SACRAMENTO –  On May 29, 2018, the Bureau of Automotive Repair announced that a formal accusation has been filed against an auto body shop in Merced for allegedly defrauding consumers and insurance companies of thousands of dollars.

During an investigation into FH & Sons Auto Body & Paint’s business practices, BAR inspected several consumers’ vehicles that had been repaired by the auto body shop as well as the related records pertaining to the insurance claims for the repairs. The inspections revealed a pattern of false and misleading statements and fraud wherein the auto body shop charged for parts that were not provided or services that were never performed.

“BAR enforcement representatives are key in consumer protection,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “This is their area of expertise, they know what they are looking for and can identify if consumers are actually getting what they paid for.”

BAR encourages other consumers who believe they may have been a victim of similar business practices to contact BAR at (800) 952-5210 or file a complaint online at www.bar.ca.gov. Additionally, consumers who have had collision repairs performed on their vehicle can request a no-cost auto body inspection by submitting a request online or by calling BAR’s Auto Body Inspection Program at (866) 799-3811.

To read the accusation, click here.