Need some help in my criminal thinking

[T Bell]

As my signature still reads, I took my car to a body shop to get the dents pulled and whole car primered. The car was taken to his house instead of his shop. Well, after two years of chasing this guy, and him giving me the run around about my car being almost finished, I got him on the phone and he says the car is finished and I should pick it up. He says it's at his new shop. I call him the next day to look at it and nothing. He's not even at the shop. I went by his house and lo and behold my car is still in the backyard in the same spot, with no work done to it at all. I take pictures with my camera so I can have the date imprinted on the pics. This was two weeks ago. I haven't said anything to him about it because I'm still wondering what I can l legally do. I popped up at his new shop today and he was there but my car wasn't there (obviously, I'm just playing along now). He feeds me some line about my car had to be moved last Friday and he put it in storage. I ask why didn't he bring it to me or call me. Of course he says he did call me. He also tells me that him and his wife are splitting up and he may need me to help him move his stuff from the house. (Crazy I know). Then he asks if I want to sell the car. He says he knows a guy that really wants it bad. WTF!!!!!!!! I've talked to a police friend of mine and he said that there isn't any real legal action that I can take right now because the guy hasn't really done anything wrong. I could file a stolen vehicle report but I want to get my money back as well. I don't want to tip the guy off and let him know that I know my car is in his backyard because I don't want him to hide the car and then tell me someone stole it. Any suggestions? Guys with shops, if I have a receipt were I paid him to get started and that business is no longer in operation, what legal action can I take? Sorry for long winded post but I tried not to leave out any stupid things.

[1984 camaro]

Get your car.

[Spiffav8]

First things first. Go get your car. I strongly suggest you just show up with a Tow Truck and yank it unannounced. Make sure you have proof of ownership with you! If the guy is home and gives you any trouble call the police and ask for assistance.

To get your money back you will need to take him to court. There is nothing the police can do...it's a civil matter.

Good luck!!

[T Bell]

I'd literally have to tear his fence down. And isn't that breaking and entering? I'm not opposed to it, though. :thumbsup:

[Spiffav8]

How did the car get back there? Sounds like you had better call the police department and have them standby for an assist. Again make sure you have all the documents to prove it's yours.

[89 RS]

I agree with Curtis, have your documents to prove it's your car and I would notify the police so that you don't put yourself into an even worse situation. Get your car back and I would take him to court, more than likely it's not the first time he has done this.

[JamesJ]

Like said before, GO GET YOUR CAR and then worry about the money...

[Radlark]

Like said before, GO GET YOUR CAR and then worry about the money...


x2:thumbsup:

[Cread01]

I would do whatever you can to get the car and then get the money later.

You said him and his wife were splitting up... Maby you can play that card. go talk to her and see if she will let you go in with a tow truck and yank it.

[T Bell]

Honestly, I think the splitting up thing was a lie to detour me from going over to his house. I went by there this morning and the car is still in the back and his truck was there as well. I need a car trailer. I'd hate to get a tow truck out there for him not to show up. Not sure if they would sit there all day and wait like me.

[T Bell]

Calling tow trucks now

[Payton King]

This guy is not in South Haven, Ms is he?

[T Bell]

His old shop was in Horn Lake which is very close to Southaven

[OLDFLM]

I'd get the cops out there with a tow truck and get your car back!

[rich-allen]

This is one of those times that you need to listen to your gut. Obviously, something is seriously wrong.
Trust me, you don't want to be posting threads about how this clown managed to escape in the middle of the night with your ride.

F*#k worrying about the money for now.



Good luck, keep us all posted.


Rich

[Payton King]

I would go and get my car. Knock the fence down and tow it off. He can deduct the cost of the fence from the money his owes you. I would leave work and get it now.

[youthpastor]

I would go and get my car. Knock the fence down and tow it off. He can deduct the cost of the fence from the money his owes you. I would leave work and get it now.

yep.. this guy sounds like a flake. who would probably say it has been stolen --GET THE CAR NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ironworks]

I think I would take some pics of the car in his back yard and include in the picture a pic of todays paper. The date code on the camara can be changed. At some point your going to have to stop being Mr nice guy. This is not going end nicely.

Rodger

[gearheads78]

Get your car now worry about the rest later. The money is probably long gone. Get the car before it is too!!!:willy:

[rjsjea]

Get your car.


I would only add ...get your car TODAY!!

[caper150]

Do what Rodger at Ironworks said, take a pic of the car with todays paper to show that it's there un touched not done like he said, then call the tow company and the police, inform them of what you are doing and have an officer there when you take the car and have ownership papers with you. That way there is nothing he can do when you show up with the tow and police and then file a claim in court for your money after you have the car in your possesion.

[thedude327]

I'd literally have to tear his fence down. And isn't that breaking and entering? I'm not opposed to it, though. :thumbsup:

Sounds like time to get back your property. Good luck !

[rjsjea]

I'd literally have to tear his fence down. And isn't that breaking and entering? I'm not opposed to it, though. :thumbsup:

It would be criminal mischief (vandalism).....I would have the truck there when he gets home. How did he get it back there?

[buickfunnycar.com]

This is not going end nicely...

These stories seldom do end well...

Believe us when we say go get your car now,your money is long gone and there is a slim to no chance of recovering that,get your car now while you still can.

