[72freak]

There are thousands of paint and body shop horror stories to be heard and most sound very similar to yours.....quite a few links about it here on the forum. The short version of how I have avoided body shop horrors is...........

Look around the lot.....if there are more than 4 unfinished vehicles there go somewhere else.

Have them sign or ask them to sign a document stating they cannot put a mechanics lien on the vehicle. If they flat out refuse, get grumpy or don't try to meet you in the middle on the verbiage....GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!

In the same document make sure the price is agreed on, signed off on and it states it cannot exceed the agreed upon price or TIME FRAME and the vehicle MUST be finished and approved for that price in that time frame or you can remove it without a lien.

You always get popped with the ...."but I need to buy materials".......If he cant front the materials....you don't need to be there.

Agree to ONLY pay in thirds.....figure out final price, split it three ways and pay one third when YOU approve the body work, one third after primer and one third when its is finished and YOU approve. (or something like that)

It works! You easily weed out the shops that take in restoration work just to get the money ahead of time and will get to the car when they have no collision work to do. These people in my book are corrupt, lying thieves that use "mechanic lien laws" as a method to steal!