TAKEN DOWN

[Brick442]

How did you pay--I'm assuming cash? Did you get a receipt? I'm assuming if the shop installed exhaust without cats they did what they normally do--no receipt--no record that any transaction took place. Therefore, they can't get in trouble for anything. Unfortunately, this hurts you because you have no proof that they did the work if you paid cash and did not receive a receipt or invoice.

In NJ always, always put cats on your vehicle, even if they are hollowed out. NJ has those roving inspection checkpoints, and even if you have a valid inspection sticker, they can pull your car over and check. It is a pretty big fine too. They do check.

I've seen these in Glassboro, Beachwood, Tinton Falls and many other towns in NJ.

 

[pontiacgp]

as far as cats go the free flow cats that are on the market are basically what they say they are..free flow...so there is not need to try to bypass the laws...

 

[zjchevy1]

Here in WI, we have two ways of handling it - one is with an attorney, and one is by badmouthing them every chance you get.

If you have a reciept for the work, don't worry about not having cats. A reciept showing he did the work is proof of legal negligence on his part, so he can't come back on you. If he does, he's putting his own teet in the wringer and will pay fines up the a$$. If you get an attorney, and go to small claims court, you can sue him for the cost of repairs + attorney's fee's. You may have to pay a retainer, but if/when you win you will get it back.

It sounds like you've been really civil with the guy so keep that up. I agree taking an adult with you is the next step, and if that doesn't get you anywhere seek legal counsel. Don't let this jagoff take your money, I was 17 once too. You gotta work damn hard for $750.

I've got a similar story that I'll post tonight about a bunch of scumbags in Madison that I wouldn't let air up my bike tires...

 

[pontiacgp]

:arrow:

 

[newkid86]

Hang in there i'm sending the G-BODY calvary over there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh yea one more thing post it on craigslist in your city alot of people look for mechanics on there post it in the service repair section......my dad own's a business and we never treat our customer's like that ........ we would be stupid if we did... the customer's are the ones who pay my paycheck and g-body parts......but n-e-wayz....... let that business have it all the way bro.........good luck 8)

i posted the same info on criagslist, the next day got a phone call saying if i didn't take it down he was going to sue me... i'm 17!!!! oh the car was set up w/o cats so he did that illegally too

 

[patmckinneyracing]

Just leave it on craigslist. If he wants to sue you then let him try cause he's just gonna dig his own grave. Freedom of speech (1st amendment)

 

[custom442]

Re: I WAS RIPPED OFF by LARRY'S A-1 AUTO in WEST BERLIN, NJ

he even admitted that he went ahead and did the work that was not approved by me to get the car out of his shop and driveable. as a result i lost $750 plus what it will cost me to have it fixed. i was treated very disrespectfully and they did not like when i questioned their work.

Don't hire an attorney. #1, the shop has much more money than you and your parents will pay if you lose. #2 everything was hearsay, from what I've read this was all verbal. So it never happened. they have witnesses to explained it 'never' happened and that you're 'lying'. Remember, he does have 25 years of experience and could easily gather numerous testimonies. #3 It's 750$. I know that's a lot of dough especially at your age, but you will lose more than you gain after hiring an attorney for small claims. If you had big cash, you could potentially turn this into something well beyond just your claim for 750$ and make out like a bandit. But we're talking big money here. This whole situation could easily go south and screw up your life up for the recent future.

What you need to do, is turn this in to the better business bureau. You should also be represented by an adult so the whole thing is legal. Call them and write a letter. I know it sucks, but you didn't have what was to be done in writing, and you didn't have a witness either.

I'm almost positive everyone has a bad experience in the past when learning to fix up cars for the first time or making an investment that doesn't give any return. Just learn from it and move on, sh*t happens.

 

[custom442]

Just leave it on craigslist. If he wants to sue you then let him try cause he's just gonna dig his own grave. Freedom of speech (1st amendment)

I'm fairly sure you can be sued for bad mouthing someone's business. He wrote it in black and write on the internet, for christ's sake. Do it professionally through the better business bureau.

Arguing the first amendment wouldn't get you far in court at all, you would only plead this for an appeal, and this case isn't a good one to appeal because there is no class action hot button involved. It's just a small claim.

 

[patmckinneyracing]

I've never heard of a law against someone bad mouthing a business. It's the same as protesting or picketing right in front of the store. It's just being done on the internet.

 

[zjchevy1]

Larry's sounds a lot like House of Horsepower in Madison,WI.

These guys had to sell there business to an ex-con of a buddy and change the name to get away from there bad reputation. The new name is Muscle Car Performance - New location, same scum. These guys took credit for everything that came out of there shop, but after the customer left all the work got farmed out - they don't do anything because they have no knowledge of automobiles.

These guys are all ex-cons with records a mile long. At one point they were selling anabolic steriods to keep the lights on. I know this because they tried pushing them on my best friend who is a professional body builder. They will also steal parts off your car. I know this because I seen it happen on more than one occasion. I used to work part time there, and with all the crap that went on I quit after after they burnt my cuda up due to an electrical fire because of piss poor workmanship. All of there dishonesty made me feel my rep was on the line, so I went out and started my own small shop after the dust settled (please don't take this as a pitch for my own business, because it is not meant to be that way). I ended up suing them for what was mine and I got it.