SACRAMENTO – The California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) revoked the licenses of DM Collins Inc., doing business as DC’s RV Center of Bakersfield, for fraud and making untrue or misleading statements. The revocation, effective September 13, 2016, was the result of a consumer complaint to an insurance company.
During its investigation, BAR found that DC’s RV Center charged for new parts that were not supplied during repairs. Following the initial investigation, BAR inspected eight other recreational vehicles and found that collision repairs were not performed as invoiced or repairs were not performed to industry standards on seven of the vehicles.
The alleged fraud uncovered by the investigations totaled more than $23,000.
“Those who work BAR enforcement are looking out for consumers,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “Consumers aren’t vehicle repair experts and how would you know if used parts were used when you paid for new? That’s why BAR has people in place to check for fraud.”
In addition to the revocation of licenses, DM Collins, Inc. is ordered to pay $44,782 and Donald Wayne Collins, the owner of DC’s RV Center, to pay $35,013 to BAR for investigation costs and legal fees.
BAR referred the case to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, which initiated a civil enforcement action. According to court records, the Kern County Superior Court ordered DM Collins, Inc., Donald Wayne Collins and Mia Kathleen Collins to pay $45,000 in restitution to the victims identified in BAR’s investigation.
Consumers who have had collision repairs on their vehicles can take advantage of BAR’s Auto Body Inspection Program. The program provides consumers with no-cost vehicle inspections to verify whether all collision repairs listed on the repair invoice were performed and done correctly.
“The Auto Body Inspection Program is a great resource for drivers who have recently been in a collision and have had repairs done,” said BAR Chief Patrick Dorais. “To the untrained eye, it can be hard to tell if a repair was done correctly and whether or not the vehicle’s safety has been compromised. Bureau technicians can give motorists peace of mind or, when they find shoddy work, intervene on their behalf.”
For more information about the bureau’s Auto Body Inspection Program, visit http://www.bar.ca.gov/Consumer/Auto_Body_Inspection_Program.html
