Legal Question in Consumer Law in Texas

I have a friend that recently had a transmission rebuilt for a much larger sum than any other mechanic that he talked to said they'd do it for. When he told the first mechanic to stop the repair (about an hour after he told them to do it) he was told they could not stop because they were too far along on putting it back together. Even after being told this, he had to wait almost 2 days before the transmission was put back in the vehicle. His bill came to almost 2,000 dollars. A brand new tranmission like his cost about 1400 dollars. He wrote them a check and then stopped payment on it and contact the county consumer fraud unit because he felt he was being ripped off. Could his truck be repossesed by the transmission company while he is waiting to hear what the consumer fraud unit has to say, and is he liable for anything other than the bill because of this action?


Asked on 8/03/09, 5:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
TC Langford Langford Law Office

Yes.

They retained a mechanic's lien on the vehicle when he stopped payment. He could also be criminally liable for theft of service.

First he should have talked to those other mechanics before he hired someone to do the job.

Making a contract, and later discovering that you made a bad contract, does not give you the right to disavow the contract.

He is looking at being liable for the original cost, as well as numerous other costs. He needs to either make this right with the mechanic immediately, or hire a lawyer.

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Answered on 8/06/09, 4:10 pm


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