What clients say about Ideal Auto Center in Bridgeview (IL)
Predatory and unethical business practices!
I’m filing this review to warn others about Ideal Auto Repair in Bridgeview, IL — a place apparently authorized by the Bridgeview Police Department to hold and release vehicles after accidents. What happened to my daughter was absolutely abusive and predatory.
After a car accident on Monday evening, my daughter’s vehicle was towed there. The next day, after obtaining a release form from the Bridgeview Police, we went to retrieve her car — only to find out they were demanding over $800 for less than 24 hours of holding. We were never informed of any fees beforehand, and she never authorized those excessive charges. She was still shaken and injured, and they took advantage of her vulnerable state.
The staff acted cold and dismissive, threatening that if she didn’t pay within 10 days, they would take ownership of the title, auction the car, and even “mark” her driver’s license, which is both false and unethical.
This kind of predatory behavior should not be tolerated, especially from a business working directly with the local police. They exploit people during moments of confusion and distress after accidents, showing zero integrity or compassion.
I will be reporting this case to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, and other authorities to ensure families are protected from this kind of exploitation.
Consumers, please be aware — this business preys on vulnerable people, and what happened to us is unacceptable.
I had a very bad experience with this towing company. I was overcharged $1,200 to move my car less than one mile, which is completely unreasonable and feels like price gouging. On top of that, the staff was rude, unprofessional, and dismissive when I asked for an explanation of the charges.
I understand towing services cost money, but this was excessive and the lack of respect made it even worse. I do not recommend this company and would advise others to be very careful before using their services
By the time you're reading this your probably to late as the police are probably the only one's towing any cars to this place. They charge me 1000 dollars just to get my vehicle out of the tow yard and before that they wouldn't even let me see my car or get a copy of the bill because they need the cash first before hand. They should be investigated for fraud or scamming people because even the police department I spoke with didn't know they were charging so much they assumed it was only 300 dollars. I wish the best of luck to anyone unfortunate enough to get put in this situation because these people are taking full advantage of someone's terrible circumstances.
Do not ever allow police to voluntarily use this place to tow your car if you can arrange towing another way. This place does not explain pricing and their prices are VERY HIGH. They will hold your car hostage unless you pay cash to get it and then charge storage fees until you can give them cash. They claim that they are given permission to repair your car when they are NOT. I can't believe that this place has not been reported to the Better Business Bureau. I hope you are lucky enough to read this review before using this company and getting ripped off.
You'll get ripped off at this place. Bad bad service with guy behind the desk is nothing but an arrogant money hungry noncomprehensive individual. He is very rude. Racist assumes things about individuals and their driving. When he's nowhere in sight when the accident happened. He tried keeping a guy's car by asking for the title to reduce the price by $400. When it's accumulating a $110 per day. The guy has no money. He's trying to work out a deal with this guy. He owes 2000 right now. after one month. If he doesn't pick up the car, it'll be 4500 he'll get tickets from the village of Bridgeview. The guy's car is a total loss and nothing is getting resolved. Won't even let the guy make a big deposit. And then payments for the rest of what's accumulated since 4days ago. He stands no chance to pick up the car. Without the money, so obviously it's gonna be there more than a month with or without the title.
If I could give ZERO stars, I would. This company is ridiculously OVERPRICED, with fees on top of fees that make no sense. The customer service is horrendous—front desk staff are rude and dismissive, making the whole experience worse. It's no surprise that in my opinion this company stays in business only thanks to the Bridgeview Police. They don’t care about their customers, only exploiting them for profit. Save yourself the hassle and find another towing company. This one’s a nightmare, and I’ll never use them again.
If I can give zero star I would as this place is a scam and most likely only in business to extort money on behalf of the city of Bridgeview. If you are ever in an accident DO NOT let the city tow it drive it off to the side. $1200 to get my car out after only being there overnight. $150 to move it out the lot to get it towed elsewhere. This is a scam and I will do everything in my power to report it to the city, news outlets and the BBB. Companies as unethical as this need to be closed. To top it off they are disrespectful and rude
If I could leave 0 stars I would. This place is disgusting. They are extremely racist and will scam you. My fiancé got into a roll over accident with his car being the only one involved. They charged us over $1600 to get his car out and had unnecessary charges. We came with his mother ready to pay and they would not take our money because most of it was singles. The guy said we were doing it on purpose which we were not. That was what we could get all together immediately so we could get the car out and said I’m not taking this money I’m not going to count it. Mind you it does not say how the cash needs to come. They are just extremely lazy there. They should not be in business. So please do not go here for anything it is not worth it at all.
Worst place ever, big Scam. They only charge cash so they can’t report it to the IRS. They charged $1400 for 6 miles towed and charged 2 days storage and my car only stayed 10h, I sent a driver with winch and they didn’t allow him to load it because they wanted to towed outside the yard by them to charge $150 more. I understand now why they only work directly with the police department because the bad service that they have nobody will use them, STAYYYY AWAYYYY….
My car was taken for this business by police order the day I went to get my car back i had to pay $645 dollars since they only acept cash i had $500 hundred in singles what a surprising interaction with the employee he didn't want to take my money he told me to back to the bank and get real money because he wasn't going to take my money i told him. I was going to call the police he said do whatever you want to do you are not going to take your car if you don't get real money so police showed up and they literally forced him to acept my money and release my car he wasn't happy so they are thiefs and the police station in bridgeview, they were very clear cash only, and this person game hard time, so police had to handle the situation so since they don't like to count up, money i recommend you to get just singles dollar bills. Whenever you have to pay a transaction there, if they don't want to take your money because they are too lazy to count it, just call the police on them and be careful cause they don't treat you with respect.
