High Tech Auto

Review: On August 27th, 2014 my car's transmission broke down. I contacted High Tech Auto in Aliso Viejo, CA. Spoke with [redacted] whom is the owner of this business. She agreed to and assured me that while the car was being diagnosed she would have a loaner car available (which is the only reason I took it here). Once the car was dropped off by AAA towing that same day, I verbally agreed to have the car diagnosed and requested an estimate invoice which I never received. I never received the loaner car nor a detailed invoice of work done. When [redacted], the owner, contacted me saying the transmission was bad she only mentioned the diagnostic fee of $70. I never signed an estimate for repair or authorized additional work since I decided to not fix the car. The shop then took it upon themselves to take down the transmission and open it without my written consent or authorization. When I wanted to pick up the car, [redacted] closed her business earlier than regular business hours multiple times. Avoiding my calls and acting in a very unprofessional way she then stated that the total cost of the car would be $420, including manual labor for taking down the transmission to send it off to another location to open it and diagnose according to her. When I requested a detailed invoice, she could not provide any paperwork for the location where it was done or any error codes indicating what was wrong with the transmission. I never signed or authorized for manual labor of $370, I only verbally asked for an estimate and diagnostic test which costs $70. When she finally agreed to meet me to pay after many attempts, she requested cash only. I had partial payment cash and the rest on a visa card and she would not accept it and kept my car locked in her shop for the remaining days adding a daily storage fee until I contacted the sheriff's department to help me get the car out. She printed an invoice including for storage fee of $1300 but then agreed to accept $500 cash to release the car on 09/20Desired Settlement: I need to be refunded $500 cash for the unauthorized service done without a written consent or invoice, lack of professionalism and unnecesary stress caused by this business that treats customers poorly and threatens to keep vehicles and charge outrageous storage fees.