Auto Body Repair Scam (Short)

[SteevinHaze]

What is the name of your state? Oregon

Here's the quick and easy version.

I bought my car with some body damage but couldn't afford to have it fixed. The estimate to fix it was $1200. One day a guy saw my car and said "I could do the body work for $200." He did the work, I paid him the $200 and he said he could do the painting for $80 plus paint. He gave me his number and about a week later and called him and asked if he could come out to my house and do the work.

He did the painting said the paint cost $110 , and he told me I owed him $200. I was skeptical because it didn't look like I expected. He told me he put a sealer on it so it doesn't look good now, but I could wash it off in 30 minutes. Reluctantly, I gave him the $200 and he left. I tried washing it off, but it wasn't working. The paint looked horrible, like house paint or spray paint. Later I found a spray paint can lid in my driveway that he had used.

A lot of damage was done to my car so I brought it in to a body shop and got an estimate. The estimate was $2300.

Is there anything that I can do? If I took him to small claims, would I have a chance?

Thanks.

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by SteevinHaze

What is the name of your state? Oregon

Here's the quick and easy version.

I bought my car with some body damage but couldn't afford to have it fixed. The estimate to fix it was $1200. One day a guy saw my car and said "I could do the body work for $200." He did the work, I paid him the $200 and he said he could do the painting for $80 plus paint. He gave me his number and about a week later and called him and asked if he could come out to my house and do the work.

He did the painting said the paint cost $110 , and he told me I owed him $200. I was skeptical because it didn't look like I expected. He told me he put a sealer on it so it doesn't look good now, but I could wash it off in 30 minutes. Reluctantly, I gave him the $200 and he left. I tried washing it off, but it wasn't working. The paint looked horrible, like house paint or spray paint. Later I found a spray paint can lid in my driveway that he had used.

A lot of damage was done to my car so I brought it in to a body shop and got an estimate. The estimate was $2300.

Is there anything that I can do? If I took him to small claims, would I have a chance?

Thanks.

Q: If I took him to small claims, would I have a chance?

A: Yes.