Need Advice

Billy10mm · Jan 10, 2006

A friend of mine is in a bit of a predicament. Almost done with a resto on a '69 Camaro, he boo boo'd. He took the car to an apparently reputable show in Jersey City, NJ to have it painted and to have some rust spots in the trunk repaired.

Now, here's the part where he screwed up. He got an estimate on the trunk work, $1500. But on the paint job he didn't get an estimate. He got estimates from some of his drag-racing friends and assumed the paint job would cost 6-$8K. He handed the shop $5K in cash up front the day he dropped it off .... I have no idea why he did this, but he did. Again, don't ask me why he didn't get an estimate , or talk much about $$$ at all, or get a timeframe from them, but he didn't.

They held the car for a 11 months, then finally called him yesterday to tell him the car was ready. Cost ... $12.5K including the trunk work which more than doubled its estimate to $3400 and change.

Now, like I said he gave them $5K up front cash, so he needs another $7.5K to get the car back, problem is he's a cop and doesn't have that kind of cash. I was under the impression that no one can hold your car hostage if there is a dispute on price, that since you owned it, you could report it stolen if they refused to give it to you and then you would have to work out the costs in court or through a collection agent. He's under the assumption that they can slap a lein on the car and if he doesn't pay they can sell it and take the cash.

Anyone have any insight into the legal avenues in a situation like this?

Bill in Brooklyn

CornellCars · Jan 10, 2006

My understanding is that, without a prior written estimate for them to "break" by overcharging him, they have the right to put a mechanics' lien on the car if he doesn't pay. Now, since you mentioned them quoting less for the trunk work than what they charged, I believe he may have some recourse based on them not having a signed agreement to go forward on that, but on the paint itself, he may be s.o.l. without a prior/post estimate breakdown - some of the legal eagles here may be more helpful, but having been around repair shops for a while, that's my limited understanding of when you can and cannot put a lien on a car.

Bill Ng said:

A friend of mine is in a bit of a predicament. Almost done with a resto on a '69 Camaro, he boo boo'd. He took the car to an apparently reputable show in Jersey City, NJ to have it painted and to have some rust spots in the trunk repaired.

Now, here's the part where he screwed up. He got an estimate on the trunk work, $1500. But on the paint job he didn't get an estimate. He got estimates from some of his drag-racing friends and assumed the paint job would cost 6-$8K. He handed the shop $5K in cash up front the day he dropped it off .... I have no idea why he did this, but he did. Again, don't ask me why he didn't get an estimate , or talk much about $$$ at all, or get a timeframe from them, but he didn't.

They held the car for a 11 months, then finally called him yesterday to tell him the car was ready. Cost ... $12.5K including the trunk work which more than doubled its estimate to $3400 and change.

Now, like I said he gave them $5K up front cash, so he needs another $7.5K to get the car back, problem is he's a cop and doesn't have that kind of cash. I was under the impression that no one can hold your car hostage if there is a dispute on price, that since you owned it, you could report it stolen if they refused to give it to you and then you would have to work out the costs in court or through a collection agent. He's under the assumption that they can slap a lein on the car and if he doesn't pay they can sell it and take the cash.

Anyone have any insight into the legal avenues in a situation like this?

Bill in Brooklyn
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Fastviper · Jan 10, 2006

Why did he let them keep it for 11 months? They should be paying him.

Did he sign anything?

Billy10mm · Jan 10, 2006

jramey said:

Why did he let them keep it for 11 months? They should be paying him.

Did he sign anything?
Click to expand...

I have no idea why he let them keep it for 11 months ... that seems wildly excessive to me considering it was some trunk work and a paint job. No, I don't believe he signed anything other than (maybe) a work order.

Bill

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