[Rybar]

The exact same thing happened to me a few years ago when i was trying to help my uncle rebuild his Buick.

Just confront the guy, tell him your taking your car and tell him you have called the cops. Just call a tow truck to come to his house, what is he going to do?

Show up unannounced with alot of help. Even if you just tell him you called the cops.

I can't stand lying pieces of trash like this.

[zcrz]

these guys suck!! The same thing happened to me, I took my car back while the guy was at his real job. Next time my guy saw my car, it was finished. This guy never mentioned sh*t to me about either.

[T Bell]

Thanks for all the positive advice. Long story short, I have my car in my garage. I left work early and called the police and tow truck to meet me. Police showed but truck was late. I called him 3 times and no answer. The police asks his wife who's at home to call and he answers and says that he gets off at 5 but I can get the car. The wife acts like she didn't know a white car was in her backyard. Sure enough, still back there but another car is blocking access. The police suggest I have him move it so I'm not liable if something happens to his car. So I wait til he gets off. Believe it or not he shows up with 5 friends to help move everything. The only words he says to me are "I'll get you your money by Tuesday." He left and I waited about an hour for the wrecker to get there. Pulled her home to find out my wife cleared the garage of her crap so I could get not one but 2 cars in it. I'm truly grateful for today. Thanks for the support.

[John510]

I was going to ask if you know any big burly Italian friends?

[70rs]

Glad to hear you got your car back without anything bad happening when you made your move. Now I just hope he really does get your money back too!:thumbsup:

[Kokamo]

The only words he says to me are "I'll get you your money by Tuesday."

Lol....that's a bold face lie if I ever heard of one. Judging from the lie on the car in the first place.....your cash will never be seen again.

Congrats on getting the car back. :thumbsup:

~Joe

[Roger M]

Nice to hear that you were able to retrieve the car :thumbsup:, and without any violence or hostility. Now you can move forward. Karma will get him in the end. Good luck.

[ironworks]

I think I would nicely go visit him again on tuesday and just act like you think you were actually going to get paid on tuesday. Since He will probably not pay you, I would just act really nice and it will get under his skin and possibly increase the chances of maybe getting paid. He will think you are up to something.

Small claims court might be a place to start, I doubt or hope you did not give him more then an amount you could get in small claims court.

Rodger

[awr68]

Glad it went well and the car is home! Getting the money back will be a bonus! :thumbsup:

[XLexusTech]

Glad you got your car back. Out of pure need to know how much $$ are we talking about?

[awr68]

So zero work was performed? Was it stored outdoors this whole time? Any new rust/issues show up during this time?

[T Bell]

$700 for him to get started and buy supplies. I'm calling a civil attorney Monday to get the ball rolling. Wednesday, I will be ready to file a lawsuit. If he calls me Tuesday about paying the money, that will go over very well and I may not take him to court. But haven't made up my mind. Small claims is $5000 here. I would rather not go to court but he doesn't know that. Oh and as a side note, I really respect the responses about going about this the legal way. It was not a problem for me to come up with ways of getting my car and causing physical harm to him and his property. I am past that in my life. I've got a 4 and a 2 yr old that keep me out of trouble, unknowingly. I couldn't live with myself if I was in jail and couldn't see them.

[Spiffav8]

You did it the right way...good job! He know your serious now and if you stay on top of things I bet he will pay you back quickly. I suggest you mail a certified letter of demand. In it you need to request immediate reimbursement of all money owed you and that if you do not receive the funds you will follow through with the law suit. The less contact you have with him verbally the better. Written documentation is all the court is going to care about when and if the time comes. The idea is to stock pile as much ammo as you can for a court battle. I don't think your intention is to hurt the guy, but rather to get your money back. I hope you checked the car over for damage before you moved it and documented it. If not it will be hard to prove that the damage didn't happen while it was in his possession.

Good luck and keep us informed of the out come.

[awr68]

Listen to Curtis...he knows what he is talking about! :lateral:

[waynieZ]

I'm glad you got your car back without any dramma. Did the officer hear him tell you he would have your money ? That would help you too.

[98ssnova]

Very cool glad to hear the you got the car back. And very nice of your wife to make room for ya. Good luck on the money.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

at least its only 700 bucks... there are guys on here that lost more like 7000!

AND didnt get their car done.. some didnt even get the car back!

you got lucky man... REAL lucky!

[Danny Thomas]

I, Bill Howell and Yancy Johns had to go from TN to Utah to recover my car from Retro Rides. We had to box up multiple pieces and have the shell shipped after it had been there a year and not much of anything had been done ,after lie after lie. These guys wouldn't know the truth if it had hit them in the head. Try having a car so far away and relying on them for updates. Yes i got most of he stuff back but by the time I paid for flights, shipping and lost parts I lost about $8000. I got my $15,000 back but now the car sits at Prodigy waiting on the economy to turn for either completion or sale to a new owner. the only good thing out of his ordeal was the purchase of my 67 LS1 / T56 named the "Black Pearl". Soon to be in Camaro Performers. Congradulations on getting your car back.

[T Bell]

Wow. Yeah I would have really been pissed about that one. I'm going to do like someone suggested and take some auto body classes. I just feel so much better that the vehicle is parked safely in my garage.