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Panthers' Tolbert pays $3.9K mechanic bill in coins after alleged dispute

Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After an alleged dispute with a tuner shop, Carolina Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert attempted to get the last laugh by paying his $3,900 bill not in cash or credit, but in coins.

Tolbert warned his followers not to take their vehicles to Motion Lab Tuning in Charlotte, claiming in an Instagram post that they took two and a half months to repair his car and didn't honor the original quoted price.

Motion Lab Tuning responded to Tolbert's accusations Monday, saying the fullback wanted the work done for free and alleging that he threatened the owner of the business. The business also claimed the 30-year-old paid his bill in coins, which they described as "passive aggressive" and "dumb."

Here is the full statement posted to Facebook:

Today was a huge waste of time and a major disappointment. Many of you may know who Mike Tolbert is. He plays for the Carolina Panthers. He had an old car at the shop for a motor swap. You might think because he is a professional athlete he would be a fair and ethical person.

From the beginning, he attempted to get us to do work for free because he is 'Mike Tolbert'. So today, I am disappointed that it came to this, I had to call the police on Mike Tolbert. He and his buddy threatened me. CMPD actually banned him from the property today. They forced him to pay his bill before leaving though. In a passive aggressive manner, he thought he would get the last laugh by paying in coins. Pretty dumb really. All $3,900 in coins were easily identifiable as they came from a bank in boxes and perfectly counted out. I will say this, those coins will be taken in the boxes they came in and will be taken to a teller at BOA for deposit.

Now he is slandering me, saying things that weren't true. Name calling, etc. Jesus man just pay your bills and be a good person. I also have to break it to my son who is a fan of Mike Tolbert that he is a real scumbag that doesn't want to pay his bills.

There's a special place for guys like Mike Tolbert. People like him that try to cheat a small business. Shame on him for this type of behavior.

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