restoration?Body man won't work on my truck - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Gary · 09-19-2004, 07:11 PM

This is why I'm glad I have that old prepaid legal plan, I keep it mainly for my business but when I have problems I can call them up and talk to a lawyer, explain the situation and get a recommendation on what to do.

I don't know how I'd handle your situation, buddying up might work, if you're going to get a lawyer, I'd definitely get my truck first. Before you go get it find out what your rights are, you may need or want to show up with law enforcement to get it, definitely talk with a lawyer first.

rodnok1 · 09-19-2004, 07:57 PM

He should have called you and let you know the situation and that it wouldn't be done. As customers we hate not knowing what is going on, when I get into this situation I don't go back. It must be a good shop if you took it there, if you have confidence in his work you might want to wait 60-90 days, then suggest you pay him for only what he has done and you will have the rest done somewhere else, it might motivate him or at least you get the truck back. To be honest I would have expected at least 30-90 days over anyways,most people put things off or take on too much. I would avoid legal action unless you have already paid him a bunch and can't get it back, it's that whole honey or vinegar thing...

tphsmith · 09-20-2004, 04:16 PM

this happened to me, truck is a puzzle, i didnt take it apart. now its a full blown challange.. this shop wasnt in Denver NC was it??. well good luck. the shop thaat had my truck when I told him i wanted it back it came back in baggies boxes and panels, all the sheet metal that he did was pure junk and so I had to pay double the price to remove what he did and then pay again to replace correctly. I went belly up on this truck because of this. ran completely out of money. so well its realy slow working on this truck at this point because of this situation.

hotrodtroy · 09-20-2004, 11:25 PM

Tug, Very wise. Like mom said "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Daves72'GMC, Call or go to the sheriffs dept. and ask the questions. It cant hurt and alot of them have a paralegal on staff to answer these type of questions.

RON WOODGEARD · 09-21-2004, 12:31 AM

I went through the same thing up in Spokane Washington a lot of years ago..

The amounts in "MOST" small claim courts run well under $10,000. ( It was Only $1500.00 at that time in Washington) And I had paid the guy in full already.

It ran well over the time, I just went in one day and picked the truck ( a 1970 SS Camino) Up. The owner CAN NOT keep you from picking up your property, No matter what you tell him.
I then contacted an Attorney. He wrote the guy a letter, and I received a check in the mail at the Attorneys office. Minus $100.00 for the letter and attorney.
If you contact an attorney and let the guy in on what you're doing, You may not get half of your stuff back.. In otherwords. If it comes to an Attorney, the Attorney will write the guy a letter, Then the guy will tell you to pick a check up along with all of the parts to the truck.. What's going to be missing ?? At that point it's you're word against his about what was and/or was not there when you drove or trailered it in...

These things can really be a pain.. I had another(Bad) paint/body experience also, but nothing as bad as this.

Dave Reed · 09-24-2004, 04:49 AM

I restore cars. I know what that guy goes through. He was an idiot for signing the contract and he should honor it. That isn't the point.

The point is this: "The squeekiest wheel gets the most grease!" I use this tactic all the time. I would call or stop by every day, maybe with a smile or a scoul, but everyday. " How's my truck? Is it done yet? When will it be? I will call you tomorrow to see what the progress is!" It is cheap and not all that time consuming. Be cheerful and act like an annoying idiot. He will get sick of it soon. He will either give you your truck back or finish it. Either way he will get real tired of your annoying distractions. A lawyer will piss him off.

Not to sound mean, but did you really believe him when he signed that contract? I personally am too cynical and would have laughed at him.

By the way, my boss has a Mercedes that he took in 15 years ago and he still hasn't even touched it yet. ( The owner gets free storage and doesn't care)

**Yukon Jack** · 09-24-2004, 02:37 PM

I'm going through this same ordeal - my truck is just about finished and probably would take half a day to be completed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by discreet007

"The squeekiest wheel gets the most grease!" I use this tactic all the time. I would call or stop by every day, maybe with a smile or a scoul, but everyday. " How's my truck? Is it done yet? When will it be? I will call you tomorrow to see what the progress is!" It is cheap and not all that time consuming. Be cheerful and act like an annoying idiot. He will get sick of it soon. He will either give you your truck back or finish it. Either way he will get real tired of your annoying distractions.

I tried this approach for about three straight months (truck has been at the body shop now for more than 8 months) and have just about given up at this point. I'm afraid I just need to tell him I'm going to come get my truck on a specific date finished or not and move on. It is so unbelievably frustrating.

