280gty

If a shop gave me an estimate of $7,500 to paint my classic vette, then has my car for 2 years before he starts working on it and finally starts the job a few months ago and now, e-mails me a bill over $12,000.

Should I be pissed?

Before I agreed to let him paint it for that $7,500 estimate, he pointed out that his shop's specialty was corvettes and since he did minor engine work and upgraded the suspension underneath (expensive as hell) , he had inspected the car from top to bottom and said he was pretty confident of the car's condition and he can re-paint it for that price.

Now he says he's not "Clairvoyant" and can't be expected to anticipate "problems" since it's an old car.

Odd thing is that he couldn't tell me if the radio or power windows were still working saying it's an old car so things may malfunction and has nothing to do with him?

If everything worked when he took it apart, shouldn't I expect everything to still work when he puts it back together?

Anyway, he got all indignant when I questioned him about the price increase and why he can't tell me whether everything is working as before and said he'll keep the car and hung up.

I left him messages on his answering machine saying I'd rather not get into a big argument over this but I need to confirm an appointment to see the car and make sure everything is ok and examine the work... I called him twice again the next week, but noone answered the phone and he never called me back.

Another week later while I'm wondering what to do, he e-mails me saying I should have picked up the car last week and said that he will file for a lein against the car and he is charging storage fees???

I e-mailed him reminding him that he threatened to KEEP the car and wouldn't call me back to confirm an appointment for me to examine the car first... before I will pay him.

That was yesterday and I noticed my sent message had a "READ" status this morning... you guys think he'll call or e-mail me back for an appointment to allow me to check out the car or does he expect me to show up not knowing whether he'll let me in the door without blindly handing him a lot of money first???

Don't I have some legal rights?

WildmaN

Dude I think a lawsuit is in order. Especially when he is trying to charge storage fees. And was being ignorant..and not returning your calls and emails. Before he said that retarded thing. I say....tell him you are going to pick up your car. With no storage fees and B.S. And if he gives you any crap. Get him busted for G.T.A. That is what I think about the situation. Nobody is going to do that crap to me. I am smarter than some people take me for. Good luck man..

snwbrderphat540

go there with the cops. that will solve things fast. this is why i do ALL my work even body work by myself, to many shady *** people that i sure dont want to trust with my investment

lifegrddude

I am by no means an expert in law, but I do have a little experience dealing with shady people and having to fight to get my money back. If you're planning to go to court over this, make sure you have proof and documentation of everything. Otherwise, no matter what you say in court will not hold up. Make sure you have a phone log of the time and dates you called, as well as printouts of your emails to him. If you agreed on the $7500 price, make sure you have a written statement or contract of that price. Talk to a small claims legal adviser as they are usually provided by your county for free (at least here in SD that's how it works). Before he worked on your car, did you take pics or video of it showing things working? All these things will help you present a solid case in court to prove that you were screwed. Hope things work out for you man. Best of luck.

thxone

First an estimate is just that, an estimate of the price and not a final price and you must agree to the final price when the person in final agrees to do the work. If you did not agree to the final price and you were not told of this price and they did the work anyway then you may have some legal legs to stand on. Second if the car sat there for 2 years things can deteriorate or degrade from lack of care. Third he/she has to by law inform you that he/she plans to file for a (Mechanics Lien), usually 20-30 days before it is filed. This is a common practice to secure payment for services rendered. Call an attorney and get some legal advise.

You can also file a petition with the courts to get your property. Again speak with an attorney and cover your bases or you WILL lose your car. With this lean they can then sell the car at public auction to get their money back. It sounds to me that you are being screwed though. How often in these 2 years were you in contact with the person(s) who were to do the work on the car? Were you kept up to date by them? My point is if there was no agreed upon final price and you were not informed as to the status of the project or work then you need to act fast and get an attorney.

280gty

I called them about six months apart to ask about the status and he said it wasn't on his schedule yet for 2 years, then I called again earlier this year and he said he'll have time in a couple of months... a few months later, I get a bill for over $12,000.... that was a sticker shock.

Can he get a mechanic's lein if he won't call me back & confirm an appointment for me to examine the car?

Doesn't he have to go to court to support his claims and I get the opportunity to challenge him in response, like a small claims action requires?

Doesn't a judge need to hear both sides of the story in order to determine whose claims are legitimate?

snwbrderphat540

12k for paint? i dont get it? lol. infact i dont even get 7.5k lol. just go to him stop calling, and emailing and GO

280gty

Hey, what's interesting is that there is a bank lein on my NY title.... car was originally financed in NY 20 years ago before owner moved to California.
Bank on the title is the same bank listed on the original finance papers from the car dealership the owner gave me.

Noone has mailed me requesting any payments.

California title was clear but there must have been paperwork given to the California DMV but not filed in NY before he moved... so it might be more complicated for him.

thxone

The first question...yes he can get one. He has to make "A Good Faith Effort" to contact you, which he did, by email.

The second question...and third question....talk to an attorney...most are free to talk to and they would know what is legal and best to do.

280gty

Y'know, I've been thinking, $12,000+ is a lot of money I can use for other things... like a few years of escort services... maybe I should be happy to get rid of the car if it's gonna be a moneypit anyway.

