On June 2nd, 2006, we were contacted by a customer named Ed Abraham. Ed asked us how much it was to install a Crower Camshaft, valvesprings, retainers and a ACT clutch in his 2002 Honda Civic EX. I gave him a price an he agreed to let us do work on the car.

Ed arrived at our shop and we checked out his parts and proceeded to do the install. We installed the clutch no problem, the springs an ret went in fine. Charles was installing the camshaft. Upon installing the camshaft, Charles forgot to put the motor back on TDC. It was OUR mistake. Things were busy, Ed kept walking into the shop trying to bother charles, even after i REPEATEDLY told him he was not allowed in the shop area. but everytime i turned my back he would try an go out into the shop area.

Regardless it was our fault for not putting the motor back on TDC. When we cranked it back up, it instantly bent a valve. We shut it back down, after going over the car charles figured it out an apolagized to Ed. We paid a good friend of ours (seymour222) $50 to drive Ed back to his house since he lived a good 1.5 hours away. I got on the phone with Honda, NEXT DAY AIRED A FULL SET OF VALVES, AND A HEADGASKET. I told ed we would replace the valves and whatever else we saw wrong once we opened the motor up FREE OF CHARGE.

We pulled the head the next day an found it was only 1 bent intake valve. Regardless, we replaced 2 cylinders worth of intake valves(4 valves), decked the head, cleaned it, reassembled it an reinstalled it the NEXT DAY. Upon reinstalling the head, Charles noticed that one of the CPS sensors was corroded. Car cranked up an ran with ZERO ISSUES.

I call Ed an tell him the car is done an he can come get it. Upon picking the car up, i told ed that his car had a corroded CPS sensor, and that it needed to be replaced. He was very happy and thanked us for fixing the mistake an admitting to it. He paid his ORIGINAL QUOTE and left .

The next day he says that his car died 100 miles down the road an he doesnt know why. I told him to check the sensor i told him about, and he didnt know how to find it. I told him to TOW THE CAR BACK TO MAINSTREAM AN WE WOULD PAY THE BILL TO CHECK IT OUT. He tows the car to us, we pay $130 tow bill, pay for a new CPS sensor ($30) an replace it an crank the car up. I personally drive it for 1 hour around town making sure its ok. Call Ed tell him its done, that we replaced HIS bad sensor for free, and tell him to come get it. He does again and says that he is very happy and apolagizes for the problem and appreciates us taking care of stuff even though it wasnt our fault.

Ed wrote us a Check for $425 for the valvetrain an clutch install. Now we used to take checks. not anymore. 2 weeks later we get a notice saying Ed Abraham has put a STOP PAYMENT on the check he wrote us. We contacted Ed and some of his buddies asking how the car was. They all admitted the car was running fine with zero issues. We had Eds car for a TOTAL OF 3 DAYS in OUR POSSESION, not 9 like he claims

I contact Ed via PM because he wont return my phone calls:
Originally Posted by Mr. Vteckidd
You wrote us a check an put a stop payment on it. That is a crime called theft of services.

if i dont have payment by JULY 1st i will be paying you a visit in court.

Please call the shop
678-567-9384
He responded with:
Quote Originally Posted by CivEX
But if you would like to know why I stopped payment its because you had my car for a week and a half. In witch I was unable to go to work you cost me 9 days out of work, you did not offer a rental car even though your shop was the reason I had no car in the first place. I stopped the check because I did not know if I would have a car and for how long or if I would need to take it to someone with more experience on Honda motors. Like I stated earlier 9 days no work you cost me over $900.00 plus my time towing the car running diagnostics on the car, running electrical trace on the car (done by a professional 2 hours @ $75.00 per hour $150.00 total)
I am out $1,050.00 because of your shop, hence the stop payment so after I recoup my losses I am more than happy to pay you but until then keep in touch!
Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Vteckidd
BTW just so you know:
1) You signed our INVOICE which states that you were satisfied with the work performed an we are not resposnbile for damage or assume any liability for the products YOU SUPPLIED

2) You wrote on your check the corresponding INVOICE number. So that is admitting your car was here, an the signatures match

3) This is really a simple issue, thats why im not worried. here is whats goign to happen. Im going to go file Suit against you for passing a bad check. Youll be notified, if you show up to court, we can settle it there, but i will be suing for $425 +legal fees+ my time. Read the fine print on the invoice you have, an think about if you can see yourself winning.

4) You dont show up to court, ill get a mechics lien issued by the state, and ill reposses your car legally.

so you can pay $425, an end this now, or take your chances in court. Im offering you the easy way out. If you want to fight this, then i will do it more than happily. I will post this on IA, an drag it in the open.

Your call
Quote Originally Posted by CivEX
I did not pass a bad check, i stopped payment. For one i was unhappy about the work, two your shop messed my car up, not the parts i brought you. three you did have my car for nine days just becuse it was in my passesion for 4 days and not working at all does not mean i had my car back. if you want to play this game we will go to court. i have paper work showing how much money i spent just to confirm that it was your shop that messed my car up. towing, loss of wages, ect... so expect to be countered.
Ed Abraham paid for a CAM INSTALL and a CLUTCH, NOT TUNING. He is running a VERY AGGRESSIVE stage 2 Crower cam on a STOCK MOTOR. Im not responsible for how well or how crappy the car runs. I was paid to do an INSTALL and an INSTALL only. We made a mistake, CORRECTED THE MISTAKE and he still stiffed us on payment.

Just thought everyone should know what a scammer he is and not to do business with him. I have contacted our lawyer an filed a mechanics Lien on his car so i will see him in court. In this business shops MAKE mistakes, but when you are willing to admit that mistake and take care of the customer, it just appauls me how someone can screw you over.