I'm so damn mad I can't see straight. After a falling out with the body shop, I brought my car home. It's been home 6 months or so. They put 1/4's and a roof on it. It still needs a little more body work, but they went ahead and put it in primer. I'm no bodyman, but I thought it looked ok to me. Just needed finished. I just tried to put the tail lights in it. There's no fu*&&^%% way they will go in. Now the problem is there's no way I want them a-holes to touch my car again. The next problem is, the deal I had with them. I was to give them so much money, and he would do so much work. Then the guy got slow, and went ahead and did more work than he was supoosed to. I told him that I would give him more money in a month when I got my bonus from work. He said no problem. Then he decides my car is in the way and wants it out of there. He said just take it,you don't owe me nothing.

Now I feel like the 1/4's need to be re-done. I sure as hell don't want him doing any more work on my car. Do you guys think I have a legal recourse for the poor work, or am I screwed because he did more work than he was supposed to. Am I over reacting on the tail lights not fitting. Can they be massaged in. If so, the metal will have to be cut out to make room.

Thanks for listening, sorry so long, just had to vent, Cal

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TC Member # 1308
http://72sselcamino1.tripod.com/calscaminos/

Not a lawyer but, I'll say it anyway. No one made you leave your car there. Its up to you to do the homework as to his competency. Now if the had placed an add and said "We do excellent, guaranteed work and especially quarter panels" then you might have a chance. As it is, you probably just need to get on with it and find someone who YOU KNOW can do the work. Ask for references, look at previous work, etc. Check with the local paint supply houses, they usually know who's good and who to stay away from. They'll at least say who's good. Do the math to figure the other out.

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Dave Bradley
www.corvetteforum.net/classics/d1_bradley (http://www.corvetteforum.net/classics/d1_bradley)
'69 SS396 ragtop
'33 3W Coupe
'65 Vette BB Roadster

[This message has been edited by d1_bradley (edited 03-11-2002).]

He... Dave, I don't get it. Not really sure what you are saying, but to me if a body shop does work (new 1/4 pannels in this scenario) I would EXPECT the work to be done right. They should not have to advertise "escellent and guaranteed work.."
If they do the work, it better be right. If they can not do it right, do not do it! AS simple as that.

Sorry, but the reason for so many "screwed up" business out there are such attitudes.

Take it back dude and make them do it right.

Did they put on full quarters or skins?If it was the skins then it may not be so bad.Sometimes they require some extra work around the taillight housing.May just need the holes opened up a little or something.I would take it to another shop or have someone look at it and determine what needs to be done.They admit they didn't finish the job so they may not have fitted the taillights.

Enhance your calm young 72, If the shop didn't have the light then there is no way he could check it and if he did then he is not that good. Call him and explain the problem see if he is going to help get this problem strightened out. Try this line "I have a problem and need your help" works for me. I used it with a major corp. and the VP was so impressed he took the matters into his own hands. I scored big on that one and if this shop has any integrity he will stand behind his work. Try it the nice way first then if he gives any static you have grounds to be nasty. Just my $.02 worth.

All I have to say is wear his A$$ out. If your tail lights do not fit it is the body shops fault. Aftermarket or not if you do body work for a living and put 1/4's on cars you automatically know that you have to fit the tail lights. This is no surprise (oops the tail lights don't fit). Wear him out, call him and have him at least fit the lights in. It probably is just a matter of fitting and playing around and if has a reputable shop and wants to keep his good name he will help you out. There are cheaper ways than a lawyer to give a body shop a bad name.

I have been in this business for 25 years and I will tell you one thing that I have learned. If someone does this bad of a job (welded on panels without fitting parts) they are NOT capable of EVER doing it.

I happen to have a similar problem I am helping a friend with. He had a very bad accident with his Chevy Van. He and his wife are handicapped and the van is one of those with the lift and hand controls. For some friggin unknown reason my buddy dropped the van off at a shop that looked like S&*# from the street! $12,000.00 and eight months later. Did you get that? EIGHT MONTHS LATER! The van is ruined and he now has a piece of junk. I don't want to bore you with the MANY details, but lets just say he used about 10% of the weld the should have been to hold on the friggin 15 foot long quarter panel and then used spray in foam to fill the 1/2" to 2" gaps YES I SAID TWO INCH GAPS!
Do you think this guy is capable of repairing it right? Not a snow balls chance in hell could he do a proper job. We are hoping the insurance company will pay to redo the whole job, or total the van. It's resale is in the toilet so that would be the best thing that could happen.

Yes, there is a certain responsibility on my friend for bringing it there, But NOT LEGALLY. The consumer has NO responsibility what so ever in discerning how good the shop is going to do. There is a certain amount of trust that the shop with it's sign out front that says BODY SHOP is going to repair your car as a BODY SHOP should.

You are going to have to make a judgment call. Is this shop capable of repairing the incorrect work? Look over the rest of the work on the car that they did. Is it up to par? If this is the only problem, maybe they can do it. In most states you would have to give them the chance. Forget he did more work, that has nothing to do with it. He did something wrong, period. If he had painted the whole car and everything, but the fender fell off, should you forget about it because he screwed up and painted the car?