Daves72'GMC · 09-26-2004, 11:29 PM

I talked with him on Friday and told him we need to get the truck done.He said he would start taking the frame apart on Monday and for me to stop by on Friday, so I'll stop by on Friday and see if there is any progress. I'll keep you all updated. Thank you for your support. Dave

09-19-2004, 07:11 PM	#1
Gary Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Harvest, AL Posts: 544	This is why I'm glad I have that old prepaid legal plan, I keep it mainly for my business but when I have problems I can call them up and talk to a lawyer, explain the situation and get a recommendation on what to do. I don't know how I'd handle your situation, buddying up might work, if you're going to get a lawyer, I'd definitely get my truck first. Before you go get it find out what your rights are, you may need or want to show up with law enforcement to get it, definitely talk with a lawyer first. __________________ Gary Harris 85 Silverado - 87 Grand National 2007 Ardmore Car Show

09-19-2004, 07:57 PM	#2
rodnok1 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Linden, North Carolina Posts: 617	He should have called you and let you know the situation and that it wouldn't be done. As customers we hate not knowing what is going on, when I get into this situation I don't go back. It must be a good shop if you took it there, if you have confidence in his work you might want to wait 60-90 days, then suggest you pay him for only what he has done and you will have the rest done somewhere else, it might motivate him or at least you get the truck back. To be honest I would have expected at least 30-90 days over anyways,most people put things off or take on too much. I would avoid legal action unless you have already paid him a bunch and can't get it back, it's that whole honey or vinegar thing... __________________ 64 Panel Rebuild Pics Clutch Replacement and Borg Warner T10 Trans Rebuild 64 Panel 1/2 Ton 350cubes/400hp BorgWarner t-10 3:73 Auburn Posi

09-20-2004, 04:16 PM	#3
tphsmith still buypickupparts Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: charlotte Posts: 637	Deja Vu this happened to me, truck is a puzzle, i didnt take it apart. now its a full blown challange.. this shop wasnt in Denver NC was it??. well good luck. the shop thaat had my truck when I told him i wanted it back it came back in baggies boxes and panels, all the sheet metal that he did was pure junk and so I had to pay double the price to remove what he did and then pay again to replace correctly. I went belly up on this truck because of this. ran completely out of money. so well its realy slow working on this truck at this point because of this situation. __________________ Its Gonna be a Great Day, I woke up this Morning. 72 SWB Fleetside freshly painted. putting a 94 LT1 with 700R4 tranny lowered 4 in the front 6 in the back 81 chevy half ton 350 89 Silverado 4x4 going ta church truck

09-20-2004, 11:25 PM	#4
hotrodtroy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 138	Tug, Very wise. Like mom said "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Daves72'GMC, Call or go to the sheriffs dept. and ask the questions. It cant hurt and alot of them have a paralegal on staff to answer these type of questions. __________________ '72 C-10 w/ '68 Large Journal 327cu.in. "It's o.k. to dream about what you want to do, until you start doing what you are meant to do." Line from "The Rookie"

09-21-2004, 12:31 AM	#5
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	I went through the same thing up in Spokane Washington a lot of years ago.. The amounts in "MOST" small claim courts run well under $10,000. ( It was Only $1500.00 at that time in Washington) And I had paid the guy in full already. It ran well over the time, I just went in one day and picked the truck ( a 1970 SS Camino) Up. The owner CAN NOT keep you from picking up your property, No matter what you tell him. I then contacted an Attorney. He wrote the guy a letter, and I received a check in the mail at the Attorneys office. Minus $100.00 for the letter and attorney. If you contact an attorney and let the guy in on what you're doing, You may not get half of your stuff back.. In otherwords. If it comes to an Attorney, the Attorney will write the guy a letter, Then the guy will tell you to pick a check up along with all of the parts to the truck.. What's going to be missing ?? At that point it's you're word against his about what was and/or was not there when you drove or trailered it in... These things can really be a pain.. I had another(Bad) paint/body experience also, but nothing as bad as this.

09-24-2004, 04:49 AM	#6
Dave Reed Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CT Posts: 290	I restore cars. I know what that guy goes through. He was an idiot for signing the contract and he should honor it. That isn't the point. The point is this: "The squeekiest wheel gets the most grease!" I use this tactic all the time. I would call or stop by every day, maybe with a smile or a scoul, but everyday. " How's my truck? Is it done yet? When will it be? I will call you tomorrow to see what the progress is!" It is cheap and not all that time consuming. Be cheerful and act like an annoying idiot. He will get sick of it soon. He will either give you your truck back or finish it. Either way he will get real tired of your annoying distractions. A lawyer will piss him off. Not to sound mean, but did you really believe him when he signed that contract? I personally am too cynical and would have laughed at him. By the way, my boss has a Mercedes that he took in 15 years ago and he still hasn't even touched it yet. ( The owner gets free storage and doesn't care)

09-26-2004, 11:29 PM	#8
Daves72'GMC Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Asheville, N.C Posts: 952	I talked with him on Friday and told him we need to get the truck done.He said he would start taking the frame apart on Monday and for me to stop by on Friday, so I'll stop by on Friday and see if there is any progress. I'll keep you all updated. Thank you for your support. Dave



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