I NEED to talk about my day

[Wiix]

...........:(

[Bannet]

Hey Wiix:hug:

I'll listen!!!

[Wiix]

I deleted my first post this morning. I made it last night after a very frustrating HOT day and I was very upset.

It's my reaction to a situation that I just can't help. Anything to do with car troubles and getting screwed over by a mechanic REALLY upsets me. I am hoping that today will finalize the problem but I don't have much hope. It seems when things in general start to slide downhill it just picks up speed. The past few weeks that is the "MODE" I've been in and now with the excessive heat it just sent me careening over the edge.

You know, you fix one thing and then something else goes wrong. You get to a point where you just want to be unconcious. :(

I know everyone has times like this when we are JUST holding on by our fingernails, that's where I am right now. I just want this dark cloud to go away.

[SandyC]

Amen to that Wiix. We're here for you if you need us. let it out or just sit back and we'll just chat. Whatever works to help. :hug:

[Jo*mar]

Some of us here have car/mechanical experience- we might be able to give some pointers or suggestions to help you deal with mechanics and maybe prevent future car problems.

The Social Chat forum might be the best place to post automotive questions.

I come from a family of mr fix it / mechanics.:)
If I don't have a clue I'd be happy to do some searches for info.
:grouphug:

[Wiix]

Well, he still hasn't showed. I called his phone number the person said I had the wrong number. I think I got taken. So here I sit with no car and no food and HE got his money. :mad: I'm SICK over this right now.

[SandyC]

Wiix, I am not sure who you gave your money to or what happened but if he doesn't show you may want to contact the police and report this.

[tamiloo]

Oh, I wish I was there to help...((((((Wii))))))

[Jo*mar]

:confused::confused:
You mean a "mechanic" picked up your car from your home and you paid him before he did the work??

And you don't have any number to contact him at?

Did you know this person at all or was he recommended by a friend?

How long has he had your car and how long did he say it would take to fix it?
Did he give you any paperwork??

If you have no idea of how to get a hold of this person maybe you should call the police.

What was it doing that you called a mechanic for?

sorry I get carried away with questions.....

[Wiix]

No, it's alright. He is a mechanic out of work and he lives in my building. I saw him working out front on his mother's car and told him I needed a new brake line, someone else looked at it the day before and told me this. SO he asked how much I would be willing to pay him to do it right here at my home, we agreed on $50. which I thought was fair plus I bought the parts.

Once he fixed that he SAID the gas line just snapped off as he was putting on the brakeline so we had to go get that. One the way he said and I quote "I will fix whatever needs fixing for $100." Well, I didn't anwer, I was kind of stunned by this point. THEN we get back and he fixes that, we bleed the brakes, the car starts up fine THEN the other brake line to the otherside of the car starts gushing brake fluid so here I am back where we started. So we assumed he'd also fix this now. He said he would finish up today, I got that in writing on the receipt when I gave him the cash. NOW this morning he was out front and I DID talk to him he said he was going to get the parts and be back in an hour. THAT was more than 8 hours ago. I called the number he gave me as his cell phone TWICE and both times the same guy answered and said it was the wrong number.

I went to his apartment around 1:30 and left a note on his door saying I NEED this finished NOW.

So here I sit at 5:10 P.M. he hasn't showed nor called and the car is just sitting there.

See I PAID him what we agreed on so I am out of money for now and he said he'd do this TODAY. It's Friday night, garages don't work on weekends, my regular mechanic's phone has been disconnected, I have no idea WHY either. I just saw him two weeks ago at his garage.

See the pickle I'm in here? :o PLUS we are having a heatwave. 95+ degrees out there. :(

[Pamster]

Oh Wiix, I am so sorry that people can do stuff like this, it's so unfair to do someone this wrong, hang in there, I am sure he will make it right soon. That doesn't have any effect on your weekend though, I wish this guy would stand by his word and FIX it NOW, keep on the watch for when he returns and see what he does after he gets the note....And do your best to take care of yourself. You do have air conditioning in the house right? It would be excruciating to not have it and I know how hot it can get from being down here in FL. Hang in there....:hug:

[Wiix]

Yes, it affects my weekend very much, no food here plus I hurt my knee about a week ago and can't walk too well. I am TRYING to find a ride to the food store but not having much luck EVEN offering to pay for gas and their time. I will NOT call a taxi. I can't afford $25. or $30. just for a ride. There goes most of my food money.

[Wiix]

Honestly, I think I picked an unscrupulous person to trust. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow I will call the police. I have no other recourse. But then there would be reprisals. See he has me over a barrel here. He knows I am alone. His word is at this point *****!! :mad:

People do wrong things to people and get away with it. And the thing of it is that I was with his mother the whole afternoon and she TOLD me he was a good person and doesn't screw people over BUT she said that before I payed him. NOW where are they?? I haven't seen either of them around all day.

