After Dark Automotive — Local services in Gibsonville

AfterDark Automotive and Towing I had originally made a review about them but the owner agreed to email me my estimate if I deleted my reviews! Well, its been nothing but issues with them and my car is still not completely fixed so people deserve to know!!*

AfterDark Automotive and Towing located in Gibsonville, NC

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. They are dishonest, unprofessional, and took advantage of me knowing I am a single mom that was just trying to get an estimate for help with my car repairs.

Here’s what happened: I specifically requested an estimate in writing (with a letterhead) so I could apply for assistance through social services. I was assured multiple times that I would receive one. Instead, without my consent, they went ahead and did repairs I never approved. Days later I was suddenly told my car was “fixed” when all I had asked for was an estimate. I asked every day for a week for an estimate to be emailed to me and was told everyday one would be emailed to me! Just to ultimately speak with the owner Friday for him to back track saying they dont give estimates!

I was then told the cost was $735 – with no estimate ever provided beforehand. When I pushed back, the owner changed his story multiple times. First it was $600 labor, then he claimed it was a “diagnostic fee,” then refused to release my car unless I paid. He flat-out held my car hostage.

When I went to pick it up, after finally getting all the money together (which took about 3 weeks!!!!) because i was having to pay for rides to and from work, we actually caught an employee sitting in my car clearing the check-engine codes and was not even going to inform me. I have photo and video proof. If my friend hadn’t stepped outside, they would have never told me! That tells you everything about how shady this operation is. And now the owner is trying to deny that anyone was in my car deleting the codes when I came to pick my car up, yet then why was my car left there yet another day after I paid in full? Not to mention, I have photos and a video of the man in my car with the reader hooked up and had already deleted the code before we walked up and caught him!

Even worse, the car still has issues. The check engine light came right back on, it’s not running properly, and I even had to buy a new battery days after getting it back (something that wasn’t an issue before). So much for being “fixed.”

He also admitted to me over the phone he would send an estimate but then back tracked his story saying he doesn't give estimates – and ultimately refused to even send me a bill or anything until i deleted of my reviews. He only finally sent me a bill after I deleted reviews, which tells you exactly how manipulative this business is.

Bottom line: This shop lied to me, trapped me with a bill I never agreed to, and returned my car still broken. They take advantage of vulnerable people and hide behind excuses.

Do yourself a favor – DO NOT take your car here. They are scam artists, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to go...

Because there seemed to be a misunderstanding in a reply from the owner, I am reposting this review to clarify exactly what happened, and where. I had my minivan picked up from Exxon, at 2200 Golden Gate Drive, in Greensboro, and had it towed to my apartment so I could replace the idle air control valve myself, instead of paying Exxon to do it. The tow truck driver parked his rollback in the parking lot next door, even though there was plenty of room in the Exxon parking lot. He never asked the condition of the van or asked if it was safe to drive, which it is not, or I wouldn't not have had it towed. He attempted to drive the van across the Exxon parking lot, through the gas pump area, down the street and into the parking lot where his rollback was. This was extremely unsafe, because as soon as you start the van and put it in gear, it immediately revs extremely high and takes off. As stated, the whole time he was driving it, it was revving extremely high, making horrible noises and blowing black smoke out the back. I am in a wheelchair and have put a lot of time and money into this van to keep it safe and dependable, only to have them try to tear it up with their negligence. I have everything that happened, on multiple cameras, including my phone camera. I have it recorded on my dash cam, which records forwards, backwards and records audio. Exxon also has footage of what he did and there are multiple customers and employees that saw everything. After recording him attempting drive my van up onto the rollback, nearly hitting the back of the cab and sliding backwards several times, After seeing that I was recording everything that happened, the driver came over to me, attempting to defend what he had done, saying that he never saw a vehicle do anything like that. Among his other negligence, attempting to drive the van up on the rollback was so violent, the radio in my van was partially out of the dashboard and he badly scratched my front driver's side hubcap. If he had asked about the condition of the van, when he went to get the keys, this never would have happened. As stated in my previous review, After Dark Automotive will be contacted by an attorney. That said, I do appreciate the fact that he parked my van where I asked him to at my apartment, facing the right direction so other vehicles wouldn't park to where I couldn't get my...

These guys saved me when no one else would. Stranded in the middle of nowhere on my way back from a distant job training. Miles from my home and scared I would be out there all night...thankfully my insurance reached out to Afterdark, and they took my call immediately and were there over an hour before the insurance's ETA. The driver was the most polite and reassuring professional I have ever met. In a time of great distress, I was immediately made at ease. My car got to a shop right by my house, and I got home safely. I have had a lot of bad luck with vehicles in my life, so I have called for a ton of roadside services. When I say this service is the best out of the thousands I have encountered, I mean it. Above and beyond the job description and so much more. In a time of panic and worry, it was lifesaving to be immediately put at ease. If I could rate 100 stars I would, and I rarely even rate 5 stars. I have requested this location with my insurance to be my top pick for any future assistance, because I will know that real help is on the way, and I don't have to...