Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:16/01/2023

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Classic Car - Paint Job Complaint:
  
  I own a 1956 Chevy; ready to be painted. Looking for a painter who customizes in classic cars. At the beginning of February 2022, my Dad and I were referred to Pat's Classic Custom and spoke with Pat the Owner and the Painter of his shop.
  
  Later that month, Pat came to look at my 1956 Chevy Car. He said he was interested in painting my car and that he has the time to do the paint job; take in my 1956 chevy right away for block sanding and paint. Pat gave me an estimate of 4 to 6 weeks to finish; this worked great as I requested for a finish time of May 2022. I told him that I had a firm budget of ******$. He agreed to the due date of May 2022 and a budget of $******* With this agreement, I hired him to paint my car.
  
  Once my car was at his shop - March 5th, 2022, every other week, I would call or physically go to the shop with my Dad to see progress; unfortunately progress was not on track.
  
  The promised timeline of 4 to 6 weeks came and went. Little to no progress, updates or communication. At the beginning of June, I once again made my way to Pat's shop where Pat and his Wife confirmed that my car would be fully painted by mid to end of June 2022.
  
  Once again, this confirmed due date came and went, now with lack of communication and updates.
  Throughout the 2022 summer, I would call on a weekly basis, and would be consistently given the answer "almost done, next week for sure." I would also ask for hour updates, progress where they would hesitate to answer or just avoid the question all together.
  On August 25th, 2022, one of their workers **** **** **** ** **** ******* ** send me an update with pictures. I therefore asked again, for the updated total of hours worked. Finally, Pat's wife gives me an answer, that the paint job is now over 300 hours at **$/hrs.
  This total is now way over my pre-discussed and agreed upon budget of $****** (181 hours). At no point did they, Pat or his Wife, or anyone at his shop, call to review the budget. The budget was 181 hours. They had the opportunity to update me with the hours every time that I called and asked for a progress report. They never took the time to contact me when they got close to the 181 hours and realized that so much more work would be needed.
  This work was not authorized, and should have never continued without my consent.
  Now I am panicking. They have my car. They refuse to talk to me and they are now demanding a payment way over my budget.
  I'm now in shock. This is causing me stress and worry. They have my car, they have my money and I am not getting any answers from the Owners - Pat and his Wife.
  Continuing to speak with the worker who sent me photos, the worker told me that she would get Pat's wife to contact me since she is in charge of bookkeeping.
  
  Finally, I get in contact with Pat's wife, where she now tells me I'm over 500 hours in labor but she will cut me a deal for 350 hours. 500 hours!
  At no point did I ever agree to them, almost tripling the agreed upon budget of ******$/ 181 hours.
  Pat's wife gives me an excuse their reputation is on this paint job therefore they went above and beyond. I told her that I don't have that kind of money. I would have to get a loan or remortgage my house. This is why we set out a budget. This is why I asked if this was do-able. Pat agreed to the budget. A shop, or any business, needs to keep their clients updated and at NO point are they allowed to continue with work past the agreed upon budget.
  Pat's wife now tells me that she guarantees that it would be worth every penny. That I will not find any imperfections because Pat is OCD and goes above and beyond with his work.
  It's an award winning paint job, her words. I still do not agree.
  
  Now, with this stress, this worry of losing money and my car. I now do not feel comfortable going to their shop on my own, but want to pick up my car. I took my Dad with me to pick up the body of my 1956 chevy.
  I didn't want any trouble, I just wanted my vehicle, so I decided to try and cut all ties, and give them what I had left over in my savings; * ***$ which would bring me to a total of ** ***$ for their work.
  I was able to bring the body of my car home that day - but not all parts.
  After looking over their work, with other trained painters; it's painfully noticeable that this is not worth $******* as per their final total. I took many photos of their paint job to prove the lack of professionalism and to show all imperfections. There are runs in the paint, knicks, swirls, orange peel, unfinished edges and the paint is peeling off on its own or with little effort. These imperfections are even noticeable to the untrained eye.
  
  Now I am completely frustrated, angry and disappointed that this Shop, that I was referred to, completely ****** me off. I contacted them to tell them that I will be coming by to pick up the rest of my car parts. They replied that I cannot until pay the remaining balance owing, a balance WAY over my budget.
  
  The paint job that they did is a complete re-do. If they do not agree to return my parts, I not only lost time and $****** but now I have to go and source and pay for more parts to replace the ones that they are claiming hostage as well as pay for a second round of complete paint. This entire experience has caused me stress, anxiety, fear and a complete disappointment of trusting a referred company **** ** ****** **** ******** ********* ** *** (Missing parts: hood, trunk lid, left fender and front valance)
  
  I am requesting help in having my parts and money returned *** ** ***** **** ****** **** **** ******* ** *** ** ** ******** ***** *** *** **** ***** 

  Business Response

  Date: 10/02/2023

  Dear Sir/Madam,

   

  Thank you for reaching out, as this matter is being taken to Small Claims Court

   

  Thank you

  Have a nice day

   

  Pat’s Classic Custom