PHOENIX – Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced today that his office has filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against two Midas locations in Tucson after undercover investigations into their automobile repairs and service. The lawsuit alleges the Midas locations charged for unnecessary services, some of which they did not perform.
“Not only did these two shops recommend and charge consumers for unnecessary repairs, but they also didn’t even perform the work,” said Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. “Our undercover auto sting program is sending a strong message that this type of despicable fraud will not be tolerated in our communities.”
The Tucson Midas locations at 6740 E. Tanque Verde Road and 333 W. Valencia Road, are owned by Christopher Conforti and Nicholas Conforti. In June and October 2020, AGO agents brought vehicles for repair to each of the locations.
At the Midas Tanque Verde location, the state alleges the assistant manager informed our agent that the vehicle’s serpentine belt needed replacement, but Midas employees did not replace the belt. The Midas assistant manager also claimed the vehicle’s air conditioning system needed an evacuation and recharge of refrigerant, but Midas employees did not evaluate the level of refrigerant or perform the evacuation and recharge.
At the Midas Valencia Road location, the state alleges a manager falsely told our agent that a fuel line was cracked, and the spark plugs were “all burnt up.” The manager charged our agent for the unnecessary replacement of the spark plugs, a three-part fuel system service kit, and throttle body service, which included placing a fuel additive into the fuel tank. However, testing of the vehicle’s fuel revealed no presence of the fuel additive, and an undercover video recording showed the throttle body service was not performed. The manager also told our agent the vehicle drove “great” on a test drive when no test drive was completed.
The state’s lawsuit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, seeks consumer restitution, up to $10,000 in civil penalties for each violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act, injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees and costs.
Assistant Attorney General Rebecca Salisbury is handling this matter for the state.
If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can file a consumer complaint by visiting the Attorney General’s website. If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.
Copy of complaint.
Phone call from Midas Valencia advising of necessary repairs.
Phone call from Midas Tanque Verde advising of necessary repairs.
Technician fails to install the serpentine belt at Midas Tanque Verde.
Technician fails to install the serpentine belt at Midas Tanque Verde.
Manager gives a new serpentine belt in a bag to an agent when she asked for the old belt to be returned.