Bean Auto Services & SNL Group / Lower Hutt

The owner Atish is a standard stitch up. I got my vehicle 'fixed' by Bean Autos following an accident with a road sign. The front including the bumper, the radiator, A/C unit etc. needed to be replaced. I got a quote from Bean and MIDAS next door, even though MIDAS quoted a smaller amount by a little bit I went… with Bean because my car was already there.

After numerous delays and excuses as to why the car wasn't ready, it was finally ready to be picked up. I paid for the fix and picked up my car. After taking a closer look, I noticed that the bumper protruded more than before and realised that it was the wrong model bumper and the colour didn't match the colour of the rest of the car.

When I asked Atish about the bumper, he said that the quote says the replacement with a new bumper, not the same model bumper. This was such a SILLY response! And the colour will take a few days to match as the paint will "settle in". This was obviously BS!! He started making excuses and yelling at me over the phone. Only after telling him I will raise this with the disputes council, he told me that he would fix it. I dropped my car off and picked it up some time later. A year later and the paint has started chipping off the front bumper.

Also a year later, the car started overheating. When I took it to a different auto mechanic. The radiator that Atish put in started leaking and needed to be replaced again! He said that, the person who previously put in the radiator put in a second hand one probably from the scrappies . So I had to replace the radiator once again!! I have had to foot the bill myself and would not recommend anyone go to Bean !!"

I happened to ask for recommended Hutt Valley Mechanics on an Internet Message Board, and Bean Auto Services' name came up several times. I was keen to investigate them for my repair, as other local workshops (over the phone) told me to… get an Auto Electrician to rule out the ignition system (distributor) before anything else (the car had intermittent starting). So, when I saw that Bean did auto electrical, as well as full mechanical repairs, I thought PERFECT, exactly what I need! I made the call, and didn't get through, but received a call back from Atish within 6 or 7 minutes, thanks to his Caller ID (impressive service already, and the FIRST time any tradesman has ever done that for me).

As it happens, Atish allowed me to come down and see him at his workshop, on the same day as my phone call, to run a few diagnostics on the car, but with no luck. The challenge was that with the car starting normally at that moment, we needed the car NOT to start in order to trace the fault. To get around the issue, Atish offered to do a call out for us at home (free of charge!) to run some tests, just as soon as the car happened to pick its moment not to start. A whole week later, the car (finally) stopped working. I called Atish, and he came to my place that night, after he'd finished work. He was then able to make a diagnosis (what a relief, some light at the end of the tunnel finally!). From there, the car was able to be put into Bean's workshop for repair the next morning.

I found Atish to be honest in his cost estimates (we indeed needed a new distributor and coil), his 'charge-out' (labour) rates are extremely competitive and he kept me informed of his progress in terms of tracking down parts, and in terms of when the Mazda would be ready. In other words, his communication was superb, and the repair was completed very quickly too - it only took one day and a bit.

There were no extras on the final bill. Atish does what he says, working on a 'no surprises' basis I'm sure. On the day I picked up the car and paid, Atish found out that I'd walked an hour from home to get to his workshop! His response to that was: "You should have told me and I would have come and picked you up!" No matter - it was a piping hot day, and the dog needed his stroll anyway. Finally, before leaving, Atish took the time to show me the old parts he'd replaced, answered some of my other random questions about the car, and helped me to understand his billing breakdown - all great stuff.

This whole process was always going to be a slightly hesitant one for me, especially because I already use a good mechanic, and suddenly here I am faced with using a workshop that I'm unfamiliar with. I needn't have worried, not by a long shot. I must reiterate that Atish was honest, approachable, and answered all of my questions with skill, depth and the utmost professionalism. I also note that this is perhaps a family business, where Atish's regulars are known to him on a first-name basis and vice versa. He takes time and care to build a strong rapport with his client base, and clearly they repay him through their strong loyalties towards his business.

I can't understand for a second why anyone would leave Bean Auto Services a 'No Cowboys' rating of 15% overall. Clearly, someone had an axe to grind, and it is a rating that should be treated as very much the exception to the rule.

Thank you, Atish, you can be extremely proud of what you're doing - it's obvious that your hard work, professionalism and workmanship has paid dividends. What's more, the Cronos is humming.

Keep it up!!!"