TRENTON
– ETD Discount Tire Centers Inc.
(“ETD”) will pay $168,809,
including $46,809 to customers, to resolve
complaints that it charged consumers for
four-wheel alignments on their vehicles
even though the rear wheels were not designed
to be adjusted, Attorney General Peter
C. Harvey announced.
The
settlement covers approximately 3,000
ETD customers who paid for four-wheel
alignments after January 1, 1999. Each
customer will receive restitution in the
amount of either $10.60 or $15.90, depending
on the date of service to their vehicle.
ETD
also agreed to pay $122,000 to the Division
of Consumer Affairs for consumer initiatives,
under terms of the consent order. In settling
this matter, ETD made no admission of
liability.
“Consumers
should get what they pay for, without
question. In these cases, consumers relied
on the expertise of ETD’s personnel
for service on their vehicles and consumers
should have been told that there was no
need to pay extra for four-wheel alignments,”
Attorney General Harvey said.
ETD
has worked cooperatively with Consumer
Affairs to identify the affected customers
entitled to restitution and to take steps
to ensure that future customers pay only
for the services provided.
Investigator Maureen Browne led the investigation
and Deputy Attorney General Cathleen O’Donnell
represented the State.
ETD, based in Lyndhurst, operates 11 automotive
service centers in New Jersey.
This
is the second settlement that the Attorney
General has reached within the past year
involving payment for four-wheel alignments
when the rear wheels were not designed
for adjustment. The Attorney General announced
a settlement in March 2004 under which
Sears Roebuck agreed to pay more than
$625,000, including approximately $125,000
in restitution to consumers, under a consent
order.