r/ProRevenge - I Get a NIGHTMARE Contractor Jailed for 15 YEARS! [My Revenge]

[@alang4033]

You are 100% correct. You cannot hold someone’s vehicle against their will. Plain and simple it’s illegal lol

[@badandy102]

A shop can deem your car unsafe to drive, but they legally can't force you to have it fixed there if you want to bring it another shop to get fixed, or get a second opinion. Or if you can do any of the work yourself, seeing as it would be cheaper. They may make you sign a waiver, or get a cop to certify that's it's unsafe so you can't turn around and sue them if they are right and decide to not do the repairs right away and it causes an accident.

[@sytherwusky]

My tips world be: never pay the full amount upfront The max deposit is 20% Check their license Be aware if they turn aggressive or intimidating

[@rjgaynor8]

That all depends on the state you are in. In NY the shop has no authority to do anything if you leave the lot with and unsafe vehicle other than notifying the police after you leave. I own a few shops and I believe it was in NJ that we were required to notify police if someone wanted to drive an unsafe vehicle off property the moment they said they wished to. I got rid of my NJ shops as they weren’t making money. I also would like to point out that nothing on the mechanics list would qualify as unsafe for road. I can however hold your car on property if you sign the contract and refuse to pay. That’s what the service agreement is and it states we can legally hold your car if you refuse to pay. I have had to do this. I impounded a guys Ferrari because he didn’t like the price for the parts. I did encourage him to buy them and bring them as my parts dealer wasn’t cheap when it came down to exotics. The guy is still a customer and we laugh about.

[@sallybruska3245]

I took my car to a place several years ago to have the front brake pads replaced. Pretty soon a manager comes out and said the rear brake drums also need to be replaced for a total of $700. Well, I only had enough money to replace the front pads so that's what I did. I received a letter several days later listing all the items needing to be fixed. It also said if I didn't comply my car would be reported to the state as being unsafe to drive. I didn't comply and the state never told me I couldn't drive the car because it was unsafe. I think this happened because I'm a woman. I really dislike men who try to take advantage of women especially about their car.

[@Fitz1993]

Yeah I doubt it was just because you were a woman....

[@meganroberts8721]

I bought the parts for my car timing belt change and the car garage didn't like that they couldn't inflate the bill for ordering the parts. They added a "garage usage fee" on top of the bill

[@rolloverriderpgr]

About "salting the earth." I had put a water softener in the house as we had really hard water. This was about 4 years after we bought the house and I had put in flower beds, had a lawn company spray my yard and had the prettiest yard in the neighborhood! Well I didnt know the salt in my soft water machine would kill everything after I put it on in my yard. Yep, I had been watering my whole yard so the whole thing started to die! I asked my yard people and they told me to use gypsum to absorb the salt out of the ground. I had to airrate the yard and so the gypsum got down into the soil and on top. After about a month my yard started to revitalize and the next year my yard was looking great and the flowers that hadn't completely died came back. AND I also ran a new water line from in front of where the water softener was under the house and out next to the other spigot and labeled them "Soft" and "Hard" so I didn't screw up and water with soft water again but could wash my vehicles with soft water! I recently sold the house and had to explain why I had 2 spigots side by side and what soft and hard meant! Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys

[@mbyerly9680]

I was going to recommend gypsum for the salt. It's also great to use on a lawn if you have a larger dog because it helps neutralize pee.

[@michaelbastarache7124]

Never knew about gypsum. Much appreciated. Thank you. Respect

[@alexisgrunden1556]

Huh; I learned a new thing today. Very cool; thank you! :D

[@rolloverriderpgr]

@Baba Ganush funny that salting the earth in my yard makes your comment a moot point as it happens. Now how they "Salted the earth" to come up with the saying I guess we'll never know as salt was used as money in bartering for supplies and services many years ago, so unless someone was really pissed at someone and willing to throw a few pounds/tons/money on land was stupid.

[@michaelbastarache7124]

@Baba Ganush Totally agree with you! Although salt is used to turn hard water to soft? There is not an adequate amount of salt in the softened water to chemically "burn" the grass or its root system(s).

[@BastilaElendir]

This is why whenever anything needs to be done with either my Cummins or my Honda I have my husband bring it in. He's 6 ft and has a very no-nonsense presence. Me? I'm a 5'2" petite woman who's MAYBE 120 soaking wet. One Shop in town where we live we refuse to do business with because they charge an arm and a leg for even the smallest thing so we go to Big O Tires and so far haven't had any issues.

[@EiKk4__]

It's also somewhat funny, when they "top up" the wiper fluid reservoir with a teaspoon worth of liquid to make it to the brim and charge 8€ for "a refill".

