posted 09-28-2005 03:45 PM
James (Jim) Raboin took my car in June, 2005 to install a rebuilt engine. It is now almost October and he hasn't completed the work or returned my car to me. He set 10 different dates to have my car complete and didn't meet any of them. He even set specific dates and times when he would meet me at a neutral point and I'd pay him. He insisted on cash...I was at the appointed spot twice with the cahs and he never showed!
When I would call him he'd not return my calls for days and when he did call back he'd tell a story that didn't match anything he'd told me before. The local sheriff says they hear this story all the time.
I met another victim of his she said that he had her car for 6 months...she gave him $800 and he still didn't fix it, she finally had to go there with a tow truck and haul it away. When she towed it away the transmission was separated from the car...he claimed it was the NEW transmission. He gave her a copy of his receipt for the transmission...turns out the transmission was her original transmission and he charged her $800 for it. VIN numbers match...he scammed her out of her car for 6 months, $800 AND the towing she had to pay for to go get her unfinished car!
He's lied to the State consumer protection departments in Wisconsin and Minnesota when they inquired on my behalf. (I live in MN and he's across the border in WI) He states that my car has been ready since July and he won't bring it to me because I'm trying to lure him to MN to have him arrested. (I wish!)
He showed them a copy of an estimate with my husband's "signature" on it. It doesn't match...it is a forgery. We can't get anyone to do anything about this. They all tell me that I have to take him to small claims court. I looked at court records and EVERYONE takes him to small claims court. He must enjoy this! I've contacted others who have sued him and been told the same story by others. One victim had a "rebuilt" engine put in his truck...it operated for one hour and then blew up. He, too, found that the VIN numbers were the same, indicating that the engine hadn't been replaced.
I believe that he has stolen my car...I've even sent him a certified letter telling him that he no longer has my permission to have my car...at that point it should have become a criminal case...but no one will deal with it.
I want my car back. I will put the money in escrow and if the car works and the VIN numbers prove that it is a "new" rebuilt engine, I will release the money. If the car doesn't work or the VIN numbers are still the same, he gets nothing...and I still get my car back.
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Susan Lapakko
susanlapakko@comcast.net
[This message has been edited by slapakko (edited 09-28-2005).]
posted 09-28-2005 03:45 PM
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