So here it is-the hard and fast version. I have been spending the last few months building a DAMN hot '69 chevy pickup for a customer.I got a call this morning saying that he had overdosed and might not make it. I have a ****load of time and money tied up in this truck, but consider the owner a friend and don't want to see the truck lost.(****. I just sent the body to paint last friday!-3500 down payment,3000 when it is done.) and a hefty bill at the powdercoater on top of that. should I a-finish the truck and sell it. b-keep going and see if any of his family has the coin to pay for it or c- put the truck on the back burner until I know what is gonna happen with the owner?-I have roughly 5 weeks until the body is done. please understand that I know the truck is EXTREMELY off topic on this board, but I am at a loss in more ways than one here. what do you think?
Sounds like you are in contact with the family. Ask them, seems like the reasonable thing to do. Just present your case and procede from there.
Yeah man, I vote for C. I would make them aware of the project(if they aren't aware already). That way it is already in their minds because if God forbid he p***es, the last thing they are going to be thinking about it is the truck. Best of luck
Go for C...let them know the situation...and you are owed money...if not satisfied with their decision, put a mechanics lien against the truk right away...that way the truk can legally belong to you and you can get your money out of it...if the family does not settle to your satisfaction, then finish it and sell it...it's yours. R-
My Brother just went thru that too. A customer was killed on a motorcycle he rode until his car was finished. Car was almost done too. Xwife got it due to his not updating his will, she got it all. Wrote a check and picked it up with her new boyfriend. The man is not p***ed and bill is not delenquent. How can you do anything at this point?
another part of this is the family( or more importantly,lack thereof) the only family member I know of is his mother-who is about 90 years old, and lives in an "***isted living" (god's waiting room) program. If I file for a lein, do I HAVE to follow through with it? (for instance, I file today-the owner gets better and fulfils his end of the deal-do I get a "re-do from the local tax office?) I have heard of people coming up with the cash when a lein is filed and getting there cars back. I don't wanna screw this guy-but I don't wanna bend over,either.
I must be slow or missing something here, you said there was $6,500.00 involved in body & paint. Is that what he owes you or is there more? That is WAY past my threshold of working for free.
I don't think you can legally file a mechanics lien until you have an uncollected debt. If I understand it right you have not reached that spot yet. There are companys that will do the paper work for you for a price. I'd gather up all the do***ents and make extensive do***ents of all the conversations that take place from now on. CYA
I'd look into a mechanic's lien, also. But I think if worse comes to worse, the more complete the truck is, the better off everyone would be, if it comes to selling it. I'd be much more concerned with the guy's ODing...drug use usually means no money for cool stuff like hot rods...Are you sure you're going to get your dime back, even if he is a friend? Tucker
I have in my possesion--the entire truck sans sheetmetal. this is a body off project. the body is at paint right now, and the body man is not only a friend of mine, but I have some credit with him. -37-the 6500 is for the paintwork only. 3000 is what is still owed against it when it is done. as far as the balance is concerned, lets just say it's pretty high. like re-***emble a vehicle from taken completely apart,weld and powdercoat the ch***is, install the entire brand new drivetrain,re-wire and put interior in it high. not to thump my chest, but this truck is bad ***. show quality 500+h.p. bad ***. with a/c and overdrive. I could sell the parts today and be swimming in cash, but that is not the point. if I build it out and sell it, I will end up ahead by quite alot. now perhaps you see my point. I don't want to be the ***hole that does this. but do I really have a choice?
yeah, that should not be a problem. this is weird-he had been clean for a long time,so I know he isn't broke. he handed me 3500 cash last friday. he got poison ivy over like 75 percent of his body and has been fighting that for a while. (bout 2 weeks) I can't help but wonder if benadryl or something acted as a trigger for his past drug use. P.I. is pretty miserable, but not THAT bad. I'm gonna get in touch with his handlers today and see what gives. this is real fresh, but I need to prepare for the worst.
