A CAR repair company has been ordered to pay almost £3,000 for billing a customer for parts that were not fitted.

An employee of Nationwide Tyre and Exhaust Service Centre Ltd in Bishop Auckland charged a motorist for a new brake calliper, despite simply spraying the old calliper in silver paint.

On Wednesday, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard the customer visited the Railway Street Garage last April, complaining of a scraping sound coming from the recently installed brakes of her Saab car. She was told that damage had arisen due to a calliper screw being fitted incorrectly at a previous garage, and that she would need a new one, at a cost of £160, which she paid.

But when the victim returned to the garage which carried out the brake replacement, the deception was uncovered. The mechanic was also able to show the calliper screw had not come loose.

When contacted, a Nationwide Tyre and Exhaust Service Centre employee, who called himself Tim Horn, blamed an apprentice and offered a full refund. However, the refund was never paid, and Trading Standards was contacted. It later transpired no-one by the name of Tim worked for the company, although a man calling himself that carried out the work.

Graham Hunsley, mitigating, said the garage directors, David Hodgson Jr and Ian Carr, were never informed of the matter, as the employee tried to cover his tracks.

The company was ordered to pay fines, compensation and fees totalling £2,875.38.

Joanne Waller, Durham County Council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “We’re glad this serious case of intentionally misleading a consumer has not gone unpunished and we hope it will serve as a warning to any potential fraudsters that our Trading Standards team are always on hand to investigate on behalf of the consumer.

“Not only was this offending of serious consequence to the unlucky customer, it may also have caused unfair reputational damage to hardworking car repair businesses in our area.

“Therefore we are pleased to see magistrates using their powers to impose fines on rogue companies.”

Any residents needing advice on their consumer rights when buying goods and services, should contact the Consumer Helpline on 03454-040506.