UNLESS he got in some kind of accident but I doubt it.

[soxmom]

Im so sorry youve been put in such a position. Im praying that this
man comes back and makes everything good.:hug::hug:

[Wiix]

Well, I just called the landlord/owner and told him the situation. I asked him if he could help me find this guy and what all transpired. I doubt he will help me though. He doesn't like White people. Yes, I am White and so is he, the LL/Owner.

Now you see why I have the drowning hand as an Avatar.

[Jo*mar]

Well, I guess I can see the LL viewpoint of not wanting to be involved in others personal business dealings...
He could end up in all kinds of scenarios...
Did he wouldn't verify the phone number the guy had given you?

None of the neighbors know where they might have gone to?

I can't believe nobody would give you a ride to the store, or just offer you something to eat...

Hmmm, he might be having trouble finding the gas line part.. or went to a junk yard to find one...

We gets lots of spare parts for our cars at junkyards.
Our last trip we got some great finds.. a new exhaust system{somebody had one installed and then wrecked the car},
a nice set of good tires on wheels, seat covers, a turbo, and an alternator. Plus little misc things and money people had lost under the seats.
It's like an archeological dig sometimes LOL

I hope he returns soon and gets your car fixed for you..

[Wiix]

Yea well, I am usually the one around here that helps people in trouble. I don't know why I do this. Now I need help and no one knows me. It's the kind of situation IF I got into details would get deleted. I am a SAP. :mad:

[SandyC]

Wiix, have you seen his mother today? Is it possible one of them got sick or something? It would be nice if they would call you and explain. My contractor does this sometimes and he's a good guy but can be distracted. He also my neighbor so I think that plays a part in thinking we wont get too mad.

[Wiix]

I tried calling her last night but her number is disconnected and I haven't seen her here either since. His number he gave me isn't right either unless it WAS him that answered and just said wrong number.

Nope, I think there is some shady stuff going on with all this and I just came along at the wrong time and talked to the wrong people out of ignorance. he seemed honest but you never know.

I did reach my regular guy this morning. I had his name wrong and couldn't find his number but he can't do anything now for me til middle of next week so I have to wait and still no car.

My best friend is booked up with her family plans til Monday but she said she'd take me shopping then. I just have to sit here and stew. I really feel like such a fool believing people are honest. I would NEVER do anything like this to someone. some people are just waiting for naive and trusting people like me to come along in trouble so they can bilk us. I feel SO stupid for paying him BEFORE all the work was finished but, get this, I was afraid he wouldn't finish if I didn't pay him OR he would damage my car in the meantime and there'd be more problems. Shysters like this guy have every angle figured out before we EVEN know what's happening.

I guess if it isn't too hot today I'll drag out my bike, blow up the tires IF the bicycle pump works and take a ride to the lake. It's really been hot here so if it is it may not be a good idea considering my mental state, the heat and my blood pressure. I am just SO P*ssed, I can't tell you. :mad:

[Jo*mar]

I hope your bike ride works out for you, it will help you blow off some of the steam & stress.

Try not to stew about it too much, these things happen to all of us, sometimes you just have to use it as a learning experience....:grouphug:

If /when he does reappear - I don't think I would let him work on the car unless you are watching the whole time.. he might "accidentally" break something again so you have to pay him for more work.

Or if he asks for more money to finish the job... I'd have some excuses ready because I don't think he is reliable or trustworthy.

[Wiix]

I pretty much stay alone most of the time. I already have learned my lessons a long time ago about dishonest people. I was just stuck and wasn't thinking clearly out of panic. To travel around without a car for protection is really scary. All kinds of things happen to people everywhere and it's getting more dangerous all the time. I guess I will just have to hibernate until things are resolved. I can't even go out here in the yard without problems arising with obnoxious people. Just to sit in the sun would cause all kinds of trouble here. It's just a shame to waste this beautiful warm and sunny weather cowering inside. I do have places I can go where there IS Police presence and it's safe but with my knee and now ankle hurting walking there or even riding my bike is out of the question. This is turning into a real Domino Effect isn't it? :(

[Wiix]

People? There IS Justice in this world! :D As the plot thickens you will NOT believe what JUST now happened. :eek:

I have to go outside right now and talk to the POLICE. I will fill you in on all the details when I am finished. DON'T change this channel. :D

[Wiix]

O.K. Here's what just happened.

