Unauthorized Work, Inflated Bills, and Questionable Business Practices

This page details a serious issue of unauthorized work and coercive billing practices experienced at Kendrick Radiator & Automotive located at 2486 Moreland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA.

The Initial Agreement: A $125 Quote

We contacted Kendrick Radiator on the phone and spoke with a staff member named Shirley. We requested a specific service: to have a loose radiator cleaned and pressure tested. Shirley provided a clear, verbal quote of $125.00 for this work. Our instructions were explicit: CLEAN AND TEST ONLY—NO REPAIRS.

The Shock: A $750 Unauthorized Bill

Two days later, upon checking the status, our driver was informed that the bill was approximately $750.00 for extensive repairs.

• We never received a call for authorization.

• We never signed any agreement for repairs.

• The work performed was $625.00 more than the quoted price.

The Problem: Refusal to Release Property & Suspicious Cash Demands

When we called to dispute the unauthorized work, Shirley stated she would contact Mr. Kendrick. The shop then offered a settlement that raises serious questions about their business ethics:

• The Demand: Mr. Kendrick offered to accept $480.00 instead of the full $750.00.

• The Catch: This massive discount of $270.00 was only available if paid in cash.

We find the demand for a cash-only transaction with such a deep discount highly suspicious. It leads us to believe the intent may have been to operate outside of standard financial channels, potentially avoiding payment of state, county, and federal taxes.

Conflict of Interest: City of Atlanta Contract

Shirley informed us that Kendrick Radiator has a contract with the City of Atlanta to repair radiators for a government entity. It is concerning that a company doing work for the public sector appears to engage in practices that may involve tax avoidance with private customers.

The Current Standoff (Coercion)

We offered to pay for the initial quote and two hours of labor (for a fair total of $325.00), but the shop is unwilling to compromise. Kendrick Radiator is now holding our property hostage, refusing to release the radiator unless we pay the overinflated, unauthorized amount of $480.00 cash.

Our takeaway is simple: Do not risk having your property seized and your bill inflated with unauthorized repairs. Demand a written quote for everything and be wary of any business that offers suspicious cash-only discounts.

If you've been scammed by Kendrick Radiator, the following links will help you spread the word and help protect others from being cheated.