The New York Attorney General’s Office has announced a settlement with Kost Tire Distributors for charging customers an extra fee for oil changes in violation of state law.
According to the Attorney General, the Binghamton-based company had been charging customers an extra $2 “oil and filter recycling fee” with each oil change on top of the quoted price for the work. New York’s longstanding Environmental Conservation Law specifically prohibits service stations from charging any fees for accepting and disposing of used oil.
As a part of the settlement, Kost Tire has agreed to pay the state $181,511 as disgorgement of the fee, as well as a civil penalty of $93,489. Customers will not be reimbursed.
The company operated 25 service stations throughout New York, including in Binghamton, Ithaca, Rochester, Syracuse and Watertown. Last year, Monro Muffler Brake purchased the majority of Kost’s 51 U.S. locations, including those in New York, and rebranded them as Mr. Tire.
“Kost Tire Distributors’ recently announced settlement with the State of New York does not involve Monro Muffler, Mr. Tire or Monro’s operation of the stores in any way,” according to a company spokesperson.
