Recourse with a Body Shop?

[GeorgeG.]

If you've already reached the top (owner\owner's wife), then it sounds like your only recourse would be to blast them all over the internet. I wonder if there's any way you can convince your insurance co to withhold payment until the dispute is settled. This way they don't get anything at the moment.

Otherwise, sounds like you screwed yourself by signing papers, authorizing work, and leaving parts. I'm not saying what they did is right...definitely not.

I'd still press the issue though for as long as you can be without your truck. Try to convince them that the manufacturer calls for 8-12 hours and that your paying for experienced techs to do the work. It may have taken their tech 32 hours...so what. That doesn't mean you're paying to teach their tech how to do shit.

[Rick Modena]

and if you have a spare set of keys, have Tiff go take the truck, while you monster stomp all around the shop/office kicking trashcans, throwing tires, etc.

They'll never see her leave!

Let me add a twist to this idea, get her all doll'd up, may I recommend some short shorts, skimpy top, red high heals and have her go in there and distract everyone and you sneak the truck out the back gate...

That shit would work on my horn dog, dumb ass self...

[Chili]

You will be very lucky if the cops do anything.. Based on my vast experience in watching People's Court and Judge Judy, the consensus seems to be that you have to pay them to get your vehicle, then sue them in small claims court to get a refund on whatever amount the court finds you were overcharged. The evidence should be relatively simple if you can prove that you asked for quotes numerous times, and information from Bushwhacker on the average install time for the parts.

So if that's 12 hours according to the manufacturer then you may be able to recover $1k in small claims..

[bcoop]

You might try the "Insurance pays xx hours for replacement of these fender flares at your hourly rate, and I'll pay that no problem, but there is absolutely no conceivable way it took a professional 4x the labor Bushwacker says it takes to install."


He's trying to put the screws to you because he thinks he can, and he knows most people will lay down and take it because he has their car. I'd screen shot phone call logs, take a copy of your phone bill, etc up there to document how many times you tried calling to get a price. If he doesn't budge, go nuclear on the internet, BBB, etc. I'd personally go so far as to get some signs made and park my truck next door or across the street slamming them until he flinches, and he WILL flinch.

[jluv]

I have the majority of the insurance money on a check in my hands right now. They had to put in for supplemental claims, which they have, but I have a check for over $8k that I'm sure they need me to sign over to them.

I don't know if that matters. Maybe they can get the insurance company to just cancel this one and cut them a new check. Maybe we get into some kind of stand-off where I won't give them the check and they won't give me my truck. I'm sure they would start charging me storage fees at that point.

I'm waiting for them to call me back now. We left it with me telling them there is no way I am paying them for 32 hours of labor.

[Baron Von Crowder]

that.

Pay it, if they wont discount it. Get your bill, and it should show what they are charging. In Texas, the fee schedule has to be posted. Might discretely take a picture of it if they have it up. Take them to small claims court for the difference in in what was charged.

[Rick Modena]

I have the majority of the insurance money on a check in my hands right now. They had to put in for supplemental claims, which they have, but I have a check for over $8k that I'm sure they need me to sign over to them.

I don't know if that matters. Maybe they can get the insurance company to just cancel this one and cut them a new check. Maybe we get into some kind of stand-off where I won't give them the check and they won't give me my truck. I'm sure they would start charging me storage fees at that point.

I'm waiting for them to call me back now. We left it with me telling them there is no way I am paying them for 32 hours of labor.

You can use that as a bargaining tool, even if they get another check from the insurance company, they are still going to need you to sign it. I would also get the insurance company involved as they can determine how much it actually costs to have a set of these flares installed. And they can be like the mediators, the shop doesn't want to have the insurance company knowing that they are thieves, by over charging their customers for a simple job.

[Ratt]

You can use that as a bargaining tool, even if they get another check from the insurance company, they are still going to need you to sign it. I would also get the insurance company involved as they can determine how much it actually costs to have a set of these flares installed. And they can be like the mediators, the shop doesn't want to have the insurance company knowing that they are thieves, by over charging their customers for a simple job.

Go put the check in hyour bank account, right meow. Insurance companies don't typically like to cancel checks and then re-issue a check. I was told by a past insurance agent that once the check is cashed, the claim is done.

[jluv]

Go put the check in hyour bank account, right meow. Insurance companies don't typically like to cancel checks and then re-issue a check. I was told by a past insurance agent that once the check is cashed, the claim is done.

Okay, but how would that help me get my truck back?

[CWO]

and if you have a spare set of keys, have Tiff go take the truck, while you monster stomp all around the shop/office kicking trashcans, throwing tires, etc.

They'll never see her leave!

Seconded. Please have cameras.

[Chili]

Oh, btw.. I bet they would be more willing to negotiate on that labor charge with you standing in front of them.. Or should I say, towering over them.

Seriously though, I'd probably take printouts of the evidence as Brent suggested, including the information from the Manufacturer on install time, and lay it out in person.. Let them know that if they insist on charging you over the 12 hours that you will pay to get your truck then will immediately file suit against them, and spread the word everywhere about their questionable business practices. It may or may not help, but not sure what else you can do.

[BP]

Are they a direct repair shop with your insurance? If so I'd talk to your adjuster about it. If not then I'd review your state's laws with a resource like https://www.stopfraudcolorado.gov/fr...omobile-repair

An inquiry from an attorney general is usually enough to get shops to negotiate.

[Rick Modena]

Are they a direct repair shop with your insurance? If so I'd talk to your adjuster about it. If not then I'd review your state's laws with a resource like https://www.stopfraudcolorado.gov/fr...omobile-repair

An inquiry from an attorney general is usually enough to get shops to negotiate.

That is a great idea, if they are a direct repair facility, getting the insurance involved would be my first plan of action. Like I stated earlier, they could act as a mediator and maybe help rectify this situation.

[Chili]

Are they a direct repair shop with your insurance? If so I'd talk to your adjuster about it. If not then I'd review your state's laws with a resource like https://www.stopfraudcolorado.gov/fr...omobile-repair

An inquiry from an attorney general is usually enough to get shops to negotiate.

Well hell, it's right there up top. I'd contact the appropriate DA immediately.

Under that Act:

• Repair garages must obtain a consumer’s written consent to any repairs, before those repairs are performed
• A repair garage must provide a written or oral estimate of all costs associated with a particular repair
• A repair garage may not collect any charge for labor or parts in excess of the estimate plus ten percent of that estimate or twenty-five dollars, whichever is less, without the consent of the consumer

[BP]

Well hell, it's right there up top. I'd contact the appropriate DA immediately.

Unless he signed a waiver with the paperwork.