I had my vehicles worked on a couple of months ago and couldnt afford the bill. Was told that by someone that if bill not paid in 1 day that the mechanic from the body shop can come tow your vehicle away, Is this legal or do they have to take you to aourt or something first.
2006-06-18 10:41:20 · 13 answers · asked by shelly8962 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
*court is what I meant. Are they suppose to take you to court first before they can take your vehicle?
2006-06-18 10:43:03 · update #1
One thing to keep in mind, mechanics ( and I am one ) all generally talk to each other at some time or another and, it's a pretty safe bet that, if you needed a mechanic to work on your car THIS time, you WILL need one again sometime in the future. If you don't make good on your debt to this mechanic for the work already done, rest assured that your name will be circulated throughout the auto repair facilities in your area as a "Dead-beat" and, when you need help again you will either not get it or it will be VERY expensive ( whether the repair is an expensive one or not ).
2006-06-18 13:54:36 · answer #1 · answered by jcalaz2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending upon the jurisdiction depends upon what can happen but usually:
You don't pay, you are taken to small claims court and/or a mechanic's lein is filed against the car. If you try to sell it, they are entitled to the money like a bank would and is actually listed on the title of the car in some states as such
Most shops won't let a customer have a vehicle without payment for services rendered. They can't take the stuff off the car as it has almost no value anymore since it's been used.
And if towed, I don't think no one day... usually it has to go thru the court system and takes a few months and then is usually done in the presence of an officer if your jurisdiction allows for the taking of the car.
However, if you took it some place that is not reputable, anything can go as they won't contact the law for your car or their money and usually the car winds up in a chop shop within 24 hours for more profit than the amount you haven't paid off (with no trace of the car ever)
2006-06-18 18:01:01 · answer #2 · answered by gearbox 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a large shop owner in Atlanta Georgia. If I had given you the car, then I have released my lien. If you didn't pay your bill I would not let the vehicle go. If you gave me a check or credit card and then stopped payment, it would be called theft by conversion. If you did stop payment because you were not satisfied with the work, I would take you to court and generally will win If you had not given me a chance to make good on your complaint. If you stopped payment and then brought the car back for me to make good, I probably would not let the car leave my shop until you paid me with cash. I never let a car go without payment is my policy. If you talked the shop into paying the bill later and he has nothing written down or signature on repair order, the shop will have a hard time collecting. If you promised shop to pay, please pay, mechanic work is hard work and I don,t feel like I should pay for parts for your car. Hope all works out.
2006-06-18 18:34:28 · answer #3 · answered by soccergarysw 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a sign in my mechanic's office that says you won't get your car back till you pay your bill in full. He knows what he's doing, and well within the law, so . . ., I'd pay the bill ASAP, or at least talk to the mechanic and try to make some arrangements to start making some payments on it. The mechanic's lien may be different from State to State, so I can only talk from Texas' point of view. Don't just sit there and not do anything. You're running a risk of having your car towed, my guess.
2006-06-18 17:55:06 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they can go to court and get a lien. pretty sure you would have to be served papers at the address they have for you, or attempt to, to get a lien.
then they can tow your car and sale it if necessary to get their money. After so many days (depending on state law), it would be considered abandoned.
the parts they put on it would be considered used and might not be re-usable, not sure what work you had done.
I know some mechanics are rip offs, etc., but probably best to talk to them and try to make some kind of payment arrangement.
2006-06-18 17:56:20 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO they can not just come and get your car they will have to go to Cort before they can do that but if you do go to Cort you WILL lose your car if you coulden afford to pay to have the car fixed then why did you have it done the person that did the work for you should be payed how would you like it if you get a job and at the end of the week the boss told you he was not goin to pay you because he diden have the money would you feel you had been fu@#ed ill bet the person that did your work dose..............DEAD BEAT
2006-06-18 17:54:59 · answer #6 · answered by dl200558 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all get in a bind sometimes, so if you cant afford to pay the best thing to do is talk to them and try to give them something. Usually people will work with you if they see you are trying. Sounds like it should be a priority on your list skip out on another bill if you have too.
2006-06-18 18:10:56 · answer #7 · answered by Kristi A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can also undo the repairs and seize the parts they used to fix your vehicle. Mechanics work hard and most of them are honest and deserved to be payed. Pay up Nimrod or else.
2006-06-18 17:46:12 · answer #8 · answered by owllady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
After a certain amount of time, I am not sure of the exact amount, they do have the right to file a lein on your vehicle.
2006-06-18 17:46:15 · answer #9 · answered by cbms7 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can come and tow.....but you can report it stolen.......then they will get arrested for theft...........
They can not come get your vehicle, they should have gotten your money before they gave it to you. Their problem! They can put a mechanics lein on it....thats all!
When do you pay them pay them with pennies...........
2006-06-18 17:50:49 · answer #10 · answered by luvmysunshine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