First I’d like to say I am a SD newbie and this is my first thread.
That being said, I have a problem with my mechanic. Two months ago I took my car in to have the engine replace. After several additional charges I paid for the repairs, on a credit card, last month. Last week I was told the vehicle was ready and to pay $340 when I pick it up. I called the mechanic to question the extra charge. The mechanic became livid and told me he was reimbursing my credit card and I now had to pay in cash.
BTW my credit card statement showed I had paid the $340 dollars with the previous payment and had paid in full for the repairs. The mechanic finally agreed, but still wanted cash.
Can he demand this? He wants the cash ASAP, but my credit card hasn’t been refunded.
Do I have to pay a storage fee while I wait for my credit card to be refunded and then pay cash?
Seems to me if I pay cash now he has double my money, without my knowledge of him ever reimbursing my credit card.
The mechanic should be able to provide a receipt from the credit-card machine printer indicating the money was refunded.
Sounds like I wouldn’t go this idiot, though, in future.
You could threaten to report him to his bank, or Visa/MC/whatever. If they display the logo, and you have the card, their contract requires that they accept it.
Call your credit card company and see if the credit has been entered into your account.
When a merchant credits your card there is a receipt similar to the original slip when it was charged. He should give you a copy of this.
If your mechanic really has not credited your account you could pay with cash but demand a receipt saying it was paid in full and make sure there is something on the receipt that would connect it with the charge on your card. Then you protest/challange this charge with your card company … they will send you a form to do so and if you ask them nicely they may remove the charge from your bill until the issue is resolved. Send in a copy of the (cash) paid in full receipt and explain that the charge is bogus.
You could take this to small claims court but if you can get your card company to remove the the charge from your bill you don’t have to worry about collecting the judgement from the mechanic.
But I have a feeling your situation is more complicated than explained in your OP so make appropriate adjustments.
Balthisar
never go without checking Better Business Bureau again. He wanted cash to prevent me from later disputing payment w/cc company.
Cheesesteak
The police told me a crime was not committed therefore they could take no action. They also let me know I was not the only customer that had complained to them.
He also told me all phone conversations were recorded (legal in this state) Do I have any rights to obtain a copy?
It depends on the contract you signed when you brought it in. You did sign a contract, right?
Maybe there is an agreement on the contract on what happens & how much you pay?
If you
pay twice with your card, your bank has a form to refund your money. I wouldn’t threaten
the guy until you get your car back.
If he refuses to let you take your car after you have paid, I would say that a crime has been committed. If he provides you with the credit receipt that Rufus mentioned then, technically, you haven’t paid. Follow Rufus’s advice on getting a receipt for the cash and ensure that you have all relevant receipts in your possession. I would also insist on calling the CC company while you are at the station, to verify the charges and credits
As an aside, once the transaction was completed, I would vehemently complain to Visa/MC about his conduct. I don’t think they want to be used as a deposit service for his station, only to have all his charges credited back because customers are forced to pay in cash. I wonder if the CC company gets their percentage if the charges are later credited? I suspect not, and I suspect that is why he wants cash, in addition to the ability to cheat on his taxes.
In my experience, service stations do not charge you until repairs are complete, since they DO have possession of your car, that is considered collateral, or something like that. My father has personally taken ownership of at least 2 cars when the owners failed to pay for repairs, and take their cars home from his shop.
First off, IANAL, and I don’t know what laws may apply where you live, but…
In many (most?) states, mechanics may hold a car until payment is made for any services rendered and the burden of proof is on the customer to prove that the work was not done or payment was made. If you have a completed work ticket and proof of payment and the dollar amounts match, then you have proof that the work is completed. Call the authorities and see how they can help.
As an aside though, what sort of engine did you get rebuilt for only three hundred and forty bucks? I’d expect a rebuild to cost at least one side or the other of a grand.
RufusLeaking
Thanks for the input. I’ve called my cc company, spoke with a nice representative, who will notify me when the charges have been reversed.
As for paying in cash I would have to get the money from my cc. Which would be over my limit. (damn school loans)
Small claims court is the last place I would like to go. Time from work, stress, and I believe I have to go through mediation first.
handy
I did sign an estimate and have paid it in full. As far as threatening him, that would be the last thing I do. He told me when I got there he was going to “settle it outside.” I asked why he was getting violent and he replied that he meant for a beer. Ok
I was thinking of picketing. Good idea, no?
Big Fear: I have always been afraid of mechanics and restaurant staff. Never get scew with these people until you have what you want and have paid. Never know what happens behind closed doors.
This won’t solve anything, but It certainly will give the guy as big of a headache as he has given you. I counted 4 indirect or direct violations of his agreement before I got bored with reading, and there were 3 pages left.
Here’s a good one to put you to sleep:
2.09 Excessive Chargebacks and Retrieval Requests
Merchant agrees that if Bank and Cardservice International are presented, during any monthly period, with (a) chargebacks relating to Merchant’s transactions processed by Bank in excess of one percent (1%) of the average monthly dollar amount of such transactions or (b) Documentation Retrieval Requests in excess of three percent (3%) of the total number of transactions processed, then such chargebacks or retrieval requests shall be conclusively deemed to be excessive under applicable MasterCard and VISA regulations. Bank and Cardservice International may thereupon terminate this Agreement or take such other action as may be authorized herein or by applicable MasterCard or VISA regulations. The percentage figure in this paragraph shall not be deemed to be, nor shall be, a limitation of Bank’s rights to establish a reserve pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Merchant agrees that the amount or extent of any such reserve shall be based on Bank and Cardservice International’s reasonable estimation of the need for it, in light of circumstances known to them at the time.