What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Texas
On 6/16/05 I took my car into a well known transmission shop for a diagnosis. On 6/17/05 they informed me that to properly figure out the problem they would have to do a Remove/Check/Install for $250.00. I ok'd it. They told me they would have an answer by 6/20/05 and I would get my car back 6/21-22/05,unless there was a huge problem. Finally on 6/24/05 I called to ask if they had found the problem. (I had not heard anything from them before I made that call.)Being unable to get the adviser handling my car on the phone I went over there and asked. He told me they had the transmission and all clutch components out of the car and were still trying to locate the problem. OK I said, can I get something out of my car? He gives me the keys and I go to the back of the shop. Out of curiosity I looked under the car only to discover the transmission and everything still in place, not even the clutch cable had been disconnected. I went back and asked him about this. My thinking was if they did not have the time to work on the car I would take it back and return with it at a later date (they come highly recommended. BBB checks out, etc.).I was having to share a car with my sister because mine was in the shop. He told me because I had authorized the work the car had to remain there and even though I couldn't see it, repairs had begun. So I went home and called another one of their stores and asked questions about procedures. Then I explained my problem at this other store. The manager there calls the store where my car is and I get a call telling me they will begin teardown right away.
On 6/30/05 I tell them to just put it back together and let me pay the teardown fee because all they tell me over & over is they're looking at the clutch? For that long? So I get upset and go up there to find that my car is torn down, so all I want at this point is to pay the $250 (which actually includes Install, something I can't get)and have the car and all my parts towed over to another shop. Two weeks & I can't even get a straight answer from these guys. The shop refuses to allow me to take the car or parts even though I am willing to sign off on liability and pay the full price for less than half the work. The manager tells my sister & my father the reason he is treating me this way is because I called the other store. So I called the cops, just to be told it is a civil matter, but the shop told the cop they would have my car ready by 7/1/05. They don't return my phone calls and I can't even locate my car on their lot anymore.
According to the cop my only option is small claims court. I'm only in to them for $250.00 because I have not authorized any other work because they have not identified the problem, but they have my car, which they are steadily ignoring, which I just want back.
Small Claims Court in Texas, from the info I can find, only awards money. The judge cannot make demands like "return her car".I don't have money to spare for a lawyer, so I was thinking of suing them for trade in value of the car, as it is less than the $5000.00 max, even though all I want is my car back. What recourse do I have if I do this? Can I say, if I win, "Hey, give me the car instead of the money?" I really love my car and am very attached to it and I just want it back in 1 piece or 40. If they won't finish it I want to take it to someone who will.
Any advice, ideas, or anyone have the number to the suicide hotline? I really am at my wits end here.
Sorry so long winded, but thanks, if you read this.
On 6/16/05 I took my car into a well known transmission shop for a diagnosis. On 6/17/05 they informed me that to properly figure out the problem they would have to do a Remove/Check/Install for $250.00. I ok'd it. They told me they would have an answer by 6/20/05 and I would get my car back 6/21-22/05,unless there was a huge problem. Finally on 6/24/05 I called to ask if they had found the problem. (I had not heard anything from them before I made that call.)Being unable to get the adviser handling my car on the phone I went over there and asked. He told me they had the transmission and all clutch components out of the car and were still trying to locate the problem. OK I said, can I get something out of my car? He gives me the keys and I go to the back of the shop. Out of curiosity I looked under the car only to discover the transmission and everything still in place, not even the clutch cable had been disconnected. I went back and asked him about this. My thinking was if they did not have the time to work on the car I would take it back and return with it at a later date (they come highly recommended. BBB checks out, etc.).I was having to share a car with my sister because mine was in the shop. He told me because I had authorized the work the car had to remain there and even though I couldn't see it, repairs had begun. So I went home and called another one of their stores and asked questions about procedures. Then I explained my problem at this other store. The manager there calls the store where my car is and I get a call telling me they will begin teardown right away.
On 6/30/05 I tell them to just put it back together and let me pay the teardown fee because all they tell me over & over is they're looking at the clutch? For that long? So I get upset and go up there to find that my car is torn down, so all I want at this point is to pay the $250 (which actually includes Install, something I can't get)and have the car and all my parts towed over to another shop. Two weeks & I can't even get a straight answer from these guys. The shop refuses to allow me to take the car or parts even though I am willing to sign off on liability and pay the full price for less than half the work. The manager tells my sister & my father the reason he is treating me this way is because I called the other store. So I called the cops, just to be told it is a civil matter, but the shop told the cop they would have my car ready by 7/1/05. They don't return my phone calls and I can't even locate my car on their lot anymore.
According to the cop my only option is small claims court. I'm only in to them for $250.00 because I have not authorized any other work because they have not identified the problem, but they have my car, which they are steadily ignoring, which I just want back.
Small Claims Court in Texas, from the info I can find, only awards money. The judge cannot make demands like "return her car".I don't have money to spare for a lawyer, so I was thinking of suing them for trade in value of the car, as it is less than the $5000.00 max, even though all I want is my car back. What recourse do I have if I do this? Can I say, if I win, "Hey, give me the car instead of the money?" I really love my car and am very attached to it and I just want it back in 1 piece or 40. If they won't finish it I want to take it to someone who will.
Any advice, ideas, or anyone have the number to the suicide hotline? I really am at my wits end here.
Sorry so long winded, but thanks, if you read this.
This is what I would do in your situation.