[@Rat-Builder]

I use to live in Elko Nevada, and there was a Big O in town. They did all of my tire work, and they did a good job. I then moved to Idaho and I went to the Big O here in town. I was having tires put on my truck. They asked if I wanted to have them do a "free" fluid inspection. I said ok. They had this little board with clean fluids in small glass containers. Like, brake fluid, anti-freeze, trans oil, engine oil, power steering oil. They had a white shop cloth next to these glass containers, and they had a sample of my truck's fluids on this cloth. They recommended a power steering flush, a brake fluid flush, an engine oil change, and a transmission oil and filter change. I should add that I am a heavy equipment mechanic, and at that time, had been so for 35 years. I had just overhauled my transmission a month before, and the fluid was clean. They also recommended a power steering flush, anti-freeze flush, brake fluid flush, and an engine oil change. To say that I was angry would be an understatement. I proceeded to tell the manager (in a voice that was loud enough for all of the customers to hear), that I had just done a transmission OVERHAUL, I only had 500 miles on the last engine oil change, my brake fluid was fine, and my antifreeze was a life-time type of anti-freeze. I also said that my power steering oil was fine. I then said that if this scam was what they were doing to improve their bottom line, I would NEVER come into their business again! I went over to Les Schwab from then on, and I am completely satisfied with their service. This happened 20 years ago. Over that time I have bought several sets of tires. Big O lost out on thousands of dollars worth of tires because of this breach of common sense.

[@azhrayharris8]

Yep! I always have my hubby check over everything that the dealership/shop claims is wrong with my car, if he can't bring it in himself. Last time I took my car to a dealership it was because of a recall. I left with a list of 7 things wrong with my perfectly functional car! I had hubby look it over (he's a mechanic), and he saw that only one of the "issues" would actually cause problems! It is so frustrating that people think that taking advantage of others is acceptable. If hubby wasn't a mechanic, I likely would have been out nearly 1k due to their shadyness. Honestly fuck them!

[@ShojoBakunyu]

I can spot an IT scam but know nothing of cars so I always bring a man with me, too. He may know even less than I do but just by having a 6 foot+ military vet or trucker there stops me from getting scammed.

[@lynprincevalli5221]

In my case it is my son-in-law, he practically grew up under a car! He makes sure no one screws with me! I now drop the car and have them call him with any issues and he goes over what actually needs to be done and clears it. He also works in the business, manages a parts place, so I get parts for less too! So glad I no longer have to worry!

[@murraystewartj]

Yeah, the old "your car is too unsafe so we have to seize it" scam, largely perpetrated on women. Any reputable shop will note issues and have the customer sign off on any recommended repairs refused. If a vehicle is truly unsafe to drive, they always have the option of calling the cops, and the customer can have the vehicle towed to the repair facility of their choice. There are many repair scams like this, but there are also people who drive vehicles with real issues. I was reminded of this a couple of months ago when I went to a wrecking yard to grab a couple of parts for my car. One car (an '09) was a match. Huge front end damage, and the two front tires were worn down so far that the steel belts were exposed. People are dumb, and that would have been a case in which a repair shop would have been justified in calling the cops to take a dangerous vehicle off the road - to protect the owner as well as everyone else out there.

[@owenoreilly_20]

Their was a channel that did a hidden investigation, with shops like those, all 3 of them Tried to upsell them on work

[@Cemi_Mhikku]

@@owenoreilly_20 Which decade? There's big news exposés on this abominable shit at least once a decade with the big chain places. Pro tip: Go with the small local shops.

[@caroljo420]

My son is an honest mechanic, and he's well loved by his clients.

[@immortalsofar5314]

I'm kind of disappointed - I love our local Les Schwabb. There's a slight overhead in the prices but we've more than made up for that with 6 puncture fixes and a damaged duallie extension hose that they replaced for free. There was one snotty kid who didn't listen when I explained the bodged and bypassed ignition system on our RV/home but we just waited for him to climb in, gave him a few seconds to stew and then asked if he needed a hand with a "this is what I was trying to tell you" look.

[@joshuawalker5044]

as a shop, our job is to notify them of dangerous items and if they want to break the law and drive off, you're absolutely right. have them sign off on refusal, and call the police to let them know there is a dangerous vehicle that the owner has decided to drive anyway. not much else you can do.

[@Hacksaw37]

One of the funniest things I've ever seen was a contractor removing an awning above the front door of a customer that refused to pay for it.

[@wiredcoati]

I saw a video of the same situation.

[@rickraber1249]

Hopefully he got away with it. But again, that would be trespassing and property damage and illegal.

[@sentientcardboarddumpster7900]

@@rickraber1249 how so? The customer didn't pay for it, so it was never theirs anyways. He's just taking his stuff back

[@rickraber1249]

@@sentientcardboarddumpster7900 I know a contractor. According to him, taking back anything you've already delivered or installed is illegal. I agree with you, but that's the law.

