Customer claims we’ve STOLEN his engine and we receive DEBT COLLECTORS letter
Вставка
- Опубліковано 13 жов 2022
- In todays vlog we show you how we fit Cosworth top hat liners to a Motorsport engine with our boring bar, we show how to correctly install a BMW crankshaft, plus we are gobsmacked as we receive a dept collection email stating customer is recovering money for an engine we have stolen
- Авто та транспорт
Yes, I'm afraid that 99% of customers in this business are dead straight, but it's the 1% that give you 100% of the grief. From experience I can tell you that putting all communication in writing, be it on paper or email is absolutely essential and well worth the time spent. For example, I built a modified engine for a customer who was going to get his "expert" to map it, but I smelled trouble coming when he wouldn't let me supply the larger injectors needed because he "could get them at a better price". Anyway, I emailed him a copy of all the technical information I was attaching to the engine, making sure to state that it must not be run until the correct injectors (part number supplied) had been fitted; I then photographed the engine with this warning attached to it before collection. Needless to say, a couple of weeks later I received a complaint that the engine had melted its pistons on the rolling road and the mapping guy had diagnosed it as a build fault. Of course, it turned out that the standard injectors had been used and it had simply run far too weak on full throttle. After threats of legal action, I reminded the customer of the warnings I had given in writing (and showed him the proof), and I pointed out that a build fault might mean a big end bolt coming undone, or a valve hitting the piston, but it definitely would not be in the form of melted and detonated pistons unless it had been built with a stupidly high compression ratio - which it hadn't. I never heard another squeak from the customer apart from stories of him bad-mouthing me. The problem with mapping is that it requires someone who understands computers AND the combustion process in an engine - and there are very few who genuinely know what they are doing. I bet that you too, are gradually refining your ability to smell potentially troublesome customers.
Me personally I love to hear about all the comebacks it's very interesting to me to see how some of the customers treat you and how you handle the situation in return. keep doing a great job !!!
Perhaps you should employ the same debt recovery firm to recover the money owed to you 😂
Plot twist ... the customer , IS the owner of the debt collection firm pursuing collection ... devious scheme from the word go . You prolly work for the schmuck.
Hahahaha, mic drop.
That was unexpected and savage.🤣🤣🤣
I just don't understand how the debt recovery firm just took up this contract. There is a dispute between a customer and company, no formal court ruling had been done, a debt recovery firm can just take up the contract and proceed to harrass people.
@@haoye2413 In a "self help" state ... it happens . It's as simple as the business owner hands over accounts recieveable to a 3rd party collection agency offering a percentage to be collected as payment for services .
If a customer asks you to deal with their mechanic ask for confirmation of that in an email too. Keep up the good work.
If i had a customer that wanted me to 'deal' with the mechanic, i would agree to it under terms, only one customer per job, it's much worse when somebodies wife gets involved and that happens occasionally. Also, never ever work on a police officers junk or a doctors junk. Ever.
It would be sensible to CC the customer on emails with the mechanic.
A great combined technical and business channel. As a retired engineering business owner, I come here to view your real-world problems stress free at last.
Funny that, I was thinking the same but not out of the pool yet! I'm so long in the tooth now I have a whole repertoire in my arsenal to turn customers around, humour and humility works wonders!
@@ChrisFEJackson yes but this guy is the one who needs to learn humility not Lee
@@samrodian919 True but I never said where the humility is derived from, would that be to be humiliated by a sense of humour, or to be humoured by a sense of humility?
You must put everything in writing and make sure the customer signs and dates your copy .
I've learnt to back up with photos because occasionally they will blame you for missing parts they never originally supplied .
Stick to your guns .
Good luck and keep the videos coming.
Lee, don’t change a thing on the channel mate, it’s spot on and although I shouldn’t, the level of stupid you guys have to deal with does make me laugh. I’m not in ‘that’ game anymore thankfully but it does bring back memories. As soon as I got a feeling the customer was going to be a twat, I would say “All correspondence from now on must be through email”, it saved my arse on several occasions 👍
90 % percent of evidence in debt recovery claims nowdays.
Harry's Garage has a great series on his Lancia Fulvia restoration - the hidden horrors on the bodywork are amazing. As for the customer, no matter how low you set the bar someone can always limbo under it! Keep working in imperial my friend - your shop your processes!
