Mechanic Problem

Sounds like the guy is doing on the side ... no way to govern that...

Rob
 
if he has a legitimate business also, he could be jeopardizing whatever credentials or bonding he has there.
 
More details would be useful if you have them. The guy can't have just stated this as a ransom demand - extortion is illegal. Did he claim to have needed to do extra work, because other things than the water pump were broken? Did he claim he was authorized to do more work based on some conversation? He's got to have had something other than "pay up or else".

I'm not challenging the story. But, the purpose of the site being education of boaters, it may be helpful for people to know what kind of spiel the guy used. All these scamsters have one. The more people hear about it, the easier it is for the next guy to recognize one in time.
 
Have your buddy go find a good used drive unit, install it and go boating. Flip the guy off as you enjoy your boat. Let him "sit" with a drive he doesn't need. Cheaper then an attorney or paying him the ransom. Make sure EVERYONE in the area knows who he is.
 
For this type of caper you do not need an attorney. File a claim in small claims court against him. The court fee to file is minimal. I would not let him get away with this. We all work hard for our money so why give it away.
Al
 
He won't show.

The Judge will give you a piece of paper that says he owes you.

You then have only a piece of paper!

Hasn't anyone here been to Small Claims Court before...filing against a guy "working on the side"?
 
"My friend got a boat mechanic off the internet"

And now you have a problem. Say it isn't so!
 
Well my friend is a young kid and he was trying to save some cash , which did not work out, the mechanic did somthing wrong on the install of this pump everything was nice until the pump did not work then he said he would take it and redo the job at his expense. He took the drive and left and then called the kid and gave a song and dance about how he is doing so much more work and now wants more money and he wants the money before he installs the drive. He is bringing the drive today and I am going to be there. This guy wants his money up front before the job is tested after he already did it wrong once. I thing he broke somthing and is looking to stiff my friend. We are going to meet him and insist he put it on and we water test it and then I told my friend to pay him and learn a lesson. I will let you know how it goes.
mm
 
quote:
Originally posted by mario2101

Well my friend is a young kid and he was trying to save some cash , which did not work out, the mechanic did somthing wrong on the install of this pump everything was nice until the pump did not work then he said he would take it and redo the job at his expense. He took the drive and left and then called the kid and gave a song and dance about how he is doing so much more work and now wants more money and he wants the money before he installs the drive. He is bringing the drive today and I am going to be there. This guy wants his money up front before the job is tested after he already did it wrong once. I thing he broke somthing and is looking to stiff my friend. We are going to meet him and insist he put it on and we water test it and then I told my friend to pay him and learn a lesson. I will let you know how it goes.
mm

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Good on you for being there for your friend, sounds like he could use your support with this guy, hope it works out.
 
When it comes to repairs on a boat remember "Good-Fast-or Cheap -- pick TWO"!!!
 
As Nav says, good for you Mario - you're doing the right thing and moving on. Let us know how it turns out. Hopefully your friend will have no more drama and a great boating season.
 
When my O/D got hijacked by an unscrupulous mechanic I had to go and physically retrieve it and take it to a reputable shop.
 
you might want to check the numbers on the outdrive against the warranty card to make sure he shows up with the correct outdrive... take a good one return with a POS is another scam.
 
Probaly trying to take advantage of your friend because he is young, if you have a friend who is an off duty police officer I would have him there, maybe the guy would think twich to try this with someone else.
 
The problem I see is that there is nothing in writing, recorded or an impartial witness. I like to get any estimate in writing (of course it can be more, but there needs to be a very good reason). I also carry one of the small digital tape recorders in my pocket--and often pop it out and say "I hope you don't mind if I record this, since my memory is not quite as good as it once was". Or I have a friend go with me and we make notes.

In this case, I probably would have several friends avaiable when the mechanic comes and see what the deal really was. I would also have a video camera running in the background when the mechanic shows up. The mechanic owes an explaination, old parts, and a time on his labor. Also if he is doing this "under the table" there is a very good chance he is not paying taxes....The IRS tends to frown upon this. I once had a similar situation, and I'll be darned if this guy wasn't audited for several years....

I agree about small claims--try and enforce a judgement if you get one--this is a he said, he said type of situation without any proof.
 
Yea if it is a boating neighborhood i would get a couple neighbors to stand by and watch. They should be happy to help and watch, if not only for entertainment purposes.
 
Well the guy showed up yesterday and he was an hour and a half late and he says he wants to get paid first so the argument starts right there. After a while he agrees to put the drive on and run it in a tub to prove it works however I want a water test. We had the boat hooked up to the car and we are one block from the ramp. He doesent want to do that so I tell him the tub willl be good enough. This guy is slow and never stops talking and we have to help him get the drive on, when hes done I tell him we are putting the boat in to test it to put his stuff away draw up the bill and meet us at the ramp. We take the boat to the ramp and this guy is screaming and carrying on about his time. We put the boat in and he shows up I tell my friend to take it for a ride he says you cant leave test it here I shove the boat off and away goes my friend to test it. The guy is screaming at me and I tell him just draw up the bill and he will be back in a second and you will get paid. Now he refuses to give a bill says he will mail it I said fine mail it and we will mail the check when we get it. He really goes off my friend gets back and says the trim does not work the tach does not work and the speedo does not work so I tell the guy you broke more than you fixed your not getting paid and he starts again that he is going to shoot holes in the boat. So I tell him I will call the cops he says I am a cop so I say let me see and he is huffing and puffing anyway he goes on the boat and fools with it a little cursing all the time and he fixes those things and says pay me so I say fine wheres the bill, he says I will mail it so I say we will mail the check and he screams super loud are you going to pay me or not and I say sure just give me a itemized bill and he runs to his truck and starts grabbing for somthing behind the seat like he has a gun or somthing. AT this point I tell him I am calling the police and now he starts turning ***** hang up the phone he says I say no and the police come and I tell them whats up and the cop is ok I say listen I will pay but we want a bill and he gets a check if not we can go to court. So the cop tells him that and he starts telling the cop what he wants and the cop says if you dont want to do it you can go to court I am not here to collect your money I am only here to keep the peace. So I say I am fine with going to court to settle this if thats what you want. We have offered to pay but want a reciept and want to pay by check I thought that was fair considering he was overcharging us. PS he winds up writing the bill and taking the check, he was not a cop just an A**H****. I thought about letting him take my friend to court for the money but in reallity the disput was over a $200 overcharge and when all was said and done we wanted to be done with this guy. My friend keeps the boat at my house so the guy knows where I live and where the boat is kept. I made sure there was a police report in case of further trouble but he got paid and we gave him as much agravation in the end as he gave us. I would love to post his name because he is a thief and a nut but I dont think its allowed. But beware of a home mechanic that never stops talking you willl know what I mean if you run into this guy. Thanks for the help and advice.
mm
 
I would still turn him in to see if he is a real buiness, let the IRS handle him now.......
 
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