i took my car to repair shop and they guy told me one week it should be ready well it wasnt he ask me to give him a little more time so i said ok so iwent back 2 weeks later to check on it and the shop was closed down no forward address nothing i have his cell but he will no longer answer my calls i called the police and they said its nothing they could do because i took the car there so its not theft. i took my car august 29 and he still has my car i dont know how to contact him but by cell but he want answer..i have left mess..that if he needed money let me know he want respond i have stated that if he has done any work on the car i will pay even if my car is not running i just would like it back because it has taken to long. but still no response please tell me what should i do without getting into any trouble and remember i have no way of contacting this guy but i do know that the cell phone number is correct because he answered once when i called from a pay phone. help me???
2006-11-03 15:17:32 · 8 answers · asked by carla28al 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Talk to a lawyer. You're going to have to sue, but you should be able to get your car back if you act before his creditors seize it or he parts it out.
2006-11-03 16:16:42 · answer #1 · answered by open4one 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are so scre*ed right now and dude I feel for you. Sounds like this wasn't a reputable mechanic to say the least as if he was able to close up shop and move that quickly it must have been one of those you get what you pay for places. But what now?
Okay lets see do you have any really really big friends ya know the kinda scary type?
Well don't call them cuz all they'll do is end up getting in trouble over this.
All you have is a cell number. The obvious thing is to go to a lawyer but what is he going to do for you if you don't have a location, name or anything?
Did you get any paperwork when you left off the car? Check with the Secretary of State's Office in your State and see if by some miracle they have a registered agent on file for the business (but probably not). If by some miracle they do then you take them to Court.
I know you really want the car back and hopefully you haven't been making payments. Hey thats another idea if your making payments on the car still and although its going to screw up your credit send the Repo people after the car and give them just the information you have.
It might take the skills of some sort of investigator (or put your actor hat on) and have some girl call the guy acting like she's stuck somewhere and shmooze her way to see if she can get him to come to her where she is broken down? Then you in another vehicle playing 007 nearby can try to follow the guy to wherever he goes and note each stop. Somewhere along the line hopefully he'll end up where he has a bunch of cars maybe you'll get lucky? Just don't try to approach the dude while your incognito cuz you'll blow the whole thing. Hopefully you'll get lucky enough to not only get your car back but get an address where you can still send a Summons where you can still sue him AFTER you get your car back.
If you see your car anywhere along the way DONT go get it yet. WAIT til you can call the police but don't let the car outta your sight you might need a friend to help in the surveillance anyhow as if he even thinks he's being followed there could be trouble. Be sure and get the police to go with you to the place where you see the car because you need to have your title with you and at some point this is a STOLEN VEHICLE! It doesn't matter what the police said, you go down to the police station make them take a stolen vehicle report. The mechanic at this point has REFUSED to return the vehicle and thats apparent by his not returning calls etc... He knows he has you between a rock and hard place.
If you are having communication (language) problems with the man get someone who speaks his language really well to have a talk with him. He's bound to answer phone calls that aren't your number. If your not careful and you keep contacting him he just might change it and then you'll be really up the creek.
Go to the people where he was renting the place they must have some information about the man. Tell em you would hate to have to go to the extreme of filing some sort of paper just to get the information but you'll do what it takes to get your car back cuz this whole situation stinks up the shwazoo! Try to get their sympathy maybe you'll get lucky there. Even one of the nearby establishment by where the shop was might know someone who knows the guys whereabouts. Sometimes you have to take control of the situation, write down all your options and decide the best path.
Just remember stay safe, keep your distance and if at all possible get the dude put in jail cuz he sounds like the mechanic from H E double L.
...........think about it................
2006-11-03 15:39:10 · answer #2 · answered by MsEagleTX 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Call your local Congressnam's office.It should be in the front of the phone book. Go to the court house and talik to the clerks office there. Thjey can tell you what rights you have, keep all correspondence and dates and times and everything you have. If anyone went with you have them make a statement and have it notarized, the bank can do that for you. They should be able to arrest him for theft, possesion of your car and not allowing you to have it is stealing. He will have to be served to be arrested and go to court. Make sure you have the name address and all information with you when you go to the courthouse. Call the Better Business Bureau also. I'd call the local TV station and tell them, see if they can do a story on it. How many people has he done this to. Go for it! Don't let this get you down, get mad and make someone do something for you. Good luck to you>
2006-11-03 15:32:51 · answer #3 · answered by MISS-MARY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact the bureau of auto repair, it should be part of the better business bureau. If he has a license they will know, it is a start. Did you sign a repair order, and did you get a written estimate. You will need to have any paper work that you received from the shop. It is a start but this is a civil matter, and the police wont help.
2006-11-03 15:23:02 · answer #4 · answered by 007 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Which ever Police Officer told you he wouldnt do anything is lazy and just doesnt want to do a report. Call the Sheriff or Chief of Police (depending on where you live) and tell them that the Officer would not do anything. This should get the ball rolling.
2006-11-03 15:26:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
oh man I would kill this guy. Try to find out his name and info and take his *** to court. If after a while he still does not respond hire a detective then when you take him to court you can be reimbursed for that. IF HIS BUSINESS HAD A WEBSITE I CAN FIND OUT HIS ADDRESS.
2006-11-03 15:26:34 · answer #6 · answered by Bedhead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contact a lawyer
2006-11-03 15:21:12 · answer #7 · answered by Charlie Brown 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I suggest you take him to court
2006-11-03 15:21:02 · answer #8 · answered by Brandi D 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