Legal Question in Consumer Law in Michigan

I purchased a vechile from a family friend 3 years ago with the original tittle for the truck. I then took it to a different friend to have him repair and work on the vechile. We made a verbal agreement i would pay for parts and labor as I had the money. It is now 3 years later and the parts i have purchased and delivered are still not installed in the vechile. The person working on the vechile stopped contacting me and working on it about 9 months ago. I made plans to retrieve the vechile which is still not operateing. Come to find out the individual that agreed to work on the vechile has gone to the Secretary of state and had the tittle put into his name and is now trying to sell the vechile. He is trying to charge me a "storeage fee" if I want it back. I have already paid him for labor and over $7000 in parts. Is there any way I can get the vechile back or any of the parts?


Asked on 4/08/16, 5:24 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Andrew Campbell Andrew L Attorney at Law

The first question here is was your friend licensed to repair vehicles? Repair facilities are supposed to provide a written estimate of the cost of repairs and labor to a customer. Do you have your receipts and proof of payment? Did you pay this person in full for everything that was repaired? Repair facilities can, if they follow certain rules, sell vehicles if they are not paid for their work. That is the problem with verbal agreements, everyone tends to remember the terms differently several years later. If he is trying to charge a storage fee then this person must be telling you that either in writing or by phone. If it was in writing you might want to consult with an attorney but $7,000.00 while a great deal of money might not be enough for a lawsuit. Some attorneys will take small damage cases if there is a fee-shifting statute in place. So it is possible you could get your vehicle or parts or money back but more facts are needed to determine that.

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Answered on 4/11/16, 9:07 am


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