​For release on July 9, 2014   CONTACT: Tiyen Lin, Deputy District Attorney Consumer Protection Unit (408) 792-2825   O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SETTLES OVERCHARGING ACCUSATIONS FOR $1.5 MILLION   In a settlement filed this month with the court, the corporate parent of O’Reilly Auto Parts agreed to pay more than $1.5 million in penalties, restitution and investigation costs to settle a prosecutors’ consumer protection case that alleged that the company overcharged hundreds of customers.   The suit, brought by four California prosecutors’ offices including the Santa Clara County District Attorney, alleged that in many instances the company was not applying sale prices and discounts at checkout. The suit also accused the company of failing to comply with the terms of another overcharging case against it, just six years ago.   “Pricing accuracy is expected by consumers, in fact it’s the law,” Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Tiyen Lin said. “And it’s good for business.”   The settlement follows a three-year investigation by Weights and Measures departments in several counties, including Santa Clara County, into alleged pricing violations. CSK AUTO, a Delaware corporation that operates automotive parts stores including more than 480 O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Kragen) stores in California, cooperated with the investigation. Inspectorsreported hundreds of violations, including overcharges for anti-freeze and motor oil.   Under the terms of the settlement, O’Reilly has agreed to maintain a “$5 Off or Get It Free” Program to protect consumers against overcharges. Any customer who discovers an overcharge can obtain $5 off the price of the item; or, if the item price is less than $5, O’Reilly has agreed to give the item to the customer for free. O’Reilly has also agreed to post a large sign in each California store notifying consumers of the program. The settlement does not include any admission of wrongdoing.   The District Attorney’s Office reminds consumers to always check receipts to verify that they are charged the correct price for an item. Consumers in Santa Clara County who are the victim of a price overcharge should call the Scanner Hotline toll-free at 1-866-SCANNER (1-866-722-6637)   ###