So my friend landed a chunk of change and wanted to build a hotrod. I said cool man, start lookin, and pointed him in the right directions. Low and behold he buys a 27 tall t coupe on a 32 frame. All it needed was a driveshaft, brakelines, and some wiring done. We made up an aggreement that he could leave the car at my place for $100 a month, and id held him out getting on the road. That was 2 years ago, and he has been here twice, once to actually work on the car, and the other time to pay the back rent. Now this rent includes whatever tools i have and my ***itence to help get the car on the road, thinking that it wouldnt be here long. Now its been 9 months since iv last seen him, and he wont return my calls or texts, but a friend saw him at a local party thing. Said friend called him out on it, and the kid just has no intrest in the car anymore, but still thinks its worth what he paid. Mind you, its been sitting under a tarp for 2 years. Motors shot and ******s shot now, and all the brake hardware is rusted up. Hell even his chrome headers are rusting. What should i do? theres also no ***le to the car, and iv even offered my truck and trailer to help move it to his house across town so that he can work on it. Still nothing from him. Any thoughts? Also, please no drama
Have it towed away. It's been 9 months. He's not a friend, if you can't get in touch with him. That's "some guy".
Hmm, my opinion. I had a buddy who used to hang out and help out at the track. His car was at my shop, covered with tarp in the back bldg. So, I bought him a new front end from Ecklers, for Christmas. It sat there for 5 years. He quit coming around, living literally a stones throw away. One day I loaded it up and took it next door to his house because I had developed a need for the space. He was pissed. Oh well, get over it! I certainly did. I'd take the dudes car to him and thats the end of story. 9 mos is long enough. Just my opinion.
Lien paperwork my friend. You own it out right by abandonment and the fact that the jack*** owes you money for storage.
Maybe talk to the local police? Explain the situation and find out what your options are. Plan of action might depend on what you want...whether it's to just get the car off your property, or that and to get paid, or maybe end up owning the car. In all fairness, I'd tell the owner in no uncertain terms what you plan to do, to give him one more chance to take care of this...one way or the other.
Man, you guys really get yourselves into some predicaments, don't you ? How do you let someone get that far behind on you, and how close of a friend was he that you no longer can find him ? I bet you don't even have anything in writing about the $ 100 a month agreement, do you ? Cut your losses, send him a certified letter giving him 30 days to remove the car from your property or you will consider it abandoned. Send it to his last known address and ask for a signature. If he doesn't respond, find out what you have to do in your State to take possession of the car legally. You will never see the back rent, so write that off. All you can hope for is that you can gain possession of the car or at least get it off of your property. The other thing that puzzles me is you say he lives across town.........have you driven over there to confront him about it ??????? Don
^^^ agree^^^ it's a liability in your garage that you should not be responsible for. Flat bed trailer to his house. I have some acreage and you would be surprised the number of people who want to store their "toy" here because the homeowners ***ociation where they live wont allow them to keep it in the driveway. Fell for it twice, never again.
Not much of a friend, so now your his storage facility, treat the situation as such. Find out how to place a lein on the vehicle or obtain ownership of it. If there's no ***le and no written agreement does the car legally exist? If it were to disappear how would anyone prove it was there?
I would start by sending him a bill for p***ed due rent, if he fails to comply put a storage lien on it .if he lost intrest he will not bother . Then you have the legal right to move dispose sell or keep it
First off, he is not your friend anymore. Firengine103 is right cut your losses and drop the car off at his place. I'm ***uming he has not paid you in nine months since you have not seen him in that amount of time.
Have one of them going on at my place now. 6 months ago his vehicle was left in my driveway "for a month or two" Ive tried to get a ride for it to where he is, 4 hour drive, but no luck. Not sure how much he has looked. Had to sell some of my stuff that was in my yard, told him that his rig needed moved to the street to get my stuff out and sold. Now its parked on the street till he comes to get it.
I feel I have to point out, if only for tradition, that you have not yet posted pictures of this car.
If you can get ahold of him, I would tell him you'll give him $500 ( or whatever you think) for the car or drag it to his house. His choice but it's happening next weekend.
If there is no formal (writen) do***ent spelling out the conditions and agreed to by the vehicle owner, I'm not so sure you can legally either place a lien or sell the property. A lien, I believe, in most States requires the owner to acknowledge the terms, as in the case of a shop repair order for instance. I do think a Certified Letter with return receipt might be a good start. But, were it me in this situation, I would consult an attorney as to what you can legally do to bring the matter to a close. If simply hauling the vehicle to his property is viable and doesn't expose you to some legal liability, that may the best soluition. Do that and just write off the experience to "a lesson learned". Ray
I'm not that far away from you...... Maybe the car could "disappear"? I've got lots of room and that looks fun.
Is this your personal space or a business? Personal, regardless of the advice replied earlier, DO NOT call the cops. DO NOT call it abandoned. You stated he owes you, correct? You have the right to begin charging by the day if he's gone past your conditions of the agreement. Deduct 90 days and run a tab. Do you want it? The parts? Any of it? Get a shyster, post legal notices, have an auction to dispose of the property. Nobody's going to show up and you own it for the back charges. Even if you're not a business, you have property and agreement rights. I shudder to think how many independents get screwed because they think not being a shop ****s them outta the same moves a shop would make. It worked for me, cost me $400 in legal fees to own $4K worth of 56 Chevy 2dr H.T. and it was just side work at home. Check your local laws. Artisans have rights too.
I would have it tow to his house, apartment whatever and write this one off ! or build it for yourself and when he comes around tell hime to **** off !
Pretty neat car! I've been in your position before and it's always tough, but this bridge is already on fire so you might as well burn it down all the way. If you know where he lives show up at his house with the car on a trailer and bring a written bill of sale for the car, tell him either you drop the car in his driveway or he signs it over to you. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
Marty that was a nice looking project. Try getting ahold of him as others have said then proceed with a lien against it for back rent and labor/work you did on it.
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