Thanks for going over My question I'm trying to gain info on a repair that I was contracted to repair by trade I'm a Auto %26amp; Body tech for a Body shop located in Chicago however I do offer My services for side jobs on my days off the shop I run a advert on Craig's list Chicago where I offer My services to the public
I was contacted by a new customer who had bought a 2008 Honda Pilot Exl from a auction for $7900
the suv was bought under a salvage title it was in a wreck front-end and side swiped the customer bought the suv with out seeing it in person I guess it was a on-line auction whatever the case maybe I always thought a salvage car could only be bought by a Dealer or Body shop but he managed to buy it
when he bought the suv he didn't think that the suv would need as much work as it did because the pictures he saw didn't fully show the extent of all the damage every airbag blew out it needed a whole front-end including a/c condenser %26amp; radiator along with the fans ETC he also knew that he him self couldn't get it titled because it was a salvage title so I explained to him that I could repair the suv and rebuild his title because the shop I work for the owner is cool like that I asked him and he said he would do it for $400
So I contacted the customer and told him that I could rebuild the title and the suv in-order for him to get it plated and receive a rebuild title I initially charged based on pictures alone $3000 this only covered the body damage (not including all airbags) just the drivers airbag and the rebuilding of the title when the car was shipped I went over there to check it out
and it was all screwed up it was way more work than the pic's showed it needed all new airbags the headliner was blow-en down there was a ton of frame damage and a ton of missing parts the car was basically rigged in-order for sale at auction the car wasn't even drivable I had to tow it out of there I don't own a tow truck so I had to hire someone so when I got the car to my Garage I broke it down to see what it need I made a list called for parts and the parts alone came up to $2700 alone plus $150 for the tow so say $3000 I told him with parts and labor I would charge him $5500 he agreed and gave me the title a bill of sale and $3000 advancement he I asked for a bill of sale because the auction he bought the car from wanted to much info in-order to get a duplicate because there was no room for him to sign it over to my Shop to rebuild the title so we agreed on the price and that upon completion he would owe me $2500 this was over 2 months ago the car has been fixed the title has been rebuild and I tried contacting him going to his house e mailing him etc but I have yet to get a call e mail or a visit from him
My boss is hounding me for the $400 the tow guy is also calling me I owe some people who helped me pull the frame because I don't own a frame machine plus all my labor that I put into it the parts even ran a lil more than $3000 which I paid for out of my pocket my boss told me that this guy already owes a lot of money on storage alone and that I have a few people to pay off that maybe I should just sell it to pay everyone off and to ensure I don't lose money I know if I wanted to do that normally I could file for a mechanical lean and gain owner ship over the car but in this case
I have the car the rebuild title made out to my shop and a bill of sale so hears is my question if I was to put it up for sale is it Illegal could I get in any kind of trouble with the law do I even have the right to do so I know my boss is a money hungry kind of guy and it seems like he maybe trying to talk me into it but before I can even think about it I would like to know if there is any risk involved ? plus I don't really want to do this to the guy but I haven't had any word from him for over 2 months so I don't know if hes arrested or fled the country or what
please let me know what you think and respond thanks a lot for reading this long post but I'm really in need of some dam good advice from someone who could shed some light on my situation thanks a lot and have a good oneAuto body repair/salvage/rebuild?
Normal people do not walk away from a 10 grand investment , and drop off the edge of the earth for two months. That said, you sound like at least a square guy trying to do the right thing, in a business that is cuttrroat and all about money. A lot of people would have dumped that guy on the floor and taken the money, which says a lot more about your honesty and integrity than anything else. good, do not lose the fact that you have a heart and a conciense.
If your contract with this guy is not in writing he would have a difficult time proving anything no matter what you do. He has turned over all the documents to the car to you. The vehicle is fixed, do you know what he planned to do when it was finnished? Was he planning to sell? If so and you do what needs to be done aside from giving him his investment and profit back. then you fulfilled the contract.
Can you sell the vehicle, satisfy the debts (if your boss wants storage for two months, try to work a deal, after all, you did all the hard work. Point out to him, this is the first time doing business with that guy, if he likes how that went, he may come back with more cars? so more money for you and your boss correct?)
If you sell the vehicle, can you get your cut, pay off the tow, and the frame guys, your boss, and still recoup the guys 10 grand investment ? plus a profit? after all none of this would have happened without him. Keep the money in a bank where its accesible if the guy shows up? and if possible put the dates the work occured for the tow truck, or the frame work as a reference point more than anything (and include the date it was paid off.) Aside from that letting the storage fees go beyond what is normal looks odd even though the guy disappearing does not help. best of luck ace. lets hope the guy is ok.
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