What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CALIFORNIA
I had my motorcycle (broken down) in a mechanic's shop. Talking with the technicians about once per week as the diagnosis for a blown motor unfolded, I was never told of any storage fees or potential abandoned property lean sales. I had a conversation with one of the managers when it was realized that the problem with the motor cycle would be very expensive which ended in me saying "I'm going to ask around my buddies to see if anyone wants to buy it as is and think over what to do." He said "sure no problem." After a couple weeks had passed, I had a voicemail from the shop (which I still have) saying in a casual tone that they had a few questions and to give them a call back. I call back, ask for the manager as instructed, and he isn't available, the conversation ends with "we will have him call you back." I never here back, until a week or so passes when I get a notice of an impending lean sale taking place on my bike in the mail. This is the first time I have heard about such thing, no waring letters, no voicemails warning of building storage fees NOTHING. Just this letter out of the blue. I call the shop to ask about this and according to them it is too late, the bike is already out of their hands and I am more or less at a sunk cost of my bike. I feel like this is wrong, surely under California law they are required to do more to get ahold of me than a casual voicemail and suddenly boom a letter in the mail telling me a lien sale is said and done.. I am hoping to sue for a couple grand or at least threaten lawsuit to obtain some sort of compensation if they did not in fact follow procedure. Any insight on where I can go with this would be greatly appreciated.
I had my motorcycle (broken down) in a mechanic's shop. Talking with the technicians about once per week as the diagnosis for a blown motor unfolded, I was never told of any storage fees or potential abandoned property lean sales. I had a conversation with one of the managers when it was realized that the problem with the motor cycle would be very expensive which ended in me saying "I'm going to ask around my buddies to see if anyone wants to buy it as is and think over what to do." He said "sure no problem." After a couple weeks had passed, I had a voicemail from the shop (which I still have) saying in a casual tone that they had a few questions and to give them a call back. I call back, ask for the manager as instructed, and he isn't available, the conversation ends with "we will have him call you back." I never here back, until a week or so passes when I get a notice of an impending lean sale taking place on my bike in the mail. This is the first time I have heard about such thing, no waring letters, no voicemails warning of building storage fees NOTHING. Just this letter out of the blue. I call the shop to ask about this and according to them it is too late, the bike is already out of their hands and I am more or less at a sunk cost of my bike. I feel like this is wrong, surely under California law they are required to do more to get ahold of me than a casual voicemail and suddenly boom a letter in the mail telling me a lien sale is said and done.. I am hoping to sue for a couple grand or at least threaten lawsuit to obtain some sort of compensation if they did not in fact follow procedure. Any insight on where I can go with this would be greatly appreciated.