I'm sorry this happened to you. It has probably happened to all of us at one time or another. Let your guard down for a second and bam, they've got you. One thing I've learned is it is not easy to get ethical and honest workers in this area. I've had a lot of no shows and no calls or follow ups from handyman. If someone shows up looking for work they are probably not a legitimate business.

Many years ago when we lived in SE FL we had a neighbor who was an electrician do a lot of work for us. He came back later to do more work and believe it or not I paid him for the job up front $600, and never saw him again. He was a neighbor and had eaten at our table with us, so I was shocked. Lesson learned.

More recently I had a mechanic work on our car. We had just moved and I didn't know anyone so I let this person work on our car. I had the car towed to him. When I called a couple days later the car wasn't ready. A few more days and it still wasn't ready. Finally the car was ready and he would only take cash. This turned into a nightmare. He wouldn't let us have the car back. I called the police. Since I hadn't paid him he didn't have to give the car back. Really??!! I am a caregiver and that is the only car we have so I felt stuck. I called an attorney who I paid to send him a letter demanding the car back. She also discovered other shady things about him. He brought the car to me the next day.

With all the horror stories posted here, I will agree with your assessment

Just an FYI - in Massachusetts, when you leave a vehicle for service, the shop owner has an automatic 'mechanics lien' on it. That means you CANNOT get it without paying for it. Yes, they can hold it hostage. You got lucky since this is common and legal.

That is true in several other states in the North East as well. Mechanic's lien. From the police's reaction it sounds like it may be true here also.

Not likely. Florida has very strict rules to enforce a mechanics lien. The police probably just didn't want to get involved. Here are the rules.

Chapter 713 Section 585 - 2020 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

I read her story to say the police let the mechanic hold the car. The way she got it released was to involve a lawyer. The police will side with the mechanic and tell you it is a civil matter.

I hope you reported him to the BBB and Seniors against Crime

NEVER trust anyone who touts the bible while doing anything other than preaching in church!

More often than not they are total flakes and scamming people left and right.

No contact info on car=scam.

Don’t feel bad. We all make mistakes. What’s important is we learn from them and try not to repeat. As for this incident. I agree with one of the posters, the lack of signage on the car screams scam, no name, no phone number, no thank you.