Legal Question in Consumer Law in North Carolina
Limo Rental for Wedding
On April 3, 2004 my wife and I rented a limo from a local company. We have a signed (by both parties) contract stating the cost of the limo to be $75.00/hr. Gratuity is ''at client's discrection''. We rented limo 4 hours for $300. We paid the required 10% deposit at time of contract 2/2/2004. On the day of the wedding I gave a personal check to the chauffeur/owner for $345. The contract states the limo is to be a 10 pass black car. We hired the driver to pick us up the following day at our hotel and transport us to the airport for our honeymoon and pick us up on our return and bring us home for $25 each way. The day following the wedding the driver never showed up to the hotel, forcing us to pay a local cab $30 for airport transportation. On our return from our honeymoon we had to contact a family member to try and contact the limo company to remind him of our flight. We were picked up in an older model white limo. We gave the driver the $25 + $25 tip. We were contacted soon after requesting additional payment of $135?? I told the owner to only contact me through his atty. We never heard anything, until today 3/10/2005! What is the statute of limitations in this matter? He clearly breached the contract in several areas!
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Limo Rental for Wedding
To answer the question posed, the statute of limitations for breach of contract (i.e. your non-payment) would be three years. There are of course several other contractual issues raised by your question. Most pertinent to me seems to be why they believe they are entitled to $135. It appears from the question that there was an initial written contract for 4 hours for $300, and then some oral "side deal" for transport to and from the airport, at a flat rate of $25 each way. Perhaps there was a mis-understanding; maybe they thought it was still the $75 per hour, plus a $25 tip. The facts are not that clear. You should consult a lawyer, especially if you are sued.