Real life stories - from your neighbors.
This domain name would be for sale, but we know as well as you do that nobody in his right mind would want anything to do with the decaying sludge that owns the associated business.
At this point, we're considering posting some good, honest-to-goodness stories about the collective filth that calls itself Fast Freddies Discount Auto Plaza. Hey, considering I got shafted for thousands of dollars worth of work (including web design right here that I had to take down), I figured if I had to pay for a year's hosting and registration, we might as well notify the public, right? That is, of course, the remainder of the local public that isn't aware of these guys yet.
That's Freddie for Ya
"I live in Charlevoix and my car broke down after taking my dad to a beach bum's game in TC for father's day. I was trying to make it to Traverse Motors, but had to stop a few blocks shy of there due to a terrible sound coming from my passenger rear tire (ends up my Saab* had the emergency brake boot fall off for no reason and it destroyed my back brakes and a few other things toward the back end of my car). Anyway, it was a Sunday night when all this happened, and I wanted to talk to Traverse Motors before having it towed there to see if they by chance did their own towing. I called Traverse Motors on Monday morning and talked to the operator. She informed me that Traverse Motors doesn't do towing, and she told me to just call any tow service and have it towed to them. After I already called Fast Freddie's Towing, after picking the first tow company that I saw, I got a call from the service guy at Traverse Motors who informed me that I was actually not supposed to call my own tow company, but was rather supposed to call my insurance company. Fast Freddie's was already on their way to pick up the keys from Traverse Motors where I had left them in the overnight drop box so I could keep my car locked and secure where it had broke down until someone could tow it. Anyway, after getting my car back, I realized within a couple hours that my rain sensor was missing off from the top of my windshield from behind the rear view mirror. The wiring that would have been hanging down from where the actual sensor clips onto the car was tucked up under the ceiling liner of my car. Someone obviously tucked the wiring under the lining in hopes it wouldn't be noticed right away. I know every single scratch, knick, and mark on my vehicle, and I inspect my vehicle everyday...especially when I have it parked somewhere where other cars could possibly ding it up, or after having service done. If my sensor had fallen off my windshield due to heat, the sensor would either still be connected to the wiring and would be dangling from behind my rear view mirror, or it would be somewhere in my car. It was neither dangling from behind the rear view mirror, and after searching my car relentlessly, was no where to be found. I decided I was going to call Fast Freddie's just to see if maybe they saw the piece dangling or on the ground and put it somewhere in my car that I did not notice. Instead of looking up Fast Freddie's number on my phone real quick, I decided to look it up online because I was already on my computer. When I did this, the first website that popped up for them was this website talking about how they have screwed people over. Needless to say my stomach tied in knots and I got a large lump in my throat coupled with extreme rage! Wish I would have seen this website before I let them touch my car!!!! When I called Freddie himself and confronted him about the situation, he kept acting like he didn't even know what a rain sensor was. He also acted like he couldn't hear me (I wonder why? (sarcasm)), and he kept saying "The rain sensor off from the side of the door?" Since when do they put rain sensors on doors? This guy owns a towing company, a garage, and sells used cars, but he doesn't know what a rain sensor is, and that they are located on the windshield? I am a 27-year-old female who doesn't own a towing company, a garage, or sell used cars, and I know what a rain sensor is and where they are located! Needless to say I learned my lesson the hard way! Next time I let someone touch my car, I'm doing some research first!"
- R.T., Charlevoix
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That's Freddie for Ya
"Wow, I am cracking up at this site. Good job! This guy is known around town, but for the wrong reasons. I own a local auto accessories store and we held a car show a few years ago. Freddie was caught during the show, wandering around and handing out his card to my customers, telling them that he also does detailing. He was just down the road from me on Barlow and we had to fix four cars that they "detailed" as there was so much water left in the vehicles after they did the work. The floors were soaked so badly that when you pushed on the carpet the water actually pooled up on the surface.
"It's a shame that so many people have been burned by this guy and his business. That's why I am laughing that you have gone ahead and made this web site. I couldn't even imagine if someone made one like this about my company. I would be crushed. Keep up the good work - I am spreading the word on this web site so hopefully nobody else in T.C. gets stuck by this clown."
- B.M., Traverse City
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More Information
"I love your site! It is so funny. That guy is such a scumbag. I have some more information for you. Freddie and the rest of his scum bag clan was literally run out of Detroit before they were killed because of their antics down there. Now they are up in Northern Michigan, polluting our city. They are like cancer on any society they choose to live in. One of the worst parts about them is they seem like the nicest guys in the world that would do anything to help anybody out, and they seem so sincere (knowing all along that they are screwing you from behind DRY). I know several people they have just COMPLETELY SCREWED OVER.
