ok, legal people in here, all of you

[Emart]

so I go to move my car to a garage, and lo and behold theres a tidy $1000+ fee for them diagnosing my car. Please notice the absence of a signed paper from my dad or I telling them they can tear it apart. Also know they they at no point informed us of what they're doing and how much it would cost. We didn't even have a verbal agreement. ALSO heed that I'm a minor, so most contracts that I make are null and void should I reneg upon the agreement, which doesn't even exist in this case. They wont even negotiate, and wont let me touch my car until they are paid in full.

wtf?

[worduphomefry]

wow that sucks, you should get a lawyer and go after them

[TTSTANG]

call the cops

[JanglinJamie]

who did you take your car to?
and ya I would negotiate. When I was a mechanic diagnosing was one hour of my labor, if I couldn't figure out the problem in one hour I would ask for another hours pay before proceding for another hour... etc...etc.

[Akromix]

Take two cans of gas to the dealership and threaten to burn it to the ground if you don't get your car back.

[JanglinJamie]

Take two cans of gas to the dealership and threaten to burn it to the ground if you don't get your car back.

I like this way better than any LEGAL idea

[Emart]

Take two cans of gas to the dealership and threaten to burn it to the ground if you don't get your car back.

hmmm......not a bad idea.

[orange88]

THEY SHOULD OF INFORMED YOU OF THE REPAIRS OR THE COST TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS UNDER WARR. BEFORE THEY STARTED, TELL THE EATHER WARR. IT OR YOUR GETTING A LAYER AND THERE NOT GETTING ANYTHING. AT MY WORK WE HAD TO DO THAT WITH A BRAND NEW FREESTAR WITH A DEAD GAUGE POD.

[Akromix]

My dad did that once when some d-bag wouldn't pay up. Told the guy he was going to burn his grandmother's house down with her inside it, and then burn him alive if he didn't pay. Got to his house and while walking up the driveway with a can of gas the dude ran out with the money and ran back inside.

[Emart]

My dad did that once when some d-bag wouldn't pay up. Told the guy he was going to burn his grandmother's house down with her inside it, and then burn him alive if he didn't pay. Got to his house and while walking up the driveway with a can of gas the dude ran out with the money and ran back inside.

thats...um, mildly disturbing.

[JanglinJamie]

ya people can't really do that any more, because its kinda common now and people know what to do in that situation.

[Nifty]

They can't do that, obviously. They aren't suppose to work on your car without explaining what they are going to do, or if they get a go ahead from the owner of the car. If you are the owner of the car they really need your permission. Also as you said, they can't enter into a contract with a minor UNLESS they have permission from your parents, seeing as they are you legal guardians. Call them up, ask for the manager. Talk to them politely. Tell them you didn't give them permission to do anything, and that you are the legal owner and are a minor. If that doesn't work, YELL. Yell, long. Yell loud. Yell often. Preferably at the shop in front of customers. If all that doesn't work, burn down the place...oh I mean call a lawyer.

[1991lx]

If your dad has a legal plan at work or you have to pay, you would want to send a letter of intent to the garage, meaning you are going to purse taking them to court.

A call to the cops first would be free and would let you know where you stand...I'd ask em point blank what right do they have to hold your car with no paperwork. I'd also ask em what if i just take my car (assuming you could get to it and have extra keys). Chances are the garage especially if a small operation won't chase you for a grand.

You owe them something, but I take your side as to they should have had some sort of permission or a understanding of the cost. It's up to them to negotiate a failure on their part, or eat all the bill!

[Mili M]

Get a lawyer before you do anything stupid. Dont go in there and try to fight them yourself.

[RyanM]

so you took your car to a shop and expected to pay nothing for them to spend time on it and what kind of diagnostics did they do