Massachusetts AG Notes Deal with Auto Repair Shop

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office has entered into an agreement with a Worcester auto repair shop resolving allegations that it allegedly failed to comply with Massachusetts law by failing to obtain consumer authorization before performing repair work and failing to provide the consumer with invoices for the work performed.

According to the Assurance of Discontinuance, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Central Autoworks agreed to resolve the allegations by paying $10,000 into a restitution fund, $5,000 in civil penalties, and $10,000 in suspended penalties. The restitution fund will be used to pay any legitimate claims as a result of allegations brought by the Attorney General’s Office.

In 2006, Commerce Insurance Company contacted the Attorney General’s Office alleging that Central Autoworks was in violation of Massachusetts Law by failing to maintain essential documentation that resulted in the insurance company’s inability to monitor the repair work it insured. The failure to comply with the law constitutes unfair and deceptive business practices. The company has been in compliance with the regulations since the involvement of the Attorney General’s Office in 2006.

The Attorney General’s Office advises consumers in need of auto repairs of the following rights as outlined in the Attorney General’s Regulation’s:

• To a written estimate before repairs are made, unless you sign a specific waiver stating a maximum cost;
• To know if there will be any charge for diagnosing your car problem;
• To be contacted before any work is done if the repair cost cannot be determined immediately;
• To be asked to authorize any additional repairs that are found to be necessary as the work progresses;
• Not to be charged more than $10 over the estimate, unless you are contacted and approve the higher amount;
• To get back your old parts;
• To receive an itemized bill listing all parts and labor, unless work is done based on a flat rate posted in the shop;
• Not to be charged for unnecessary repairs, or for repairs that were not made;
• To expect that ads for repairs will include the total charge for the work;
• To same-day repairs, unless you agree to a longer period;
• To know in advance if there will be any storage charges;
• To have shoddy repair work corrected at no charge.