So, if the bank won't honor his check, how do you expect to get paid?
Not busting anyone's chops here, what the neighbor did was wrong all around, but if he has no money in the bank, how are you going to get paid?
Go get the keys to the Exploder and lock it down in your driveway till it gets paid?
File a small claims court case and take him on Judge Judy? cause she'll ream his *** good!
Whow.. .I've not priced them in a long time, but with Junk yard ..what 10% of reman?, and reman 50% of new? They should be kissing your feet.. Sorry to hear about them being ungrateful... but glad you're done with it.. I can only bet what the discussion was about "warranty" on the axle after all that...
Is this the one you initially didn't really want to do since it was so close to the holidays? The same one that you were going back and forth with a salvage yard part or new part to help them save money?
What the heck happened?
EDIT: Just read the rest of the page of this thread and saw what happened. Hate to hear that.
Well yesterday afternoon I tried calling him and left a couple of messages and he didn't answer nor return my calls. Last night the wife and I were running to grab some dinner so I decided to stop by his house. I knocked on the door and his daughter answered the door. I got the impression that he was reluctant to come to the door. I thought about going off on him infront of his daughter and wife but asked if I could talk to him outside instead.
The conversation started out that it is the holidays and everything seems to be going against them with all of the holiday expenses. I explained that it is no different than for anyone else. I explained that I really didn't want to do the job and my wife didn't want me to take it on but I have a few expenses coming up after the first of the year which is why I agreed to do it.
I then explained that had his son addressed the issue when he first noticed it the cost would have been kept down because he destroyed the gears, bearings and seals completely by continuing to drive it. If he wants to be upset at someone, be pissed at his kid.
I then went in to the whole cost to replace the ring & pinion as well as all bearings and seals would have been at least as much as the entire bill by the way I did it. I went out of my way to track down and locate a replacement axle assembly from a local salvage yard to try to save them some money and didn't charge him for the time spent on the phone, coming home to get my trailer and run to the salvage yard to pick it up. There was about two hours alone there, AND I shelled out money out of pocket to get the rear axle. They wanted $325.00 for it and I talked them down to $275.00 for the complete axle but it was missing the E-brake cables which I would have to swap over.
I told him he had until Dec. 24th to get me the CASH or I was taking him to small claims court. I hate the thought of taking him to court and don't want to deal with it but at this point I thought it to be a scare tactic more than anything. Don't know if it worked or not.
This next part is more of a personal problem I have and I probably shouldn't even mention but just to give you a little more background. This family moved in right after my wife and I did, our kids grew up together and attended public schools together as well as when we went to church. They are the holier than though type that don't give me the time of day unless their cars are to the point where they are flat broke down and not running at all. No preventive maintenance and no fixing problems when they first creep up. If I am in the yard mowing my lawn they will drive by with their noses in the air as they don't even wave. EVERY time I see him or he brings something by the very first words out of his mouth are "I haven't seen you in church in a while". Like I didn't know I haven't been there. My wife wondered why I didn't go off on him about how he can play that religious game yet pull something as dishonest as this and play the victim when we are taught to pay our own way through life but I told her I didn't want to get into a character debate or assissination because although it would have made me feel better, it wouldn't have resolved anything.
Anyway, sorry about the long rant, I appologize, no need to drag this out any more. When he came by to pick up the Explorer I told him I would make it an even $600.00 if he paid cash. Otherwise it would be a bit more. He squawked and complained. Asked if he could take it and bring the cash in a few days. I told him no it doens't leave until it is paid in full. He wrote the bad check at that point. At this point I would be happy to at least get the approx. $300.00 that I am out of pocket and chalk it up to a learning experience but the full amount would definately be nice.
Again, sorry for the rant. I told him to lose my telephone number and NEVER call me again to work on their ****.
Mike.
