Let me just say this was an absolutely horrible experience from start to finish. I don't want to exaggerate or be dramatic, but I want to strongly encourage you to take your business elsewhere. If you're already dealing with the stress of a car accident, the last thing you need is a shop that adds more stress, confusion, and pressure to an already difficult time.
Here's exactly what happened:
I chose Hugh's Body Shop after getting several quotes. On the surface, their shop looked clean and professional, and although they were the most expensive, I figured quality would justify the price. Unfortunately, that assumption could not have been more wrong.
From the beginning, I explained clearly that I wanted to keep costs down by handling all the interior work myself -- things like reinstalling the seats, airbags, seat belts, and trim. I only needed them to handle the door and corner of the cab. The quote I was given was high but still within reason, so I agreed and scheduled a drop-off date about a month out.
After dropping off my truck, communication and timelines completely fell apart. A job that was supposed to take a couple of weeks turned into months. Every time I checked in, I was told "just a little longer," but progress was always delayed.
When I finally went to pick up my truck, I was shocked to find a significant upcharge added to the original agreed-upon price. When I questioned it, Jared reviewed the charges and admitted to me that I had a point -- so he initially agreed I could pay the original quoted amount. But when I handed him the check, he refused to give me my keys unless I paid the extra balance.
That kind of behavior -- holding my property until I paid more than we agreed on -- felt like bullying and intimidation. I was stunned and just wanted my vehicle back, so I reluctantly paid the additional amount.
The justification for the extra charge was "additional frame time." But I had personally measured and photographed my truck's frame before leaving it with them, and when I got it back, nothing was different except a bit of spray paint. On top of that, there were new issues with my truck that were not part of the original damage. Jared told me in person that he'd fix those, but when I followed up by phone, he refused.
This experience left me extremely disappointed and concerned for others. What looks like a reputable business seems to be run by someone unprofessional, dishonest, and unwilling to stand by their word.
Please -- learn from my mistake. There are plenty of honest, competent shops out there. I truly regret trusting Hugh's Body Shop with my vehicle.
Edit/Response: Thank you Jared for getting back with me on google review. A call or email would have been fine, but the last time we spoke, you ended the call abruptly and said, “Thank you for your business, but no thank you, I don’t want it anymore.” I’m not asking for any additional business — only that the issues created during the repair be addressed.
I would still appreciate it if you could email me the before-and-after photos you mentioned, especially showing the area with the missing bed bracket and paint. Please don’t hang up if you call again; I’m only trying to resolve this professionally.
I’ll admit I may be emotionally invested in this situation, but that’s only because I trusted your shop and felt let down. I’ve worked in the automotive field for years and know how easily customers can be taken advantage of — that’s why I’m speaking up.