My car was @ a garage for a 2nd opinion as to why it quit. I am a loyal customer to this mechanic. There isn't any sign in his business saying you must pick up your car in so many days. He called a salvage yard and had my car took away. He did not notify me of this!!This was after I paid him to install a transmission last year that cost me $1,200.00. !! and various other repairs.
2006-07-26 13:51:57 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Many shops will and do have a policy that states that property left over thirty days can be sold. However I do not think that would hold up in the courts system. If no written agreement was done then it will be your word against his. On another note vehicle are not to be sold for salvage unless accompanied by a title. At least in Texas it does. I think if that rule was not valued everywhere chop shops and salvage places would be doing a booming business. Talk to the owner of the shop and go get an attorney. Good luck
2006-07-26 13:58:34 · answer #1 · answered by Can do it man 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to check the laws in your state. MOST states and most large automotive repair companies requier writen, certified notification before the car is removed or sold to settle a debt. If the letter is sent and the owner does not sign for it, the repair center will get a card back saying mail was undeliverable or not signed for. At that point, they can have it removed. I run a repair center and have for a long time. Usually the certified letter gets the owners attention and gets the car moved. I also send 2 notifications before making a move, as well. I would notify the garage owner, tell him your going to get legal advise and will be sueing him if teh car is damaged and cannot get it back. Additionally, I don't think the salvage yard can do anything without the title for the car. They actually bought a stolen car since it was not the garage owners and you did not have teh car towed there yourself. Check your local laws first.
2006-07-26 14:00:37 · answer #2 · answered by dyurkosr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you still own the car (you have the title, right?) than you can go and get your car. You're obviously not that loyal of a customer if he was your SECOND opinion. Some places have fine print on work orders stating they can have your car towed. Did you sign anything? Did you read the fine print? I work in a shop and far as I know it's illegal to sell a car you don't own to a salvage yard. How long was your car there? If it was there for a long time than I don't blame them for towing it away. We constantly have people leave there cars at our shop while they decide if they want to fix it or not. Auto shops are not storage areas. Most have small parking lots and need the space for incoming customers and tow ins. There is no extra room for storing broken cars.
2006-07-26 15:20:09 · answer #3 · answered by impossible 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends upon how long you left it there but yep you need to seek legal people to give you a good answer.
In my state.. After a certain point (usually 5 days) you can start charging a storage fee for protecting the car.. After 60 days, we can apply to the state to get the title but requires cetified letters to the address on title (which some people forget to change and the letters go in the dead letter file) .. if no objections, the title can be issued into the shops name and the car disposed of how we want.
The place I worked at was leinant.. usually it was 30 days to pickup unless other arrangements made before the fees kicked in.. and we usually took about a year to get the title to make sure people abandoned the car
2006-07-26 16:33:16 · answer #4 · answered by gearbox 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever you paid him to do work does not give you the right to park your vehicle there for as long as you wish. If you really think you have a greivance with this mechanic, then discuss your case with a lawyer & get an education about what it will cost you to sue him. Trust me, it's not worth it. Unless he salvaged it within a day or two of you leaving it...then you might have a case. If it sat for more than a week or two I can't imagine any judge awarding you damages in this case. In fact, he MIGHT make you pay for storing it...
2006-07-26 13:57:39 · answer #5 · answered by D 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The rule is probably in small print at the bottom of the repair order you signed. That sucked, and not necessarily a good way to do business on his part. Seek some legal advice to see what your options are.
2006-07-26 13:55:31 · answer #6 · answered by Beauty2020 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, any vehicle left over 30 days can be considered abandoned. A phone call is all that was needed from the mechanic.
2006-07-26 13:55:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you might be leaving out some details. In Ca, if your car is left for 30 days without contact or attempt to pay, you can start the lein. Once the lein is complete the car can be sold or junked. The notification you get is the notice that your car has had a lein placed on it.
2006-07-26 17:13:29 · answer #8 · answered by shel_bug66 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No If you do not pick up your car within 20 days the mechanic has the legal right to lean sale it. then after he gets the lean he owns the car and can do anything he wants with it.
2006-07-26 13:55:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe it has to be by certified letter but he'll have to prove that he made a reasonable attempt at contacting you before disposing of your abandoned vehicle (which I'm sure is what he's calling it).
2006-07-26 13:56:14 · answer #10 · answered by Syrann 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