So many chancers, parasites, and thieves out there now trying to screw people and small businesses over, and often getting away with it, it's got to the point you can't trust anyone enough to do business on handshake or verbal agreement anymore.
Loving the channel, the mix of the technical from machinining processes, build methods, technical details, and component selection as well as the business side of things, including the "moaning", which is just part of dealing with customers who can be anything from great and appreciative through to a pain, scammer. or just downright thick.
We all can remember this one! What a rediculous way to try and resolve this......Time now for a legal letter requesting full and final payment. If not, sell the job on and get out from under it! Keep up your great work!
I vaguely remember that this engine was sold already.
Hand matters over to a lawyer/ debt collector as well. Customer knows for sure you mean business And makes your case stronger when they don't respond to them. Waist of time those kind of asswipes. Do what you love to do.
I don't care what anyone says, old school Engineers and Engine Builders always work in Imperial!
Keep doing what you're doing!!
As for the borer, if it's working and producing the work within the tolerances that you need. . .
Why change it?
It's easy for folk to say you need to do this and you need to do that.
Do what you want mate, it's your business! 👌👍
Exactly right! The kit is doing the job that you need within the tolerances that are suitable for the job, why spend a fortune on kit when it would probably take 10yrs to recoup the cost in saved time and have no real impact. Heath Robinson solutions are par for the course in machine shops, it's only when using them starts costing money that it is a real problem.
Yeah unless you want accuracy the lowest used in imperial is .0001" which is .00254mm but in metric it's .001mm meaning even better tolerances and more accurate work so if old school means sloppy sure
Agree with you 💯
@Michael Birkett Indeed, imperial is long dead and silly to think it's somehow more accurate than metric, they are just units of measure
Some people think if it ain't got flashing lights and a computer screen it mustn't be accurate, how little do they know,it's only as accurate as the operator
Hes a chancer, let him go to court, he WILL lose. Keep up the good work.
im thinking the same thing if that person send the DEBT COLLECTORS & i talk to them i tell them the heads up & also tell them now my fee double the cost since they bring u into this also my lawyer get ahold of them & tell them
We own a construction company, and unfortunately, disputes are common in the trade. The best legal advice I have received is: "He who documents, prevails.". With that advice, we have never lost a dispute.
Great channel, thank you.
Hé who documents prevails - absolutely brilliant - my experience too - I haven’t seen any lot or job tags on the kit being worked on - it might be a good idea :-)
Always document along with a time line.
You did the right thing Lee! You don't need to waste your time trying to sort out that rediculous claim. This is exactly what your solicitor is for, good luck & keep up the great work and videos!
The thing is, solicitors cost money. And just accepting the cost of this is not sensible business practice. You have to tell the customer that you will go to court, and you will ask for your legal costs as the customer owes you the money.
Love this, it never cesses to amaze me what people come up with unbelievable !
The fact he waited a year tells me it was his plan from the begging to try and screw you !
Yes, scammers do that. Seen that happening to my friends welding business. And there were more and more of those, untill he finished his company.
Exactly, had the very same thing here, leaves the job a year, then tries to get money back lol
A bit late but do a business project I did when I was in the Auto Salvage business ( breakers in UK). Part of my Diploma I did a project analysis type of customers, troubles ,returns etc and just plain lies and troubles. All of our troubles were coming from about 2- 5% of customers, but they were not supplying 5% of our income but much less. So we decided to just not deal with them, it was much more beneficial to say we can not help them. Or for example " can I return it if it does not fix the problem and get my money back." got this crap often. The answer ... To buy it is say $ 35 to hire it to test your problem is $ 45 . Let them deal with it at least I did not loose much money but life was a lot easier.
Also get a very good written warranty for all sales and work supplied. Customers loved this as you tell them it protects their interests and sets out what is expected and that you will back you warranty to the customers advantage. But this also protects you as you can demand proof that they met the terms set out. New radiator etc and proof. A qualified person put it together, heat tabs on block, and head. If in doubt about parts we used to stamp every part sold if it could be interchanged. paint on all bolts. Go to a wrecker ( breaker) that is well set up and you will or should I would assume get treated like this At least in Oz that is how we dealt with these troublesome customers. And if you make a rule do not break it or you will remember why you had to make it in the first place.
