but the guy is never there and/or simply runs away so it’s difficult to even serve him a small claims court writ.

Thanks.

6

I’m not sure why you’re posting this here. It’s just an online discussion board. If you just want to basically complain and “warn” people in your local area about a local business I’d say to look up the “Nextdoor” app. It will be limited to your locality, and you’ll find plenty of people talking businesses up or down.

If you want some way to address your issues, look up the “small claims” legal process in your area.

Venting to a general auto discussion board won’t do you or anyone else any good.

2 Likes
7

+1
As a moderator on Nextdoor, I can attest that the site’s main function has to do with praising, or more often, slamming local businesses

8

Interesting! Nextdoor is a weird little planet. Useful in many ways for local info. And in other just a weird b**** fest about petty little things. I stop into my area’s most days to see if there are traffic tie-ups or new local things going on that you won’t hear about on the news. But I have to ignore most of it!

But in the end, one thing it is useful for is getting the “dirt” on local businesses of various kinds.

9

OK, thanks for the info! Will post there too but I’m also going to file a report with Consumer Affairs division for my state. Thank you!

10

Thank you. Appreciate the education.

11

I can attest that there is a LOT of truly bizarre stuff on Nextdoor. Some days, I feel like I’m playing whack-a-mole with the irrationally negative posters and the conspiracy theorists. Delete, delete, delete


1 Like
12

That Nextdoor thing must be a northern thing or something, I had never heard of it until this forum and I did the app thing and it was pretty blank around me, and with all the money my new next door neighbor has been putting in his house and what not (WAY over built now) that someone, good or bad, would have said something by now
 lol


Back to the OP, sounds like you need to get the courts involved somehow, probably like Mr VDCdriver said


Sorry Carolyn, thanks for the edit
 :blush:

13

Why don’t you simply hire a lawyer to get your money back?

14

Well, I guess, Orlando is north of Miami😀

Unfortunately Nextdoor does seem to be a lot of “get off my lawn” posts.

1 Like
15


 and a lot of irrational–often non-comprehendible–posts.
Delete, delete, delete


1 Like
16

Just the retaining fee for a lawyer would cost more than that.

Tester

1 Like
17

Time to look into small claims court.

18

OK maybe not used in my area
 lol

19

Yes, that is another possibility. And, if the mechanic doesn’t show-up for the Small Claims Court session, the OP will win–by default.

20

You find a lawyer to take the case on a contingency basis. No retainer.