Riding lawnmower RUINED by a moron

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03-31-2009, 05:45 PM
iluvmybaby

Riding lawnmower RUINED by a moron

I am so angry, I had a very nice but older riding lawn mower that ran like new, it was a gift from my grandfather and was in immaculate condition. A few days ago a friend of mine approached me and said his son ((who is 44)) is look for handyman work. I am leery about things like that, but I called the guy up and he said he services lawn mowers. He had excellent references ((I called 4 of them and they had nothing but praise.)) So fine, I commissioned him to come and put my battery back in it, to change the oil and put fresh gas in and to air up the tires. I left the key in the mower in the back yard so that if I was out job hunting they could come work on it at his convienence. I came home and the first thing my roommate said was they trashed the backyard. I went to the back and sure enough, they had thrown the used burnt oil on the GROUND, as well as empty oil containers, used paper towels that were oily, as well as gas dumped near my roommates flower garden. ((Nobody was home when he did this or roommates would have stopped him)) I was in shock, just staring at the mess, I couldn't believe it.
NOW, the piece to resistance. They spilled gas and oil down my motor and fouled the inside, literally getting it into the air thingie and fouling the spark plugs. This act of kindness to help a man who was laid jobless ((just as I am)) is going to cost me out the rear end to replace all of the thing that he screwed up inside. I dont even know if the engine CAN be fixed because apparently it was almost a quart of oil because it is all over the outside, same with the gas .
03-31-2009, 05:51 PM
Airbuswife

that sucks! did you pay him before he worked on it? if you paid him by check, maybe cancel payment? or just try to explain to him how he severely messed it up and would appreciate him at least cleaning up his mess, and if you have to, go to his dad and explained what happened and that he should be responsible for any repair costs.
03-31-2009, 05:52 PM
ElleGee

Oh wow I'd be hella pissed
03-31-2009, 06:10 PM
cpbaby

Quote:

Oh wow I'd be hella pissed

Yeah, that!

And Id tell him that I expect him to pay to have it fixed. I know he is out of work, but that is no excuse to phluck things up like this.
03-31-2009, 06:44 PM
anothersta

Never do business with friends or family.
03-31-2009, 07:05 PM
iluvmybaby

I paid via check, I will cancel it first thing tomorrow morning, if he hasnt already cashed it yet
03-31-2009, 08:03 PM
jasmine

what a stupid a$$
04-01-2009, 04:56 AM
freeby4me

If you dont have a digital camera go buy a disposable one and TAKE PICTURES OUT YOUR WAZOO. Document EVERYTHING. I would tell the guy that he's going to refund that money if he's already cashed it, he's going to pay for the clean up and he's going to pay for fixing the engine. Take his arse to court if you have to cause that is absolute BS.
04-01-2009, 05:10 AM
pepperpot

:hug that stinks...:(

I'd also tell his father what happened and let him know if he keeps recommending his son...he'll lose friends....:(
04-01-2009, 08:57 AM
whatever

Quote:

Originally Posted by freeby4me

If you dont have a digital camera go buy a disposable one and TAKE PICTURES OUT YOUR WAZOO. Document EVERYTHING. I would tell the guy that he's going to refund that money if he's already cashed it, he's going to pay for the clean up and he's going to pay for fixing the engine. Take his arse to court if you have to cause that is absolute BS.

I was going to say the same thing. Take pix, document EVERYTHING!!
I am betting he gave you "fake" references. Or friends etc.
I would tell him he is now going to be paying to get your mower fixed!! Or you can take him to small claims.
04-01-2009, 10:46 AM
atprm

I have but 3 words to tell you:

SMALL CLAIMS COURT!
04-01-2009, 11:34 AM
SLance68

Ok how do you know it fouled the spark plugs? Did you try to start it without checking the oil level? If so that is unfortunately probably going to land on your feet not his. Next question - WHY did you pay him in advance? Lawn mower engines are not that technically advanced and are usually pretty easy to repair. It sounds like the majority of it could be cleaned up with soap and water and replace the air filter - and spark plug if it really was fouled out. Sorry to rain on your anger at him but you really have to check it out before you start it yourself after seeing the mess he left. Are you sure he was completed with the work?
04-01-2009, 04:02 PM
whatever

OKay I asked my dh and he says your lawn mower should NOT hold more than 2 quarts of oil. So if they put more than that in there they overfilled and oiling the spark plugs. He says drain the oil and put new in it. Your best bet in put 2 new spark plugs. Check to make sure they hooked up the battery correctly. Red to positive and black to negative. Your filter should air out and be fine. If you have any questions lmk.
04-01-2009, 05:14 PM
iluvmybaby

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLance68

Ok how do you know it fouled the spark plugs? Did you try to start it without checking the oil level? If so that is unfortunately probably going to land on your feet not his. Next question - WHY did you pay him in advance? Lawn mower engines are not that technically advanced and are usually pretty easy to repair. It sounds like the majority of it could be cleaned up with soap and water and replace the air filter - and spark plug if it really was fouled out. Sorry to rain on your anger at him but you really have to check it out before you start it yourself after seeing the mess he left. Are you sure he was completed with the work?

