New Iowa Law Prevents Repair Shops from Holding Customers' Vehicles Until Bills Are Paid

[xrac]

New Iowa Law Prevents Repair Shops from Holding Customers' Vehicles Until Bills Are Paid

 

Iowa Law...

[CARMandP]

So, I hope this doesn't affect me when I have a customer that approves the work and then decided they don't want to pay for it. I guess its time to start taking better notes than I already do.

[DewayneP]

I would like to see the exact wording of the law, but it seems as though a written estimate is a must and if you are going to go over that estimate you need to have the customer come down to the shop and sign an agreement to the overages. This is another case of protecting the guilty while harming the innocent. It looks as though all shops are now considered crooked. I wonder how long before NY follows suit?

[Joe Marconi]

I would like to see the exact wording of the law, but it seems as though a written estimate is a must and if you are going to go over that estimate you need to have the customer come down to the shop and sign an agreement to the overages. This is another case of protecting the guilty while harming the innocent. It looks as though all shops are now considered crooked. I wonder how long before NY follows suit?

 

Here we go again...What about the honest repair shop. What about the people who try to get away without paying or agree to a job only to find out they can't pay. Why is always the "Dishonest Shop". Here's my reply I made at the end of the article:

 

Another short-sighted stupid political move. What about the honest repair shop and the dishonest people who don't want to pay thier bills. Ever think about that???

[xrac]

.What about the honest repair shop. What about the people who...............agree to a job only to find out they can't pay..........

 

I have two cars like that right now that I have had for several months and I am finally going to go the mechanics lien route on.

[Joe Marconi]

I have two cars like that right now that I have had for several months and I am finally going to go the mechanics lien route on.

 

What happened, they could not pay the bill?

[xrac]

What happened, they could not pay the bill?

 

They told me to make the repairs and we made them but they never came and picked up the cars or paid for them. They couldn't pay the bills. Both are young people in their late 20's-30's. I will have a 2000 Hyunda Elantra for sale if anyone is interested.

[Joe Marconi]

They told me to make the repairs and we made them but they never came and picked up the cars or paid for them. They couldn't pay the bills. Both are young people in their late 20's-30's. I will have a 2000 Hyunda Elantra for sale if anyone is interested.

 

The good news is that you kept the cars. I had a few cases where I trusted the customer. I will never to that again. I lost money.

 

You will get your money, it's just that the process can add stress.

 

People don't realize what we go through, right?

[xrac]

The good news is that you kept the cars. I had a few cases where I trusted the customer. I will never to that again. I lost money. You will get your money, it's just that the process can add stress. People don't realize what we go through, right?

 

That is right! The mechanics lein process is a hassel and it adds about $100-$125 to my total cost not counting the time involved. The newspaper charges are outrageous for the legal ads.

[Gonzo]

That is right! The mechanics lein process is a hassel and it adds about $100-$125 to my total cost not counting the time involved. The newspaper charges are outrageous for the legal ads.

I have to file on several each year. Most of the time the car isn't worth the bill that's owed. But, at least I have "something" to get some of the cash back. I would have to read this law as it's written and interpreted.... sometimes bad information spread out there by the news media is as bad as stupid laws put into affect by the legislation. However, it sounds more like it's the jerks that can't really repair cars is the reason this law is out there.. Joe, again... totally agreement... it's just stupid what the law will do with situations like this. (BTW, read your comments on the web page too)

 

If I lived in Iowa... every single job would have to be paid for in full up front, and any additional work deemed necessary would have to be paid for before completion.

Sounds like you could go to a shop ... have them install a motor or something ... come back in a day or two... and say... "I can't pay for it.... give me my car." and there ain't a whole lot you can do about it. THAT STINKS ! !

[Joe Marconi]

I have to file on several each year. Most of the time the car isn't worth the bill that's owed. But, at least I have "something" to get some of the cash back. I would have to read this law as it's written and interpreted.... sometimes bad information spread out there by the news media is as bad as stupid laws put into affect by the legislation. However, it sounds more like it's the jerks that can't really repair cars is the reason this law is out there.. Joe, again... totally agreement... it's just stupid what the law will do with situations like this. (BTW, read your comments on the web page too)

 

If I lived in Iowa... every single job would have to be paid for in full up front, and any additional work deemed necessary would have to be paid for before completion.

Sounds like you could go to a shop ... have them install a motor or something ... come back in a day or two... and say... "I can't pay for it.... give me my car." and there ain't a whole lot you can do about it. THAT STINKS ! !

 

That's a perfect situation of what really happens. It has happened to me too; a customer gives us the ok to do the work, only to find out later that they can't pay for the repair.

 

To be honest, there are dishonest business people too, but dont make the "Cure" worse than the "Crime".

[xrac]

That's a perfect situation of what really happens. It has happened to me too; a customer gives us the ok to do the work, only to find out later that they can't pay for the repair. To be honest, there are dishonest business people too, but dont make the "Cure" worse than the "Crime". /quote]

 

A few years ago we had a customer who blew his engine up by overheating it on the interstate. We give him a price on a used engine with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. It took a few days to get the part in and to get the engine changed out. He was calling every few days to check on it. Then he stopped checking. When we got it done we tried and tried to contact him but we never heard from him again not even to this day and that has been about 4 years. We came out all right. We went the mechanic's lien process and got a title. My service manager drove the car for about a year (gas was near $4.00 and it was a Mazda Protege). Later we sold it to a kid who had blown up his Dodge Stealth (owned one week) and got enough money to cover the repair.

[Joe Marconi]

That's a perfect situation of what really happens. It has happened to me too; a customer gives us the ok to do the work, only to find out later that they can't pay for the repair. To be honest, there are dishonest business people too, but dont make the "Cure" worse than the "Crime". /quote]

 

A few years ago we had a customer who blew his engine up by overheating it on the interstate. We give him a price on a used engine with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. It took a few days to get the part in and to get the engine changed out. He was calling every few days to check on it. Then he stopped checking. When we got it done we tried and tried to contact him but we never heard from him again not even to this day and that has been about 4 years. We came out all right. We went the mechanic's lien process and got a title. My service manager drove the car for about a year (gas was near $4.00 and it was a Mazda Protege). Later we sold it to a kid who had blown up his Dodge Stealth (owned one week) and got enough money to cover the repair.

 

At least it worked out. I know shop owners that were not so lucky.

 

Happy Easter, BTW

[DUFRESNES]

ame='xrac' date='02 April 2010 - 06:42 PM' timestamp='1270230136' post='6595']

 

 

At least it worked out. I know shop owners that were not so lucky.

 

Happy Easter, BTW

 

 

Here in Oregon, I finally got smart on Liens. Yes, I had done all the work, court house and putting in the paper etc. Now, I just call Oregon Lien, send them the work order. They do all the rest. They call you and tell you when the auction is and it is done. Much easier. If it is a junk vehicle, donate it and you can take the amount owed if it is more than what is worth.

[xrac]

Here in Oregon, I finally got smart on Liens. Yes, I had done all the work, court house and putting in the paper etc. Now, I just call Oregon Lien, send them the work order. They do all the rest. They call you and tell you when the auction is and it is done. Much easier. If it is a junk vehicle, donate it and you can take the amount owed if it is more than what is worth.

 

How much does that cost?