I was sitting here and heard a truck pull up across the street. I looked out and it was HIM. I yelled down to him. "What about my car?" He said "You pay me Mo money and I'll finish." :eek: I said "You signed a receipt saying I paid you and you'd finish." Then he says "You come down here and talk to me." At this point, O.K. I KNOW he is just trying to squeeze more money out of me. I sat back at my computer. Next thing I hear this loud crash. I get up and look out his truck is moving backwards across the lawn of the house across the street. It had already hit one car and it was heading for a second car. He was chasing it. It had the drivers side door open and the door scraped another car just before he jumped in the drivers seat. Now his door is sprung OPEN. He drives back around to where he was parked, gets out and looks at the damage to the two cars. THEN he gets back in his truck and takes off. :eek:

A neighbor then comes out and yells up to me. He heard what happened but I watched the whole thing. Now he has damage two other vehicles and left the scene. I called the ploice.

I went to get dressed and came back to look out and HE came back. I guess he figured he'd better or he'd get arrested.

I can hear him out there now talking to the police. I'd say Justice is swift. Neither of the two car owners were out there at this time. I am still shaking here. The person he JUST screwed over now is a witness against him in a crime. I was looking forward to showing this receipt to the cops. I wasn't going to get them involved but IF I am called upon for a statement I will.

He LEFT the scene of a hit and run BUT he came back.

As of now I see where I stand with him and will make other arrangements for my car.

[Wiix]

JUST before I was going to go out there to talk to the police I saw HIM talking to the cop, he came back. I wasn't going out there then, not after all this. IF the police want a statement they can contact me. But my neighbor, who I just now spoke with, said that he admitted to it. SO, I guess this is the end of it. I know where I stand about my car and have made other arrangements.

I just can't get over this. Almost Immediately after the words came out of his mouth, I mean him trying to get more money out of me, THIS happens. I'd say SOMEONE was watching. :eek:

[Junie]

I feel for you..and things like this is why I am so distrustful and cynical and I think you may do the right thing because he sounds dangerous and crazy and may hurt you! Last year I loaned a girl close to a thousand dollars (she is the sister of my niece's dh so I thought it was ok,) anyway she conned me all the way down the line, said she was terminal, yada yada, so she repaid me with 3 bad checks, all of which bounced like a rubber ball, so it put us in a real pickle, anyway her bank sent me legal copies of the checks and she too quit taking my calls, and I knew when she got her monthly check so she had no idea I had the legal copies, thought she got away clean, so it took me two months to beat her to the bank and I recovered all my money except maybe 100.00 and she had the nerve to call my cell at least 25 times calling me everything but a white woman (which I am:) ) and I was shocked, then 2 days later someone went around a brand new car that was parked behind me and slashed all 4 of my new tires on my ragged Cougar...I think we all know who that was! I sent her 1 text telling her that if she made one more call I would have her arrested for harassment since I kept all her filthy threats she made on my voice mail and text messaging but was unable to prove she cut my tires but that broke me...I don't take checks unless it is a family member or friend I know well and I don't loan money except for one sister and 2 of my son's that always repay! It was a blow to me to be so betrayed by someone I went out of my way to help and then to be done the way she did me when most of it was made right. Get it in writing always, never trust a stranger on just anyone's say so.......it is a valuable lesson and it breaks my heart to be forced to be this way but if we don't cover our butt, who will?? I am so sorry you were also the target of a crazy but just learn from it as I did and I believe with all my heart they will get whats coming to them without us doing anything in retaliation! I hate to say it but there are some people out there that are simply a waste of space and have no morals or conscience!:hug:

[Wiix]

I am SO naive. I never was around people like this until I moved here. 1200 miles from where I grew up. I really have to avoid certain types all together, I ALWAYS have problems even over nothing at all. People get sshot just for looking at someone the wrong way here. It's really dangerous.

I think it's about "Leverage". If you have something they want they will say and agree to Anything but once they have what they want they are on the attack rationalizing everything with their twisted thinking. Desperate people do desperate things. I have had desperate times but never resorted to extortion or crime.

The thing is I have it in writing, what we agreed on and NOW he says he wants MORE when I really think he did brake the gasline on purpose just to UP the price. Funny thing of it was the other brakeline was gone too so he would have got what he wanted in the end anyway. It doesn't pay to be dishonest.

Just be very careful who you deal with even if you THINK the person is O.K. Do your research before handing anyone your money. I KNOW his name, I should do a background on him right now but I think I already know what I am going to find. :o

[Wiix]

Well, I started a Search on this guy:

http://img113.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bgcheckir5.png

Doesn't look good. I blacked out all names involved.

IF you are planning on handing money over to ANYONE, I think a background check In ADVACE is a good idea. Get their full name with middle initial first. I don't think this page will copy but I have learned a few things already. He moves around a lot. I am not spending the $50. to find out everything, I already know what I need to know. :mad: