The Cell Phone Station vanishes

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Video games have become an essential piece of everyday life for many children and families. Joe McKinney, 13, is no exception. It's a good way to pass the time in the summer.

Monday, Joe was playing on his new system. His old one, he never got back. When his mother, Susan McKinney, now calls the repair shop where she dropped it off, all she gets is a voicemail greeting and a full voicemail box. No one answers at The Cell Phone Station. It's gone.

"In today's age it's ridiculous that somebody would do this without posting a banner or something to say they are leaving or moving or whatever," said McKinney.

When the warranty expired with her old, used Wii she asked around and was told The Cell Phone Station at 500 W. William Cannon in South Austin was a good place to take it.

"They came highly recommended. Like I said, they've been here for a while, they were very friendly," said McKinney. "After they stopped returning phone calls, a red flag kind of popped up [in my head] and and they just vanished."

McKinney said when she dropped off the Wii system, she spoke to workers. They promised to call her back and never did. In one conversation she said they actually told her they were waiting on a part. But she never got a copy of the work order. After days and weeks of no word, she came back to find the place empty.

"I live in the neighborhood and I drive by at night and during the day and I never see anybody in here, and it's been since April and now we're in June," said McKinney.

Now she wants justice and is looking out for all the others whose stuff was left at the shope for repair.

"I'm thinking about the other people that have cell phones and laptops, and other kids with video games, that they're not even returning any phone calls or calling anybody letting them know. It's just very unprofessional," said McKinney.

To prevent situations like this from happening to you, the Better Business Bureau has a few recomendations:

• Do the research to find a shop that specializes in certain repairs
• Also check the company's reputation and consumer complaints at the BBB website
• Always hang onto a receipt and demand a copy of the work order.

"It may considered theft and you can file a police report if you can prove that you have actually dropped off your equipment and certainly in this case the company is gone," said BBB director of communications Erin Dufner.

Property Management Retail Solutions said The Cell Phone Station leased the space for about two years. The business was a couple of months behind on the rent.

A spokesperson said Change Point Properties is the property landlord and the company is deciding what the next step will be to collect the back rent from The Cell Phone Station.