[@sentientcardboarddumpster7900]

@@rickraber1249 I don't think that's true. Or it's different in different states. There's a video floating around of a contractor and his crew completely tearing out an entire backyard basically. The fence, and everything within it they built. I think the laws may be different in different places about it

[@astrid6496]

Canadian tire tried to do that to me when I took my car in for an oil change. I had just had my car safety inspected a few weeks prior. They're didn't threaten to hold my car, but kept insisting that it was unsafe to drive. I looked buddy dead in the eye and said "oh, so you're telling me the mechanics who did the safety inspection on my car two weeks ago lied and ripped me off? Maybe I should call them right now and let them know that you're accusing them of fraud, see what they have to say." The look on buddy's face was priceless, and he started back peddling very fast. I did end up taking the results of my free inspection to the mechanics who fixed and safetied my car, and they got a huge kick out of the story. They assured me that everything was fine, they had actually repaired and replaced the stuff on the list. Canadian tire is known around here to be the last place you take your vehicles for repair as their garages are a huge scam. I only went because I had a coupon for a free oil change. Oh, and yes, I am female and was in my twenties when this happened. A prime target for them.

[@DrownedInExile]

I go to my local Toyota service dealership, but only for very simple routine stuff, like oil changes. If they ever claim to have found anything really serious, needing lots of money to fix, I get a second opinion at my trusty local garage. Last time that happened, I saved something like $400 at the local garage. They did the work for much cheaper than Toyota was asking.

[@Silver_wind_1987_]

Our Canadian tire is filled with local people lmao and we have ONE mechanic we allow to touch our car... ~.~ minus my dad who fixes tired etc. But is getting up in age...so sometimes it's harder.

[@MmeHyraelle]

Can tire are the worst.

[@unclepewter4161]

First I was a mechanic for over 20 years and I can tell you that every state in which I worked you can only hold a customer vehicle for nonpayment and even then you have to file a mechanics lien on it. When I first moved to Alabama I worked for a guy like that mechanic. He often over charged or charged for new parts and installed used parts. I wasn’t aware of that at first because I worked in the garage and didn’t see the paperwork until about 6 months later when I was going through the paperwork to get a list of the vehicles that I had worked on and amount charged for a labor dispute (yeah he was shady as f**k about paying commission too) when I saw what he had been doing I at first thought I would just report him to the authorities but then had a better idea. I photocopied all of the ones that I saw that I knew he had ripped people off on as well as the corresponding part receipts. I then quietly told all of my regular customers that always requested me to work on their vehicle that I was moving to a different shop as well as my father who also worked there with me (this amounted to about 75% of his repeat business) my father and I had no problem getting a new job since my father had been a mechanic for over 40 years and I was already well known in the area as the person that other shops sent electrical issues to and was always being asked to go to work for other shops. We told him to pay us what he actually owed us for the work we had done and he refused. We expected that and already had our trailer hooked up to our truck and proceeded to load our toolboxes up as well as all of our bigger equipment making sure to leave nothing of ours behind. We went to our new shop, unloaded and proceeded to make calls. First was to a labor lawyer who we had already spoken to and who set in motion our legal battle. Next to all of the customers who he had ripped off (I feel it important to note that regardless of if he had paid us or not we had already planned on taking all of these actions) and put them in touch with another lawyer ours had recommended for their lawsuits. We then called the appropriate authorities about his business practices as well as the EPA since just before we left we found out that instead of recycling the used oil like we thought he was doing he was actually using it in the winter to heat the shop which in that area was illegal. Long story short we got the money owed the customers that were ripped off also won their case (partially due to the paperwork I had photocopied for them) as well as a bunch that we weren’t aware of. EPA fined him big time for his used oil heater (turned out that he had made it himself) his license to operate a garage was revoked. He was forced to sell both the shop and his house to pay the fines and the lawsuits because unknown to us he had already filed bankruptcy three years before because of lawsuits and couldn’t get out of it again that way

[@tessaconmy3290]

This is partly why I took automotive classes during high school. The other reason is to help my dad out since my older brothers didn’t take up mechanics. It helps that to me I think of cars as big puzzles to be taken apart and put back together again.

[@TheLoiteringKid]

ya, depending on the car, it can be a nightmare to work on, or like my 99 Subaru its simple enough you can literally pull, rebuild and reinstall the motor in a day with 1 helper if you have the parts, basic tools and an engine hoist, though the engine hoist is optional, but highly recommended.

[@G_de_Coligny]

@@TheLoiteringKid and with Nissan you can take up to half of it without even needing a tool (gotta love their pressfit approach...)

[@AllenTax]

A pet. You call Sandy or Rover.😅

[@GHOSTMAN262]

Alright fluff, got my coffee and breakfast ready. Lets do this!!

[@joshsg6525]

I got the scotch. Different timezone lmao

[@sergeygrizodub1486]

Please don’t comment anymore I gotta screenie to make reddit gold

[@MusingMageofDisney]

LEEEROOOOOOOOOY JEEEENKIIINS! (sorry not sorry, couldn't resist)

[@timowinkels8854]

Same

[@alsween218]

@@MusingMageofDisney OH EM FRICKIN GEE!😳 I did the EXACT same thing!😆 Just IRL😋 Everytime I see a "Let's do this!" I HAVE to follow it up. It's pretty much Pavlovian😏

[@jimknapp8731]

First story is pointing out why an in-depth investigation of a contractor needs to occur prior to hiring him.

