Welcome to the forum Tim.

This, in my opinion could be linked to the thread further down the page about the new Motor Industry Code.

If everything worked correctly, you being a member of the Master Locksmiths Association should be proof enough of your legitimate involvement in the repair of motor vehicles, just as membership of the RMIF, MVRA, VBRA, IMI and the New Code should prove. But this will only work if these trade bodies actually do their job correctly and enforce a strict membership policy and not one of signing up anybody that will pay the fee. I think they are ideally situated to assess their members as they should be visiting every single one that applies to check their suitability, equipment, facilities and standards etc. I personally would like to see City & Guilds qualifications or equivalent at the site to be a standard requirement of membership to any trade association. All reputable repairer's should have no reason at all not to be a member of one trade association or the other, whilst all the unsavory characters around should have been refused membership.


Sorry Andy but, I don't think a letter from an accountant should be sufficient, as all he knows is you are self employed, mending cars and declaring the income. He does not know if you are a cowboy or a professional person or just laundering money. Quite often an accountant may be hundreds of miles away and he may have never visited you or your premises.

Trade references also could be given without any real proof of you being a professional. Around here our local motor factors appear to supply anybody who will pay and if you pay regularly and promptly then they would probably give you a reference. I don't consider that they will have checked your status as usually only the van driver would visit.

Edit -
I don't think vat registration needs to be a firm requirement, if you are vat registered - fine, but all it does is show you have a turnover above a certain limit. It does not prove you are not legally involved in doing your job correctly.

Not easily solved but you will have to start somewhere.

Graham