Good Luck
Peter
Also basic business courses often do not cover the real world like all education.
Often customers just want a bitch and if your not strong, you will be the target. Ask what do you want me to do to solve the problem, often they back off when they are asking absurd compensation to solve their troubles. Specifically when you put money facts on the table.
Also for those that cry buy new bore machines etc. a shop bored a block for me and stuffed it and tried to cover up by sleeving 2 bores. If I wanted sleeve I would have got 1 whole only sleeved, and honed the rest. But the owner proudly showed me a workshop with 1.5 million dollars worth of equipment, sadly he had no one who knew how to use it.
Now we use old shop, but many have closed down in Australia as engines last the cars now in Australia, times change. Sorry to ramble
Peter again
Love your channel. Don’t change anything.
Yes your guy with the debt recover company involved he definitely is trying it on from every possible angle.
Cheers
Tbf it was mental health day the other day. People are losing the plot here. And honestly i like your little rants allong with whats going on in the shop. Keep it up.
Correction the world is losing the plot!
I call this the Corolla pandemic...
In my shop before I retired, all estimates were signed by the owner. Not so much the small stuff. But the large stuff was always signed. I got burned once and that's all it took. All customers are mostly great but one rotten apple can ruin you. So consider in the back of your mind that all customers are there to ruin you. Your learning this.
Clearly your customer is a chancer. Treat him harshly, and add whatever your solicitor charges you, to his bill.
Lancia Fulvia V-4. Won the Monte Carlo Rally a few times, late 1960s early 1970s. Strange narrow V-4. They used the 1.3 at first then the 1.6 version. Good on snow.
Had the pleasure of owning two of them, a 1300s and a 1600HF with lightweight panels on.
Really quick for their year, and handle like a dream.
Yeah nice isn't it, I was watching Harry's garage and his Zegato engine looked very similar too.
Lovely vids great to see proper pieces of machining equipment it takes me back to my apprenticeship in 1970
Most folks have no idea what it takes to run a business an what it takes to handle all sorts of client personalities, etc. Most people have a hard time taking responsibility for their actions when they screw up. It's human nature. I think you run a great shop and most would agree are super fair with customers! Unfortunately there are lots of customers that fib, mis-remember, or outright lie when it suits them.
There’s nothing new under the sun Lee, never mind if buts and maybes this guy is comedy gold!, thanks for the vid, keep ‘em coming.
Good evening Lee!!
I know what it feels like..... you need to be correct and friendly with some ********** while at the same time you picture his engine flying through his house’s front window... or being dropped in his car... from 50ft up....
It is weekend now.... forget the nags that winded you up...!!!
The Lancia is a better story for the sundowner...
When I was working in Italy (early 90’s) a workshop across the street (a village near Offida) happened to be an Italian Vintage Car specialist..... (the cars going in and out there were FABULOUS!!!!!)
He had this 50’s Lancia oldtimer in his workshop.... for a service.... it was having THIS engine in it!!!!
Oh boy;this engine was ever so nice!!!... it sounded like a twincam Alfa... and was revving like a motorcycle!!!... Ford was stil massproducing side valve engines....and it was easily 3 decades before thev VW VR6 engine....
Do yourself,and all of us,a favour..... after fixing the Lancia engine,get the owner/repairshop to agree to record the engine running after being refitted in the car....
Thanks again for a great vid,enjoy the weekend,greetings from the Netherlands....
Lovely Fulvia engine, I’ve rebuilt several. Low oil pressure is often because of a very small missing spray tube that lubes the timing chain. It’s just above the bottom sprocket and gets broken off as the chain easily snags it when working on the cams.
This is a good point. Many machine shops, quite reasonably, assume that they can only work on what the customer sends them, but this might not allow a reliable engine to be built. I guess you have to be clear whether you are rebuilding the engine, or whether you are machining parts so that someone else can rebuild the engine - two different services with different price points.
I'm an engine recondition tradesmen as well, back when I worked for JB Performance in Sydney, we used a boring bar similar to what you use,made by Repco. Old school equipment is reliable.
Back when the Repco name actually meant something good.
