Hey Guys,

I am not sure what to do and it would be great to have some input. While driving home today a guy in another car noticed that I hadn't gotten the obvious dent on my car fixed. He told me he could fix it for 650 in the same day, which had been estimated for two grand in one place and fifteen hundred in another. My immediately impulse was to decline and drive away. However, he was wearing an Auto Repair Shop (for the sake of privacy I didn't disclose the name) shirt so I figured maybe this guy was legitimate. His story was that he worked at the auto shop, but also earned money doing work on his own. He told me that I didn't have to pay anything if I didn't like the finished job. This concept, along with his accompanying friend with the same mechanic's shirt, persuaded me that this seems legitimate. I mean, I figured who would drive around in mechanics shirts looking to con. Also, I knew my damaged s2000 panels needed to be replaced so I figured what is the worst that could happen.

After watching him work on the car and covering up with bondo,(Yeah, I should have known better) he attempted to charge me another two hundred bucks for paint. He worked on the car while I went to bank before it closed. After coming back, my skepticism took over and I asked for the paint receipts. His response was, "paying in cash prevented him from getting receipts". I told him that sounded like bullshit. To alleviate the tension, he delayed the collection of paint cost until Monday. To further quell my concerns he made me look up the auto shop of his shirt, which had excellent reviews on yelp. I let my guard down and paid him 650 for the work he completed thinking I could express any concerns on Monday. While the car was, according to him, "drying", I started asking more questions, including a demand to take a picture of the paint used. According to him, recent environmental law legislation transformed the method by which cars are paint. Rather than one coat, cars needed three different layers. I demanded he show me the paint used, we walked back to his trunk. He showed me a canister of paint that was clearly purchased at some auto store like Kragen or Pep Boys. Immediately afterwards, he hopped in his vehicle and rode off.

However, I wrote down his license plate. Because I had planned on trading in the s2000 -the reason why a cheap fix was so appealing- soon so I just so happen to have a carfax account. Now I have his VIN and his vehicle make verified. I left a voice mail at his number telling him that if he does not give me the evidence on Monday or my money back by Monday, that I'll file a police report.


I just want to make sure I can file a report? And if so, should I wait until Monday or should I file a police report now?

Thank you for your advice!

 

im not sure how your state works,but here in virginia a verbal contract is just as good as a written one...sounds like you had a verbal contract with the guy to fix your car for a certain amount...i doubt you can do anything as you agreed for him to work on your car..its the consumers responsibility to do any research on a "business" or person before work is performed...sorry man, but i really dont think you can do anything except maybe take him to small claims court, which IMO, wouldnt be worth the hassle

 

Stop complaining. You got what you paid for. Cheap ass work, cheap ass paint, cheap ass price.

Sorry.

 

+1

You made the decision - you should have listened to your "immediate impulse". Own up to it - you were trying to do something "on the cheap" and you got what you paid for.

 

you got scammed by a gypsy.

 

I feel bad because it looks like you just got scammed and it also looks like you know you did. With that being said, you never pay for something until it's finished. Haven't you ever been to a mechanic before? Every time I go I get everything taken care of then they said "ok done, you own this much" and then I pay. It sucks but you gotta be more careful. Now, just because that happened to you doesn't mean I don't want you to get your $$ back. Keep nagging him but never threaten him with anything other than "I filed a police report for fraud" or something along those lines. In reality though you did have a verbal agreement with him and he covered his end. He just did a shitty job.

 

I'd like to see the work that was done.

 

Post pics Op. Sucks to see this happened but you should have been more careful.

 

"If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is"

Unfortunately you just learned a valuable and expensive lesson.
It's probably going to cost more to get it fixed properly now.

I doubt you'll get your money back but you should still contact the police.

 

Agreed, I am complaining. On the other hand, according to business law my claim is actually justified. The verbal promise distinctly stated oem paint be used. Because he couldn't produce the receipt for his promise, or has yet to, the integrity the whole job can be questioned.

But you are absolutely right. I complaining for a mistake made and trying to see if I can mitigate the damage -I am both a sucker and petty.