In an old commercial, a mechanic hands a large bill to a customer for repairs to an engine damaged because the customer had not replaced a $4 oil filter. As the commercial ends, the mechanic looks directly at the camera and says, “You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.”

This commercial might resonate with employers facing a growing number of lawsuits stemming from unpaid internships. These lawsuits, some of them class actions, allege unpaid interns did work for which they should have been compensated, and seek damages for unpaid wages.

Originally published by Law.com.