Hi all

Clearly been provoking some interesting debate... I must apologise for not having been chipping in my thoughts for a couple of weeks - but it's been a busy time.

just wanted to clarify a few points, in no particular order:

This is not a franchised v independent issue or biased in any way, we've been asked to create an operable minimum standard for the entire sector. Which I believe is what we have done. An independent garage can subscribe in the exact same manner as a franchised - exact same requirements, exact same cost, exact same everything, it's a base minimum standard that then you use to your advantage within marketing and adverts - 'as good as the best and better than the rest' is one strapline i've seen and heard...

The dispute resolution service is working very well, but it's not weighted against the garage as some have assumed. We dealt with over 1,000 calls to the end of 08 and opened 10 conciliation cases - the rest of the time we have been helping to resolve misunderstandings and largely helping customers who thought they had a 'complaint' in understanding their position. It's doing a very good job in managing expectations and identifying where something has actually gone wrong. Rest of the time we're just helping people and guess what - next year we'll be able to report from evidence based data that the number of actual complaints against our sector is much, much lower than is normally suggested by other advisory services.

There has been a couple of fairly direct accusations regarding the scheme being nothing more than a money making exercise. I can assure you that nothing is further from the truth - this operation has been developed to run in as streamlined manner as possible and in doing so making it as low cost to subscribers as possible. The basic principle being it must be affordable for all, cost must not be a barrier to entry - so it's a very well balanced operation that ensures costs out are as low as we can get them. Further, there are no plans to alter costs or change the principle business plan, which is to develop a sustainable operation for the good of the sector.

We are in some very well progressed discussions with various independent garage operators, chains/groups and their representative associations. I am confident that over the next few weeks and months we'll be bringing on more and more independents.

Someone asked where the RMI are with the code. Fully supportive is the answer - watch the film we made to see them talking about it
http://service.motorindustrycodes.co.uk/garages/home.html

You all know what you think and are going to say what you want to, fair enough - but let's please not fall into the trap of making up minds through hearsay, or at worst misinformation. All the information you need about the code is available on the website, and increasingly the trade press are covering it and providing the background and current progress in what we are actually doing, which believe it or not is enabling responsible business operators like you to continue to conduct their business in the manner they do today. That's why I asked to get talking with you on this website - because it is populated by the people who look to do the right thing by their customers every day.

You wouldn't want an enforced regime, trust me, but that's what'll happen if the consumer lobby and government decide to go with the super complaint. Think FSA ten fold...

Also - we are all part of the same team. My best intentions are guaranteed at all times. Yes we need to make some changes and yes we all dislike change, but the changes required today are being made to retain the ability for you to carry on being booked up two weeks in advance and not having to deal with intrusive and costly regulation written by people who don't know the sector or the people within it like we do (remember i am now in my 24th year within the industry, qualified city and guilds, Jaguar and Toyota trained and 8 years running my own small independent workshop).

We have a job to do and my aim is to do it with as little pain and intrusion into your ability to operate your business as possible.

I'll keep up to speed with your comments and chip in where i can, but let's try and move it on and get the job done so you can carry on getting your jobs done.

All the best
Chris