A vehicle licensing office in Millwood has been shut down after the Spokane County Auditor’s Office learned the business has been charging customers for services they didn’t receive.

Auto Licensing Services, 9203 E. Trent Ave., is no longer authorized to process any motor vehicle transactions for the state, auditor Vick Dalton said.

Dalton said the business is one of nine privately owned and operated auto licensing subagents that contracts with the county to provide services.

Dalton’s office received a tip two weeks ago that the Millwood agency was overestimating licensing fees to customers, and instead of returning checks written for too much, it added services and kept the difference without the customer’s knowledge. “We reviewed enough transactions to see that there was a pattern,” Dalton said.

Without providing details, Dalton said there are other issues with the business’s practices that are being investigated as well.

The transactions did not involve walk-in customers, Dalton said.

The business owners have said they will appeal her office’s decision, Dalton said.

Dalton said there are several transactions still pending, and anyone who may have sent money for licensing services to the agent should call the Auditor’s Office at (509) 477-2270.