Car Wash

jamesy08

Hi all,i had a warehose last year where i was building a range of timber products,and we also had a small car wash off of this,to supplement the incomings etc,

anyway,a guy arrives in a pick up truck,and wanted the inside/outside washed,my guy said the inside was absolutely fillty,caked mud etc,so he proceeded to wash the inside with the power washer,to try and get the dirt off,i was way inside doing the timber work,all seemed fine,paid his €10,

next day he arrived back in the yard bellowing/shouting,that his tipper is not now working,all the electrics have been destroyed,and there is going to be a large bill for the repair work,

he came back 2 days later saying that 1 part cost €100,so i gave it to him to keep the peace,cause he is really a noisy guy,and would scare any customers away,then before xmas,he called in again,to say the repair bill is coming to €750,and the truck is in a garage,showed me the estimate for this,so i said to myself,maybe that whats its going to cost,as im a fitter myself,and with labour etc,maybe its close,so i paid him the €750 after xmas,and we both said that we are finished,got him to sign a piece of paper to say i gave him €750,now last week he has arrived bellowing and shouting,to say the total cost is €2,800,

everytime i try to make a decent discussion,he rants and raves,about losing time with his truck,couldnt cut blocks for his customers,had to hire a temp vehicle,etc,can anyone tell me,where do i stand in all this scenario
Regards
Jamesy

PCPhoto

jamesy08 wrote: »

Hi all,i had a warehose last year where i was building a range of timber products,and we also had a small car wash off of this,to supplement the incomings etc,anyway,a guy arrives in a pick up truck,and wanted the inside/outside washed,my guy said the inside was absolutely fillty,caked mud etc,so he proceeded to wash the inside with the power washer,to try and get the dirt off,i was way inside doing the timber work,all seemed fine,paid his €10,next day he arrived back in the yard bellowing/shouting,that his tipper is not now working,all the electrics have been destroyed,and there is going to be a large bill for the repair work,he came back 2 days later saying that 1 part cost €100,so i gave it to him to keep the peace,cause he is really a noisy guy,and would scare any customers away,then before xmas,he called in again,to say the repair bill is coming to €750,and the truck is in a garage,showed me the estimate for this,so i said to myself,maybe that whats its going to cost,as im a fitter myself,and with labour etc,maybe its close,so i paid him the €750 after xmas,and we both said that we are finished,got him to sign a piece of paper to say i gave him €750,now last week he has arrived bellowing and shouting,to say the total cost is €2,800,everytime i try to make a decent discussion,he rants and raves,about losing time with his truck,couldnt cut blocks for his customers,had to hire a temp vehicle,etc,can anyone tell me,where do i stand in all this scenario
Regards
Jamesy

Looks like any money you have given him ....is null and void (I assume you paid him cash) ..... and he's in a position to go the legal route.

if you refuse you are calling his bluff and he will be forced to go the legal route and you are pretty much faced with a situation where its your word against his.

My advice would be to talk to a solicitor - its possible that this guy is yanking your chain and trying to see how much money he can get out of you, he's been back twice looking for cash.... but he may be genuine but I think you might need to contact the gardai next time he arrives as he is intimidating you and you are in fear of loosing customers due to some guy ranting and raving.

just out of interest is the car wash side-business all legit ?...this could be an issue.

jamesy08

PCPhoto wrote: »

Looks like any money you have given him ....is null and void (I assume you paid him cash) ..... and he's in a position to go the legal route.

if you refuse you are calling his bluff and he will be forced to go the legal route and you are pretty much faced with a situation where its your word against his.

My advice would be to talk to a solicitor - its possible that this guy is yanking your chain and trying to see how much money he can get out of you, he's been back twice looking for cash.... but he may be genuine but I think you might need to contact the gardai next time he arrives as he is intimidating you and you are in fear of loosing customers due to some guy ranting and raving.

just out of interest is the car wash side-business all legit ?...this could be an issue.

