My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: NH
In December, I paid the garage to tow my unregistered vehicle to the garage for work that needed to be done. They completed the work, I paid them in full. I didnt have the extra money at the time to have it towed back to my home. I explained to the owner that I would try to get someone to help me come and get it to drive home. She agreed to let me leave it. No mention was ever made of storage fees. Though I had every intention of getting it, two months passed before I had extra money to get it towed home. I admit to being negligent in staying in contact with the garage during this time period. On March 22 I called the garage to request it be towed home. The gentleman I spoke with told me it could be done that day as soon as the tow driver returned to garage. Later that morning the owner called me to inform me that i had incurred $1,195.00 in storage fees that needed to be paid in full before I could retrieve my car. I explained I could not pay that amount and I offered to pay $100.oo for each month it was there. She spoke of reporting my car as "abandoned" to the DMV. She would then have the right to sell my car at public auction. The conversation ended with her saying she would have to speak to the owner (her husband) about the possibilty of settling on different amount due. I waited for a call back and never recieved one from her. Remember, no mention was ever made of possible storage fees in December, I never received notice from them to remove my car, either my phone or in writing. They have my phone number and address. It was not until I called them March 22 to have the car towed home that this became an issue. I drive by the garage on a regular basis and know for a fact the car sat outside in the same spot for most of this time period. It was recently moved to a different spot and is now boxed in by other vehicles.
I've filed a report with the local police who say there is nothing they can do because she has started the mechanics lien process with the state DMV. It is now a civil matter and he says they can no longer assist. They did inform me they ve had many complaints similiar to mine about this business. Wish I'd known that before.
Do I have ANY recourse to get my car back without paying this astronomical amount of money?
In December, I paid the garage to tow my unregistered vehicle to the garage for work that needed to be done. They completed the work, I paid them in full. I didnt have the extra money at the time to have it towed back to my home. I explained to the owner that I would try to get someone to help me come and get it to drive home. She agreed to let me leave it. No mention was ever made of storage fees. Though I had every intention of getting it, two months passed before I had extra money to get it towed home. I admit to being negligent in staying in contact with the garage during this time period. On March 22 I called the garage to request it be towed home. The gentleman I spoke with told me it could be done that day as soon as the tow driver returned to garage. Later that morning the owner called me to inform me that i had incurred $1,195.00 in storage fees that needed to be paid in full before I could retrieve my car. I explained I could not pay that amount and I offered to pay $100.oo for each month it was there. She spoke of reporting my car as "abandoned" to the DMV. She would then have the right to sell my car at public auction. The conversation ended with her saying she would have to speak to the owner (her husband) about the possibilty of settling on different amount due. I waited for a call back and never recieved one from her. Remember, no mention was ever made of possible storage fees in December, I never received notice from them to remove my car, either my phone or in writing. They have my phone number and address. It was not until I called them March 22 to have the car towed home that this became an issue. I drive by the garage on a regular basis and know for a fact the car sat outside in the same spot for most of this time period. It was recently moved to a different spot and is now boxed in by other vehicles.
I've filed a report with the local police who say there is nothing they can do because she has started the mechanics lien process with the state DMV. It is now a civil matter and he says they can no longer assist. They did inform me they ve had many complaints similiar to mine about this business. Wish I'd known that before.
Do I have ANY recourse to get my car back without paying this astronomical amount of money?
Service and Repair: the Mechanic is Holding My Car Hostage
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