Been 4 1/2 yrs and the guy is into MOPAR restos and can't be bothered to work on my 71 GS conv. So....I've decided to go up there with some keys one of which hopefully fits. Shop has a key but I'm not counting on the guy giving it to me. He also has my sport mirrors and assorted parts he took off. I at least want my car back.....hey, it can sit inside at least at home. Can't believe it hasn't been vandalized! Has 455, add on gauges, sport wheel, rallyes, etc. Sitting outside unlocked, uncovered next to RR tracks. I gave him $4K and he installed rear qtrs, and floorboard, prepped and primed the hood and rear quarters. I supplyed the qtrs, a door, and a fender as well as the floor kit. I'm hoping he will give me my car back w/o additional $$$. I'm thinking if I show up with my trailer and title and he won't let the car go, I can call the cops. Anyone else been thru anything similar? Bruce
Since the guy has work done to it,I would approach him with this statement, In your own words tho Since the car hasnt moved forward in my retoration in the manner I have antisipated, I regret to inform you that I need the car and all its parts returned to me at once. Now once that is said he may want to final bill you for something. Make sure that you tell him to supply you an itemized bill of all the charges he thinks he needs. Good Luck!!
Thanks Mike....does $4K sound right for the work done (2 yrs ago)? He took pics and says over 100 hrs so far. The fact he took pics scares me.....thinking he will use them to get more $$$ out of me. I SURE HOPES HE DOESN'T WANT STORAGE FEES!!!!!! Can't if I didn't tell him to stop work....right? Plus it was outside...... Bruce
Bring a 6-pack...... ......of Massholes - then buy them dinner after your car is parked in your garage. You certainly have legal actions you can take - when is the last time ANY work at all was performed ??
2 yrs ago.....doesn't answer phone (caller ID), gave me dead EMAIL address..... How 'bout a brigade of Massholes led by one Hecker?? Minor problem....the guy is an avid gun collector (typical MOPAR?).....keeps a small collection at the shop :blast:
Hey Bruce, Not sure where you are located but I had the same problem with the storage issue years ago. It was outside also. They told me it didn't matter inside or out, it was on their property. I would talk to a lawyer or local law enforcement to see where you stand before you go there. Wish I would have. :spank:
He should not charge you for storage as it was his choice to stop work on it not yours. I would go as you say with trailor and title that way you can show proof of ownership. He should give it up without hassel. If you start out mad at him it may cause him to be a jerk, let him not get the best of your attitude, make him understand I need my car done not outside stored junk. Tell him also that your money was as good as anyone elses too bad he didnt want to finish yours.
I'd go in nicely and keep my cool and just see what happens. If he wants to be a jerk about it, then get the cops involved. Just remember......possesion is 9/10 of the law, and he possesses your car. Just hope he does pull a gun on you, isn't that illegal or considered assault or something? The cops would love that. Stories like this one get me all fired up!! :af:
Posession is 9/10's of the law, but the "owner" "posesses" the "title"! :Brow: I can see them getting him for trespassing, but the car is his after he pays the trespassing fine. IMHO of course. :grin:
Don't ever let some SKEEEEEVE-BALL shop owner intimide you like that. You own the car, he leaves it unlocked, take your title some friends and your trailer and go there after hours and get the damn car !!!!!!!! If he knows you are comming to get it he'll put a mechanics lien on it and you'll never get it back. Once you have the car, the ball is in your court, you call the shots!!!! A few years ago, my trusted "TURBO MAVEN" who I used for years, had my GN for over a year with an engine problem he created. After much B.S. on his part I went to pick-up my car. I knew this was going to be STICKY so I was prepared. He presents me with a $7,000 bill and says this is what I owe him. O.K. no problem, just let me check out the car.........................SEE YA' !!!!!!! My two sons were down the road with my truck and trailer. WE BE GONE !!!!!!! He told everybody "THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE EVER GOT SCREWED". That boy couldn't sit down for a year !!!!!!!! He screwed-up and then I should pay....................NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK BRUCE !!!!!!!
It's one thing to own a gun, many of us do. But it's a whole nother thing to pull it on someone, let alone shoot someone. Once you see that gun during an altercation he enters the legal system. If you fear that might be possible you might want to remind him of that. Also no car is worth your life.
It seems from reading these stories that this situation is all too common. From my point of view, the problem starts when the customer gives the body shop too much "up front" money. Was there an agreement up front about a timetable? Whenever I had a car painted or restored, I gave the shop ZERO up front money. I got an agreement about when its going to get done. I went to the shop weekly to inspect progress. Once I saw progress being made, I gave the shop a little money. The trick is to not let the money laid out exceed the labor invested. "Inspect what you expect" from the shop! It may be that because you arent there every week breaking his b***s about it, it gets interpreted that you have a lack of interest in getting it finished. I just hate hearing about these situations . I hope it works out for you.
OK guys, late next week I go up there. One issue that may be playing a part is that he happened to be at the chassis shop that did JAGUICK and it was there. He noticed that it had Buick power and said he figured it was mine. Unfortunately I think he saw dollar signs in regard to the convertible after seeing the Jag. Fact is.....I'm in debt up to my forehead.... :laugh: I wonder how well he could do bodywork in a wheelchair..... :Brow: Hope to see you all at Norwalk.
talk to wolverine about this one. he can probably give you tips on how to smash a sleazy buisness mans head repeatadly off a toolbox.
Be cool, think ahead of what you're doing. Don't get deeper in this mess if it's avoidable. Try to understand his side of it, try to figure out what he wants from you? Ask police for legal advice on where you stand.. before you just go and claim... if it's made clear to you before, then you can say according to so and so at the police station, this is how it is, and I think we should do what they say.
dispute If You have a clear title, then all you have to do is go get the car. Work out an agreement about any charges due vs any work done on it, later. If the car is outside You can legaly pick it up and not be charged with tresspass. In fact it will be hard to make any kind of tresspass charge stick because the guy is running a business open to the public. The only way a tresspass charge can be filed is if he tells you to leave the premises and then you refuse. You need to get your car and all the parts that go with it and then if he wants to get snotty sue him for breach of contract. 90 days is the usual "reasonable" time considered by the courts. The guy cant charge you storage because YOU have been waiting on HIM to do the work as promised. Sue him. You have the hammer in Your hand. If he has done away with any of the parts,then he is guilty of theft. He is clearly in breach of contract, implied or otherwise. Dont take any crap from him, contact the consumer fraud div. with your state police or your district attourney.
See, that's cool. I had to stop hitting people. I kept getting in trouble, or coming thiiiiis close to getting in trouble. I'll tell ya from experience.....the big guy in the crowd always gets arrested. The cops figure it's my fault if I'm the guy still standing. I can't help it if I haven't lost a fight since I was 16. (getting thrown out the front door of the bar by four bouncers doesn't count as fighting since no punches were actually thrown). I do still occasionally lose my temper and that usually scares people enough that I get what I'm after. It helps to know that, if it gets ugly, I'm not going to the hospital alone. My personal rule nowadays is....I NEVER hit another guy first. But I always make sure to hit him last. Hard. You massholes RULE!!
Been there, done that....Totally unfair!!! I've only had one of those go my way..blew my mind when the bouncers picked the other guy up and threw him out.. :beer