Hi,with the timber products etc,it was a ltd company,even though the car wash was slow,it was still entered in the books,but,that company has now ceased trading,

dudara

Hi jamsey08,

This forum is for Consumer Issues, whereas the issue you're describing involves a business. Therefore, I'm moving this thread to Entreprenurial and Business Management.

dudara

jimoc

If the car wash company has now ceased trading and it was a limited company then I cant see how he expects to get money from another company for damages done to his vehicle.

If the timber company and the car wash company were completely seperate legal entities then tell him to go take a flying leap and sue the company that no longer exists.

If he persists call the guards on him saying that he is threatening you and your business.

PCPhoto

jamesy08 wrote: »

Hi,with the timber products etc,it was a ltd company,even though the car wash was slow,it was still entered in the books,but,that company has now ceased trading,

was this in the Four Courts (maybe in Civil or High Court) before or just after christmas ??? sounds familar to me... timber products with a car wash business on the side (liquidation)

jamesy08

no,wasnt mine,this was just a small waterhose off the tap,onto small electric washer,small bucket and sponge

21inchguns

Hi Jamesy,

I am sorry to hear you that you gave him a penny. He is probably just a pikey on a scam, thats the way it usually goes, they start off small to get you to open your wallet and assume some responsibility. Then the amounts they try to get off you go up and up.

If you had have told him to f off and sue you chances are you would have never heard from him again. He has no proof that you damaged his truck, just his word against yours.

jamesy08

maybe best bet is come monday,go see a solicitor,no matter what,surely i cant be in the wrong,and i made a payment,he wouldnt go to my mechanic,and ure entitled to 2 quotes,whos to say he doesnt know his mechanic,and they just make out a quote between them,all are happy
jamesy

Chet Zar

Why on earth would someone use a power washer on the INSIDE of a vehicle??`

Sounds like it could be a scam though - I'd be gettin in touch with the provider of the quote to see if he is legit etc? And a solicitor of course.

Bandara

Hi jamesy

tell him to **** off, sorry for the blunt language but it's all he deserves.

If he wants to make a claim tell him to produce a receipt and to prove it was the car wash that did it.

He is a claiming scumbag.

Don't waste your time on him. And the louder he shouts the more you ignore him.

I sell thousands of carwashes a year. People like this guy are bullies and liars.

Ignore him.

BnB

I'd agree 100% with Hammertime.

This waster is completely taking you for a ride.

Tell him in no uncertain terms to sod off.

jamesy08

Actually met the guy today,and he produced 2 receipts from a reputable garage,which included electricial repairs,take out dash,repar all wiring,switches,labour,hire of another vehicle while his was getting repaired
jamesy

Bandara

jamesy08 wrote: »

Actually met the guy today,and he produced 2 receipts from a reputable garage,which included electricial repairs,take out dash,repar all wiring,switches,labour,hire of another vehicle while his was getting repaired
jamesy

Jamesy I've said it already.

this guy is attempting to intimidate you to get you to pay

I am not a solicitor but I would suggest that if I spray a power washer on my dashboard then it is going to give problems.

I repeat again, tell him you are paying nothing. If he wants to go get a solicitors letter then good for him. He won't though.

Do not allow yourself to be frightened into it, let him scream and shout all he likes.

Its ludricious that you are even entering into debate with this guy imo.

Ring him and tell him your not responsible for the damage.

end of problem.

jimoc

jamesy08 wrote: »

Actually met the guy today,and he produced 2 receipts from a reputable garage,which included electricial repairs,take out dash,repar all wiring,switches,labour,hire of another vehicle while his was getting repaired
jamesy

I didn't actually realise when you said the INSIDE, that you meant inside the cab!!!
I thought it was the inside of the back of the truck, which is why I was thinking he was taking you for a ride all along.

Are you actually telling me that your guy power washed the inside of the cab, where the guy sits?
Or am I completely reading it wrong again.

your response should still be to tell him take a flying leap and get a solicitor involved, but if he does actually take it to court there might be a slightly better chance of him winning if your guy sprayed a power washer inside the cab.
However he can't take you to court, only the now defunct company, so it doesn't really make a difference.