Need advice badly

[kidkasha]

My 1999 Fleetwood Discovery 34Q. Has a Onan 6500 propane generator. Having a special need child the generator must run his air machine. It stopped putting out power, so I took it the RV sales and service. They worked on it all day and told me that is either the brushes or the circuit board and they did not have the parts. They only charges for one hour labor, and suggested that I take it to Cummins.

Cummins had the Motor Home for seven days before they looked at it. At first the young service advisor said it was going to cost me an 1 1/2 hours labor, after the analysis my charge was $190., and the rotor has to be replaced and it would be about $2100 with labor and discounts. The senior service adviser jumped in and said that you must also replace the stator which changed the estimate to about $3500. I asked to speak to the mechanic that did the work and told me I definitly need both replaced rotor and stator.

Not having the money I paid the $190. for the analysis and told them I would have to think about the money for a week or so and took the MH back. I was the $190. charge is good for 30 days.

The next day I called few places to see if there was after market parts and there was none. I then called another Cummins dealer to get the part numbers on the rotor and stator and asked how much it would cost to install, thinking it may be less of an expense. I was told that they only sold parts and was good enough to give 2 names of mechanics that left cards with him that work on generators. The first guy was mobile and far away and was cheap as he wanted travel charges and was not any different than Cummins.

The second guy’s shop was not too far from me and said he would give me 10% discount on the parts as he had an account with Cummins and would also do an analysis. It wound up it was not the circuit board, the brushes, rotor or the stator. It was a voltage regulator, it was replaced at the cost of $650. Cummins said they would give me my $190 back but I want more. I can stop my AMEX charge. They tried to rip me off.

What would you do???

[mgpassport]

Just so ya know, If you do need to replace rotor/stator always ways replace both as a set....

[pconroy328]

kidkasha wrote:
special need son was to indicate why it was urgent to repair generator.

I have one as well.
I assume you have backup systems?
Spare generator, or inverter just in case?

[Carlos___Ranae]

I missed the part on how you got them to reimburse you the $190.
I suggest you do an online complaint with the BBB. They keep track of those misdiagnosed instances.

[Dog_Folks]

kidkasha wrote:
I must repeat, The reason I mentioned special need son was to indicate why it was urgent to repair generator. his week I will make a last attempt to resolve, I want everyone to know I can get the AMEX charge recinded with justification I do not need them to OK it. When trying to contact regional office, I spoke to manager in another store trying locate to complain, and I told him my tale, he understood my displeasure, and asked me to complain, not for additional money but for the safety of the others that go in for service and should be careful to treat Motor Home community fairly. It's funny how some people read the situation completely different. By the way the $190.is less than 2 tankful of diesel

I must repeat: The urgency is yours alone and NOT relevant to the repair. There are things called "campgrounds" which have electricity and no one there needs a generator. There are also other options to provide generator power besides playing the "special needs" card with Cummins.

You said :" Cummins said they would give me my $190 back but I want more."

Why cancel notify AMEX if this Cummins will give you your money back???? Take it and move on for crying out loud.

I guess you do want more. Maybe the drama of a good "fight." Well, all I can say is; enjoy.

[Executive45]

Use the $190 towards a cheapie backup generator from Harbor Freight....:)..Dennis

[kidkasha]

I must repeat, The reason I mentioned special need son was to indicate why it was urgent to repair generator. his week I will make a last attempt to resolve, I want everyone to know I can get the AMEX charge recinded with justification I do not need them to OK it. When trying to contact regional office, I spoke to manager in another store trying locate to complain, and I told him my tale, he understood my displeasure, and asked me to complain, not for additional money but for the safety of the others that go in for service and should be careful to treat Motor Home community fairly. It's funny how some people read the situation completely different. By the way the $190.is less than 2 tankful of diesel

[creeper]

kidkasha wrote:
. Cummins said they would give me my $190 back but I want more. I can stop my AMEX charge. They tried to rip me off.

What would you do???

You want MORE? Like having them pay for your repair? They offered you a refund, which they don't have to do.

Why would you stop the AMEX charge? They offered to refund you, all you have to say is yes.

[Tinstar]

You could also let their headquarters know about it:

Cummins Address
Cummins Corporate Office Building 500 Jackson Street, Columbus, Indiana 47202

Customer service: 800-343-7357
CEOs: Tom Linebarger · Norman Thomas Linebarger

[Executive45]

kidkasha wrote:
Cummins said they would give me my $190 back but I want more. I can stop my AMEX charge. They tried to rip me off.

What would you do???

And THAT, my friend is why the country is in the shape it's in. GREED is what keeps the lawyers, the courts and high prices in demand...:S.

Go ahead, DEMAND more..see how fast that refund offer disappears off the table....Dennis

They did NOT try to "rip you off"! Read the fine print on the work order YOU signed. You paid for the mechanic to DIAGNOSE your issue. You paid for his time, not the estimate. An estimate is simply that, nothing more. Now if you had them do the work and they replaced the rotor and stator but it didn't fix the problem then you might have an issue. As it is you've got nothing.

I wish you well, as a handicapped person myself, it always irks me when someone plays that card...:M...Dennis

[Dachristianman]

My advice is for you to give us the name of the individual that fixed your generator....maybe more of us could use him. 🙂

[CarlGeo]

If the problem would have been diagnosed properly rather than guessing about the problem, there would be not issue. However, many people in positions of responsibility operate in this manner. And it creates many problems.
Just be thankful you got the second opinion, AND the Cummins dealer refunded your money.
NOW the lesson to be taken away from this is to ALWAYS get a second or maybe even a third opinion - especially when it comes to health care. Physicians are only human and can make honest (and sometimes maybe not honest) mistakes. It always helps to have another pair of eyes look at the problem!!
BE THANKFUL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED, and without overpaying!!!

[Kayteg1]

There is a reason why I stretch myself to DIY everything I can.
Experience as above is not that uncommon and more reputable brand you drive, more likely to happen.
I think all you can do is take $190 and leave the review on Yelp and similar.
Speculation in USA is perfectly legal thing to do.
Now think about those $30,000 surgeries if that will make you feel better.

[GMandJM]

Take the $190 and buy yourself a BIG gold star for having gotten that second opinion. You're a pretty smart cookie!

[newman_fulltime]

they are giving you your money back .They still pay the workers their wages so if anything they are in the hole now