PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) - Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has announced a consent judgment against the owner of an auto repair shop who allegedly engaged in deceptive business practices.
Tim Kunselman, the owner of Sun Valley Towing LLC, was the subject of 59 customer complaints that alleged Kunselman and his business failed to make promised repairs, returned vehicles stripped of parts in the same or worse mechanical condition, kept vehicles for months or years and repeatedly lied to customers about the status of vehicles and supposed refunds.
In one alleged instance, Sun Valley corrected a simple problem by resetting a vehicle's fuel cutoff switch, but charged a customer $340.00 for replacing the fuel pump, a repair that was not necessary or ever performed.
Under the terms of a consent judgment, Kunselman must pay $610,000 in civil penalties and $67,580.59 in restitution to customers.
"This judgment results from our ongoing undercover auto sting operations and holds Sun Valley Towing's owner personally liable." Horne said. "The many serious complaints we received from Sun Valley customers were validated when Kunselman and his company, Sun Valley Towing, were caught red-handed in one of our undercover auto stings charging for repairs they never performed - a very serious and expensive deception for consumers."
The judgment includes a permanent injunction that prohibits Kunselman from engaging in vehicle sales, vehicle service, vehicle repair, tow operations and auto repair.
Arizona AG announces consent judgment against auto repair shop owner