[@dog453679]

A contractor in prison for 15 years, two angry landscapers got back at their customer for stiffing them by using a backpack pump sprayer full of salt mixture to kill his lawn, and a shady, greedy mechanic arrested for overselling on the repairs to the truck to a lady who happens to be good at fixing it's engine only to have the tires rotated, and balanced. The cherry on top is that the manager had her job done for free. Priceless. Absolutely priceless! 😎

[@kittkatt1962]

DARKFLUF Thank You So Very Much For Your Stories! You Have Made Me Realize That There Are Many People Out There Who Do What's Right To Battle Those Who Are Doing Wrong! You Are My Hero!

[@mbyerly9680]

So, the grandfather is capable of doing such deep research on a contracter but doesn't do it before hiring him? Bad grampa!

[@vaporean_boylove.0w083]

Maybe he did but reviews on him were either fake or had a very good word about that contractor. But that's me guessing tho

[@Mekugii]

Bad grammar!

[@thespiralgamer5374]

@Huxley Ismael it’s a scam

[@youarehere594]

The thing about Les Schwab really caught me off guard, I've taken my car to our local Les Schwab several times for tire issues and not once have they ever come close to trying to sell us tires, let alone anything else. Don't know if the manager was aware of what was going on or not but yeah, that guy was likely fired and black listed.

[@TheAyanamiRei]

CONTRACTORS: ALWAYS make sure youo get their License Number and be sure to check up on it. Make sure there's nothing suspicious. Also a good idea to get references. My Dad has had an A+ Licensed rating for FOREVER! Also why a GOOD Contractor is EXTREMELY valuable. The ones who are NOT just in it for the profit. The same is true with a GOOD Mechanic!

[@Laudon1228]

Grandpa should have vetted the contractor like that _before_ hiring him.

[@christinepearson4972]

The contractor in the first story better be lucky that he didn't try this scam with the mafia because if he did he would be sleeping with the fishy

[@thecornerkid402]

I was planning to take a drive from Atlanta to visit my cousin in DC. My brake pads were overdue so I asked my roommate, who was a car guy, where I should go. I don't mind saying that he recommended the Firestone in Snellville, GA (you'll see why I'm saying where in a minute) They changed my pads and took it out for a test drive. Now, my car was old and had some issues. So, while changing the pads they noticed what I already knew. My brake fluid would not maintain pressure and I had to pump them a few times every time I started the car. It was a headache, but it was something I'd learned to live with. Apparently, during the brake change, the problem became exasperated. The guy running the counter came up to me and said that, in the test drive, they had to hit the brake 2-4 times every time they tried to stop. And I believed him. The leak was, unfortunately, in the pump itself. He said that the car was now extremely dangerous to drive and it needed to be replaced. Between the part and the labor it was going to be over $500. I was a broke waiter and I had $200 to my name so it was out of the question. I said I'd just have to live with it. A very concerned look spread across his face. He told me to give him a minute. He needed to talk to his manager. He calls me back to the counter after a few minutes and said "My manager says we don't want you to die, so we're just going to do it for you. No charge." This garage, again the Firestone in Snellville, GA, was so concerned about my safety that they did a $500 job for free just to help me out. Good group of guys.

[@jafoandthelittleranchbythe4951]

Dear narrator, Your voice is perfect. I really enjoy listening to you. Thank you so much.

[@sinfulwrath666]

Next revenge video, can please say "Hello everyone, this is your daily dose of r/prorevenge" in Daily Dose of Internet voice.

[@TheFlamingoBird]

Daily dose of reddit voice

[@thatoneguy1839]

He delivered alright

[@SonicDRJ]

Eyyyy, this is where the comment from the video I just watched came from! Look at that

[@shellchenonceau6987]

STERN DUTUBE is WAY better than daily dose. Daily Dose is a bit simple, so I suppose it appeals to some folks

[@Josh_the_jester]

6:00 there's a vary good reason why seasoned contractors and landscapers ext, get paid up front (or at least a particular payment) because most of that money, goes into the materials and labor for their subordinates, and what remains of that is profit.

[@garryowen5110]

Here is the flip side to that. Once you have paid up front, your contractor loses all motivation to complete the job and you have no leverage. All of a sudden there will be an emergency at some other job that requires attention before coming back to your job. Reputable established businesses don't require that. I don't expect my bartender to ask me to wait while he takes my money down to the package store.