Before you go to that place, make sure you have just single dollar bills. And call the police on then. If they don't wanna take your money, they are a joke. They are allowed by the state to take a lot of money and take advantage from people's car.
Sharing this on behalf of my husband. He got into a serious car accident. The vehicle rolled over and was totaled. No other cars were involved. The police arrived at the scene and so did this tow company "Ideal Auto Center". They would not let my husband take his belongings out the vehicle before paying the storage fees. The storage fees for less than 24hrs came to over $1,000. The personal belongings in the vehicle can legally be obtained if the vehicle is not "impounded by the police" which it wasn't, it was in a car accident. They also stated that if the vehicle is left there and not picked up, the vehicle owner will receive a ticket for vehicle abandonment. So after you have a car accident, dealing with medical bills, etc you also have to deal with tis scum of a tow yard trying to come after you. There is definitely a certain place down under for people like this.
They are not like bad people and they rude and 1000 to get my car out the when I called police told him my tow man will be there in 30 minutes so my car was there for 8 hours wow
I just left Ideal Auto to pick up personal belonging I missed after the accident.I was told I could only remove glasses, medicine and food.They looked in my car and found none of the items I mentioned,I yold him my prescription sunglasses worth xxx dollars were in the car,which they hadnt found. I was taken to the car and told what I could remove.I found the sunglasses in the eyeglass carrier in the over head eyeglass holsr.The food dispenser which is a co
anister for my blender was on the floor in the rear. None of this was found in their search, and had I not pleasantly persisted I would be without these items.I felt violated by how I was treated.
Real cheater’s this is the worst towing service you can use i had my car there for 2 days and charged me 3 days and some other charges like roll over / and clean up road and time over truck and driver …ext they charge me 945 $ for 2 days real cheater’s and they don’t even care about your business all they want to do is steal your money
I remember I believe who was a older person that’s works for ideal auto center he ask me what county am I from I told him I am from the Middle East so he tell me I am going to add $50 more to your towing bill honestly they are a real cheaters and hater’s
Worse towing service to use! Bridgeview police uses them as a Third Party towing service, they don’t have a flat rate, were trying to charge me $850 to take my vehicle out of their lot. Vehicle was only there for 2 days yet they were trying to charge me for 3 days. I asked if i can check the vehicle to make sure i took everything out, they said i would have to pay the full amount in cash. They have no prices anywhere in their location.
The worse experience ever lying and cheating people out their money. Terrible customer service. Charged me $605 for breakdown tow they didn’t take it to my destination( they said is out of their jurisdiction) instead the took it to their lot and treat it like impound so they can charge more. Not recommended at all
I highly do not recommend this shop. They have charged me $450 for towing my car only 2 blocks away from the shop. My car spent only 7h on their parking lot. Also they have fixed my friend’s car tire which broke again in the same spot after few days.
Damaged my truck bed. Used my truck bed to haul 3 other cars bumpers broken glass car parts from the accident.Then made 5 gashes in my bed liner from a shovel Do not use this company very unprofessional tow driver decided to move stuff from my bed to my back seat scuffed the whole inside door panel. Truck bumper was fine after the accident pictures to prove after they towed it they bent my license plate, bracket ,bumper . Never used the front tow hooks to put truck on tow truck bed looks like he wrapped straps around front bumper to move it on tow truck. then charged me a no key fee when key was in ignition after accident.. Then charged $65 to clean street when none of my parts fell off. I should charge them for using my truck bed as a garbage can and to haul car parts. When I confronted the tow truck driver about damage and garbage in my bed he said police told him to do it. Then charged $600 for a 1 hour impound fee. Total rip off. Called manager to let him know damage from his employee he tells me to bring it in for a estimate for the damages that his employee did.
Charged a 100 dollar for not having a key in the vehicle when the key was in the cup holder they are crooks also charged 80 for cleaning up broken class when they’re was no broken class from my vehicle super rude also
This place is so crooked and sketchy they couldn’t walk a straight line if they were paid too. On top of that there work is subpar and takes forever and you’ll be overcharged on everything even stuff you don’t ask them to do I hope this place goes out of business. They should defiantly be investigated for fraud
I have taken my cars here for many years and find them to be honest, trustworthy and fair-priced. They always get my repair work done quickly and often before the promised time.
THIS PLACE IS A NIGHTMARE . ****EVERYONE PLEASE READ*******
THEY CHEATED ME . DONT. GO TO THIS PLACE!!!!!
they were so rude. I was on my way there on a saturday i called ahead told them I was 10 minutes away and they told me as long as i got there before it closed it would be fine. I got there 5 minutes before closing and they were locked up and gone. My car was towed there and they closed early so i would have to pay them more money for my car.
The other man on here said they were racist and i can definately believe that.
Take your hard earned money elsewhere people please!!!!!!!
DO NOT GO THERE!
They are expensive and racist. Go next door or to the Technicraft right across the street, they are both much cheaper. Their yard consists of metal and glass all over the place so if you get your car towed there, good luck, you'll probably have some extra scratches on your car or a flat tire or two.
These people are racists and rude. They literally made fun of my uncle for his accent right in front of us.
I got an exterior wash and the inside of my car wiped down. It was $30 and they did a good job. I decided to have it done by them because it was cold and I didn't feel like doing it myself. I looked at other places, and they wanted to charge me more. I noticed that they didn't get everything out of the "black hole". (You know, the area between the seat and the arm rest where if something falls in there good luck getting it out!) overall my experience there was fine. I will go to them again.
7337 W 87th St, Bridgeview, ILAuto parts store
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