KRGV.com

WESLACO - Gilbert Briseno paid $1,700 for truck repairs last July. Today, he still didn't have his truck, so he called 5 On Your Side.

Last summer, he took his truck to the Kings of Kolor Repair Shop in Weslaco. The receipt shows the date and the deposit paid. Briseno took his car in to replace the hood, paint the outside and get some work done inside the cab.

The job was expected to take three months. Today, CHANNEL 5 NEWS saw the truck in pieces in the back lot behind the business. The cab was under a plastic sheet.

"He's been able to take care of other vehicles way before mine, and they came in later than my truck," said Briseno.

While interviewing Briseno, he got a call from the shop's owner, Jerry Valenzuela. "He called me and says, ‘Mr. Briseno, I'm not going to be able to do your truck. I'll give you your money, and I'll assemble your truck back, so you can take it. I'll have it done today,'" said Briseno.

Valenzuela wasn't in the office, when we stopped by to ask why it took almost a year to tell Briseno he couldn't finish the job. As Briseno tried to call Valenzuela, the owner sped up to us in a truck, causing our crew to jump out the way.

The shop owner handed Briseno a wad of cash. It turned out to be $800, not $1,700.

Valenzuela returned and said, "It's settled. There's no reason for you to be videotaping. I don't even want this to go on the air or anything like that."

We pointed out the owner still owed Briseno another $900. He gave Briseno another $100. He said the rest of the money went to parts and supplies.

Briseno got his truck back Wednesday. The doors and hood were removed. Valenzuela eventually got all the parts in a later trip. Now Briseno plans to get someone else to finish the work on his truck.

Valenzuela told us he's been in business for 20 years and that he has nothing to hide. He said he had another job in front of Briseno's and misjudged how long it would take. He added he was starting work on Briseno's Chevy.

As far as our crew's close call with Valenzuela's truck, he's blaming brake problems.