"The thing is this is not Detroit and the word is traveling fast that FREDDY is a dirt bag. The best thing people can do is write letters or call BOB COONEY at the prosecutors office. He is the assistant Prosecutor and he deals with civil law, where something illegal has occurred, and he is a shark. The thing that is going to get to FREDDIE is all the little things he has been doing to break the law, ie does he have licensed mechanics wrenching on cars? Does he have all his business permits to be operating? Is he doing all his billing correctly? Do his drivers have the correct licenses to be driving tow trucks? Does he have the right license to be selling the amount of cars he has been at his lot on 8th st? There are laws in the state of Michigan on how many cars can be sold by one person if they don't have the permit to be an auto dealer and I thought he was supposed to be a garage - yet I always see different cars for sale when I drive by there. There is a term that is used in the auto business called "curbstoning" and it is exactly what he is doing - buying POS cars or getting them from whatever sources he can, dumping a couple hundred bucks into them and then selling them, and selling all the problems that go along with it.
"The more calls and complaints that Cooney gets, the more he will pursue, but if he does not know this is going on he can't do anything about it. I encourage everyone that has ever dealt with these crooks to contact and file a complaint with him, and sooner or later it will get taken care of. Another good avenue is the State attorney General. If the state attorney general is bombarded with complaints they will contact COONEY and that really will light a fire under COONEY's ass to do something. FREDDY IS NOT THE TYPE OF LOW LIFE SCUMBAG WE WANT LIVING OR RUNNING A BUSINESS IN TRAVERSE CITY, OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER. HE PREYS OFF PEOPLE AND HE IS VERY GOOD AT IT."
- C.D., Traverse City
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Wow
"I can not believe that we are not the only ones who have gone through this with Fast or should I say SLOW Freddy. We got a low quote and the price kept going up, though it was still lower then the dealerships. Our van was the only vehicle that we could fit our whole family in. (we have five kids). My husband would call everyday to see how things were coming along with our van, and everyday it was the same story. The part should be here on the late truck, oh it didn't come in it should be here tomorrow morning. Then it was they sent us the wrong part we had to send it back. I'll call you back tomorrow. He would NEVER call us back! This went on for almost a month until he sent it to another auto shop to be fixed. He said there was some welding that needed to be done and he didn't do welding in his shop....What? You couldn't have figured this out a little sooner?? My husband called the other mechanic paid for the parts and labor and we had our van back with in 48 hours. When we got our vehicle back there were dirty greasy finger prints on both visors all over the drivers side door and on the dash board...uggg...It also smells like someone left the windows down in a ran storm! We will not be asking for the services of SLOW Freddy ever again."
- R.G., Traverse City
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"One of our toolmen told me to check out the site. I have a story to share abot our mutual friend. Fred came in one day and identified himself and said that he'd tow anything locally for $25. I figured that a tow is a tow, so I gave him a chance. Of course, soon the price started going up, but he was still lower than the norm, so I stuck with him.
"It wasn't long before I heard that Fred was talking to customers I'd set him up with for tows and was letting them know that he could do the repairs cheaper than for what I'd quoted. I received word that he had begun towing vehicles directly to his garage instead of mine. Of course, I stopped sending him tows, but the damage was done.
"A little while later, a vehicle came into our shop. This young kid who had just returned from service in the Army had purchased a vehicle from Fast Freddies, and it was having trouble. One of my technicians looked under the vehicle and was shocked at how damaged it was. He said immediately that it would be impossible to fix the brake lines or even put it up on a hoist, let alone put it back together - it was too unsafe. The kid was in tears, saying he had a young family to support and he'd been so happy to get a car.
"While I can't prove it, my technician said that what made sense to him was that someone must have called Fast Freddies to have the vehicle towed to the junkyard, and Fred towed it back to his shop and put a couple hundred bucks into it to keep it running long enough to sell it."
- T.B., Grand Traverse Automotive Repair*
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"This correspondence is to express my deep concern in regards to Fast Freddies. My name is Sarah*. I am a single mother of two young boys. I am a victim of Fast Freddie’s. I am absolutely disgusted and furthermore dismayed in regards to the work ethic or lack thereof. I have a Chevy Blazer* that I bought here to Traverse City, Michigan from out west. My head gaskets blew and I had my truck towed to Fast Freddies (Fast Freddies also towed my truck).
