| Last summer, the charges brought against Sears | | | | how to remedy the situation. |
| highlighted many of the problems that consumers | | | | So straight away, right off the top, make sure you |
| confront in taking their cars in for automotive repairs. | | | | understand everything you are being told. Get an |
| Serious questions were raised regarding the | | | | estimate, and get it in writing. Before you authorize |
| pervasiveness of automobile repair fraud in America. | | | | anything beyond that estimate, make sure the |
| The problems of automobile repair fraud are national | | | | mechanic gets your direct approval. |
| in scope. The Sears case alone resulted in actions by | | | | Before you have the work done, check around. At |
| 43 different States. | | | | the very least, call around. Find out what other |
| Following the hearing of last year, the National | | | | mechanics think of that estimate. Is it a rip-off, or |
| Associations of Attorneys General established an | | | | isn't it? Other mechanics might have an opinion that is |
| automotive repair task force to examine the issue | | | | a little bit better than your own. |
| from the State perspective and to coordinate | | | | Also, before you go ahead and have that work |
| enforcement efforts. As part of the settlement with | | | | done, talk to the mechanic. Tell him you want your |
| Sears, the National Association of Attorneys General | | | | old parts back. It may not guarantee that you will |
| received $200,000 to create an automotive repair | | | | not be ripped off, but it will put the mechanic on the |
| industry reform fund. | | | | defensive. It will tell him that you are no idiot. |
| Given the sophisticated equipment in most | | | | At one shop we went to, the repair man simply said |
| automobiles today, it is no wonder that consumers | | | | he could not provide us with our old parts. That is a |
| find themselves at the mercy of auto repair shops, | | | | tip-off right away that something unusual is going on. |
| and are often left wondering whether the $500 they | | | | Also, a couple of the shops we went to, we got an |
| just spent for repairs was necessary, or was it just | | | | estimate before the mechanic even looked under the |
| money that was wasted? | | | | hood. That should be another tip-off that something |
| Even if a given repair was necessary, questions often | | | | sneaky may be going. |
| linger over whether the repair was properly | | | | Also, another important question to ask is, how much |
| performed, and whether, indeed, the repair will last | | | | are they going to charge for those new parts? Some |
| for a period of time. | | | | shops will charge you only list price. However, at a |
| Because of this situation, undercover sting operations | | | | number of other shops we got stung for as much as |
| are one of the most effective methods for | | | | two-and-a-half times list price. |
| discovering abusive practices and are extremely | | | | Obviously, it is better to be armed with knowledge |
| useful for their deterrent effect. | | | | and a checklist of how to approach a car repair, |
| While it is clear that the routine trip to the auto repair | | | | rather than being an obvious victim. |
| shop is every consumer's nightmare, it is less clear | | | | |