Auto Mechanic Pleads No Contest to Performing Unnecessary Repairs

A Redwood City auto mechanic was charged with petty theft and performing services based on an untrue or misleading statement. The owner of Hudson Auto Repair allegedly performed unnecessary repairs on two different undercover documented vehicles.

Sohail Irshad pled no contest Monday to one misdemeanor count of false or misleading representations for performing unnecessary automotive repairs. He was sentenced to two years of court probation, 30 days in County jail, and restitution of $1,116.22 to BAR for the unnecessary repairs.

In response to consumer complaints, the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), which licenses repair dealers and technicians, organized an operation involving an undercover documented vehicle. The BAR took a vehicle with a new alternator and alternator belt to the defendant on November 22, 2010. The alternator was unplugged so it could not charge the battery.

Instead of plugging the alternator in, Irshad told the operator that the alternator was not working and the alternator belt was old.  He charged the vehicle operator $442.00 to install a new alternator and alternator belt. 

In February 2011, the defendant sold the operator of a second undercover documented vehicle unnecessary brake pads and rotors.  The San Mateo County Vehicle Theft Task Force and BAR ultimately submitted the case to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. 

Irshad did not inappropriately charge more than $950 per vehicle, so misdemeanor charges were filed.

Before doing business with an auto repair shop, consumers should always check with the BAR at www.autorepair.ca.gov or (800) 952-5210 to make sure that the shop is properly registered and to determine whether it has a history of disciplinary action.  Consumers who believe that they have been ripped off can also use this contact information to file a complaint.

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