I realize that I don't even care about the car anymore after 2 years... I've been losing interest in classic & customized cars and the costs to maintain them... I can save myself from wasting a lot of money.

Maybe I should try to work out a consignment deal since he's sold cars for his other clients before on his website... it might be win-win for both of us and save us the legal sparing expenses.

JBs280Z

If you do that then you've officially allowed him to screw you over. If you bend over and take it you're empowering him to do this to the next guy and so on and so forth. Legal advice is definitely your best bet. Even if you're no longer interested in the car, don't let him get over on you. Get an attorney get your car back from him for a reasonable amount of money and then sell it yourself. Sounds to me like this guy needs a lesson in proper business practices anyway. Besides that, after the way you say hes behaved, why would you form any sort of partnership with him to sell your car. Do you honestly believe hes going to be any more reasonable about that ?

WildmaN

WTF? Man are you high or what? You have a classic Corvette here. Which Vettes retain their value well. What year is it? And I agree with people on here. You are getting the shaft. Go get your car back. And if he resists call the friggin' cops. Come on man....don't let him win. That is B.S. and also run his name into the mud. And tell everybody you know...how sh$$ty he runs his business. That is total and utter Bullsh$$t! Don't take it lying down man...get to it. And get your car back.

280gty

The car is a 76 vette... it's real-world value is usually $15-20,000 in excellent condition... possibly higher but only if the right person wants it badly enough.
I feel he's vindictive and if he decides to stick to his bogus storage charges and get's a lien on the car, then I might ultimately spend away any difference in profit anyway... so why would I want the car back?

What if there are other problems with the car?

I understand what u guys are saying but there are more important things in my life I need to concentrate on.
I'm in a real chaotic time in my life right now and going thru some changes... this car wasn't part of my life since it was gone for so long after I bought it.

I need to see what I can do to work this out as simply as possible.

WildmaN

Sorry if I came off harsh at you. I just get tired of hearing people getting used..and screwed over. It pisses me off to no end. I am so cautious who I talk to or hang out with. Or do business with..because I have a hard time trusting people. Mainly the fact...that there are a lot individuals out there. That just don't give a flying F**k. It is so sad..that this happens day to day. I hope you get things worked out man. And don't give up...and do it all as professionally and adult like as you can. Good luck to you bro'

280gty

Hey thanks,
I know you've gone thru some tough times too from your posts, sometimes life throws you some curve ***** but we gotta learn from it and just get thru it.

280zx2by2

my grandpa had a transmission go out on his brand new truck and sighed the paper for only the transmission to be replaced for a certian amount(i think it was for 5,000)and he thought it was under warranty cause they told him it was...they get it done and they say its not under warranty and they had to fix some other stuff added up to like 7500 or so...somehow,since they added stuff he didnt agree to he got the whole thing free without warranty

its all in the contract

280gty

That's interesting... because I found out from googling that a lein on property for auto services is called a Repairman's lein.

http://www.minotlaw.com/news/oct002.htm

"A lien statement for a repairman's lien requires a verified statement of the labor performed, materials furnished, the price agreed upon or the reasonable value of the services, the name of the person for whom the labor or materials were provided and a description of the property on which the lien is claimed."

It's interesting because the car was mechanically roadworthy without a new paintjob, so it's cosmetic, not a mechanical necessity so shouldn't agreeing to $7,500 price allow me the option to compromise on cosmetic choices that led to a significant increase in cost? ...Shouldn't he have consulted me?

For $12,000+, wouldn't he have done more than what was "necessary" for a $7,500 price quote for cosmetic reasons intended for a driver's car and not a show car?

If you go to macco and agree to a "Presidential" paintjob starting at $199... doesn't that require them to limit the extent of cosmetic "repairs" they'd make according to the price unless you choose otherwise because it's not necessary for the mechanical reliabilty of the car?

280gty

entropy31

if he never contacted you about any of that EXTRA stuff, he should not have done it. get a lawyer.

280gty

Thanks to everyone for commenting.

I needed to vent... got lots to think about.

-Goodnight

snwbrderphat540

LOL you got charged 675 dollars for him to tape the car up!!!!!!!! OMG look at some of those prices, i think he racked up the hours on some of those things cause a few prices are rediculous! how did he spend the same amount of time sanding and preping as he did for everything else? thats the longest part of a paint job!!!!

duowing

Dude, have you even tried to go there? It sounds like you're just afraid of a confrontation and are willing to lose a car that could be sold for a good bit of money. If it's been put back together and painted up nice, you may be looking at something that could sell well. It sounds like now that things are kind of going weird you just want to avoid the whole situation and lose your car.

NismoPick

No doubt.... $675 = 9 hours of masking. Unless he's a n00b, it should have taken less than half that. There's actually an industry STANDARD they must go by (if they are a certified body shop anyway). You can't dink around for 5 days on a car and charge the customer 40 hours for something that should take 5 hours to do (just as an example).

280zx2by2

#1 thing is to take action and not let this thing "fizzle out"

get a good lawyer...if a good enough lawyer(johnnie cochran) could get OJ simpson out of prison then it shouldnt take that much of a lawyer to get your vet back...