Legal Question in Consumer Law in Utah

auto shop took car apart and won't put it back together

My son took his dad's car to college. It wouldn't go into overdrive. He took it to a shop I suggested that said it gave a free transmission check and road test. Once there they called him and said it would cost $189 to find out what was wrong. We ok'd that. When we didn't hear anything after a few days I, the mom, called and was told it would cost over $2,000 to fix it depending on how we wanted it repaired--3 year warranty or 1 year warranty. Since the car only had 29,000 miles I called the dealer and they said they would put in a new $6,000 transmission for only $800. I told the service manager at the transmission shop that we did not want them to repair it and my son would be by to pick it up. He said the car was ''humpty dumpty'' and couldn't be put back together and we would have to choose one of their options and let them fix it instead. He offered to put in a used transmission for $1,200 as a compromise. I can't believe he won't let us pay him for checking it and give us our car. He said I am not his customer, my son is, even though my husband and I are the car owners and will be paying for the repair. What do I do?


Asked on 1/26/08, 1:28 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

Re: auto shop took car apart and won't put it back together

No doubt the transmission was disassembled to diagnose it. In anticipation of repair, it didn't make sense to the repair shop to reassemble it. Depending on what the agreement was, he should either reassemble it and restore the car to the original condition, or put the parts in a large box and you could have it towed to the dealership. Sounds like you might need police intervention if you offer to pay the $189. You might also report him to the Better Business Bureau.

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Answered on 1/26/08, 1:50 am
Alvin Lundgren Alvin R. Lundgren, L.C.

Re: auto shop took car apart and won't put it back together

Tell the transmissions shop to reassemble the transmission immediately and have it ready for pickup. Then report the shop to the franchise - if it is a franchise, and the BBB. They have no right to deny you the return of your car. Since you are the owner, you are the customer.

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Answered on 1/28/08, 9:42 am


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