Dodgy, mental panel beater.... Help me... before I hit him...

[volcom20]

Ok, about 3 months ago I was hit by a truck that reversed into me. The owner of the truck wanted the car to go to "Barry Catt" (From Catty's Body Repairs in Taree).

I went along with it and it took about 1 month to get my car into Catty's. When it was in, I wanted all my rear left quarter panel to be straight (Because there were previouis dents), I paid him to remove the extra dents.

Anyway, he offered to have me come down into the shop and watch him paint the car, the quarter was full of filler and looked fine on the dull serface.

He painted my car at 11 o clock at night, in an unheater spray booth, I was shocked to tear, I almost couldn't talk. The paint had craploads of orange peal and his gun kept "Dripping" paint onto the bootlid...

Anyway, he sprayed the quarter and got two runs in it, rubbed them back at sprayed over them, but they were still noticeable.

After the paint dried I could see very pronounced dints in my quarter panel, and I told him that the job was to be redone, properly.

He said "the money you gave me ran out after the 2nd dent, so I just sprayed it" I was ropeable, how I paid him for a complete quarter and he left dents in it, he then started pointing out every other dint in my car, and I continually had to say "BUT I PAID YOU FOR THESE ONES".

Anyway, he cut the paint so far back he went through the clear coat on more than one occasion.

Anyway, he agreed to redo it two months ago. He said "Give me two weeks", I went back, and he said "Another two weeks", anyway, this has gone on and on for the last two months. I went back today and told him "I'm getting sick of waiting, when will you have it in?" he said "In another two weeks, becayse he has court on wensday and he's low on money"

I flipped out, telling him I'm on the edge of taking the job elsewhere and taking him to court because of the job, and the waiting period around it.

When the job was first done, I asked him for a receipt, and he hesitated, he said "Look, you have any problems just come back" and I kept insisting for a receipt.

What he then gave me was one of his business cards, with all the repairs scribbled on the back and his innitals.

Search "Barry Catt" or "Rosean case" into google, and you'll have half an idea of who I'm working with here. He's metal!

Can I take him to court over this crap? He has a business licence and he has to uphold some type of quality of work.

Anyway, today he said "Take it to some other F.ing place, have half your money back and f-off. But I'm willing to give it another go when I get time".

All I want is a FREAKING decent paintjob and what I paid for for christs sake.

Can I report this idiot somehow?

[Racecraft]

how much did you pay him?

[Keepleft]

What did you pay?


NB - Be careful what you write and say, now you've named names.

[LTDHO]

This is why you never go through the other guys panel beater!

Always go through an insurence company, ALWAYS.

No good advice, just threaten legal action

[volcom20]

I dont know what the guy who hit me paid.

I put 250 on top of that to remove the dents while it was being repainted, so save myself money now, than have to pay for paint later.

So really, the guy who hit me might not care, but seeing's as it's my car that's got the dud job, it's between me and the panelbeater now.

The main problem is time in this sarga.

I've had family friends get unreal paintjobs on complete project cars in 3 months, which they forked out great money for.

Me, I have a quarter panel in a stock ford paint code and I've still been waiting 3 months...

[Racecraft]

I know this might sound harsh. but for $250 just walk away.. The court transcripts are a good read and he just sounds like one unlucky/messed up dude..

Take your business to someone else... somewhere without the pain and aggravation... It just isnt worth $250 to get all worked up over..

[volcom20]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

I know this might sound harsh. but for $250 just walk away.. The court transcripts are a good read and he just sounds like one unlucky/messed up dude..

Take your business to someone else... somewhere without the pain and aggravation... It just isnt worth $250 to get all worked up over..

Problem is, this repair will cost me about $950 anywhere else now that the cars been painted and done wrong, I dont get a "The other panel beater screwed up" discount anywhere else. And I'm only young (17) and scraping for money.

[deesun]

You could try Fair Trading but its anyones guess.

[XR Martin]

Get someone to make you a vinyl sign to put on your window "Catty's body repairs did a dodgy paint job on my car"
First show him the sign and see what he says....

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by Racecraft

I know this might sound harsh. but for $250 just walk away.. The court transcripts are a good read and he just sounds like one unlucky/messed up dude..

Take your business to someone else... somewhere without the pain and aggravation... It just isnt worth $250 to get all worked up over..

Not to mention the 60 minutes stuff on him?... OMG
Forget the $250! Go elsewhere!!

[Fairlane]

Run to NSW fair trading or talk to the smashrepair peak body (im sure they have one)

[5.0failane]

Talk to the dept of fair trading department in your state.

http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/

They love dealing with these sorts of people, they will tell you exactly what to do and how to do it.

[volcom20]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Get someone to make you a vinyl sign to put on your window "Catty's body repairs did a dodgy paint job on my car"
First show him the sign and see what he says....

That was the plan after I had it fixed, worst comes to worst I paint and repair it myself :@

I'll check out fair trading right now. Thanks so much for that, I would have had no idea where to go

[PH47]

Cut your losses and just wait till you can get it fixed properly by a reputable place.

