Honest car maintenance analysis

Larry Russell Johnson

Jefferson City

Dear Editor:

Car maintenance is an essential part of vehicle ownership, so it’s important to hire a reputable mechanic. But be on the lookout for auto repair fraud.

Honest motor vehicle maintenance: Windshields, brakes and the rest are important for a car’s safety, but a dishonest mechanic or one who works in a shop whose owners push these things can declare a vehicle unfit to drive, leaving the owner at the mercy of the person who sells and installs them. Therefore, shops have financial incentives to sell services that aren’t necessary. In theory, customers could take their vehicles elsewhere, but usually they have work done by the mechanic who says work must be done to get a new sticker. If nothing else, the shop that does the inspection should be prohibited from providing repairs.

Sept. 12, 2014 — A 20/20 undercover investigation into repair shops reveals some shops scamming customers and charging for unnecessary repairs.

Car dealer scams to avoid: 1. The dirty air filter scam. Some shops keep a dirty filter on hand to trick unsuspecting customers into buying something they don’t need. 2. The oil change scam. Often, you’ll be told that your car needs “premium” or synthetic oil and extra “problems” if you use a lower grade of oil. 3. The while you were away scam. This scam is often the most expensive. You bring your vehicle in because it’s “acting up” and ask the shop to take a look and get back to you with the results. They may talk about tubes and gaskets, spark plugs or transmissions, but the bottom line is they want you to pay for all the repairs or they won’t let you have the car back. Do not pay for anything you didn’t authorize. You may owe for the initial quote and labor to investigate the issues, but no garage can do work without your written permission and it cannot hold your car as collateral. If they refuse to return your vehicle, call the local police. Fraud and theft are potential consequences for this kind of scam. Unfortunately, this scam continues to work because owners are legitimately scared their vehicles will be taken away if they don’t pay. Never pay. 4. The tire rotations scam. Please mark your tires before tire rotations as proof the tires were rotated.

Beware of these common car repair scams.