Legal Question in Criminal Law in Arizona

what can i do if i feel i have been ripped off while my car was in the shop?

my car had been broken into, so my insurance told me to take it to the shop they use (AUTO BODY WORLD) the stereo had been stolen , window broken. they kept the car for ten full days including weekend. when i picked it up i noticed my car looked very different when i got home i noticed for example the sunroof was not the same, the seats were not the same the doors had all the stickers that have the code # to know its your car they were all peeled which was rather strange. I went back to the AUTO BODY SHOP and told them what i thought,they denied having anything to do with it. i called the police, and even though they know it's happened before,they said they couldn't do anything without proof. Ever since the incident, i've been having headaches and depression,what can i do? Please help me. I dont want these people to get away with it.


Asked on 8/09/09, 5:41 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joan Bundy Joan Bundy Law

It sounds like your insurance company's "trusted" auto body shop is actually a chop shop. I can't explain otherwise why your vehicle would be so altered. Maybe the police don't have enough at this point to arrest anybody, but that doesn't mean they haven't broken any laws. You may want to contact your area's prosecutor's office(s).

Also, I would take Auto Body World to small claims court and ask that they either put your car back together the way it was when you dropped it off there except with the window fixed and the stereo replaced, or give you the amount of money it will take you to replace the vehicle as its market value.

I would think about getting a new insurance carrier also.

Best of luck!

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Answered on 8/18/09, 7:37 pm


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