Eric Slavic was hired for $3500 to do bodywork and paint my 85 Monte Carlo SS. He did a lot of work at first, took most of the money, then never finished the work. He still has my car, since May.
Eric works at Gene Perez Body Repairs in Tampa, FL. They are known for doing good work on high end cars. A great friend of mine for 20 years lives across from Eric recommended him. He had done great work as a side job for him. And did a great job on a neighbors Monte Carlo, (like mine.)
I had Eric give me an estimate ($3,500 and approx. 3-4 months to finish it) and I dropped off car at his house in Spring Hill in May. Right then I gave him $2000 down because he said he needed at least $1500 to cover materials, and I wanted to give him some for his labor up front too. I made an additional payment of $500 a month later, when he said it was half done.
After that months went by w/o an update, and he didn't return my calls. He finally called and said with the holidays and being busy, he had put it to the side, but he needed some more money because he used some of my materials on another job. So I gave him another $400. And then another $300. ($3100 paid total) Then many more months went by without a phone call, and my friend said his car hadn't been home in a long time, but his wife and daughter were still there.
So I started calling his work leaving numerous messages. He finally called me back with more excuses, and promised to get it done before Thanksgiving 07. Thanksgiving came and went, Christmas came and went. Finish my car, then have your midlife crisis. He wasn't returning my calls again... I finally got a hold of him Jan 14th this year, and he said it would be done by the end of the month, now Feb. Is over in a week, and he still hasn't worked on it, or returned my calls.
At this point he has $3100 of the $3500, and he has had my car for almost 2 years (this May) I have had to carry insurance on a car I can't drive, I've renewed the registration twice now, and I can't even put the plate on it. I've had to buy a cheap car and pay insurance on an extra car for almost 2 years. This has cost me almost $2000 extra because of the time this is taking.
It was only a verbal agreement, but I have my wife and his neighbor as witnesses. I'm not sure legally where I stand. If I try small claims court, I'm afraid I'm going to get my car back undone, be out the money I paid him, plus legal fees, and the expense of hiring someone else. Not even counting the damage to the cars seals from sitting so long w/o even being started.
I really am just out of patience with the whole situation, at a loss for what to do to fix it. I just want my car done and back. It is very frustrating.
NOBODY let Eric Slavik touch your car! You will be sorry.
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