'[They] saw dollar signs': Customer calls police after mechanic refuses to return their car

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jan 29, 2024 3:00 PM EST

How could a quick mechanic visit go so wrong? This dude was left stunned after a shop took their car, and then didn't want to give it back. 

As a car owner, you get to know your vehicle pretty well. The more time you spend driving to the grocery store or to your friend's house, the more you'll notice its noises and smells. If your car makes lots of whining sounds or starts leaking fumes into the interior, it might be time to get that looked at. Although some people drive around with car issues, check engine light or not, until the car can't move another inch. Others, like this person try to be proactive about their vehicle's problems. This one seems especially important: u/TrueHalfCrack writes that their trusty 2005 Santa Fe was squeaking when they started braking. Of all the issues to get checked out with haste, a steering or brake issue is at the top of that list. 

Mechanics realize that many car owners arrive at their shop with zero knowledge of why their car's having so many issues. Some mechanics are on the level, but others just want to make a quick buck. This guy got such incredible revenge on this mechanic that he'll probably never try those tactics again! 

Next up, this person left the internet stunned by charging a $200 "meal fee" for every wedding guest… including family members. 

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  • 01
    BALLO
    via Christian Buehner on Unsplash
  • 02
    Won't release my car? Great idea, I'll call the cops! L This is a few years back, though I am still driving my 2005 Santa Fe that's involved with this little dustup.
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 03
    I had just gotten a new job in a different state, and because it was somewhat of a promotion, the company paid entirely for the move. After seeing all of my stuff packed away safely, the movers started heading to the new state, but as they were driving a different route to avoid icy roads through the Rockies, they were going to take a little longer, so we drove through the night and ended up staying at a hotel. On
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 04
    the way over, I noticed my brakes starting to vibrate just a bit on the descent into the new state, and they were squeaking a tad- new brake pads, maybe new rotors if they can't be machined, no big deal, right?
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 05
    So, after we got our stuff unloaded and into the new place, I take the car to a mechanics shop that had good ratings and was even recommended to me by a coworker. But I swear they took a look at my out-of-state license plates and saw dollar signs. When I dropped off the car, I signed the work order for a tire rotation (I know, I'm lazy) and a free inspection, just wanting them to confirm my suspicion on the brakes-I specifically told them
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 06
    to not do ANY work unless I specifically authorized them over the phone and in writing. You can probably guess what happened next... I called after about an hour to see what they'd found, and sure enough, the boss of the shop said that, unfortunately, I not only needed new pads and rotors, but new calipers as well, totaling $1200, but not to worry, as they'd already started working
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 07
    on it and would have it done in just under a couple hours. Needless to say, I was | as all , and told him that I had not authorized that nor did I agree that those repairs were likely necessary. I told him I would be over in a minute, to cease all work on the car, and that I would talk to him in person.
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 08
    On the way over, I called a different shop (one that had better ratings, and the one I eventually used for every car related need after this for the rest of the time I lived in that state), and explained the situation-she said that it was highly suspect that they wanted to replace the calipers, but that they'd be happy to give me a second opinion of course and that they usually ran around $300 for new pads and rotors.
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 09
    I ALWAYS get second (and sometimes third) opinions on repairs like this, non-emergency just because of the skewed incentives on the dodgy repair places to trump up what's needed (like the original place was doing). Anyway, I get to the repair shop, and proceed to tell the manager that I was taking my car elsewhere for a second opinion, and that if he was right and the calipers needed to be
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 10
    replaced along with the rest of the brake assembly, I would be happy to have him bid on the work. He responded that he'd be happy to have my car towed to a different shop (for $150), but that he was legally obligated to hold my car as it was an "unsafe vehicle" and he would be liable for any damages that ensued if my brakes were to fail should I leave.
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 11
