Knife in the back.

[ryan_boswell22]

Well guys here she is back home and not even ready for paint. I am 25,500$ into this car now. I had to fork out an extra 7,500 dollars just to get her back. Have to be very careful who you can trust to work on these classic cars now days. I had a guy named Scott from progressive customs working on it. Claims he had 262 hours into it and yet here she sits incomplete. We made an agreement that I would help him on his car with some mechanical stuff engine, fuel system, HVAC, and harness ECT and I would not have to pay any more from that point.

One weekend working on his car he decided to tell me that it was going to be another 15,000 dollars I owe him on my car. I mentioned our deal about trading work with each other, and he told me I was making [censored] up LOL. At that point another 15,000 dollars would put me at 35,500 just for body and paint. Before I even got the car, I had him go to the body shop that it was left at for 16 years and tell me what his thoughts were on restoring the car. He said he could do it. I told him to give me a number. That number was 10,000 for his labor. The 10,000 was in his pocket before the wheels even hit the concrete in his shop. While he had the car, I got whatever he needed. He would send a text, and the parts or materials were on order that day. I made the job as easy as possible for him.

Once we got in deep on the car, she was pretty bad, but never any communication on more money for continuing forward with repairs. I laugh because he put a value on my work at 6,000 dollars. Thats to wire up the entire car all systems except the air ride, put the vintage air together and get that working, and assemble the fuel system and get that working. He got mad at me one day because of how I told him the intake system is set up and how it works on his car. He doubted me so I had to get my pops on the phone cause he trust him over me I guess (who do you think taught me) and pops told him the exact same thing I did and still he was upset because of how much money he put into a holly sniper kit and that he was told is a custom set up LOL I just laugh.

So, at that point I had to tell him to stop working on the car and tried to work something out if I still finished his car. He just wanted the money and told me I can't have the car till he is paid. He even hid the car. I guess he was thinking I was going to come and take it back without paying, but I was raised right, and I don't do business like that. So here I am 25,500 dollars later with an incomplete car and out of money to keep going. Will I give up NO, I have a vision for this car, and the dam thing deserves every bit of it. I don't know what I am going to do now but I will not let this defeat me. She will still get done. I will do as much as I can and save up in the meantime. I know this might sound like complaining, venting, or frustration, but what this message is really about is careful who you trust to work on your car's. Lots of dirty people out there doing bad business. 

 

[Scott S.]

WOW !!!

And I thought my body guy was bad.....

Hope things get brighter soon.  

[Dtret]

That’s pretty sad. I don’t think I could let it end like that. Enough said. 

[Rob Peters]

I agree with Dennis.  Of course if there was nothing in writing it may be hard.  Did he show anything in writing of the hours he had into working on it.  I know that would not be a definite win-win for you because that is something he could create after the fact.  Since he put the value of your work at $6,000 you should send letter a certified with a bill in side for that $6,000.  Give a due date on the bill.  You could offer a $500 discount on the bill if paid by a certain date and a $500 penalty if not paid by the due date.  I doubt this will work but it is worth a try.  If he does not respond you could go to a magistrate and file papers against him for it.  

Do you know of anyone else who has had issues with this guy taking advantage of customer?  If yes that would be a big PLUS.

PBIAB and this guy will get his one way or another.

rob

 

[ryan_boswell22]

13 minutes ago, Rob Peters said:

I agree with Dennis.  Of course if there was nothing in writing it may be hard.  Did he show anything in writing of the hours he had into working on it.  I know that would not be a definite win-win for you because that is something he could create after the fact.  Since he put the value of your work at $6,000 you should send letter a certified with a bill in side for that $6,000.  Give a due date on the bill.  You could offer a $500 discount on the bill if paid by a certain date and a $500 penalty if not paid by the due date.  I doubt this will work but it is worth a try.  If he does not respond you could go to a magistrate and file papers against him for it.  

Do you know of anyone else who has had issues with this guy taking advantage of customer?  If yes that would be a big PLUS.

PBIAB and this guy will get his one way or another.

rob

 

Ya I could do that but to be honest at this point I'm just done with this dude. It's actually a relief just to have the car back. He has caused so much drama that I don't want to take it any further. He did not have anything in writing until after the fact like you said. Before that it was a chalk board with roman numerals in his shop to keep track of his hours. 

[Scott S.]

Sometimes walking away is just a better solution..... Especially since it's probably ruined any relationship you may have had with the person.   

[420ponies]

The best place to get info. on paint and body work is a car show. Always ask where they got the work done. Then I call and go see the place and look around at work being done. If it's busy, you know they are a reputable place to go. Sometimes more than one at the show are from the same place. I'm looking to have mine re-painted and have someone in mind to do it (member our group here). He's scheduled way out right now.