I never tried to start it as there was a large amount of oil and gas spilled inside the engine, you could see it/smell it, it was literally all over the engine. I paid him in advance because he was supposed to tune it up and do an oil change and sharpen the blade, he was down on his luck so I paid in in advance, which included money for the oil/gas he needed to service it. I tried calling him and he is not returning my calls, I left 3 messages that were polite and wanted to give him an oppertunity to make it right. Finally when he did not answer I put a stop payment on the check
04-01-2009, 05:19 PM
jasmine

you shouldn't have to go and fix your lawnmower, put new spark plugs in it, drain the oil etc..... that's what you paid someone else to do for you. That was his job, not yours.
I know it costs money to put a stop payment on a check, so I hope you didn't loose out on too much $$ for all of this.
04-01-2009, 07:22 PM
iluvmybaby

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasmine

you shouldn't have to go and fix your lawnmower, put new spark plugs in it, drain the oil etc..... that's what you paid someone else to do for you. That was his job, not yours.
I know it costs money to put a stop payment on a check, so I hope you didn't loose out on too much $$ for all of this.

Stop payment fee was $25, and in order to get it fixed I had to have someone pick it up as I don't have a pickup truck, I told them to document whatever they found in writing. They guy still hasn't returned my call, and I have called twice more.
04-01-2009, 07:30 PM
pepperpot

How much was the tune up? (you gave him)
04-02-2009, 02:26 AM
Quaker_Parrots

I would call your friend, his dad.
04-02-2009, 05:22 AM
PrincessArky

wow I hope you are able to get it sorted out
04-02-2009, 02:00 PM
sunniekiss

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvmybaby

I paid via check, I will cancel it first thing tomorrow morning, if he hasnt already cashed it yet

Doesn't matter if he cashed it or not. All you need to go is issue a stop payment on the check. It will probably cost you @ $30 to put a stop payment but is well worth it.

Take pictures & document EVERYTHING! You can then take him to small claims court for damages.
04-02-2009, 03:01 PM
iluvmybaby

Quote:

sunniekiss
Doesn't matter if he cashed it or not. All you need to go is issue a stop payment on the check. It will probably cost you @ $30 to put a stop payment but is well worth it.
Take pictures & document EVERYTHING! You can then take him to small claims court for damages.

I stopped payment and it was $25 @ my bank. I have taken pictures. I have called the father and left a voice mail to call me. The father is very mechanically inclined so if he can fix it I will let him do so and call it even. If not, I am going to have to persue small claims court for the value of getting it fixed.
04-03-2009, 09:28 PM
MamaFairal

did he cash the check or were you able to stop it so he couldnt?
04-04-2009, 04:45 AM
Quaker_Parrots

How much did you pay him? It must have been alot for you to be out the $25 for a stop payment...
04-04-2009, 07:32 AM
jasmine

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker_Parrots

How much did you pay him? It must have been alot for you to be out the $25 for a stop payment...

yeah, but I think that it was more of getting the point across to the man that tried to fix her lawn mower, could you imagine going to the bank and trying to cash it, and them turning you away..... that's a slap in the face!
04-04-2009, 01:19 PM
sunniekiss

Quote:

Originally Posted by iluvmybaby

I stopped payment and it was $25 @ my bank. I have taken pictures. I have called the father and left a voice mail to call me. The father is very mechanically inclined so if he can fix it I will let him do so and call it even. If not, I am going to have to persue small claims court for the value of getting it fixed.

Personally I would NOT allow the father to repair the lawn mower. I would take it to the certified repair shop. Then I would send him a bill fo the damages HE caused, not what you initially needed him to fix. I would send it certified with signature required. I would give him 30 days to pay-up or set-up a payment plan with you. I would also mention in that letter that if there was no response or money from him in 30 days I would b forced to seek restitution in small claims court.

Good luck girl. This reminds me, my oldest ds was supposed to come down to take my riding mower to the repair shop for me. Time to call him.
04-05-2009, 08:16 PM
iluvmybaby

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker_Parrots

How much did you pay him? It must have been alot for you to be out the $25 for a stop payment...

All together I paid him $50. $10 for oil and spark plugs, and $40 for the services. He was supposed to sharpen the blade and change the oil. I had already had the gas drained out before I put it up for the winter.

Quote:

jasmine
yeah, but I think that it was more of getting the point across to the man that tried to fix her lawn mower, could you imagine going to the bank and trying to cash it, and them turning you away..... that's a slap in the face

I gave him 48 hours to get back to me by phone, leaving messages on his home number and cell number. He is unemployed and lives in the same town as me. In fact we both have ATT so it would be totally free to call me, day or night

Quote:

MamaFairal did he cash the check or were you able to stop it so he couldnt?

He was not able to cash the check before I put a stop payment on it.

Quote:

Personally I would NOT allow the father to repair the lawn mower. I would take it to the certified repair shop. Then I would send him a bill fo the damages HE caused.

His father called me and said he would cover any damages inflicted on the mower, especially when I mentioned that gas and oil were dumped into the engine. I am taking it to a service repair shop Monday. If he pays for it as he says, I will not seek legal action. I, however DO feel sorry for the father, this is a grown kid in his 30s who seems to cause him a lot of grief.