LEGAL ADVISE

[Purepony]

Would it be small claims ? Because if it falls under that amount you won’t need a lawyer

 

[haywire 440]

How much was written and how much was verbal and witnessed

I would say this written contract is the most important information and his signature.
You also went above and beyond the contract, non paid, to better your personalized customer service. Did this customer sign off/consent/ok your offer to take on these tasks? (You, Cawley)
“the headliner, all the rubber seals, body bumpers, cat whiskers, fender splash shields, dash pads, dash install, all the exterior trim i installed for free o i forgot the fiberglass hood doesnt fit perfect all hood gaps are a 1/4 inch except for the left side it is a 3/8 of an inch”.
You made a noble offer to do it over. I wouldn’t now since he turned you down and maybe he won’t be satisfied again.
The window can fail at any time.
As mentioned small claims court is probably where this goes to.
“Go pound sand” may be an appropriate response.
I have a friend who teaches law, that hopefully gives me some weight here.

 

[vintage chromoly]

Sorry to read this.
What a mess.

File this one under “no good deed goes unpunished”

 

[Lefty71]

I just stepped up & offered to do the hole car over. No he wants the money & he wants it now.

Honestly I don't think a judge gives two sh*ts about this kind of thing. They have much better things to worry about in this world today. I'd bet theres almost no way you are going to lose on "custom" work like that. Cars come from the factory with crooked bumpers, bad door, hood, and trunk gaps, etc. I doubt anyones gonna make out in court over it. If you do good work, and this customer is a "rarity" for you, I'd prolly tell him to pound salt and forget needing a lawyer..... although everybody should know a good one just in case.

 

[Purepony]

You’ve already over extended yourself from what I’m reading here.
I really think this guy is just trying to get a discount and take advantage. I don’t know how much money is involved but I’m sure a judge will see his intention and consider a part of his ruling on that.


The pictures look like a really good job I don’t see what he complaining about but again I don’t know what was said or what he paid.

It can change if you charged him 75k for example but as stated before o don’t know what work went into the car etc

but I applaud your effort to try and make the situation right because down here lol they would have said “pound sand and have a nice day”

 

[Cawley]

This is what they guy is hoping you will do.
If he files suit, countersue for time and legal fees.
Did he inspect the car before he took it home?
You have offered to make good on this. Looks like the work isn't as bad as he is letting on.

yes him & his wife inspected it

 

[69a100]

Here's some good Legal advice!
Dirty Harry - Nobody Puts Ketchup On A Hot Dog - YouTube

 

[Purepony]

yes him & his wife inspected it

Oh wow is the wife a paint expert ?

I don’t think he’ll sue you, it’ll take too long I really think he just wants to be slick. I’d recommend stand your ground and let him go do what he needs to do to as far as going to small claims.

 

[Cawley]

You’ve already over extended yourself from what I’m reading here.
I really think this guy is just trying to get a discount and take advantage. I don’t know how much money is involved but I’m sure a judge will see his intention and rule on that.


The pictures look like a really good job I don’t see what he complaining about but again I don’t know what was said or what he paid.

It can change if you charged him 75k for example but as stated before o don’t know what work went into the car etc

but I applaud your effort to try and make the situation right because down here lol they would have said “pound sand and have a nice day”

some minor body work dings & dents $10,000 for body work & paint $1,000 for installing & aligning all glass what i did for FREE headliner, install all seals, rubbers & bumpers paint & install splash shields paint & install dash pads paint & install dash install all cat whiskers install fire wall insulation

 

[Cawley]

Oh wow is the wife a paint expert ?

must be lol

 

[Cawley]

Honestly I don't think a judge gives two sh*ts about this kind of thing. They have much better things to worry about in this world today. I'd bet theres almost no way you are going to lose on "custom" work like that. Cars come from the factory with crooked bumpers, bad door, hood, and trunk gaps, etc. I doubt anyones gonna make out in court over it. If you do good work, and this customer is a "rarity" for you, I'd prolly tell him to pound salt and forget needing a lawyer..... although everybody should know a good one just in case.

ive been doing the type of work on & off for about 30 years i can give you 20 plus cars i have done in the past this is my first complaint

 

[Cawley]

Would it be small claims ? Because if it falls under that amount you won’t need a lawyer

He wants $7,000

 

[Purepony]

He wants $7,000

Lolz you’re kidding me ?! tell that guy to have a nice day. Go to court even if you lose I doubt he’ll get 7000k after looking at those pics.

That guys an idiot! Take your evidence and go to court if you need to. I really don’t see what he has to stand on.
Don’t beat yourself up, you tried to remedy and you offered to do more than most people would.

 

[SSmoothie]

From what I have heard, and I’m not an expert. I think you have the right to make things right first.

 

[Cawley]

From what I have heard, and I’m not an expert. I think you have the right to make things right first.

yep ive tried i told him to bring it back but it wouldnt be for a few months i already have a car in the shop but no he wants it done now or the money now

 

[Lefty71]

he wants it done now or the money now

He does sound like quite the primadonna.... everyone knows if you go to court nothing happens now.... a little here, a little there, goes on forever, and in the end no one is happy lol.

 

[snakeyes]

you tried now tell him to pound salt

 

[SSmoothie]

At this point I would consult a lawyer. Pay for an hour of console of what your state laws are in your state for your situation. Most state are way behind in court because of COVID if it ended up In court.

 

[eldubb440]

or you could just have the fukker whacked

 

[Ron H]

From my more recent encounters with an auto shop and with a building contractor (and in the work I used to do, now retired) have it written down – thoroughly on what’s to be done. If any extras are needed beyond what’s been agreed to, as isn’t at all unexpected, have a chat with the OK from the customer. In the case of the bld contractor doing a bathroom for my daughter this wasn’t done, despite the guy being a friend of a friend offering a discount I didn’t ask for.

I recommended to my daughter getting stuff to be done written down and checked off. It wasn’t and she’s super pissed as the cost quoted went from $9,000 to $16,000 despite her buying a lot of the materials delivered. No friggin clue on this amount until she got the final invoice. Stuff wasn’t done that had been ‘agreed’ to and stuff was done that the contractor said he had to do…but had been agreed to being done! Well, WDF now? It’s his ‘words’ and hers, best a luck. I was peeved as it’s not right to go that friggin far over the quote without having any knowledge of it. A grand, maybe two…ok, but double and saying squat? I know some car shops (aside from one of them I used) that will call if they run into something they didn’t expect…all good…happens.

Anyway, the dipshit trying to run you through a wringer…IMO…is trying to screw you to get something for nothing. I’d have to doubt a judge would rule with the guy given your offers; but as posted, for an hour of a lawyer’s time this could give you some peace of mind and if it works out perhaps he could draft a letter to this guy to back off. All I could say on this, on a related note, I’ve done this successfully as part of my biz. A longer story I could explain…