Is it legal for a car repair shop to charge you daily rent for your car?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Maritza B
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Maritza B

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Our car stopped running and we had it towed to Midas to check it.It turned out to be about $1400 in repairs. We asked them if we could pay on it before we authorized the repairs.They said it was fine,but they would hold on to the car until it was paid off.We agreed.So I paid $200 within a month.And I was planning on paying at least $200 every month until paid off. Plus,we get our tax refund soon so I thought we can just pay the whole thing off in less than 2 months anyway.
Today the general manager calls my husband stating that if we dont pay the whole thing today ,he will start charging us $15 rent a day.
Is this a common thing to happen? Even when you are making regular payments?
Now my husband called him back and the guy now says we are cool and he was just frustrated with so many people who leave their cars over there and dont pay.I am still concerned because it is just his word against ours.I dont know if tomorrow he will decide to change his mind again and charge us $30 or more per day.
 
Yes they can and most shops do. You'd be surprised how many people just abandon their cars on a shops lot or don't bother to pick them up for weeks on end. It is a big liability, not to mention a nuisance to have a customers car take up semi-permanent residence. The lot charge is an encouragement for you to not do that and as long as you pick up the vehicle in a timely fashion. They don't really care about the $15/day, they just want the ticket paid for and the car picked up.
 
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