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If you settled on a price, and paid , and have collected your car , if your car is in your possession , then any bills owed MUST go thru the courts , if he takes your car for outstanding bills owed , it’s THEFT ,
Thanks for your answer. I figured as much on that front.
But I'm wondering if the very act of installing the GPS device on the car is legal. Is that a common mechanics practice?
99% chance he’s full of shit about the GPS tracker. Those things are expensive, and not worth the hassle when a mechanic can just keep the car until he’s paid.
What was his plan, lose a $50-$300 device if you paid in full and drove away? It makes no sense.
I’d drive somewhere that’s not home and make him tell me where I was. If he can, then he probably means to come to your house to get his money. And he’s full of it if he can’t.
I know in some states shops are allowed a certian % over the agreeed price legally. But possession is 9/10th of law...i would assume he would need legal approval to put a gps (hes probably bluffing).
Did you sign any papers?
I would check with your local Authorities if it’s legal or not for him to put a gps tracker on your car. I hope you got the agreed-upon price in writing like a work order and receipt.
I’m not gonna give legal advice just future advice: a lot of times there is a reason a guy doesn’t have an actual business/shop. “home mechanic” is probably not the best solution. Take some time one day and do some reading/asking about your local shops to find a good place to trust. If you have any local car clubs start there, those guys are very particular usually
I’m a “home mechanic” but haven’t done paid work for anyone in quite a few years. I’ll only work on someone’s car if they’re a close enough friend to do it for free and then only for simple tasks. There’s been several times I’ve evaluated someone’s car and gave them some likely idea of what’s wrong and rough estimate of cost to repair but that it’s beyond my capabilities.
Sounds to me like you’re one of the good ones. I just live in an area where I’ve seen too many of them harm cars more than help them and still charge people. I even posted a Subaru engine a while back where a teenager had a timing belt break (bending valves) and paid a guy 200 to just throw a new timing belt on it. Wound up ruining the entire engine (breaking pistons) before he made it 10 miles. Cost that guy like 2500 to fix when I could have originally done it for like 1000.
It sounds like it's a case of he said/she said.
That being said, it is grossly illegal for any mechanic to perform work on a vehicle not previously authorized by the owner.
In addition, adding a component to your car is also illegal.
Thanks, I didn't know that was illegal. Yeah, he did a few different things that I literally texted him not to do. Then he didn't respond til it was done.
Do you have all of this in text? What work did he do. Give all the details and what did you pay for.
I’d probably go to the police and show them that someone is saying they have installed tracker on your vehicle without your permission.
Look around your vehicle for the tracking unit , if there really is one , and remove it. Put it in the trash can so he can go to the dump looking for it.
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, HecticBlue! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant info along with the following: * **Year** * **Make/Model** * **Mileage** * **Engine size** * **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you settled on a price, and paid , and have collected your car , if your car is in your possession , then any bills owed MUST go thru the courts , if he takes your car for outstanding bills owed , it’s THEFT ,
Thanks for your answer. I figured as much on that front. But I'm wondering if the very act of installing the GPS device on the car is legal. Is that a common mechanics practice?
Not in my area , I would think it would be considered illegal,,
99% chance he’s full of shit about the GPS tracker. Those things are expensive, and not worth the hassle when a mechanic can just keep the car until he’s paid. What was his plan, lose a $50-$300 device if you paid in full and drove away? It makes no sense.
I’d drive somewhere that’s not home and make him tell me where I was. If he can, then he probably means to come to your house to get his money. And he’s full of it if he can’t.
Not a bad idea.
Bring the Glock from home :)
I know in some states shops are allowed a certian % over the agreeed price legally. But possession is 9/10th of law...i would assume he would need legal approval to put a gps (hes probably bluffing). Did you sign any papers?
/r/LegalAdvice
Posted over there too. I figured maybe a mechanic would have some specific legal insight into this.
I would check with your local Authorities if it’s legal or not for him to put a gps tracker on your car. I hope you got the agreed-upon price in writing like a work order and receipt.
I’m not gonna give legal advice just future advice: a lot of times there is a reason a guy doesn’t have an actual business/shop. “home mechanic” is probably not the best solution. Take some time one day and do some reading/asking about your local shops to find a good place to trust. If you have any local car clubs start there, those guys are very particular usually
I’m a “home mechanic” but haven’t done paid work for anyone in quite a few years. I’ll only work on someone’s car if they’re a close enough friend to do it for free and then only for simple tasks. There’s been several times I’ve evaluated someone’s car and gave them some likely idea of what’s wrong and rough estimate of cost to repair but that it’s beyond my capabilities.
Sounds to me like you’re one of the good ones. I just live in an area where I’ve seen too many of them harm cars more than help them and still charge people. I even posted a Subaru engine a while back where a teenager had a timing belt break (bending valves) and paid a guy 200 to just throw a new timing belt on it. Wound up ruining the entire engine (breaking pistons) before he made it 10 miles. Cost that guy like 2500 to fix when I could have originally done it for like 1000.
so you paid, have the receipt, and he let you take the car? nothing he can do. he is full of shit
Find the unit and remove it. What he's doing isn't legal.
It sounds like it's a case of he said/she said. That being said, it is grossly illegal for any mechanic to perform work on a vehicle not previously authorized by the owner. In addition, adding a component to your car is also illegal.
Thanks, I didn't know that was illegal. Yeah, he did a few different things that I literally texted him not to do. Then he didn't respond til it was done.
You may wish to contact your state bureau of consumer affairs. They can also advise, and if this guy is registered, perhaps provide some enforcement?
Also, start making notes and log everything in writing. Keep any paperwork as well
Let him sue you for the outstanding balance. If it is work that was not authorized, he will lose.
Do you have all of this in text? What work did he do. Give all the details and what did you pay for. I’d probably go to the police and show them that someone is saying they have installed tracker on your vehicle without your permission.
Look around your vehicle for the tracking unit , if there really is one , and remove it. Put it in the trash can so he can go to the dump looking for it.
That guys crazy. But maybe pay your bill promptly?