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Last year I sent off a clock for a quote to restore it but rather than giving the quote, they did the work! The first I knew of it was when I wrote to ask when I would get the quote and they told me that the bezel was out to the plater. Now, of course, they are holding it for ransom and threatening to sell it if I don't pay. Are there any attorneys here who can help?

First, is the price right?
Can you find another reasonable one to plug the hole?

The price wasn't too bad but that's not the point and I refuse to pay for work that I did not authorize as it's extortion as it stands now and I intend of fighting it. They even had said that no work would begin until I sent payment, yet they did it without my express permission and their own policy.

If the price was reasonable, I would pay it. It is a small business and they made a mistake and probably will not accept the loss. A lesson here is everything in writing!
If you are still determined, get a lawyer to write a letter...maybe they will cave.

What the lawyer charges per hour is probably more than what your clock restoring bill is, and you both loose! Try to talk it out in a friendly way, it will get you a lot further. A good name is better than getting your rights in court especially when you're talking about these relatively small $ amounts.

Quote:

This seems to happen quite often. About 3 yrs ago I submitted a sample 1932-33 Chrysler Imperial CH-CL 1st/rev sliding helical gear with reverse helix ID for quote. I specifically asked for a quote on two parts and a quote for 10 parts. After some delay, begging off because he had to have another gear expert to evaluate I got word that two gears were done and I owed $1500 for one or $1250 each for two.

This really irritated me but I choked my pride and paid the bill in light of the facts 1) I liked the person I was dealing with, 2) he was genuinely trying to get the parts done properly and 3) I might need his help on another project. A mighty thin piece of paper only has one side . .
Live and learn.

Thank you but I already know that and did try to work it out with them. When they answer at all, it's just telling me to pay. I am also aware of attorney costs and am hoping one here might be willing to at least write a formal letter on their letterhead.

Quote:

Everything from beginning to now IS I writing as it was all done by email. As I'm virtually deaf, that's the only way for me.

So, exactly what are you expecting? If they fixed your clock, you can't expect to get yours back in the same condition you send it at this point. Also, you cant expect to get back a fixed one without paying. Regardless if you authorized it or not, if they did the work correctly, and the price was fair, then pay it and be done with it.

I had a boss that got a speeding ticket and was adamant that he was in the right, as other cars were also speeding, so he thought it unfair that he was the only one cited.

On his was to court to fight this ticket, he got another, much larger speeding ticket. He lost both cases and ended up with points on his license that affected his insurance for years.

Moral of the story, being "right" can come at an expensive price, usually to one's own reputation.

Sometimes sh*t just happens. Be the bigger person, suck it up and enjoy your working clock.

No, I don't expect the same clock back restored but a similar unrestored one will do.