[@rickraber1249]

Actually, I know a young lady who got a husband out of a deal similar to the Les Schwab story. She got a bid for brakes on her old, scruffy little wagon. It was for every cent she had, and she was newly single and struggling. The shop owner was oh so sad when her face fell - you know, fake sympathy and all. She went to a competing place in town for a second opinion, and a guy she was acquainted with crawled out from under a car and said hi. (Cute guy, lotsa muscles.) The shop owner told her she didn't need half the work the first shop had told her she absolutely HAD to have done, for safety sake of course, and gave her a bid for half the first amount, and bring the car in the next day. So she got an excellent job for half the price, throw in a future hubby. One that she still has 37 years later. Talk about a deal!

[@hayreddinbarbarossa661]

As a real landscaper diluted hydrochloric acid has been known to be used too. I also know a bricklayer that, after not getting paid waited until the owner went to work and went and pulled down the retaining wall that had been built. I personally know countless tradies that refuse to work in the wealthy areas of our state. Mum and dads out in the suburbs know what they want, save up the money and generally have no problems paying. While old mate too much money fights you every step of the way just to keep the money in his bank account and earn the extra interest on that money. People like this should be fucking shot.

[@gregorythomas333]

The problem with using hydrochloric acid is it's a caustic substance and could land you in jail for a long time if caught...where as salt water is not.

[@bork116]

@@gregorythomas333 how lol having acid is not illegal and what they are doing is already illegal so they wouldn't get in anymore trouble if they were caught

[@ShadowService]

@@bork116 - Obligatory "Not a Lawyer, Not Legal Advice" thing, but: from my understanding, property damage generally falls under misdemeanor charges - and even higher dollar-sign damage to yard still wouldn't easily hit felony level. However, hydrochloric acid can potentially cause bodily harm to individual that interacts with the surfaces it was used on - permanent damage (scarring) also possible. Bodily harm can easily become a felony charge - in addition to the charges of property damage. (And it's always possible EPA or other similar agencies could get involved. Who knows.)

[@AllenTax]

Wodahseht Children,kids and pets.

[@echomoon3381]

That contractor story reminds me sooo very much of a contractor here in northeast TN. Yep, screwed over people, shoddy, sub-par work. The last person screwed over got really really pissed and eent agter him and sued. And yes a group of people joined in on the law suit. He went to prison.

[@2literninja84]

Reminds me of a place...let's say sounds like "just bakes". They tried that BS with me, I don't tend to go off on people but after I did I've never seen a hydraulic lift come down so fast lol. Oh and guess who shut down not long after.

[@coreysue3451]

as a service tech I had several instances where someone wanted to take their car even though it wasn't safe to drive. Called the police once (tires so bald they were leaking and steel was showing). one was leaking fuel with kids in the car! Also, research your contractors BEFORE YOU HIRE THEM!!!

[@astralguardian5930]

Honestly, first story is borderline Nuclear Revenge. He definitely deserved it for screwing over at least 9 people but jeez. May as well have killed the man with how much he lost.

[@Josh_the_jester]

4:24 I get it, and made me smile a bit, a little dark humor from a little dark fluff

[@floor990]

Need a dispenser here

[@belindawallace5203]

Some years ago I remember taking my (first) car to the garage multiple times because it wasn’t handling right, they kept telling me I was imagining the problem. Eventually after paying out for numerous checks, I took it to a different garage who diagnosed the problem within minutes and fixed it the following day. I may be a woman who knows nothing much about cars but I know when something doesn’t feel right and driving a car that’s trying to swerve into oncoming traffic is definitely not right! I’ve never been back to the first garage ever again.

[@Absaalookemensch]

Contractor got it in the end. Over and over and over....leaving his rearovation blowing in the wind.

[@WH32R]

Don't know if this is true outside of new york, but if there is something MAJORLY wrong with the vehicle (ie: unsecure suspension components or anything else that could have potential to cause catastrophic failure) shops are allowed to notify the state police about the vehicle if the customer does not allow the shop to make the repair (insists on driving it home without repairs rather than getting it towed home or to another shop).

[@Babbleplay]

People like that contractor in the first story make me consider the price their organs might fetch on the black market.

[@gregorythomas333]

I'll give you $30,000 for a couple kidneys!

[@DrownedInExile]

@@gregorythomas333 $49.99 for a tall stack of Pancreas with butter and maple syrup!

[@Monkeywrench542]

In some states if they say you cannot drive it out of their shop, you can come with a tow truck and have it towed somewhere else.

[@henrydickerson9776]

With legal issues, my extremely limited understanding is that it varies by jurisdiction, when it happened (law changes), and other specifics.

[@adamf663]

Reminds me of a crooked electrician. The house had a loose 220vac connection on one side, it arced and destroyed itself. Called an electrician to replace the panel, but the electrician said the house also needed a new ground connection that had to run some 40', and that the pole for the feed had to be raised. About $5000 IIRC. Going through my paperwork, I discovered that the house, owned for about 8 months at the time, had a warranty that would cover the electrical work. After some conversing, it became obvious that I was being taken for a ride. I had paid the electrician with a check for pulling permits for the work, etc. I did a stop payment on the check and had the warranty guys do the repair. No new ground wire needed; no need to raise the pole; there were no 'city codes' requiring any work other than replacing the circuit breaker panel. The electrician made all kinds of threats including putting a lien on the house, but he never did. It seems he didn't want the law involved as he had been trying to defraud me.