[volcom20]

Originally Posted by PH47

Cut your losses and just wait till you can get it fixed properly by a reputable place.

I just don't believe I should end up paying for another f- wit's mistakes. I'd rather go to court over it and let people out there know.

He's done this to more than just me, he's had an explorer 4wd which he repaired a broken fibreglass panel with a metal sheet, about 90 rivits and filler.... I was at the shop when the arguement between Barry Catt and the owner of the 4wd... Wasn't pretty...

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by volcom20

I just don't believe I should end up paying for another f- wit's mistakes. I'd rather go to court over it and let people out there know.

He's done this to more than just me, he's had an explorer 4wd which he repaired a broken fibreglass panel with a metal sheet, about 90 rivits and filler.... I was at the shop when the arguement between Barry Catt and the owner of the 4wd... Wasn't pretty...

You have to accept some responsibility but going through other guys panel shop. $250 is nothing. Do you think he will do a better job when you take it back??? I think not.
Save, and get it done properly.

[PH47]

Originally Posted by volcom20

I just don't believe I should end up paying for another f- wit's mistakes. I'd rather go to court over it and let people out there know.

He's done this to more than just me, he's had an explorer 4wd which he repaired a broken fibreglass panel with a metal sheet, about 90 rivits and filler.... I was at the shop when the arguement between Barry Catt and the owner of the 4wd... Wasn't pretty...

No you shouldn't have to, but that's life. Plenty of crap happens in life that shouldn't.

Noone's saying you have to like him, and by all means be REALLY public about telling people how crap he is etc.. go to papers, 60 minutes, whatever.. but going to court will end up with you MORE stressed and probably more out of pocket.. and the chances of him fixing it up properly, even under pressure from courts or whatever, is tiny. Also even if a court says he has to give your money back, with a character like him you think he'll actually do it?

[mustang]

try today tonight and a current affair they would probley do a story

[5L]

got any pics of the quality paint job, i got a whole car resprayed and all dents taken out, for $500. was painted by an apprentice and had a little bit of orange peel on the rear quater which buffed out. apart from that it was a good paint job. seriously if an apprentice can pull off decent work sounds like anyone can do a better job than this bloke. id say go somewhere else, find out where your family friends got there apint jobs from and speak to them, they might be able to get you a good deal.

['63Deluxe]

Put some lithium in his milk :

[blownvn]

$250 is nothing these days, you'd be better off walking away.

[Full Noise]

Do you own a shotgun?

[Smoke Pursuit]

As everyone has already said, walk away.

Its not worth the issues, and at the end of the day hes only going to do something else to f*$& your paint neways, it might look good when you go pick it up but after a few months it might start peeling off, i seriously wouldnt go back if you care about your car.

[deesun]

^^^^^^^^^ no need for that^^^^ not even in jest

[AC/DC]

Take back half the money as offered and go get it done by a proper mob !

AC/DC

[BENT_8]

Take one for the greater automotive loving community mate!
Dont see it as $250 down the drain but your $250 contribution to advertising this guy for what he is.

[Abacus]

Originally Posted by '63Deluxe

Put some lithium in his milk :

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

Post of the Week!!!!

[volcom20]

I'll get some pics of the job tomorrow morning in the light...

I really cant wait till I can go get my rear window sticker for my car...

Tomorrow will be the day to decide everything, we'll eaither get $300 back off him and call it quits and go elsewhere or he'll have another go

And I dont think lithium works, because he's eaither immune to it, or is a deadset liar. I suppose I could find out :P

*slaps himself* I still can't believe he painted it at 11oclock in winter in an unheated spray booth...

He admitted to me he was cutting corners to rush the job out, but anyway.

I'll get pics, I'd love to get my car done by an apprentice who was good, 500 dollars is a treat.

Anyway. Worst comes to worst, department of fair trading it is, and a small local write up of his business will be in our local paper (I have family friends in the local paper )

[Bucket]

The exact same thing happend to me...i had some work done by a guy a few years ago on my car and back then he had had his own company...the car came back looking really good.
Anyway, a couple of years later, i need some more work done...he's my neighbour, so i trek down to his place...have a chat and he says he will do it..except this time he doesnt have his company...any way, i leave my car with him for a week...come back to him...its not done..(Ive payed him over $1000 in advance) it happens again...he's just "too busy" anyway, he tells me to come back in a months time...so i do...and he's moved out...My dad chases him down to his parents place where he's move to...we leave the car with him again...a week later...its not done...we go off our rocker at him...and he doesnt have any money to pay us back...little bearded dwarf sh!_T!! Common thief...
Anyway...earlier on this year...an investigator with the Motor Repariers Association rocks up to our House looking for "Wayne"...apparently his company had never been registered with them and he was being hunted...my Dad more than happily gave them his new home address ....

[Walkinshaw]

If the car is in worse condition than when it went in ask for your full $250 back. If he wont do it, take your $125 and run.

Really, if other places quoted $950, and he said $250, thats a BIG warning right there.