You have some thinking to do. Bring is back and face more BS or just bring it somewhere else and call it a lesson.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Thanks for the replies guys. Dave,OUCH. I should have known I was in trouble with this guy when he broke all my emblems to get them off. Now I need all new ones. I also took him a used fender that just had a few very minor dings in it. When I picked up the car, the fender was in the back. He said it was easier to fix the rust. I wonder how well that repair was made. As far as fitting the lights in, he took them out so they were there. He told me the car was ready for paint except for a couple of areas that would be covered by the vinyl top. Also I found that when I lifted the door, the hinges are shot. You can tell that the door is droped by the front fender gap. He made the 1/4 line up on a door with bad hinges. I have heard from more than one person that he is bad mouthing me. Saying he told me to get my car out of there because I wouldn't pay the bill. THIS IS A OUT AND OUT LIE! He told me he needed the room and to bring it back when I had the rest of the money, NO PROBLEM. Will I take the car back, NO WAY. Will I call him, I don't think so. I'm sure there will be a fist fight if I see him. I'm going to take Martins advice, and call this an expencive lesson. Anyone want to buy a fupped up Elcamino. Thanks again for listening, Cal

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TC Member # 1308
http://72sselcamino1.tripod.com/calscaminos/

MartinSR is right. A body shop that does the kind of work you have described is not even capable of correcting it,ever. I have seen this senario many times. Any body shop that takes in work to do in their spare time will never finish because their production body work will always have the first priority. I don't know how far you are from the Chicagoland area, but if you are interested, I would be willing to look at your car and do the necessary repairs and whatever additional restoration work you desire. I will not do it in my spare time. I will just do it. If interested, e-mail or call 708- 371-3790

Gordon VM
Restoration Motorsports

I would think at the very least, contact the better business bureau. This guys sounds like an idiot and should be put out of business!

The more horror stories I hear like this, the closer I am to doing my own quarter panels and paint. Why not, I did everything else!

Good luck to ya man,




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Bob (Pa.)

1963 Impala 283
1966 Chevelle SS 409
1969 Malibu 307
1972 Malibu 307
1969 C10 stepside 350
1971 Cheyenne 20 3/4 ton
Somebody stop me... :)

Looking for Chevelle or Impala parts? Click here:
Chevelle parts for sale (http://www.angelfire.com/trek/mr409/items4sale.html)

Gordon, thanks for your offer. How far are you from St.Louis. You might be a little to far for me to keep an eye on . http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif I might consider it though, providing you give me the following imformation.

1 A BBB background check

2 A criminal background check

3 A criminal background check of everyone that works for you

4 Your mothers maiden name

5 A list of all previous customers and their phone #'s

6 A sample of your DNA, finger prints, hair, and a stool sample

7 I will need a room built onto your shop for me to stay in while I'm there watching over your shouler while you work. After all, we will be handcuffed to the car.

OK, sorry. That was my feable attempt at some humor to lighten my spirit. Of course I was kidding. At least about some of the stuff. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif Depending on how far you are, I might get an estimate from you. Right now I'm so disgusted with this project I might have to abondone it if it's going to cost to much to make it right. That would just kill me because I really love that car.


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TC Member # 1308
http://72sselcamino1.tripod.com/calscaminos/

http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif, you funny http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif make me raff. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

If you think about it, that guy probably realized he messed up your car. That's when he decided to tell you to take the car home without paying. He'll probably give you the run around if you call him to take your car back, or he will screw up your car even more if you do take it back.

Hey, If the guy gave you your car back with crooked quarter panels, door, fenders, busted emblems and whatever else without having you pay anything, then this is an admission of poor work. I'm sure the guy doesn't work for free. You have a legal recourse. Speak to a lawyer, consultations are free. File a suit against him yourself $25. I don't need a $1000 "learning experience", your ok with throwing your money away? Not me, if I pay for something I expect it to be right! Same as people I do work for. Man! Don't let someone wrong you and get away with it. Especially when $$$ is involved. That is what Tort Law is all about. So people in your situation have a legal recourse. Only in the USA! Do it yourself, a judge would respect you for it. But first try to reason with the butcher, if that doesn't work tell him you'll sue for the cost it would take for someone to fix his work. If he laughs move forward with the suit. You'll have the last laugh. Do not let this guy get away with this! It is your Right to make this guy make good. Hope I got you stoked. Andrew

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How does this go back together???

Hell I'd sue him just for the principle of it.....thinks he can get away with it........mess up MY car.......

I try to be nice at first. Full frontal assaults get real nasty real quick and I don't chip in for bail anymore. Call the guy and ask what is going on and then if he gives you a line of crap be polite hangup. Bring your car to a top shelf shop and get an estimate for repairs on the poor work that was done. I used to work at a couple of shops and we did this for people. You might need to bring one of them to court if you do sue. Plus the guy knows your serious if summons to appear in court come out of the blue. And it really hurts when you say you were giving him a second chance and he was a jerk. Judges here in MN. frown upon companies that refuse a second chance to correct mistakes made. Be nice and smile and let a judge settle it.

The big problem with going to court, is if he has a decent reputation (other than your job) and offers to repair it (rather than pay the cost of someone else repairing the work), the judge might allow that...

I'd see if he will fix it, and if not , get several estimates from other shops. Maybe even Small claims court (up to $5K in Calif.). No lawyer needed...

But also remember, even if you win, you still have to try and collect, and usually any assets that are used for work are off limits...