[@jorjito5587]

I work at a tire shop and what keeps people coming back is us not BSing our customers and looking out for their safety as well as their pocketbook!

[@Dalton1294]

Fluff, I got the prison joke

[@nicholaspiers6692]

Don't drop the soap

[@1ttanker]

I am or was a full service mechanic in the 70s. I as explained in the article above take very good care of my vehicles , a 69 Cadi at the time. I replaced an upper ball joint one afternoon and decided to make an appointment with a well known tire and service shop for a wheel alignment. I may add this is a Saturday morning for drop off with a supposed call for pick up after the alignment After about three hours and no call I called the shop to learn not only had the not done anything but told me I needed major work on the front end and rear coil springs replacement before the alignment could be done. I showed up in about twenty minutes and they come up with a cock and bull story all my tie rods needed replaced, the rear springs were sagging… needless to say all hell broke loose as I knew better. I told them to do what they were contracted to do and no more. They come up with the old ,"We cannot guarantee the work then." I said no problem and take the car off the rack I was leaving. They tried to charge for the rack time and warned them the police would be very interested in their little bait and switch operation because I was a certified mechanic and they were blowing smoke. Needless to say I went elsewhere.

[@StormFanatic210]

That Mechanic is the very reason why I’m so glad to be extremely mechanically savvy. Dealership screwed with my Mother In Law’s Car by shorting her 2 quarts of Oil. Motor takes 4.8 quarts. Yeah, I was pissed. I was asked to do her Oil Change. Now I’m overseeing all the maintenance of every Car at home and I’m perfectly content with that. No damage to the engine, so I upgraded her to both a full load of 4.8 quarts of Oil and Full Synthetic. Gotta love that Magnuson Miss Warranty Act.

[@patrickormsbee8738]

Les-Schwab is notorious for pulling that crap

[@ShojoBakunyu]

I have trusted Discount Tires since my Mother started going there in the 80's and they bend over backwards to save you money and do MANY tasks for free AND refuse to take tips for free services. The location in Flagstaff, AZ saved my life by ensuring the tires were proper before I drove down a wet mountain. I had noticed the tires felt weird on a road trip so I pulled in just to be safe and they fixed my over inflated tires so I didn't go off the road.

[@itsamericancountryboy]

As a mechanic, the only upcharge that we do is a 25% mark up on parts. If you get the parts that you need most mechanics will only charge for labor.

[@deisisase]

Salting that yard destroyed it for decades to come. That guy has to wash out his whole yard with tens of thousands of gallons of water, hope it rains a lot, and then dig everything up and start over.

[@swatkins9391]

I, a female, who did plenty of auto mechanic work, including overhauling cars, found that it is not the shop most of the time, but the mechanics in the shops that were shady. I had a great relationship wit my Les Schwab shop and many times they went above and beyond for me.

[@scottvandehey458]

My dad used to work for Les Schwab and he was in the military. Typically they would have treated veterans like the hero that they are. I think this is a rotten person inside a great company. Sad that happens no matter where we go.

[@AuntypsychoticOG]

As a female vet, I've run into the same kind of thing before. Vengeance is ALWAYS required and, in my opinion OP was rather gentle in this case.

[@LadyZubat]

I will be sadden if Dark Fluffy doesn't heart this comment!

[@One.DeSanctis.]

Dark Fluff re: the mechanic holding OPs vehicle for safety issues, "I don't think you can legally do that." Yes! That could be why he was arrested.

[@rickraber1249]

Re salting the guy's yard: illegal as heck. Trespassing and property damage. Good thing they didn't get caught.

[@Lisapizzza]

"I hope you're doing well today." Well, I certainly am now!

[@vilhelmiina.]

The car story brought back 2 memories where mechanics tried to screw over me and my mother, lucky me knew that the "issues" (while true), where greatly streched and we signed the papers that if something happens we would take responsebility for it.. so not so uncommon to hear that shops are tryin' to screw over.

[@Siah_hell]

One time from a customer, he brought his Ford car to a Ford dealership for repairs after seeing how expensive it was, they straight up said pay for the repairs or else you won’t get the keys back your car Unknown to the workers, he had a spare key, so he drove it out, nobody tried to stop him anyways because he’s 6’1 and massive driving a Explorer

[@tommoore2012]

Fake story.

[@Silver_wind_1987_]

@@tommoore2012 it happens....trust me some shops are assholes. But the 2nd key isn't wrong...my mom's got 2 keys to her car

[@patrolinaus4]

I’ve managed to find an awesome mechanic that doesn’t pull any bs in regards to your car.