First time viewer..
I’m a retired full service race shop/builder.
The sign at the service desk said two things.
1) all sales cash only
2) no warranty on any work. these are race cars/equipment and will fail under extreme conditions.
Great channel, see you again.
The audacity of some so called customers.
Keep the content as it is Lee its great I love to see you at the news desk with another tale.
This punter is beyond belief......what part of estimate does he not get. Think this was Mr vauxhsll vxr engine man from memory......
Well keep up those rolling storage charges!
The days of a Gentleman's hand shake has long gone so many scammers out there emails or written conformation needed even photos these days you know the old saying once bitten another good video
A gentleman's handshake was only ever as good as your ability to make things difficult for him if he didn't follow through. ... And your and his memory. Not writing down the specifics has always been a great way to end up with problems, though admittedly varying significantly in type and degree.
Remenber, "A verbal agreement is not worth the paper it isn't written on". Get everything in writing - from both you and the customer.. There are a lot of chancers out there.
I called a lawyer out for not getting something from the city on paper.
Works both ways though. If you ask somebody to do a job for you, especially in trade, you are required to pay. You can argue whether the price is reasonable but the onus is on you to contest the bill and say why.
@@gregtaylor6146 See you in court. Your version of something done in private had better make common sense to the judge and/or jury.
@@dlewis9760 verbal contracts are legally binding. Its just providing the proof of that contract thats the difficult bit, but there are plenty of ways to do so
@@gregtaylor6146 Yes, but difficult in court, one person's word against another. Written agreements are much more secure.
Lee, best story for a while, made me laugh anyway. What an arse of a customer! I kinda thought that you hadn't heard the last from them though...
Keep the boring bar you have. It does the job you know how to use it. I guess because it’s dirty and not much paint left people think it’s knackered and needs replacing. It’s made to last so keep it. 🤟🏿🤟🏿
Part of the enjoyment for me are the little moans because we all have them LOL I also like the fact that when you are in the wrong you admit it unlike a great deal of others who simply refuse to accept any blame. Keep it up moans and all
I think most people who start their own business don't think they need to be a 'people person'. Anyone who who does run their own business knows customers can be great and awful, and unfortunately as soon as money is involved those great customers who think you are their mate can turn in to a nightmare.
Personally in the last 20 years running my business with thousands of very happy customers I realise that legal action and court are never very far away. Its a shame but that's how it is.
You did the right thing for the customer, despite their complete lack of integrity.
Sorry about your customer and his "stolen" engine. 40 years ago when I was young I would have found it hard to believe that there are customers like that out there. 40+ years later not much surprises me anymore. However I do believe karma catches up with those clowns eventually. Take care and remember most people are good.
Wow, I know barely enough to be dangerous about engines. Listening to you is waaaaay educational. Thanks
Watching from the USA. Like to see the ins and outs of all the various engines you build and/or repair. I just started on rebuilding/building an engine for my 69 Mustang. It's a 390 car and am building an engine based off a 390 factory block. It'll have a SCAT reciprocating assembly, bored and stroked out to 445 Ci. I found a local shop that builds stock to full race engines. While dropping off my block, to have it checked out first, the showed me an engine they just finished for a customer. It was built off an original Boss 429 engine. It had extensive work done, hand manufactured dual quads, quite the piece of eye candy.
Listing to your ending with the idiot customer remember you can't fix stupid! That customer is stupid as hell.
People are always trying to hustle businesses. Your in the right. I wish you the best brother
I have a vision of a guy wearing baggy pants, flip flops and one of those long shirts that come down to the knees.
Another good video, I called this week to see if you can rebuild an engine for me, I was told you are a little busy at the moment 👍
I am a mechanic in South Africa with the same story and my legal guy is laughing at them.
You live and you learn. I enjoyed the video. New subscriber.
It's the VXR engine, I'd say the guy in question was initially and deliberately playing naive. You have every right to hang on to that engine until the bill is payed in full or agreed upon. Your solicitor will advise you correctly I am sure. This is what gets me with debt collecting agencies, they start working for clients with a minimal amount of proof and start using bully boy tactics to scare people into paying up. They don't care for the wrongs and rights. A few choice words from your solicitor should set them correctly and realise they have been told a pack of mush. It's the best thing you could have done is to put it to your legal rep. Lesson learnt I think Lee as you more than realise now. Quote from Andy Grove (Inte Corp, co founder: "Only the paranoid survive").
