What to do if I took my car to a shop that specializes in rebuilding the engine of my type of car and was quoted 8-12 weeks to complete the job but it has been 18 months?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What to do if I took my car to a shop that specializes in rebuilding the engine of my type of car and was quoted 8-12 weeks to complete the job but it has been 18 months?
I have a somewhat rare vehicle that not many mechanics can work on. I have not pulled it out because there arent many shops that work it and I really want a quality rebuild from this shop. I paid for half of the work when I dropped it off. I want my car back. What should I do? Can I be compensated for all the rental cars I have had to use over the last 18 months? My wife would take me back and forth to work. Could she be compensated for her time?
Asked on April 4, 2013 under Business Law, Virginia
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
If the shop has--as it seems to have--either breached the terms of the agreement between you and it as to completion date, and/or misrepresented to you the time it would take to do the work (or its ability to do the work), then you may have a claim for compensation: in the former case, for breach of contract, in the latter case, under the theory of promissory estoppel. In either event, you may be able to recover the money you have paid and/or seek compensation for the costs you have incurred due to the breach. However, you can only seek compensation for foreseeable monetary costs (e.g. car rentals), not for time or inconvenience (e.g. your wife's time). You may wish to consult with an attorney to further evaluate your options and the compensation to which you may be entitled.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.