When you take your car in for repairs, you expect it to come back in better shape — not worse. But for Olivia Hayes of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a simple fix turned into a months-long nightmare. In 2024, Hayes brought her 2010 Volkswagen EOS to a mechanic, hoping to finally repair the convertible top she’d been saving up to fix. Instead of a quick turnaround, her car sat undrivable in a garage for months as delay after delay piled up.
Four weeks passed with the car taken apart and little progress. Each time Johnson followed up, the mechanic had a new excuse. Then, he blocked her altogether. Johnson had paid $600 upfront for the repair, but after all the delays and dead ends, the mechanic only agreed to refund $400.
"I got it back in a box," Hayes told 2 On Your Side.
Frustrated, Hayes documented every step of the ordeal, organizing her evidence into a three-ring binder she later presented to a city court judge. “But now it’s broken. It’s too broken. I can’t put anything back together,” said Hayes.
Determined to hold the shop accountable, Hayes filed a civil lawsuit against David Moberly of Moberly’s Car Repair.
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Tune-up turned trouble
To move her civil case forward, Hayes spent countless hours meticulously building evidence. She documented every text message and interaction, creating a clear timeline of events to present in court. "ChatGPT gave me some of the best advice," she said.
Hayes tallied every expense tied to this attempt to repair her car, from tow fees and Lyft rides to DoorDash meals, lost wages and even the fair market value of her car. In the end, the judge ruled in her favor. "I just want everyone to know if you take your car to Moberly’s, it could end up in a box," Hayes warns.
Hayes’ situation isn’t unique. In Greensboro, North Carolina, Shatara Johnson faced a similar nightmare. Johnson, who relies on her car to commute to work, brought it to a mechanic only to be faced with reason after reason for why the car wasn’t repaired, until the mechanic blocked her. While these stories are frustrating, car owners aren’t powerless.
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Don’t get taken for a ride
Both Johnson and Hayes learned the hard way that not every mechanic plays by the rules. So before you roll the dice on your next repair, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.
Start by doing your homework. Look up online reviews – but don’t stop there because, increasingly, reviews can be purchased. Check the shop’s rating with the Better Business Bureau and ask around for word-of-mouth referrals — your friends and family can be your best source for trustworthy recommendations. A good shop will have a reputation you can verify, whether it’s through real-world reviews or a clean record with consumer protection agencies.
When it comes to payment, most reputable mechanics won’t ask for full payment until the job is done. If a shop demands money upfront, treat it as a red flag. At most, agree to a small deposit, just enough to cover parts or initial labor.
Whenever possible, pay with a credit card. Unlike cash or debit cards, credit cards offer built-in protections, like the ability to dispute charges if the work isn’t completed or the service falls short. It’s also smart to ask for a written estimate, timeline and a detailed explanation of the work they plan to do. This not only sets expectations but also gives you leverage if the shop fails to deliver on their end of the agreement.
A little diligence before the repair can save you from months of frustration and a binder full of evidence later.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.