[@voiceofafreeamerica9854]

On the scamming repair shop: Depends on the state. Some states where this type of scam was done too oftenpassed laws to end this kind of scam, but others still allow it to happen.

[@barbtalbott8911]

I had a tire shop try to pull that on me, telling my U joint was bad and it wasn't safe to drive. They had the exact look that OP described. It was funny to see their expressions fall so quickly when I told them "OK, I'll get my brother the mechanic to check it out." LOL Of course, there was nothing wrong with the U joint.

[@jsstockphoto]

Les Schwab specifically trains their employees to pull that shit

[@gmoops8986]

re: Les Schwab; For both private and employer-owned, I've had them do alignment checks, brake inspects, new tires... They have made suggestions, given quotes, but no hard sell. Not the cheapest around,(I've checked). Great customer service. I have no complaints. Yes, I'm a real customer, not a shill. My experience, in my area. Your mileage or encounters may vary.

[@jessiea4932]

I learnt about salting the earth in primary school science class and every time I got in trouble as a child I would take a cup of salted water and poured it into the garden. I was in my mid 20’s before my Mum ever found out. Needless to say she was unhappy but really couldn’t do anything about it at this point? 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️😂😂

[@kellydarby8116]

It's probably Midas. This story is eerily similar to what I went through when I went to get my brakes done. After having them quote me $3500 or so, I called my dad. He said to put them on the phone and told them he can call the police and have them arrested for kidnapping or false imprisonment because they wouldn't let me leave without signing an agreement for service. They right away told me that they needed me to sign a refusal for work slip and let me go (after the threat from my dad). I went straight to my dad's friend (a busy mechanic that was booked solid-that's why I went to midas instead). My dad called him and he agreed to look at my car. He said the only thing I needed was brakes! Go figure!

[@etanajade7818]

Years ago I had wore off my brakes on one side to where it came off. The company wasn't just going to replace the brake pad... they wanted to replace so much more and would not release the car until they did everything to make it "safe" so I know what that's like. I wasn't as smart as OP was on her stuff. That was a dark time in my life but that stuck out in my mind

[@nancyoleksy]

I am so glad I have a good mechanic and shop to go to. That guy was a sleaze. Good thinking on her part calling the cops. WOW!

[@pommunist]

There is no way the manager of the mechanic shop isn't in on ripping customers off, he was lucky to be able to throw the mechanic under the bus.

[@denisehezel4218]

Les Schwab is famous for trying to tell people that they "couldn't allow the customer to be a risk to public safety by driving on dangerous tires." I've heard many times where people had to wait until after closing and hopefully their car was outside, so they just went and picked it up with another key.

[@Wi-Fi-El]

Every time I watch your videos I want a beer. I wish I could reach into my phone and grab that beer like the TV in Willy Wonka

[@FalenDragmire]

Soil can recover on its own when its salted but it can take years for that to occur naturally. The quickest way is to either completely replace the soil that was salted or use something to absorb the salt in the soil.

[@badjer4328]

You can refuse to let an unsafe vehicle drive off, but they can tow it away. I've heard stories of mechanics not letting a driver leave with almost non existing brake roters

[@goldiechisling4134]

Yay

[@TheFlamingoBird]

Beat this A Tree My wolves killed all the serial killers in the forest

[@zomula7657]

I saw the opposite of that last one, a shop releasing an unsafe car without telling the owner of the car. The frame was cracked and the mechanic from a second shop was mortified when he saw the damage and filed a complaint with the first shop about how they had let an elderly woman leave their shop in an unsafe vehicle without notifying her. She had taken it to a second shop because she felt something was off about a part that she had just had replaced, and not only did the second mechanic say that it didn't look like the part had been replaced, but they didn't charge her for any of the labor since they stopped halfway through the job when they found the damage. From what I heard the first shop ended up being fined for knowingly allowing a unsafe car leave the lot without informing the owner of the vehicle, and the mechanics who had worked on her car lost their job. What I do know is that the owner of that garage changed the following year and they got rid of all the mechanics and required them to reapply before they allowed they to continue working there. Only a handful were rehired.

[@veldasnyder2170]

This was a bad apple for Les Squab. As woman they have always been up front and truthful. They have given me 45 years of trust.

[@malkymoonchild]

a mechanic shop can legally hold a vehicle if they deem it unsafe to drive as they can be held responsible for any wreck that happens after they leave, just the same as a bartender can be held responsible for one of their patrons getting hurt on their way home

[@Kohaku9008]

That les swab story and the fact they broke something on my car is the whole reason I'd never go back to them

[@jeanettelasseter6085]

In some places they can hold your car, but they better be ready to prove it.

[@GoldDragon101]

I have a trusted mechanic I go to for my car. He doesn’t try to scam you and is an honest man unlike the one in the last story. My mechanic has heard the things I’ve changed out on my own. I’ve changed out a catalytic converter, a few belts, oil change, alternator and a radio.

