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