Art's Portable Welding

Review: [redacted], of [redacted]s portable welding, stated that he would not charge a fee for estimate and would not begin work until an estimate/quote was given. A Quote of approximately $1000 was given to client and when [redacted] learned that he would not be given the job [redacted] proceeded to invoice charges for estimate and conduct work on equipment after explicitly being directed to not complete work. No agreement was made to pay estimate fees however [redacted] wrongfully (against his original communication) invoiced estimate charges of $180 to the client and refused release of equipment until payment was made.Desired Settlement: Refund of wrongful invoice ($180), if proper quotation for inspection/estimate was given prior to inspection/estimate work to occur, client would have taken business elsewhere.

Business

Response:

[redacted] called, in the evening, after my shop was closed saying he had a dump bed trailer he needed repaired and wanted to know how much it would cost to fix it. I told him I had to see it to give him a price. Since I was already out, I told him to meet me, with the trailer, and I'd take a look at it. When we met it was getting dark and I couldn't see the damage under the trailer. I told him to take it to my shop and in the morning I would inspect the damages and give him a quote and whatever time I have in it, I will have to charge. He said he didn't care what it costs. He borrowed it from his neighbor and was going to get it fixed. He wanted to bring it to my shop that evening so I met him there and put it inside. The next morning I used a forklift to raise the bed and welded a brace (prop made of iron to hold the trailer bed up) to each side from the bottom of the bed to the frame so I could inspect the damages. I didn't want the bed to fall on while I was under it.

[redacted] called that night, around 7 pm, to find out the quote. I told him he better hope and pray he didn't bend the ram. From what damages I could see, at this time, would cost $1,000. He said that was too much, could you do it any cheaper. I said okay, I'll do it for $900. He said I want an itemized list of what you are going to do. I told him I would have one ready. He asked what my shop rate was. I told him $90 an hour. He got upset and said that was too high. I asked him what he thought it should be? He said $35 to $40. I asked what he makes an hour at [redacted], where he works. He said that has nothing to do with this. I said meet me at the shop, that night. I had it propped up and would show him the work that had to be done. He said no, I want to pick it up tonight and take it someplace cheaper. I told him he owed me $180 for 2 hours labor, for the work I had to do to too see all the damages, if I don't do the job. If I do the job, the $180 would be applied to the repair quote. I told him it was all jacked up with the props, I had to weld on, and I wasn't going to the shop, open up and get it ready for him to take that night. It would take an hour to get it ready. (The props were welded to the trailer and frame. They would have to be cut off. The welds would have to be ground down and painted.) He got upset saying I had started the work without his authority. He was coming to get it and bringing the cops. I said bring all the cops you want. I'm not going over tonight. I have to take the braces off. You have to come in the morning.

He asked what time I opened and I said 7am. He said he would be there at that time. I said no you have to give me time to open up and get things in order and get the trailer ready. Come at 10 am and bring me $180 cash, I don't want a check. He was upset about bringing me cash. I said I will give you a receipt. I don't want a check because you will stop payment on it.

The next morning around 9 am two Ceres Police Officers came to my shop. [redacted] had called and requested they be there. They waited about Y2 hour and [redacted] didn't show so they left. About 'A hour after they left [redacted] came and backed up to his trailer. He handed over the $180 cash and was handed a copy of the quote and an invoice for that $180 and asked to sign the invoice. He refused to sign it and wouldn't give it back. He proceeded to hook up his trailer. I said if you hook up to this trailer, will have you arrested.

[redacted] went to his truck to use his phone so I called the Ceres Police Department requesting officer's assistance. When the police officers showed up I let them handle the situation. They must have talked 15 minutes telling him 'you have to give up the invoice'. Finally the officer said 'the invoice belongs to [redacted], give it to him now or I will have to arrest you.'

I told the officer the yellow copy is his and the white is mine.

The officer told him that. [redacted] said I am not giving him the white. I'll give him the yellow.

The officer said to me, all he's going to do is give you the yellow copy. I said that's fine, tell him to hook up and get out of here.

[redacted] told the officers. I'm putting this all over the Internet and taking him to Small Claims Court.' The officer said that's your prerogative.

It took the officers 30 minutes to get [redacted] to cooperate.