What is the name of your state? CA. I've been restoring cars for many years, mainly my own cars, then sell some of them. Everything on a car except upholstery. I have a business license and sellers permit so I can buy cars at auction.
So, a family member bought an old VW, sight unseen and wanted me to restore it. I told her, before she bought it, to find a restoration shop because I don't want the trouble of an old rusty job. I'm 64 and have bad knees and back. She bought it anyway and came back to me many times to help her restore it. I told her many times, I'm not a professional and don't know what to charge. I asked around and came up with an hourly price of $60 which the VW folks think is a "super deal", and thought that $7 to $10K would get it done. (Because most of the rust was hidden under paint).
As I begin the work and the car comes apart, more and more rust is evident, once the paint and bodywork is removed. I kept telling her, there's more rust and time. The original estimate and communications are all in text messages. Now, she doesn't want to pay the extra, even though she pushed me to do more and more work. I originally said I would do only rust repair and paint.
Now she says, she called BAR and they told her, that I can't legally charge her that much, (balance of $3045.08). And that I don't have an original, official estimate and contract. One of her original texts was that "I'm helping as a family".
The car is currently half finished, and I sent her an invoice for the balance. She doesn't want to pay but wants her car back.
What are my options? Lean sale after waiting the time period? What are her options?
Thanks for any advice.
So, a family member bought an old VW, sight unseen and wanted me to restore it. I told her, before she bought it, to find a restoration shop because I don't want the trouble of an old rusty job. I'm 64 and have bad knees and back. She bought it anyway and came back to me many times to help her restore it. I told her many times, I'm not a professional and don't know what to charge. I asked around and came up with an hourly price of $60 which the VW folks think is a "super deal", and thought that $7 to $10K would get it done. (Because most of the rust was hidden under paint).
As I begin the work and the car comes apart, more and more rust is evident, once the paint and bodywork is removed. I kept telling her, there's more rust and time. The original estimate and communications are all in text messages. Now, she doesn't want to pay the extra, even though she pushed me to do more and more work. I originally said I would do only rust repair and paint.
Now she says, she called BAR and they told her, that I can't legally charge her that much, (balance of $3045.08). And that I don't have an original, official estimate and contract. One of her original texts was that "I'm helping as a family".
The car is currently half finished, and I sent her an invoice for the balance. She doesn't want to pay but wants her car back.
What are my options? Lean sale after waiting the time period? What are her options?
Thanks for any advice.
