EZ Lube to Pay $5 Million to Settle Fraud Case
SANTA ANA, Calif. --- Auto repair chain EZ Lube Inc. has agreed to pay $5 million in a civil settlement for unfair business practices, the Los Angeles Times reported.
SANTA ANA, Calif. --- Auto repair chain EZ Lube Inc. has agreed to pay $5 million in a civil settlement for unfair business practices, the Los Angeles Times reported. The settlement follows a two-year investigation conducted by the Orange County District Attorney's Office and the California Bureau of Automotive Repair. The investigation involved undercover agents posing as customers. The D.A.'s office said the undercover agents encountered dishonest conduct in 30 of the chain's more than 75 stores in southern California. Susan Kang Schroeder, a spokeswoman for the D.A.'s office, told the Los Angeles Times that EZ Lube's most notable violations included recommending unneeded services and charging for services never performed. "They had a policy requiring each person who came in to be sold a minimum of $75 in services," she said. But John Allen, EZ Lube's vice president of operations, denied that the company set out to defraud customers. He added that the company has "had a turnover in employees" since the investigation, and any problems have been corrected. The terms of the settlement require EZ Lube to refrain from making misleading written or verbal statements to customers. Settlement provisions also mandate that EZ Lube document all services and charges, eliminate employee quotas requring minimum average sales tickets, and install video cameras that let customers in waiting rooms watch work being performed on their cars, the L.A. Times reported.
More Safety

Tips for Driving Safely on Halloween Night
This video features a reminder from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, urging drivers to prioritize safety this Halloween.
Read More →
IIHS Crash Avoidance Tests Reveal Safety Gaps in Cargo Vans and Work Trucks
New crash-avoidance ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveal inconsistent performance among commercial vehicles, with several popular cargo vans and heavy-duty pickups struggling to avoid collisions with other vehicles and pedestrians.
Read More →
What’s Next for Fleet? Safety, AI & Industry Recognition | AF News Recap
Could your company's culture be encouraging distracted driving? This week, we're exploring how workplace expectations affect driver safety, what AI, EVs, and autonomous vehicles could mean for the future of fleet management, and how fleet professionals can strengthen their award nominations.
Read More →
Does Your Fleet's Culture Encourage Distracted Driving?
What happens when the people responsible for enforcing safety rules are the ones setting the wrong example? The answer may reveal why some of the biggest risks to fleet drivers have little to do with what's written in the employee handbook.
Read More →
Fleet Manager’s Ultimate Playbook: Navigating the New Standard in OEM Connectivity
Rising operating costs, driver safety concerns, and unplanned downtime are putting unprecedented pressure on modern fleets. Discover how fleet managers use embedded OEM connectivity and real-time vehicle data to cut TCO, prevent downtime, and protect drivers without aftermarket telematics hardware.
Read More →
From Driver Well-Being to EV Charging | AF News Recap
Mental health belongs in the fleet safety conversation. This week, we’re looking at five ways fleets can support employee well-being before a crisis, plus Holman’s expansion in Mexico, new one-day Fleet Forward passes, and why EV charging demand is outpacing infrastructure growth.
Read More →
Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset
Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.
Read More →
Don't Wait for a Crisis: 5 Ways to Build Mental Health Into Your Fleet Safety Program
For Suicide Prevention Month, fleet and safety leaders have an opportunity to put mental health where it belongs: at the center of workplace safety.
Read More →
How Camera Data Can Strengthen a Fleet’s Insurance Renewal
Insights from a commercial insurance carrier and a broker show how fleets can turn video telematic data, driver coaching, and improved claims results into a stronger case at insurance renewal.
Read More →
The Safest Fleets Aren’t the Ones with the Most Technology
You’ve made the telematics investment. Here’s how to capture the other half of its value and build the safest fleet on the road.
Read More →