Lies, deceit, threats and WRONG!

[phynny]

Thought some might enjoy this story that finally played out yesterday and it goes along with Gonzos most recent article.

 

6 weeks ago I received a phone call where a boyfriend explains to me how his girlfriend ran her 1999 Lexus into a ditch. Since we have worked on his cars in the past we were his first choice. After receiving the vehicle it had bent the front left strut, crushed part of the exhaust almost shut. Upon further inspection we found the fuel tank had a MASSIVE leak. The quote was over 2k for the customer. This included the fuel tank, both struts, tie-rod ends, exhaust repair etc.

 

After speaking to the customer he only wanted to do one strut... He said she (his pregnant girlfriend) would just have to drive it until they could sell it. I could not let it go like that so I offered to let her make payments on the fuel tank, exhaust repair and one strut which is all they would allow me to fix.

 

We completed the repairs and called the customer for pickup. The agreement was she would pay the balance on sept 6th when she got her school money. She had only paid $300 out of the $1400 bill. I get a call a couple I days ago with the customer saying she smells exhaust in the car and another shop told her I didn't repair the exhaust. We agreed she'd bring the car back and we would look at it. While dropping it off she was very rude and said not to call her until it was fixed.

 

So now we have possession f the vehicle and I'm obviously not letting it leave until the balance is paid in full. What really pissed me off is that the car had brand new brakes, rotors, tires and the other strut was replaced!!! Yet I was never paid.... After getting the car on a lift we immediately found the leak and it was 3" from our repair and it had cracked at the hanger. I was so excited to make the phone call =D. After explaining her new issue which was like talking to a wall I asked her if she wanted us to repair it and informed her she had to pay the balance on the vehicle before it could leave. Both her and her boyfriend asked if they could make payments! Are you kidding me?! Did the other shop take payments on your tires?! I said absolutely not and explained that we tried that already and never received payment. Now here is the best part..........

 

They butt dialed the shop phone and for 10 minutes I heard their plans on coming and just taking the car! She didn't like the idea and was saying she didn't want the cops coming to get him again lol. This guy is a body building "meat-head" therefor I had to look into my options. Cops can't do anything until during or after an incident, big help there. I recently broke my left and right index finger and part if my right finger is missing a large piece of skin all the way down to the bone (another story). The guy had told his girlfriend exactly what he was going to due to me and over the years I've learned that 90% of tough guy talk is just talk but there is that 10%. After 30 minutes I finally got my finger to bend and could make an almost fist . Now I feel fine and things will easily go my way if the need arises. As a business owner this is a last resort obviously.

 

As they arrived I had the vehicle in the air and showed them the spot and then welded it for them. I conceited the about not wanting to repair everything I recommended and had the proof (go me!). After speaking to them for a little while I believed not only did I satisfy them but I wouldn't be surprised to see their vehicles back in my shop. Oh yes, I did get paid.

 

The End

 

[mspecperformance]

WOW.

 

Payment Plans attract the worst customers. I also have very few customers that will go elsewhere for part of their repairs. Those customers whom do that I usually cut them off unless its a family member that is doing simple jobs for them.

[FROGFINDER]

Most times if you perform a "I will pay you later repair " do it with the knowledge that you will not get paid back and they will bad mouth your work. It's amazing how people that owe me for a repair job can afford the work I suggest at another shop, or they can smoke cigarettes, have the latest I-phone,etc. .