Zapata's Truck Repair

Complaint Filed Against: *** Zapata - Zapatas Truck repair DOES NOT HAVE A CA BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR LICENSE

License Number: *** CANCELLED

Address (Number and Street): ***.

City: SACRAMENTO

State: CA

Zip Code: 9582

Phone Number (8AM-5PM): ***
Larry purchased an International Diesel (White Truck) from *** Zapata about a year and a half ago. Since then, he has been caught in an absolute nightmare of a power tripping, fraudulent mechanics, bazaar behavior, and extortionist business practices. After paying for the truck (between $15,000 and $17,000 cash and trade in), the truck did not run when initially purchased, after being promised it did, and continued to require major repairs. He failed to provide written estimates and the truck was in his shop for months before I could get it out. Then, when I was finally able to get it out, multiple times, only to have it break down immediately and require additional repairs. He would not provide a written estimate or invoice and billed me repeatedly, and after paying thousands of dollars in repairs, the whole thing would start over again (estimated additional $12,000 in additional repairs). Recently, *** arranged for me to drive one of his trucks (Blue Truck), to offer some relief and a solution to not being able to work my white truck. During this time, he refused to repair my truck, in order to keep me working for him. When I requested my truck be completed and released, he came and took his truck back containing my personal belongings (he will not return them). Additionally, he has stolen a trailer belonging to a friend of mine, and *** refuses to return it (*** hired a driver, attached to empty 45' flatbed trailer, to take a refer trailer to Reno. The driver disconnected the flatbed, hauled the refer to Reno, and upon returning to pick up the flatbed *** had move it, hid it, and refuses to release it until *** pays $6,200). He falsely claims that I still owe him $6,200 for loads hauled. I do not, that is actually the amount HE OWES me for hauling loads, insane! Regardless, *** does not claim that I owe him money for repairs. However, I claim that he still owes me for multiple repairs that were paid for and never completed or invoiced. The truck is currently not running, he will not release it, and has moved it from the Bradshaw Rd location. I do not know where my truck, belongings, or friends’ trailer is, and he refuses to tell me. Multiple people have contacted him to negotiate the release of my truck, belongings, and trailer, only to be met with hostility. Additionally, the owner of the trailer has made repeated attempts to get his trailer back and has been faced with yelling hostility and the option of paying $1,000 to fix the landing gear and the $6,200. This is nuts, the landing gear actually does need to be fixed, BUT THIS IS EXTORTION. *** has recently purchased several trucks planning to expand his trucking company and has been unable to insure them. He has asked me to put them on my trucking company insurance, and I think that because I refused, he is retaliating by unlawfully holding my truck, belongings, and the trailer. This is a pattern of behavior that has a long history (see Revdex.com report 2016) and he has done the same thing regarding not providing written estimates or invoices, to several people I know. I would be more than happy to provide names and contact information of the person who owns the 45' trailer, the other driver, and of people who can substantiate this report, upon request. *** has been operating his business, and has moved several locations over the last couple of years, since moving from Arbuckle Ca. (*** - CANCELLED) BUSINESS ADDRESSES: ***t *** has been operating without a BAR License, and that no one has oversight of his shops, I have come to have some additional concerns regarding environmental practices that I witnessed, at each of his shops over time. I have seen his employees draining oil from big rigs directly onto the ground, spilling about 15 gallons of gasoline (from my - *** - Jeep gas pump replacement) directly onto the ground, allowing coolant to drain onto ground, allowing motors/pumps to sit on the ground and drain, etc.... I am considering also filling a report with California EPA. *** has a substantial history of filing Mechanic/Storage Liens on equipment that he has failed to repair, claiming storage of abandoned vehicle/equipment. I am also considering contacting the California DMV Fraudulent Lien division and giving them a heads up in case that is what he is currently doing.