Thread: mechanics lien

Tweet

Howdy Gang,
Looks like we have to use a mechanics lien to get paid on our work done on replacing the floors on the flintstone special 356 Porsche.
I still have the car and it isn't going anywhere until we are paid.
The owner said that he is going to selll the car when I asked about my fee
he said that he wasn't going to pay. He said the new "owner" would be coming up to pick up the car in April.
I don't know if the PO told the "new" owner about my bill.
So I'd like to get some offical paper work ready just in case.
I'd like to keep it simple do the work and get paid.
I think the PO must have lost a lot of money in the last stock market crash
but that isn't my problem.

Any tips
hank

I've had to do the same thing in the past... I don't know what the laws are in your state, but I had to show my expenses..parts, labor, and storage. Storage fees can rack up pretty quick, especially if it is indoor.
Find a title specialist in your area and let them do all of the legwork. Mine only took me about 30 days and about 75 dolllars to get title in my name.

The first rule is that everything has to be in writing and documented, from the initial estimate all the way through. It is real important to have a SIGNED work order/estimate signed by your customer. You will also want to send certified letters to him with a return receipt requested. In it, spell out the starting date, what you agreed to, any subsequent conversations and agreements, and set a firm time for him to pay up....like 30 days down the road. Also spell out that storage is beginning and at what rate per day/week/month.

Every State is different, so call your local courthouse to ask how you should proceed. You might have to get service from a Sheriff or server, but they can steer you on that. I just did this on a boat we worked on, and it was relatively easy.

Don

On the bright side those bath tubs are worth quite a bit these days, and fun to drive! Once you get title, give it a nice red paint job and make sure you test drive it past the PO jerk! Nothing gets me more than people who ask someone to work on the vehicle before they have cash to pay for it. My motorcycle mechanic, works from a shop on his property. Great guy, highly skilled, knows Harleys front and back, works his but off to do right by his customers. He always has two to three bikes in the shop, that are fixed but the owners haven't got the money. What that equates to is no food or mortgage money for my friend, and parts bills that need to be paid. My rule is get a verbal estimate, save up the cash, then come in and have it fixed. Sorry your going thru this.

every thing don said applies to ca. also. I have had to this a few times in the past I used a co. called ritter lean service but you should have local co. where you live go to a local impound yard and ask who they use that's how I found the co. I used.....ted

Yup,everything Don has said applies in Missouri too... And you better have every i dotted. Long long drawn out,over complicated process around here.
Last one I had to deal with I finally gave up and ate it.Luckily it was only a few hundred out of pocket in parts. Heck of it was the local authorities said it would be illegal for me to send it to the salvage yard just to get it out of here. I did finally get the satisfaction of having the tow company park it in his front yard blocking the front porch while he was at work. Cost me a $50 tow bill and worth every penny....

Wonder how much it would cost you, to have a small crew assemble it in his living room while he was at work?