Do not try and repo your car. At least in the State of PA if a shop does work on your car and you do not pay they can do what is called a "Mechanic's lien" meaning they can legally keep the car until you pay them. If you go and take it back, as crazy as it sounds you will be charged with "theft of services" and the police will return the car back to the shop until paid. I don't know what state your in but you need to contact the AG's office ASAP and ask them what is required of a repair shop before they do work on your vehicle. If you didn't sign anything, my guess is that they are gonna be SOL on recovering any real money from you. I would also contact a local attorney who is familar with these type of consumer laws. One call from the attorney could clear things up, especially if the attorney can find them violating the law. Then it's Sue time baby! Good Luck! Tac BTW, I am a police officer so I do know a little bit about mechanic's liens.
Call the AG immediately Spyke. Your complaint may be the one that broke the camals back. Tell us what repairs were made for all this money. I do know how I'd handle this but it would be costly. Once I got my car back I'd run an add in the paper looking for others who'd been treated the same way. You'd need those witnesses. ???
Get the media involved, we have a bunch of news stations that investigate things like this. I would get all the press attention you can. Good luck, Jessica
All of the answers above are great, but there is no where near enough information to say which one pertains to your circumstances. Aside from what kind of work, Has the work been completed? Was this a private garage or a chain or a dealer? What kind of car is it? What was the specific work? (Someone may be able to tell you how much it should cost you to fix.) Do you have a plan B if you have to leave the car there for another week or so? If they are driving it around, I'd want to leave it there for a couple of days to give me time to snap a couple of pictures, of the odometer if nothing else. Was the extra cost of the repair for the original work, or for another problem they found or for labor or for a part or or or... It sounds like you have really gotten the shaft. More specific info would help others to help you solidify your case against them. 30ft
Ripped Off! All of the answers above are great, but there is no where near enough information to say which one pertains to your circumstances. Aside from what kind of work, Has the work been completed? Was this a private garage or a chain or a dealer? What kind of car is it? What was the specific work? (Someone may be able to tell you how much it should cost you to fix.) Do you have a plan B if you have to leave the car there for another week or so? If they are driving it around, I'd want to leave it there for a couple of days to give me time to snap a couple of pictures, of the odometer if nothing else. Was the extra cost of the repair for the original work, or for another problem they found or for labor or for a part or or or... It sounds like you have really gotten the shaft. More specific info would help others to help you solidify your case against them. 30ft ============ DON'T KNOW WHY HE DON'T GIVE US THE DETAILS. THE END ** *** ** LB 59 """""""""```~~~```'"""""""""
oh yes DEFINITLY get the media, your and local consumer protection agency involved. I'm not sure if it's a state by state procedure but a mechanic has to give you a written estimate before they do any work on your car. That is both to protect the mechanic and the consumer. AND before they are to start work on your car and see that that the price to fix it will go beyond the estimation, they are to CALL YOU and get approval. They cannot just stat working on the car without approval. GET THE MEDIA INVOLVED!!
Hello, I work in the automotive repair business here in California. When I write up a car, if I don't have a signature or proper documentation of a phone authorization, legally, the customer is not responsible for the repair. One of my fellow advisors had a customer who did not pay for some extra work that he THOUGHT the customer would authorize. When the customer came to pick up the car, he told my partner that he didn't authorize the work, and he wasn't going to pay for it. The customer was right, and he didn't pay! Here is CA, we have a government agency called the Bureau of Automotive Repair (B.A.R.) When a customer brings them into the mix, or even says B.A.R., we tend to perk our ears up! Try a similar agency to get involved. They can probably put a Mechanics Lein on the car and sell it, but that's a pain in the ass. Worse comes to worse, go down there and pitch a fit, then call the police down there and see if they give you the car. Just my two sense! Best wishes! Look for a B.A.R. and BBB. Or stake out the place and TAKE the car back! Catch them slipping. Best wishes!, Dave
Hereâ??s a thought. Go down to your City Hall, File for whatever permit you need to hold a lawful protest. Create a large sign and Create flyers describing what happen â?? Standout in front of that shop with your signs and flyers. Hand a flyer to every customer turning into the lot. Make sure you stay on public property(sidewalk). Steve
Click here: How to guard against auto repair fraud http://www.bankrate.com/cweb/news/auto/20030624b1.asp """""""""```~~~```'"""""""""
This same thing happened to football great Deion Sanders. he was quoted a estimate before the work was done on his vintage 1960's cadillac. When they dropped the car off at his home they gave his wife a bill for $4000+. His wife took the car keys and slammed the door. Later Deion gave the shop owner a check for $1500 (the original estimate). The shop owner took Deion to court and this week the court ruled against the the shop owner because he agreed, in writing, to the original estimate. The moral of the story is get everything in writing!
Spyke are you walking or riding THE END ** *** ** LB 59 """""""""```~~~```'""""""""" PS: Or did you get this all worked out?