I have a friend who just relapsed also, so I know what it's like, to be on the sidelines. She (my friend) managed to get back on the straight and narrow before she bottomed out, but it was like a bolt from the blue--out of nowhere and how fast it can happen. Glad I'm only addicted to cars... Tucker
I dont want to sound like a jerk but......friend or not never do business with a druggie/former druggie......you never know when it's going to come back to bite you in the rear.
Sounds to me like you already know what to do and are just looking for input on whether it's too harsh. Go with yer gut - take all the legal steps necessary to protect your investment in this project (mechanic's lien, etc...), then the decision on what happens to the truck and your investment in it it is yours, not theirs. If he makes a recovery, and comes thru with the balance due, no harm done... but you also have yourself protected in case it otherwise goes sour. You're a good guy for even worrying about this.
wow...I hope he pulls through Lux...I know he's a good friend but you also have to think about your business because life does go on...I'll stop by later today c) is the best answer in my opinion cause he may pull through this. I would call Roper and have him hold off if you didn't already
Maybe a FNG like me is just too dumb to see the forest for the trees, but I don't understand your option A. The fellow is sick and the reason for it has no bearing on the status of his property. Chances are he's going to be recover and it'll be as if it never happened. But, if he doesn't make it you still don't need to do anything hastily. If you sell the truck, you are essentially stealing his or his estate's property. This is certainly unethical and if a court-appointed executor finds out about it you could end up with a big legal problem. It would be far better to file a claim against the estate and collect your money during probate. The executor will sell ***ets as necessary to satisfy claims against the estate. Usually you'll have several months after a death to file a claim. As far as finishing it or sitting tight, that's a judgement call that only you have enough information to make.
hi guys, i haven`t heard any one bring up the point of the body !!! go get the body back from the body shop and whats left of the deposit, hold ALL of it until you know whats going to happen. if he doesn`t make it, the family won`t have to come up with as much money to care of his bill with you, if he`s going to be okay, you`ll take the body back to the body shop and resume progress. gary
C.I'd definitely call that shop that sheetmetal was sent to and get it back together the rest of the truck. What you might do here now is figure up the bill what it was to last friday when he brought in his last $3500.00 deposit/payment. Since no work will or can be done on it because of an unforseen occurance You might want just want to wait this out a lil bit. I know that dope is very bad thing & I have lost a loved one it and it isn't fun dealing with all of the people who come out of the woodwork & say that so & so owes this $ for that or whatever Have your work itemized by labor hours & materials supplies & parts along with any other incidentials that may crop up. Let who ever is to handle his estate know that there is an outstanding debt against the vehicle and what the amount is owed so it can be satisfied. That way if a need arises for a mechanics lien, It will be well do***ented & an offer was made in order to settle the debt before a lien had to be imposed in order to garner the funds owed against worked performed.
I would go for C also but I would spenf some money on a lawyer for good legal advice== how is the paperwork on this deal?/ or is it all verbal with no reciepts?? make sure you CYA because you can lose it all==also good advice about druggies his dealer might visit you too for something to take for a bill==lost a good friend that way that owned a body shop over drugs and a car==so be carefull and try to moniter the situation with the guy that owns the truck Ken
Lux Blue, You are in a spot that all of us that have our own business's go through at one time or another. Blake is right in his ***e*****t of whats transipred here. You know what you have to do, so, go do it!! This is called a "BUSINESS DECISION", Its not personal, its not in malace or anger, it just business. Would you perfer that your wife and kids(or personal projects) miss out on the fruits of your hard work, because you waivered on handling this quickly and properly. I hope your customer/friend pulls through whatever ailes him, so this can be finished to everyones satisfaction. I know you want to finish so you can make top dollar for your time and effort. Dont waste another minute. Go get em...
1. Pray for Bob. I'll call you later, but that sux big time if it's some benadryl sorta ****. You know him well enough to know if he was using. 2. File a lien. I'm pretty sure you can rip it up when/if he gets better. 3. Call Roper and tell him to hold off for now.
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