"After 14 days of being car less and getting the run around from Freddie himself my truck was finished, but not without problems. I had to bring my truck back 5 different time to have the choke adjusted. I had another mechanic look at my engine and much to my dismay hoses wires etc were not re-attached and well my engine blew. When I notified Fast Freddie …. In addition, had my Blazer towed back to the shop I was told to go F*$%K myself. I was and still am disgusted. Again, I was left car less no thanks to the scum that calls themselves Fast Freddies.
"As a single mother, I was unable to have my truck repaired. These scumbags need to be stopped, they are disgusting. Tonight at a Trojans Football Meeting, I had the unpleasure of running into Freddie and his scumbag son Tyler… I overheard a conversation of Freddie saying how a woman is complaining they will not give her her car back.
What the hell is going on at that shop? Can we start a class action lawsuit?? Please call me so we can talk further…."
- B.C., Traverse City
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Doing His Part to Keep Gas Prices High
"Fred was arrested about 3 weeks ago for writing bad checks. He was also kicked off the peninsula fire dept, after he was filling his vehicles up off of their fuel tanks and got caught. That was about 2 years ago. Bob* is the head guy on the peninsula fire dept, I'm sure he would fill you in on the rest. He has also been taken off of the central dispatch rotation due to insurance issues.
"I don't have any personal dealings with Fred, but I have heard several stories from others. I will send some your way when I can. Have fun, and looking forward to seeing site updates."
- D.J., Twin Bay Towing*
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And He Lost His Place in Traverse
"Almost a month ago the ball joint went out on my car. The guy who stopped to help told me he knew of a towing service his body shop works with. Lo and behold - it was Fast Freddies. My car towed to the garage - and $500 was my cost for repairs + towing. Recently, my car has been having problems - I drove it to a car garage and the guy told me it sounded like it was a problem with the transmission.
"Not wanting to accept it could be something as serious as that, I just figured
I'd go get an oil change and maybe that would solve the problem.
I ended up having to have tons of transmission fluid put in my car and was told
I have a transmission leak.
"At this time, still not aware Fast Freddies was a con - I drove my car there to see if
he could give me an estimate on how much it would cost to fix the leak.
He sent me to an transmission garage he claims he has do his transmission work.
They told me the leak was caused from work I had on the ball joint!!
I told them Fast Freddies was the one who did the ball joint work - so the mechanic called
him and told him about it and it he wanted to warranty it.
Fast Freddie told the mechanic to have me bring my car back to him.
When I got there, there was a sign on the front door that read "Gone Until Noon" (this was around 11:15 AM)
He knew I was coming right over - the mechanic told him I was!!!!
Avoidance??
Definitely!!
"I wasn't going to wait around 45 (probably even more) minutes until noon - I had things to do, so I left.
The following morning I went back there.
He behaved so innocent - greeting me with the guy had called and that he had ordered the part.
Obviously a lie - because he then asked me for the make, year, model, etc. took my name and number and
said he should have the part in by noon.
This was 9:30 AM and I am writing this email @ 5:30 PM - still no call!!
I asked him if I had to pay for it - he said no.
All this over a $8 dollar part!! He made it a point to tell me it was a $8 part and would be a hour 1/2 job!
What a jerk!!!!"
posted follow-up:
"Thx for your reply and letting me know you received my email.
I just filed a complaint against them today with the Secretary Of State.
Has anyone else done this?
"I am not letting the con artist get away with ripping off myself and others!!
I have been letting everyone and anyone know about how much of a con he is."
- B.M., Traverse City
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"I know of the lawyer that helped Freddie out of his theft charges at the Peninsula Fire Dept. I'm not sure why he would help Freddie but then again he is a lawyer.
"After Fast Freddies worked on my Aurora* it was acting up worse then before. I had another mechanic look at it and they said that several hoses were not hooked back up after they worked on it. The motor in my car blew on the way to work and I found out later that the drive shaft fell off!! I had no car for two weeks and it turns out there is a hole in the gas tank now too. The car is from Arizona* and it definately was not caused by rust! It looks to the mechanic like it was done on purpose or they did it by accident and didnt tell me.
"Talking to the laywer I found out that the ownership of the company keeps getting switched back and forth between Freddie's son and wife for whatever legal purposes. Freddie's name is never on any of the paperwork. He is probably wanted or something.
"I'm going to file a law suit against them at least for my head gasket. If only everyone in town could find out how much of a loser this guy is!!"
- C.T., Traverse City
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* Both personal names and company names, as well as vehicle makes and models and locations, have been altered to protect the identities of the actual individuals.