If the mechanic and/or repair shop refuses to or cannot fix the damage done, then the vehicle owner should consider taking legal action. In the event that the owner decides they want to sue, they should contact a local automotive lawyer for further assistance.
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If the mechanic’s shop is part of a national chain, you may be able to reach someone from the corporate office about this problem. If a corporate office representative feels that the shop is liable, they may want to avoid any negative publicity or reviews about their company.
If you keep going back to your mechanic for the same repair, it could be a sign that your mechanic did a bad job (and doesn't want to own up to it) or used shoddy parts or bad repair procedures. Get a second opinion and definitely get your next repair somewhere else if you're not getting 100% free repairs for repeat issues.
If the reason they won’t release your car is because of non-payment, a civil action is your only option. In fact, odds are, the mechanic will have already filed a civil action against you for non-payment. You may be better off paying the bill and then taking legal action later if you don’t believe the payment was warranted.
And while your vehicle may not have that particular problem, it's only a matter of time before your vehicle has that problem. According to the mechanic, it couldn't hurt to do it now. This mechanic should be avoided since it's not likely that your best interests are being put first.
If you suspect fraud and would like to file a complaint, call the state Bureau of Automotive Repair at (800) 952-5210. You may also check to see if a repair shop is registered with the state at www.autorepair.ca.gov.
I recommend vehicle owners shouldn't say to their mechanics:'Just do what it needs. ' This can leave a vehicle owner open for a very expensive repair. ... 'I don't know anything about cars. ' While many people may feel this way, I never believe it.
Talk to the Mechanic If they ignore you, then you can talk to them in person. Start by reminding them about the email and giving them another chance to respond. Feel free to cite legal codes, but be friendly. This gives the mechanic a chance to make good on their own, without giving either of you extra trouble.
If you feel that a car dealership has ripped you off, you can take action by negotiating with a manager, filing an official complaint with a government agency, or—if all else fails—hiring an attorney to get your money back.
Car mechanics are notorious for lying to their customers in order to gain extra work for things that don't really need doing or for charging extra for things if they can tell someone doesn't really know what they are talking about.
10 Ways Your Mechanic Is Ripping You OffScare Tactics.Fixing the Body Paint. ... Replacing the Air Filter. ... Offering a Free Inspection or Tire Rotation. ... Additives. ... Not Grouping Repairs When Calculating Labor. ... One Fix After Another. ... Charging Full Price for Remanufactured Parts. ... More items...
Can I sue a mechanic for taking too long? It's possible to sue a mechanic if you have given them a down payment and they haven't fixed your vehicle for a long time. This is especially true if you can prove their negligence made your car worse.
Honest mechanics will communicate clearly with you in words you can understand before, during and after the repair. Compare any scheduled repair with your owner's manual. Honest mechanics will give you written estimates including parts, labor, and other supplies.
If your car can't be repaired or the cost of repairing it is more than its value then it will be deemed a Total Loss. When this happens, you will be compensated based on the value of your car, allowing you to get back on the road as quickly as possible!
As mentioned, according to Section 56 (2) of the Act, consumers can return a car to a seller within a 6 month period, but only under certain conditions. Defects due to "wear and tear" will not count.
If you have a non-running car, you are probably wondering, “Can you trade in a car with a bad engine?” The simple answer is yes, you can. While a used car dealership will allow you to trade in your broken vehicle, you won't be taking home a large check at all.
The Consumer Services Division Hotline is 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352). All other complaints against license Florida dealers should be filed with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles at the regional office responsible for the dealership.
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Hello, I am requesting some advice as to a possible civil, small claims suit. I had an auto accident going back to around april of last year. The transmission of the car was damaged in the accident.
If there is no signage indicating a business name and everything looks "shady", then perception is reality. Ask this guy who his contact is and since he is too busy, you will call for him. If you get the run around from that, then, yes, sadly, you are most likely dealing with a shady shop doing shady business.
Thanks for responding. I could have gotten a used transmission from another source, I'm actually very knowledgable about these cars (subaru wrx), however, at the time i just didn't feel like dealing with things myself, so when he offered to get the trans, i accepted.
Go to the facility and request immediate delivery of your car. Since there is no bill left owing, there is no reason he should refuse. If he does, then, yes, have the police dispatched. Inform him of your intent to remove the car and have the repairs done and sue him.
If there is no outstanding ballance for repairs. Then the mechanic has no legal reason to with hold the vehicle from you. If the vehicle is in a condition unsafe to drive then bring a tow truck or a friend with a trailer. If the person refuses to release your vehicle then contact the authorities.
Let's say your mechanic fails to put in an oil filter after an oil change or fails to properly install a part. Failing to put in the proper part (s) falls under the category of unauthorized repairs.
Some chains offer a complete list of services. Chains can usually offer a relatively low price because they work on such a high volume of cars. These types of chains are best for specific types of routine maintenance.