You have always been open and honest in your videos. The fact that you seek recommendations from your viewers should tell us that you know that there are people out in the world with extensive knowledge and can have experience and info from where you lack a little, this is where your channel works and viewers are interacting in a way that forums do in helping out with that information to help others. After all it is your business and if you decide to stop broadcasting on YT it would be missed by many, as I am sure for watching these videos I have certainly learnt a lot.
I work in thou on my old TR7 engine, it's a right mix of Metric, BA & UNC too. Keep on, grin & 'Barum'!!
Me thinks Lee will be selling new merch shortly. Keep on, grin & 'Barum'!!! is priceless.
@@ItAlwaysHasToBePerfect Cheers :)
Had a TR7 in the eighties loved that vehicle, overhauled the engine on a Saturday and Sunday, started it up Sunday night forgot to connect thefuel 14:27 pipe set te engine bay on fire,due to being tired.
@@1gerard47 Oh gosh, hope you managed to recover it in time!
If it's not picked up in 90 days it is disposed of, give him a number to call for the company that bought it for the outstanding bill and when he calls the number, he can buy it back for an additional 20% the number is for one of your employees.
I am happy you had the wear-with-all to know to stop, and restart the assembly procedure...
That reminds me I need to pop by to collect some outstanding dept !!!🎉
It's always best to get 1/2 the money upfront before any work is done. Gets rid of the scammers.
I forget the exact quote, but it was something like "30% of your customers will cause 70% of your problems"
And what you call problems is th thoughts that will wake you at 4AM not being able to sleep again...
I sincerily wish those people waking up one day having their car up their*********
They (being 10% or less of my clientele) made me close my workshop for ALL private people....
I am totally ok with the fact that the lot of them go and get their cars fixed at official Dealership Workshops.... for 80 Euro/hr...
I had a 1973/4 Lancia Fulvia Coupe back around 1976 as my first car after passing my test.
Completely agree with working in Imperial; so much more precise for small working.
Customers rarely want to accept responsibility.
We once did a Civic engine for a local garage. A week later we get a call from the car owner wanting us to pay for a flat tire on the car. She couldn't understand that we warranty the engine but had never even seen her car, so weren't responsible for her tire. lol
There is a very easy way to sort this nutter out, pay the guy a visit with your biggest lad and explain it to him in person, I done this several times and I used to take my pal who's job was a doorman and it never fails. Note, there is absolutely no need to get nasty, these people always cave as soon as you walk up to them. 'Sausage' HT Racing Ltd
Unnecessarily thuggish way to do business. Much easier to document all changes made to the vehicle before and after and documenting every single one of the customers demands. Keeping literally every interaction on camera and thoroughly clear audio is important.
@@bobdole6691 Well, in this case there is other way at this point.
I’m witness to a builder who didn’t know there was a difference between an estimate and a ‘quote’ which is unbelievable. The most unbelievable thing is, he’s my brother in law and doing our extension…..
Metric, imperial,of piece of string with knots in it,what ever you are best with.Mind you mixing them is the road to madness.Counter claim matey for time , labour and interest. I always found small claims works a treat.
Keep up with your good job brother
you'll either have to take him to court and go through all of that hassle or take the loss cut his block in half and send him the half back and tell him if he wants the other half its in the skip outside
Fight it. An estimate is not fixed. Your rates are available . Don't give in!
Thanks for another great video, I'm pretty sure it was a Lancia Fulvia that belonged to a guy called Cyril Morgan who ran our local petrol station in Penparc west wales . It was a brown car if my memories right, we moved to Canada in 2000, he died shortly after that. I don't know if his son kept it and finished the restoration or if it was sold. is there anybody watching here think they might know about this car. we helped him out loaning him brazing equipment in our Belarus tractor dealership workshop a few times. He'd show me the work he was doing in his garage on it when I called in for fuel as well. It's a long shot asking but it would be nice to know what happened to it in the end .It was needing a lot of work and parts that were hard to find in the early days of internet and eBay. Take care guys.
