Each of the following acts or practices are unlawful:
- (1) Advertising that is false, deceptive, or misleading. A single or isolated media mistake does not constitute a false, deceptive, or misleading statement or misrepresentation under this section;
- (2) Materially understating or misstating the estimated price for a specified repair procedure;
- (3) Retaining payment from a customer for parts not delivered or installed or a labor operation or repair procedure that has not actually been performed;
- (4) Unauthorized operation of a customer's vehicle for purposes not related to repair or diagnosis;
- (5) Failing or refusing to provide a customer, upon request, a copy, at no charge, of any document signed by the customer;
- (6) Retaining duplicative payment from both the customer and the warranty or extended service contract provider for the same covered component, part, or labor;
(7) Charging a customer for unnecessary repairs. For purposes of this subsection "unnecessary repairs" means those for which there is no reasonable basis for performing the service. A reasonable basis includes, but is not limited to:
- (a) That the repair service is consistent with specifications established by law or the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, component, or part;
- (b) that the repair is in accordance with accepted industry standards; or (c) that the repair was performed at the specific request of the customer.
[ 1993 c 424 s 9.]
Notes:
Severability—Effective date—1993 c 424: See notes following RCW 46.71.005.