Service here is DISGUSTING!

The first time I had minor issues with my car starting in the morning I took it into Kmart Tyre & Auto Service in Innaloo SC within the next 2 days. I had called them on the phone and explained to them the problem with starting the car and requested that they inspect for the issue and regardless of the outcome that a service be done also.
It was necessary to coordinate friends & family members on this day with all of our fulltime working schedules to drop off / pick me up and get the car back home at the end of the day as they only open until 5:30pm and I work until 6pm.
After picking the car up for no charge, I spoke to the receptionist who informed me no problem with my starting the car had been obvious and it was then apparent that they had done no work at all – but had simply had the vehicle in their possession all day with no work done whatsoever.
A few weeks afterwards when my car continued to had this same issue and after a minor accident on the road – I again bit the bullet and took my car in to KTAS. No apology or explanation was offered as to why the service was never completed from the previous time.

After a “High Care” Service for $165.00 was requested – above a standard service – I was contacted partway through the day and informed that there was more work to be done – approx another $1000 worth. I made it abundantly clear to the mechanic that I was happy to get done and pay for any urgent work – or anything that was detrimental to the running of the car – and that other more minor issues (such as one of my windscreen wipers coming loose) could be put on hold.

He ran me through these options and I agreed to have several works done totaling $475.00.
As per the itemized invoice I received the notes detailed the following works needed to be done in the future; windscreen wipers need replacing, rear shock absorbers need replacing & that the idle control valve may be the cause of my previous issue with starting the car.
Only one week later was I driving along a major highway at 100km per hour and had my engine malfunction and my car cease to accelerate. After getting RAC out to have an inspection they informed me there was no water in the car and that it was overheating. I had to get my car towed home as it was Sunday and the next day, towed to Kmart Tyre & Auto.
After calling KTAS – they were confused and assured me a manager would call me back within 15minutes to work out what the best plan of action would be. I waited an hour and received no phone call so I called them back again – finally getting put through to the manager, Danny. He offered no apology, no explanation and said that the only thing to be done was to get the car brought into the workshop – which I promptly did.

Once my car was there Danny & another male mechanic looked over it and within 2 minutes could see the internal damage caused by the aforementioned minor accident. I questioned both mechanics as to why this damage was not mentioned to me, why the internal damage was not made note of, why they could not have detected the water leak / radiator leak / air conditioner damage etc all to met with blank stares and shrugs. I was informed that body damage “had nothing to do with them”.
I again expressed if there was any, even slight, risk of further damage / radiator damage from the physical damage that they could see – why I was not immediately informed of this.
Once again, not one apology or “Sorry for this inconvenience” was offered from either mechanic – simply quoting me another $1000 roughly in work that would need doing. So rude and cold was the manner of the staff here I had to take myself outside for a few moments as I was so upset at the way in which I was being treated.

After expressing to Danny that I had not been given one reason to leave my car in his hands to have these works done and that I wanted to have it taken to someone else, he simply stared back and me and went and parked my car outside the work area. Even as he handed back my keys he offered not one word of sympathy.

After taking it to another local mechanic I was given the following information; that the body damage was immediately apparent and that its consequential damage on the parts behind it – air conditioner condenser, radiator etc was so obvious it had dented in the front and had gone right through and even bulged at the back. I was told that even a week ago when KTAS inspected the vehicle it would have been obvious that the water level was very low as it had already been leaking at a small rate and had evaporated – leaving a small rust-looking coating on the parts behind it. In short, that the damage and / or potential for more damage was as plain as the nose on your face!

I am utterly dismayed by the attitude and customer service standards of all 3 staff members that I dealt with. All were rude, cold and offered no apology or sympathy towards neither my situation nor any heed for my feelings and trouble with my vehicle.
The damage was so evident that I think only pure negligence could have caused the staff not to notice this issue and as a result placed my life and fellow drivers lives at risk when I broke down in the middle of a 3 lane major highway.
No indication whatsoever was given to me that there was even a small or very slight chance of damage and as I explained to Danny – all that I knew about was the cosmetic damage – at no stage was I even informed there was internal damage.
No apologies, explanations, solutions or any positive comment was offered throughout my entire experience with them and not only will I not be returning but I will be making it very clear to all friends & family about the disgraceful service offered here.