This is what happened. I when to the mechanic because their were a weird sound coming from under my car. The mechanic gives it a look and said it was probably the exhaust line. That it was to low and it was touching the ground. I ask him how much it will cost to fix and tell him I only had about $200 in my checking account. He told me it will be $80 to $120 and that it will be ready in 2 days. When I ask him why it will take so long he told me that he got to take everything apart. Two days later I call him to see if my car was ready and he told me that he found something wrong with the transmission while doing the work. He told me he could have it fix for a couple dollars more. So I said ok thinking a couple dollars are $50 or so. 4 Days later he call me to tell me that my car was ready.
When I got to the shop the mechanic was not in because he had gone to tow a car that break down he’s assistant told me. When I ask the assistant how much it was the bill he went to look for it and came back a couple of minutes later and said. "It's said here $1,330.00" I kind of got into shock and tell him it most be a mistake. He gave me the bill that is hand written and said:
Exhaust line repair: $120
Transmission rebuilt: $400
Transmission Parts: $600
Days the car was in the shop: 6 @ $35 per day = $210
I found all this shocking and ridicules so I got mad and told the assistant I was not paying that bill. He told me to wait for the mechanic to come back and I can discuss it with him or that he can call him on his cell phone. I told him to call him and he did. When he put me on the line the mechanic said that I had authorized the transmission work and that I had to pay or other way the car will stay on the shop. He told me he had already told he’s assistant not to give me the keys. I try to reason with him but he kept saying pay $1,330 or loss the car. So I hang up and went to look in my purse. I had a copy of the keys so I just got into the car and drove off. Then he calls me and told me that if I do not pay in 3 days he will sue me and that he will go to court to get a lien to have my car repo. Can he really do that? What should I do? I was thinking in a lawyer but I got no way to pay. What can I do?