If you have an older car and not much money, you might get work done on your vehicle that is considered crucial and let some other problems go by the wayside. If the mechanic makes unauthorized repairs and demands payment, you may be able to sue the mechanic .
These mechanics often receive specialized training. Repairs at dealerships tend to be quite expensive. Many car owners limit the use of dealership mechanics to just warranty-related repairs. General Repair Shops: While parts often cost more at service stations, as compared to dealerships, labor often is less expensive.
Another possible cause of action is negligence. This legal theory is based on the idea that the mechanic owed you a duty to properly repair your vehicle and that by messing up the transmission, he breached the duty. The other elements that you have to prove are causation and damages.
If you think that the mechanic intentionally damaged your vehicle as part of a scam, you may wish to contact the Office of the Attorney General in the state where the vehicle was repaired. This office is usually tasked with handling consumer concerns. Another option is to pursue the matter through small claims courts .
Some states allow you to bring your lawyer to this type of court while others do not. As a final resort, you may choose to sue the mechanic or the shop that you feel is responsible. However, litigation can be expensive and may even exceed the cost to repair your transmission.
If the mechanic’s shop is part of a national chain, you may be able to reach someone from the corporate office about this problem. If a corporate office representative feels that the shop is liable, they may want to avoid any negative publicity or reviews about their company.
If the mechanic was contracted to perform the work in a skillful manner and he did not, you may be able to sue on these grounds. If the service was provided as part of a warranty on the vehicle, you may have a breach of warranty case.
Crooks and scammers are some of the most creative people on earth. Therefore, it would be impossible to describe all the automotive repair scams that are being used to cheat honest consumers out of their money. However, some of the most common maintenance scams are described below.
If you have been the victim of an auto repair rip-off, you should contact a consumer protection attorney who will evaluate your case and advise you as to your legal options. Be prepared to provide your attorney with receipts, photos, and any other documentation you have which supports your case.
So, if your mechanic does work that you didn’t authorize, agree to pay the portion that was agreed upon. This should clear the matter up. But, if it doesn’t, you may run into serious problems.
If your mechanic refuses to release your car, you have a few options. It really depends on why they refuse to give you back your car. If it’s because you refuse to let them do certain repairs, you really only have two options. First, you can call the police.
First, you can call the police. Let them know the situation and ask them to talk to the mechanic. Usually, if it gets to this point, the mechanic is just going to give your car back and document the fact that you refused to make the repairs necessary to keep your car safe.
If the problem with your car makes it unsafe to drive, the mechanic’s shop isn’t going to want to be on the hook. Let’s say that you refuse to get your brakes replaced and drive off the mechanic’s property. Two blocks later, you get into an accident because your brakes failed. You kill the other driver and you end up paralyzed.
When you drop your car off to the mechanic, you usually authorize certain work. You may ask them to do specific repairs. Or, you may tell them that they can only do repairs after you authorize them. Finally, you may give permission for them to do repairs up to a certain dollar amount. Once you leave the shop, the mechanic discovers ...
This basically means that a mechanic can keep your car until you pay your bill in full. Even if your car is worth $100,000, if you have a bill for $20, they can keep your car until the bill is paid.
You can’t afford to be without your car for that long. If the reason they won’t release your car is because of non-payment, a civil action is your only option. In fact, odds are, the mechanic will have already filed a civil action against you for non-payment.
Some services must be performed at a particular place. If an independent repair shop replaced a part for you, that shop might be the only place you can go to receive warranty service for that particular part.
If a part inside the transmission is being replaced, you will probably end up replacing the gasket, the fluid, and the filter de pending upon what type it is, how long it has been in use, and whether the part failure caused contamination. If your alternator is being replaced, you might end up replacing the belt.
A shady mechanic, while being honest that complete failure can contaminate the entire system, may exaggerate how long you have before a replacement is necessary. That failing pump, while needing to be replaced, might last for a long time before it fails, meaning you can take a few days to shop around.
If you fail an emissions test because of a hole in your exhaust, you should be going the other direction if you hear words like "entire," "whole," or "system.". In some cases, a simple problem like this can be fixed with a much cheaper weld or even a quick dab of a sealant.
The service department is the real money-earner in a dealership, so service advisors and technicians are encouraged to find repairs. Many people don't know it, but your service advisor gets a commission on your repairs. The more you spend, the more your service advisor takes home in his/her paycheck.
Sometimes a misdiagnosis is an honest mistake and the mechanic won't charge you. But if the mechanic can't justify the first repair and won't refund it, you should be looking elsewhere.
Nearly everyone has gone to the local shop for routine auto maintenance only to drive away after paying a lot more in unexpected charges. Most mechanics are honest, hardworking people who only want to help you by pointing out problems you may not know about. But some mechanics want to take you and your wallet for a ride. If any of these things sound like your mechanic, start looking for a new one.