    I KNEW this was We yelled about it for 10 minutes, with him every time refusing to budge, saying that he'd have it towed for $150 or do the repairs, nothing else. I told him he was committing grand theft auto, and that I would call the cops if he didn't put my car back together and let me drive away. He told me to do it-that they would back him 100%, and they might fine me for driving with "completely destroyed brakes."
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 12
    So, I did. I called the non- emergency police line and was eventually transferred to a very nice female police officer, and I calmly explained to her my situation. She was super helpful and confirmed, of course, that the mechanic had no legal basis to hold my car against my will, and although she did warn me that I was (of course) liable for any and all problems that might arise if I was indeed driving with bad brakes, it wasn't his problem
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 13
    (she actually laughed at him saying he was "liable" if I got into a wreck after I left), and that he was in violation of the law. So, I took my cellphone in and had him talk to her, and he proceeded to be a massive to her on the phone, at first not believing that she was, in fact, a real police officer, and then insisting that she didn't
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 14
    know what she was talking about, he'd done this before and knew the law. He still didn't believe she was a real, actual police officer, so she promised that he'd find out soon enough (she told me she said that after he handed the phone back to me).
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 15
    15 mins later, after I waited outside because I was REALLY close to just losing it talking to this a squad car rolls up, and asks me where the manager is. They were informed already of the situation, walked up to the guy, and handed him something I assume was either a
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 16
    ticket or a summons or something (they wouldn't tell me what afterward, but they did look satisfied as all and were super nice to me), and told him to put my car back together immediately and let me go.
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 17
    This had all been over 4+ hours from the time I dropped my car off to the time they drove it out of the bay ready for me to drive away. And after all that, he hands me the bill-$50 for a tire rotation, and $100 for the "inspection." I had a copy of the original, of course, and told him to go himself on the inspection fee, and looking at my car outside, I
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 18
    told him to see for himself that the tires weren't actually rotated- the cops were still there, too, so there wasn't much he could do but let me sign a $0 work order for nothing and walk away! It was glorious.
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 19
    And of course, the other repair shop said it was just the pads that needed to be replaced, and they were able to machine the rotors so that there wasn't a hint of vibration-all told, $200, and a great new mechanic I could trust in a new area to boot (seriously, when I find a mechanic or dentist that I know is honest, I will remain loyal to them until I die or move more than 4 hours away)!
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 20
    TL:DR Mechanic thinks he can screw over an out-of-state guy in need of repairs and proceeds to essentially steal my car. Tells me to call the cops to get it back, I do, and he gets served a nice cold dish of screw you.
    via u/TrueHalfCrack
  • 21
    calamitybambi I had a similar, but less dramatic incident when I moved to California. Car had a vibration and weird pull to one side. Same deal, freshly moved, out of state plates. First mechanic says 1200-1500 minimum, maybe more. Whole swing arm (or sway bar?) is destroyed, car isn't safe
    via u/calamitybambi
  • 22
    to drive, should probably not let me leave. I park the car a couple of months(in an amazing friends drive way) save up the money, but am now two hours from that mechanic and old roomies place. I burn a AAA tow to have it taken to a highly recommended mechanic near my new place.
    via u/calamitybambi
  • 23
    $200, including a new battery. The original issue? A missing bolt and a piece that needed rethreading. When I showed new mechanic the estimate, he was floored, and ask to take a pic of it. I hugged him and he has a new life long customer. Plus side is I have savings now.
    via u/calamitybambi
  • 24
    nate800 6 yr. ago these people. I had a dealer tell my girlfriend that her car needed new pads and rotors to the tune of $1,500 because they were below 2mm. I checked them myself... 5mm, all the way around. Then, just for fun, I called the dealership and asked for a quote on the same job. $700. Giant .
    via u/nate800
  • 25
    yumicedcoffee Ok, dumb question: how can you tell when the tires haven't been rotated? I mean, they all look the same, right?
    via u/yumicedcoffee
  • 26
    TrueHalfCrack OP The two on the front were quite a bit more worn down than the ones on the back, enough to where you could see the difference, even from a bit of distance (hence why I wanted to rotate them). And that's not a dumb question at all!
    via u/TrueHalfCrack

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mechanics malicious compliance malicious-compliance-reddit mechanic malicious compliance reddit cops cars tires Grand Theft Auto police
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