As a business owner myself restomod and engine work.
The time and effort I have put in some builds, the customers never truly understand.
The sacrifice of family time is much more important now.
debt collectors are toothless, they wont listen so dont ring them, just ignore them, only take action if you recieve a letter befor county cour claim.
Not really when the debt is not owed then speaking to them initially is the best option. Explain they have the incorrect information or have failed in their duty to check the facts.
Having an estimate and claiming its a quote shows they are a joke though. Now they know its an estimate and their client just needs to pay the bill should send them on their way.
Their client may goto another company and try again but his bill is going up so he needs to pay up or end up paying way more than its worth or even lose the engine.
your channel getting more popular so means a lot more business that brings more chancers now you saving all correspondence for future reference should stop all this and phone chats are just that must be stressful after you finished work dealing with these type of people keep up the good work enjoying your channel
Years back i worked for my fathers company and we had a job come in to price up.
Priced the job and had a call asking to remove the galvanising from the quote as the cost wasn't in budget.
Now this company was a multi million pound outfit so i stated i needed their requirement in writing and signed before the job goes ahead,cue an all out arguement with my father..
The job was done and installed and a few weeks later said company were on the phone demanding we take the whole job down,get the powder coat shot blast off and galvanise and re-powder coat before putting it back up.
The total cost was over 10k.
Luckily i'd kept that piece of paper with their change of requirement and signiture but having saved my father over 10k and a threat of legal action it still wasn't enough for even as much as a thankyou..
Harry's Garage is in the middle of a complete restoration of a Lancia Fulvia.
Always go in to the shop in Person. Be clear about what machine work is being done and the charge rate for each of the operations, or the work going to be done. and how long it is going to take. Make sure the price of the New parts quoted is what you're going to be charged and agreed apoun. If the work being done takes longer than it was supposed to take, and you then can't come pick it up immediately within a reasonable time frame, and the company charges you storage fees, pay for the work done, but not the storage fee.
If you have too, get a solicitor involved.
Don't expect to get out of paying storage though if it been a long period of time though.
Beware.
Realize that there can be price increases, so order the parts and pay for them at the time of ordering. Make sure to follow up as soon as the parts turn up at the place you are getting them from, then get the machine shop work done. This way there won't be any suprises when you get the bill.
Listening to what has happened here, I'm not surprised, and some people will try it on any way they can.
Again,
Beware.
brilliant....😂 you couldn't make it up. Great channel keep up the good work..👍
The boring bar issue isn't so much can you counterbore a sleeve, but.. is the bore actually perpendicular to the mains? Also the honing system you have is 1930 technology, you aren't maintaining a proper cross hatch or Ra finish for anything newer than 1950s, investing in up to date equipment will be a game changer for your business.
Compared to ua-cam.com/users/JimsAutomotiveMachineShopInc Jim's Automotive Machine Shop, it's a bit lacking.
Never ever do any job without written proof. People are terrible and they will lie through their teeth just to get free services or to get you in trouble.
I do the same. Anytime I speak to someone on the phone about business, I follow it up with an e-mail saying: Thanks for today's conversation, here is what we agreed in.
Stick to your guns Lee, he's trying it on. Great vid, as always.
look at the fulvia Zagato styling is awesome
Very interesting, i had no idea of the injectable sealant design .
Seems legit.
Very clever in fact, and not too clever by half like the air intakes and egr setups in such bmw items. And i presumed you werent machining nitride coatings without recoating.
I learn much.
Many thanks.
And yeah we know, come backs from chancers and bulldusters are inevitable...
Please keep us up to date on this one, what a twonk he is. 😂
some would say a cant
Unfortunately they are so far down the Rabbit hole that this is going to cost them no matter what it’s just been a right cock up from start to finish and the only way out is money unfortunately
I am glad you are sticking with the imperial system. What brand is that boring bar ? looks a lot like a kwick-way but its using the mic. set up like a Van-Norman bar..
Glad to see someone knows what an inch is, i think since Brexit we should get rid of the metric system and make this country great again. The VR6 is like the Fulvia not the other way round. The Fulvia has genuine vernier adjusment for the cam timing.
