National Auto Body Council questions Skewed Fraud Statistics Report from California Bureau of Auto Repair

RICHLAND, Wash., Sept. 17 -- The use of selective sampling rather than random sampling as a basis of a recent report issued by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) has greatly been misinterpreted as being representative of the entire collision repair industry.

"By investigating vehicles with auto body complaints, the BAR concluded a 43% incident of fraud, far greater than any random sample would show." according to Chuck Sulkala, Executive Director of the National Auto Body Council (NABC).

Referring to a BAR press conference on September 10, Sulkala said, "While accurate, there is a distinct difference between accuracy and validity, as well as a very questionable predisposition to finding fraud."

"The BAR study did not consist of a random sample of repaired vehicles. The individual repairs were investigated by the BAR after being contacted by the vehicle owner," Sulkala stated. "Is it surprising that BAR found problems with 43 percent of the vehicles they examined? Hardly, considering the way the sample was skewed by the BAR's methodology. It is more surprising that 57 percent of the repaired vehicles showed no problems at all."

Sulkala said, "The California BAR had done this before. Last year, BAR inspectors were quoted by the press saying that as high as 90 percent of the repairs they inspected contained some level of fraud."

"These statements, and coverage of the BAR study released September 10 have been presented as a representative sample of the work of our entire industry. That is clearly not a fact supported by the BAR's research methodology," Sulkala said.

Sulkala said a greater concern is that other groups, particularly insurers, have started using what he called pseudo-statistics as part of advertising and public relations campaigns.

"In essence, they are trying to improve the image of their segment of the industry at the expense of another segment, and are doing so by misusing BAR information they should know lacks any statistical validity. The National Auto Body Council finds this behavior unacceptable."

Sulkala called auto repair fraud a serious problem facing consumers and the collision repair industry.

"The National Auto Body Council has supported numerous efforts to inform both the public and repairers on both the issue and methods necessary to prevent repair fraud. The misrepresentation of results from the BAR's report on auto body fraud only serves to confuse consumers further," he said.

The National Auto Body Council is a not-for-profit association whose sole purpose is to improve the image of the collision repair industry in the eyes of the general public and to recognize the pride and professionalism of its members. Members and sponsors are all employed in some aspect of the collision repair industry.

For additional information about the National Auto Body Council, call 888-667-7433, or visit www.autobodycouncil.org.

EDITORS NOTE: Sulkala is available for interview at 617-803-1120