I came across a critical review of Total Car Diagnostics on a Scam Reporting website – DirtyScam.com, titled ‘Total Car Diagnostics sells TOAD without having any rights’.
DirtyScam allows anonymous submission of complaints from angry consumers and victims of scams. Since the website is hosted offshore (probably in Russia or India), we take this (negative) review against Total Car Diagnostics with a pinch of salt.
Here is what the review says –
Total Car Diagnostic is a fraud and have illegally posted on their website as the rightful owner of the Diagnostic software aimed at both OBD-1 and OBD-2 vehicles. They have advertised it on eBay and amazon and other ecommerce websites as TOAD and are selling it online.I happened to get into their trap when I was on a holiday with my family. The car started acting weird a day before we had to leave for our home. I had been looking forward to buy TOAD from a long time and had researched about the software of lot. I was just waiting for the right time because of the financial crunch.However, this was a very awaited vacation and I did not want to ruin in for lack of money as I had been saving from a long time. Hence, I purchased the software from Total Car Diagnostics where it stated that it will be up and running in 5 minutes. I knew I could have spared at least 5 minutes and with a blink of the eye, I paid for the software.I had my own ELM327 interface and all I had to do was install the OBD scanner. Unlike other companies, they do not send the courier or any kind of shipment. The installation is done online and I thought it would save me from that unwanted situation.The website of Total Car Diagnostic proudly states that The worlds most powerful, complete and comprehensive OBD/ECU diagnosis and remapping software package can be yours in the next 5 minutes by placing your order right now. However, for us it was taking life time.I paid the money, installed the software. Then, the problem started. They never mentioned on the website that the software will be installed in 5 minutes but will start working after we receive our registration key by sending our install code that they provide during the download of the software.I thought how much time it would take and mailed them the install code. Surprise! This is how they sent me the reply. Yep, it was a surprise and I was totally shaken, when I saw they have mentioned 48 hours.It was written in the reply that they will be sending the registration key within 48 hours. What happened to the 5-minute promise? I was back to square 1. No car and just a day to leave for my home.I somehow managed that day and the next one for returning and waited for the key. It was 5 days from the day I paid the money and they did not send the registration key.Alex, from Total Car Diagnostic sent me an email referring to the process of installation after I attached the snapshot of the step where it was asking for the registration key. It seemed as if he had sent an automated or printed mail without going through the issue I was facing.Every time I sent him the mail concerning the registration key, he would send back the same steps that I had already completed. I thought either they are acting dumb or they want us to be fooled.Unfortunately, he never replied with the correct solution and kept us into loop. My family and I were actually counting on TOAD and it failed us.I am disappointed by the way the customer service handles request of its customers at Total Car Diagnostic.I had to borrow another scanner from a friend who was 85 miles away. After checking the diagnostic software, I found that the crankshaft position sensor was screwed up. I got it fixed and we returned home without TOAD.After waiting for long, I started exploring about the facts and came across many truths which I missed during my previous research. Total Car Diagnostic is a real scam and the software that they claim to be theirs is not.On the contrary, the entire software package is endorsed to be resold by the actual developers of the software only. One of the software, TunerPro RT is available for free online to users and is restricted to be sold by third parties for profit. Also, the ScanMaster ELM is not even a free software. They say TOAD is their own software but provide serial number / key creating it online by well-known methods of ‘key generators.What an idea of scamming people? Take advantage of someone elses work and make people fall for your trick. I am sure this is soon going to be over and Total Car Diagnostic will be paying huge for violating the copyright terms.I was victimized and I have seen many others sharing the similar issues with the company. Everything has its upper limit and Total Car Diagnostic is reaching it very soon. I am here to see you reach it even faster.I will not let you run away with my money and leaving me at a time when I really needed help. I am going to put it everywhere on the internet where I can to warn everyone out there of the fraud Total Car Diagnostic is involved in.
In case you don’t already know (assuming you came to this page by Googling ‘Total Car Diagnostics scam‘, or ‘Total Car Diagnostics review‘, Total Car Diagnostics is listed under the category Business on DirtyScam.com.
Here is the rest of the contact information for the sole purpose of identification –
- Address: Byron Bay NSW 2481
- Phone: (+61) 02 8006 7884
- Website: http://www.totalcardiagnostics.com/toad
- Severity of Scam: High [not sure what it means]
- Reported Loss: 1000 $ [unsubstantiated]
- Reported by: Anonymous [obviously]
The entity Total Car Diagnostics was awarded 1 / 5 Stars based on 1 Reviews.
It is difficult to ascertain whether Total Car Diagnostics is a Scam, or Legit, based on this single review. In the coming weeks/days, I will try to research deeper into Total Car Diagnostics, analyze and list more critical reviews and identify a pattern (or lack of) to substantiate the claim mentioned above.
Regardless, until then, we give the benefit of doubt to the reviewer and list Total Car Diagnostics as someone you need to avoid (for now).
If you have any grievances, complaints, or anonymous tips against Total Car Diagnostics, please contact us immediately. If you have lost money to Total Car Diagnostics, together we can work to recover your loss.
