So my cousin has improved a sports car from the USA. His import broker recommended a workshop who could do its compliance checks. The workshop then informed him that the car needed an engineers certificate and a couple of modifications to be compliant.
He was quoted $400 plus parts and a couple of weeks turnaround time. The work was not delivered on time, it took almost 7 weeks to get the car back. At the time that my cousin went to pick up the car, he was told that the bill was over $4000. This had not been discussed.
In the meantime, the workshop has registered his corvette in their company name and are now holding the paperwork for the car ransom until he pays the invoice in full.
My cousin has since borrowed (more) money to pay half the invoice - he still owes ~$2000.
I don't believe that they can withhold the papers for a 20-25 thousand dollar car in lieu of an outstanding balance of $2000.
I'm curious to know whether there is any legal route under Australian consumer law my cousin might take to rectify this situation (the issue being that he has no cash as he was relying on selling this car).
He was quoted $400 plus parts and a couple of weeks turnaround time. The work was not delivered on time, it took almost 7 weeks to get the car back. At the time that my cousin went to pick up the car, he was told that the bill was over $4000. This had not been discussed.
In the meantime, the workshop has registered his corvette in their company name and are now holding the paperwork for the car ransom until he pays the invoice in full.
My cousin has since borrowed (more) money to pay half the invoice - he still owes ~$2000.
I don't believe that they can withhold the papers for a 20-25 thousand dollar car in lieu of an outstanding balance of $2000.
I'm curious to know whether there is any legal route under Australian consumer law my cousin might take to rectify this situation (the issue being that he has no cash as he was relying on selling this car).
