Non-paying customer gets mechanic arrested

[schumi]

Cape Town – Ebrahim Hendricks, 49, a backyard mechanic from Silver City, Tafelsig, was arrested for stealing a car he repaired for a client who vanished two months ago.

Hendricks, who has more than 20 years’ experience, says he was approached by a woman in the community to fix her car.

“She came to me in January with her broken-down Opel Corsa, asking me if I could fix it for her,” he said. “I worked on the car for two weeks before I got it up and running.”

He replaced the car’s ECU, cylinder head, one front wheel bearing and reprogrammed the key; the parts alone cost him R10 265.

He contacted the woman to pay and collect her car, but she told him she had moved to the Eastern Cape.

“I was so surprised," he said, "because I needed my money.”

The woman, known only as Lolo, told him her mother would pay for the repairs – but the mother did not pay as promised and Hendricks didn’t hear from Lolo for two months.

He said: “I went to Mitchells Plain court and the Traffic Department to find out what I must do with this car standing in my yard."

They advised him to place advertisements in two newspapers, telling the owner to fetch the car.

An angry Hendricks said: "I was upset because I had to spend R550 of my own money to place these ads in the paper!”

More at: http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/non-paying-customer-gets-mechanic-arrested-8270593

 

[Weblord]

What happened?

Did he sell the car without placing the advertisement, after being told by authorities what to do, and officially giving this person notice of his intention to recover his costs?

If, so, then he belongs in jail. Hope they nail him hard!

 

[WaxLyrical]

What happened?

Did he sell the car without placing the advertisement, after being told by authorities what to do, and officially giving this person notice of his intention to recover his costs?

If, so, then he belongs in jail. Hope they nail him hard!

Said he left it at a friend's place while he worked on other cars.

 

[ponder]

What happened?

Did he sell the car without placing the advertisement, after being told by authorities what to do, and officially giving this person notice of his intention to recover his costs?

If, so, then he belongs in jail. Hope they nail him hard!

Did you read the article at all?

They usually don't release people from jail after 5hrs for vehicle theft.

 

[Weblord]

Said he left it at a friend's place while he worked on other cars.

Ah well, then they have no case against him. It's his car until she pays. He also has the right to charge her daily storage fees and this amount may exceed the value of the car. Only when he decides to sell the car to recover losses, must he follow the required steps to inform her of his actions and give her a reasonable time to respond.

 

[upup]

The police must pay for her car now, and then they can try to get the money from her.

 

[rietrot]

lol. If you look at the list of repairs this guy definitely belongs in jail for being a fraud. Mechanics that just replace random parts thinking they can scam people out of money.

 

[ForceFate]

lol. If you look at the list of repairs this guy definitely belongs in jail for being a fraud. Mechanics that just replace random parts thinking they can scam people out of money.

What if those were the faulty parts?

 

[WaxLyrical]

lol. If you look at the list of repairs this guy definitely belongs in jail for being a fraud. Mechanics that just replace random parts thinking they can scam people out of money.

In that he would've done the disks and brakes as well because that's the first thing the stealerships look to replace.

 

[bekdik]

What if those were the faulty parts?

You still advise the client before carrying out the work

 

[Moosedrool]

You still advise the client before carrying out the work

^this.

 

[Nanfeishen]

lol. If you look at the list of repairs this guy definitely belongs in jail for being a fraud. Mechanics that just replace random parts thinking they can scam people out of money.

“I gave the detective all my receipts," he said, "and she called the businesses to verify them.”

Really ? , a scam artist doesnt keep or hand over receipts for price verification.

 

[rietrot]

Really ? , a scam artist doesnt keep or hand over receipts for price verification.

Do you know anything? Bring me your car, I will replace the engine for no apparent reason and I will give you a receipt to proof it.

 

[Nanfeishen]

Do you know anything? Bring me your car, I will replace the engine for no apparent reason and I will give you a receipt to proof it.

I have dealt with many a "backyard mechanic" over the years on various cars I have owned, and for many who work within their community, their work, quality and honesty is word of mouth.
He would not survive in the community if word of mouth spread that he wasnt trusted or over charged or "fixed" what didnt require fixing.

In this case the con artist appears to be the woman and not the mechanic.

 

[Ancalagon]

I have dealt with many a "backyard mechanic" over the years on various cars I have owned, and for many who work within their community, their work, quality and honesty is word of mouth.
He would not survive in the community if word of mouth spread that he wasnt trusted or over charged or "fixed" what didnt require fixing.

In this case the con artist appears to be the woman and not the mechanic.

This.

Think about it - he fixes the car, they don't arrange payment, and suddenly he is arrested for theft.

Wouldn't a reasonable person go over to the mechanic to talk about their car first? Ask for repayment terms or something? You would only call the cops if you have exhausted every avenue and are convinced that this mechanic truly is a crook.

I think they wanted to get their car back without having to pay for it.

 

[ponder]

I have dealt with many a "backyard mechanic" over the years on various cars I have owned, and for many who work within their community, their work, quality and honesty is word of mouth.
He would not survive in the community if word of mouth spread that he wasnt trusted or over charged or "fixed" what didnt require fixing.

In this case the con artist appears to be the woman and not the mechanic.

+1

 

[WaxLyrical]

You still advise the client before carrying out the work

Advice usually costs money because the guy needs to certain time and labor consuming checks before assessing the problem.
So the client usually just let's the mech diagnose the problem and finish the job, especially if he's​ a backyard mech.

Don't see the relevance. It's not like she took it to a reputable dealer on Motorplan.

 

[bekdik]

Advice usually costs money because the guy needs to certain time and labor consuming checks before assessing the problem.
So the client usually just let's the mech diagnose the problem and finish the job, especially if he's​ a backyard mech.

Don't see the relevance. It's not like she took it to a reputable dealer on Motorplan.

The mechanic would simply be protecting himself. If the quote is high, and he does not know the person, then he can ask for a down payment, or get them to sign a document agreeing that in the event of non-payment, that the vehicle can be sold to cover costs.

 

[ForceFate]

Do you know anything? Bring me your car, I will replace the engine for no apparent reason and I will give you a receipt to proof it.

You're assuming parts were replaced "for no apparent reason".

In my experience (a friend owned a conquest 160RS), a backyard mechanic would discuss "ball park" figure before commencing with work.

 

[Marius Flash]

You're assuming parts were replaced "for no apparent reason".