Virginia
Ok so this mechanic did work for me under the table. I had two (2) vehicles towed to his "shop".
Vehicle A is worth $4k. After spending $1600 fixing the engine problem, the car broke down one week later. The mechanic met me on-site, and insisted that the problem was not related to his fix. My wife begged me to not put any more money into the car (we've had some rough luck). So i placed the car for sale as-is. Being that the mechanic told me the engine was shot, I sold the car for $1k to another "mechanic". This new guy later informed me that the issue was fixed in half an hour, and that it was indeed related to the original repair (i have this voice mail saved). So if the original mechanic had wanted to help me, and admit that perhaps he made a mistake, I could have still sold the car for $4k.
Vehicle B: To make matters worse, he is now holding the second vehicle. He already removed the engine from it, which was part of the deal, but since I got the shaft on the first car I don't have the cash to fix the second car. He insisted that I gave him the go-ahead to start repairs on the second vehicle, but i have no memory of this. So now I want to sell the second car for whatever I can get for it (i am so done with these cars), however the guy says i now owe him $300 for removing the engine, and then today said that "storage fees" start tomorrow if I don't do something.
Questions are:
1) Do i have a case in small claims for the losses on the first vehicle? (im skeptical because there are no written records of anything, and I no longer own the car)
2) Do i want to make an worse enemy of this guy? (he knows where i live).
3) If I want to have the car towed away from his shop (without the engine in it), will he be able to force me to the pay him?. Can I call the police, since it's property?
I plan to act tomorrow to have the car removed from his lot while he is not there. I have a buyer for the car (even without the engine in it). I have the title.
Thank you for any help.
Ok so this mechanic did work for me under the table. I had two (2) vehicles towed to his "shop".
Vehicle A is worth $4k. After spending $1600 fixing the engine problem, the car broke down one week later. The mechanic met me on-site, and insisted that the problem was not related to his fix. My wife begged me to not put any more money into the car (we've had some rough luck). So i placed the car for sale as-is. Being that the mechanic told me the engine was shot, I sold the car for $1k to another "mechanic". This new guy later informed me that the issue was fixed in half an hour, and that it was indeed related to the original repair (i have this voice mail saved). So if the original mechanic had wanted to help me, and admit that perhaps he made a mistake, I could have still sold the car for $4k.
Vehicle B: To make matters worse, he is now holding the second vehicle. He already removed the engine from it, which was part of the deal, but since I got the shaft on the first car I don't have the cash to fix the second car. He insisted that I gave him the go-ahead to start repairs on the second vehicle, but i have no memory of this. So now I want to sell the second car for whatever I can get for it (i am so done with these cars), however the guy says i now owe him $300 for removing the engine, and then today said that "storage fees" start tomorrow if I don't do something.
Questions are:
1) Do i have a case in small claims for the losses on the first vehicle? (im skeptical because there are no written records of anything, and I no longer own the car)
2) Do i want to make an worse enemy of this guy? (he knows where i live).
3) If I want to have the car towed away from his shop (without the engine in it), will he be able to force me to the pay him?. Can I call the police, since it's property?
I plan to act tomorrow to have the car removed from his lot while he is not there. I have a buyer for the car (even without the engine in it). I have the title.
Thank you for any help.