I Only Wanted an Oil Change

The Friday after finals, I brought my car into Luikart’s; the only place in town capable of fixing foreign vehicles. While performing the oil change, they discovered some stuff that wasn’t quite right. The mechanics took notes on what needed to be fixed, got my warranty info and I left.

When I brought my car back on Tuesday, Luikart’s told me the insurance company was going to cover everything but the exhaust and struts. The mechanic asked me if he should get started on the stuff covered by insurance and I said yes. He strongly recommended I fix the exhaust but said I could wait on the struts. So that’s what I did.

That was Tuesday.

On Friday I called up the shop asking if my car would be ready. The reasoning had something to do with an uncharged battery, but the answer was no.

So I went the weekend without a car.

Today after my morning class, I went to pick up my long lost Saab. I sat at the mechanic’s from 10:45 – 12:45, waiting for them to clear something with the insurance company. The exhaust cost me about $485 and the insurance bill was around $1100. By the time 12:45 rolled around, the problem wasn’t solved and I was looking to be late for class, so I left my credit card as collateral, and drove my car to school.

I got a message during class saying the insurance company was denying the claim. I’m not exactly sure why, but it had something to do with a minor technicality and the timing of the mechanic’s phone calls.

Unfortunately, I still don’t have my car.

The insurance company is sending an inspector to come look at the work that’s been done within the next 48 hours but until then, I have a perfectly working car that I’m unable to drive.

All I know is that I’m not paying. If anyone would like to tell me how I go about getting my car back without paying as originally intended, that would be much appreciated.