To the editor:

I recently took my car in for an oil change at a well known national chain store. Upon paying for the service a staff member informed of numerous problems with my car:

1. The oil pan (or oil gasket) was leaking and needed to be fixed. (He said it would cost about $500.)

2. The tranny pan (or gasket) was broken/leaking and needed to be fixed. (He said it would cost about $200.)

3. The power steering was broken (a cable or something needed repair). (He said it would cost $900-$1,500.)

I asked him what would happen if I did nothing, and he assured me it would lead to major damages in my car.

So immediately after leaving the shop I took my car to a local shop that has been around awhile and told them what the staff member from the national chain shop had told me. The local shop’s staff did an inspection and informed me the next day that they found no leaks in my oil pan or tranny pan and they found nothing wrong. They didn’t find any of the problems that the national auto chain staff told me needed fixing. So apparently the national chain was trying to swindle me out of nearly $2,000 in repair that my car didn’t need. This was infuriating. I would like to thank the honest and hardworking staff at the local Lawrence auto shop for their professional and courteous service.