[@monopinion8799]

Wonderful and informative betories. Thank.

[@madcatlover7554]

The salt will eventually be washed away and there are salt tolerant plants, it’s not the end of the world but it’ll make it really difficult to have any garden, all depends on the salt concentration

[@allenmaddux7611]

I have never seen a problem with Les Schwab tire stores. That had to be a greedy mechanic there.

[@richardsmith310]

Talk about “salting the earth”. That guy should have just paid

[@hotrod4d]

I worked at a pep boys tire and service center and should clear things up a bit. The employee who tries to scam the woman was a service writer and likely the mechanic had no idea what was even going. Service writers get paid by commission so the bigger the ticket the bigger the paycheck

[@debtompkins5363]

anyone who lives in upstate NY can tell you that despite the loads of salt applied to the roads all winter the grass and weeds on the shoulders flourish as soon as spring starts.

[@jake10cool]

This reminds me of a mechanic that my husband & I used. Check reviews before deciding what one to use.

[@caroljo420]

That mechanic should be arrested.

[@fizzy1550]

Salting the earth kills things for awhile, until the salt is completely washed away and A LOT of nutrients is put back in to the soil (along with new soil).

[@kellyrayburn4093]

If the customer refuses to sign the disclaimer the shop can refuse to release the vehicle. But if the customer signs that disclaimer, then any liability is on the customer. They can't keep a vehicle without offering a waiver of responsibility.

[@elizd9952]

Eventually, the salt might soak out from rain but it would be years.

[@thesilversurfer7136]

As a woman I have been screwed by mechanics. They screwed my car up on many occasions. I keep trying to find honest ones but they are few and far between.

[@ajb7530]

Last story, Car mechanics like in the last story can't legally prevent you from obtaining you vehicle from them. They just need you to sign a waiver saying that they inspected you vehicle and if its unsafely to drive, but if the customer refuses, all they do us sign the waiver form.

[@nityodaytekchandani701]

13:44 Afaik some states do require your vehicle to be fit to be on road. I've read stories about it before.

[@adamguymon7096]

I love how the sheep has a beer in his hand. When I was a kid I was also told about a garage in Nevada in the desert that would do similar things back in the day and they would take people's fluids and or act like they were filling up your fluids when they, in fact, didn't do so. If your hood opened where you could see your engine from the drover seat they would tell you to keep your head down and not to look and this is where they were busted.

[@alphahuner1116]

For the last story: the guy is probably charged with attempted auto theft and attempted extortion/blackmail.

[@taylorjorgenson7230]

Last story. They can only work on what you specify to them. No more

[@JoeCdaYT]

What you described at the end is what is termed a release of liability to the shop in question. I have been the same way at servicing my own vehicle. Worked in a shop. I do just the same, only take my car in for tire work. Recently in the shop to get tires changed over and was not surprised that I was told one of the tires was bad. So I just had them replace a pair of tires instead of the whole set. Cheaper for me and easier work for them. Love the videos.

[@madssymads7979]

If you're unsure about what salt does, look up salt lakes with no water and salt lakes in Australia, minimal grows and yes you would more than likely have to rip everything out of your yard and re sand and re grow everything, that first one was THE best salty revenge

[@madssymads7979]

Also, I believe if the car/vehicle is completely unsafe, breaks, steering, wheels all damaged then they can hold it & (here in aus) they get a yellow sticker, sometimes that immediately gets the vehicle off the road and other times it allowed the owner to get the parts they need and then to go through a qualified mechanic (the pits) to go over and make sure it's done and safe they can then take the sticker off and allow you to use the vehicle.

[@LazyIRanch]

I won't EVER go back to Les Schwab. I went there to get a front end alignment and a front control arm replaced over a year ago, they "found" $2400 worth of "issues", told me the axle was broken, but when I asked them to show me, they wouldn't. I told them "no thanks" and took it to a different shop. Got both control arms replaced for $600 along with the front-end alignment (and he charged my AC for free!), and there was nothing wrong with the axle. The shop that did good work looks like a mess, kind of junky, but I went there because of his excellent Yelp reviews. He's my mechanic for as long as he's around, and I think that will be awhile! He's a very nice fellow who doesn't talk down to me.

[@somethinunameit637]

They cannot hold your vehicle hostage but they can make you sign a release form stating you are aware of how unsafe your vehicle is before you drive off

[@VK-jy3pi]

Love your r/prorevenge vids.

[@92SilverBear]

I'm a tire technician, and we can't do much for passenger vehicles. However, we have the ability to put commercial vehicles out of service if we follow the correct steps.

[@monroerobbins7551]

The second story is the reason I wanna learn about repairing cars. I don’t like cars, I don’t like driving cars, but I don’t want me, or my loved ones, getting scammed like that. Respect to mechanics, they do a lotta work, but these bad seeds just make me so angry.