SA Ex-friend Won't Pay for Parts Used on His Car

[karmar]

I have an ex-friends car in my drive and has been here for 2 years +. I have been working on it for free and he was to pay for parts, and now he wont pay, hence the ex-friend.
I'm not a workshop.
I have been removing parts and engine as I am wrecking the car so I can I sell to recoup my money owing ($1900).
He wont answer my call and emails etc and now claims its in his dads name, its been unregistered for nearly 2 years now.
Recently I went to him to try to discuss and all he said was you'll be notified to my questions through the closed door until he yelled get of his property.
Can I sell the car and parts before his notification of some sort arrives.
Or any suggestions.

Thanks
karmar

 

[Tracy B]

Hi Karmar,

Take a read of the following similar questions:

• What can I do about abandoned vehicles in my backyard
• Abandoned car on private property - what can we do
• Disposing of low value uncollected goods and vehicles (this is an article from the Victorian Consumer Affairs website, it may not directly apply in Southern Australia but is fairly consistent with the general law)

Basically, you need to send a formal letter to your ex-friend and/or his father, stating:

• The full amount he owes you (perhaps with a breakdown of costs)
• 28 days for him to make payment
• You are holding his car until you receive payment
• If he does not make payment, you will sell parts from his car to recoup part of the costs and will not hesitate to take legal action for debt without further notice

First, the car may be abandoned by your ex-friend as it has been in your yard for 2+ years, confirm if this is the case. Second, if you wish to recover your money, you need to initiate an action for debt against the owner of the car in the Administrative Authority's minor civil claims section.