Originally Posted by
PussixD10
I'm not sure what will turn out of this, but I find it entirely BS that the innocent financing bank pays everything, including the full profit of the mechanic that resulted partly due to poor judgment of the shop and their lawyers have every right to challenge the smallest technical fouls.
I'm guessing the bank will challenge the validity of the $16,000 claim as well and how it ended up in the shop for 4 1/2 month without a substantial written authorization.
What I understand is, that the bank doesn't need to fight for their clients, as long as they do monthly payments of the loan - whatever. Like has been said before, and we're doing some speculation here, they owe over 2 payments to the bank. In that case, the bank wouldn't be fighting the car for Joe's mother, but to get the car back and sell it, and recoup their cost. So, do OP's got some notice from the bank's lawyers, or other legal threat from the bank?
Now, by Joe's family actions (trying to get the car back, at whatever cost); I think the bank history could be something he made up, to try to convince OP to give the car back (more scam).
Originally Posted by
PussixD10
I can't say if the price is fair or not, but only fair if the defense side challenges this claim. Like, if you go to Jiffy Lube, for $22.95 oil change, then authorize them to "check tire pressure" for an amount exceeding $10 and you get told you owe them $250 and they're not releasing your car until it's paid, you're going to challenge it on basis that it's clearly unreasonable. What bank wouldn't challenge a work exceeding the current market value of a vehicle?
This case is not a fair comparation. See, to check tire pressure, would be a matter of minutes, to do a carbon fiber work, would be matter of god knows how much hours, and add that to other work being made to car. Proof of this is easy to obtain.
Also is not the same to quote a service that is $4000 (paintjob), and end with a $16000 bill,
4 times original quote because
owner required other modifications, than to say $10 to check tire pressure, and end with a $250 front tires change. Proportionally, your example is at least
20 times more than the original quote; add this to the fact that HE REQUIRED the work to be done, not to be checked, or quoted.