Brexit has not stopped the stream of dinghy tourists, only made it a complete mess to buy stuff from Britain. I had my hopes up, but your politicians serve their true masters, not the actual Brits
i have never commented to your videos....but let me tear lose on your your video....
you guy are great. use what you know works and get the job done. new equipment if you have a learning curve that shuts you done does nothing to help anyone.
you have my vote of confidence and i would use you to work on my stuff i were there.
Quite simple - the old quote of "A verbal contract is only worth the paper it's written on" holds true - NEVER do work based on just a handshake!
Send the case to a debt collector, collect the full amount that he owes on the engine + storage fees + collection costs.
You have the invoices, etc... Have the collection agent get all that money then release the engine. Alternatively go to small claims court and sue for costs or get awarded the engine.
It's not up to us to tell you what you should have done, it's up to your solicitor to advise how to keep your hind end in the clear :)
There are always scammers out there!
This guy from the start had a game he wanted to play it!
This what ruins it for the honest people!
Its just ridiculous.I see it as you doing him a favor to agree to do the work he needs done and he sees it as you trying to rip him off.I just cant believe some peoples thought process today.I personally would be so glad to have someone like you working on my engine that I would give a tip after all was said and done.
That's a really cool cradle design
Good vs evil. The world is going to hell....Thank God for you guy's honest you are.
I totally agree with you Lee, every 0800 or 0345 number that appears on my mobile phone screen 😠, I just reject. There is way to much scamming going on😠😠😠🤔🇬🇧🇬🇧
You did the right thing. Not your problem. The court will let you sell the engine to recover your cost.
Paper trail/Email record phone calls if the customer might be difficult also by law you have tell say the phone will be recorded. Warts and All Brilliant channel
In wiring. Lessened learned. Your honest, try to run a business honestly and some will always try and take advantage and back out.
Been there along time ago and changed to in wtitting.
I run a business in Spain and we don’t get many customers like that but when you do! It is incredible the lengths some people will go to try screw companies over.
Some people are just bad. Others are good and appreciate the fact that they can get work done that they could never do themselves and don't mind paying a reasonable rate for the work.
i remember this one if it's the same.. the guy passed on responsibility and authority to his mechanic, who then had you do the work and buy the parts you did.
any additional work you did beyond the initial estimate, on the say so of his mechanic is work the customer won't need to pay that mechanic to do later.. it's not even like he's spent too much with you for what he's getting if i understand.
but now instead of just taking the engine with the extra work and parts like a smart person and finishing the build, the customer is instead telling lies to a debt collections agency to get you to hand over his engine and your work for free? wow, the sht you deal with sometimes mate lol amazing.
You have my sympathy as dealing with the general public always includes people who just
won't follow through as promised. I'm in the US, so I'm not sure about recovering for your
work, but here, I would take him to Small Claims Court, which covers cases up to $5k,
and have the judge put him straight!
Mechanics lien
We have the same Small Claims Court in the UK, but the case limit is £10,000 (about $12,000 currently).
It's not the machine it's the operator, but I recon if they like to buy you a new machine I'm sure you will soon learn how to use the new one, great job, all the best to yous and your loved ones
I can see your point some engine are standard and some a metric and some can have both. It depends when it was built or where it was built and or both.
That is the reason why i stopped working b2c with my construction company, i do only b2b work last 5 years and man! you wouldn't believe it, i never got a payment late and everything goes like it should be!
Boring machine, vapour blast( when you get it) lick of paint, Barum orange and as good as new 👍
Please show as much as you can on the Lancia V4
It will be popular
What do you think was causing the resistance on the first assembly of the BMW engine you then stripped, cleaned and reassembled?
that last item made me laugh at what some people will try he is a real chancer
Never back down in that situation !! That just emboldens them to beat up the next guy. It is a game to them to see what concessions they can squeeze out of you. The money doesn't really matter to them.
You know what you time is worth. Stick to your guns !!
Hi Lee, may be worth re - estimating if customer gives you the go ahead, if its been more than 5 or 6 weeks, its a bit more work but will pay off in the end, the costs are rising so fast nowadays, have you ever worked out how much your individual machines cost to run per hour.
It's a shame when people try to rip you off. I think the owner of the motor was playing dumb to get a cheaper price. Good on you for standing firm. There are way too many spanners out there as it is. Well done.