I run a motoring club for women drivers and set it up after our daughter was ripped off at her first solo garage experience. I knew nothing about the industry then but a great deal about it now.

I look at the Motor Industry Service & Repair Code from the customer's point of view. In many cases the motorist is being encouraged to spend more than they would do otherwise because 70-80% of Moroe Codes subscribers are dealerships even after Unipart's recent sign up. The motorists are not told they have a choice, that other codes offer higher standards and that most dealerships are expected to operate to higher standards anyway.

But my point is to do with the suggestion that Trading Standards monitor this area in future - the problem here is that Trading Standards claim legal reasons why they cannot tell customers which businesses are the best and worst; hence my setting up FOXY Lady Drivers Club so we can share this feedback for members within the Club.

I don't think it is good enough when a mystery shopping survey reveals a bad garage and then the monitoring organisation takes ages to do anything about it to safeguard the customer.

I then set up FOXY Choice to help promote the genuinely good garages, fastfits and dealerships to women, providing they can sign our female friendly promise to 'never overcharge, patronise or sell women services they don't need or want'. I think that is a better pledge than the Motor Codes one but I would say that wouldn't I...

So there is a third way to state or industry regulation - get a totally independent organisation that puts the customer first to monitor standards, provide comprehensive garage information about standards, services and facilities and boot out any offending garage pretending to be good, after what turns out to be legitimate complaints of consequence.

I would have suggested Which? (and FOXY could do it easily) but they are happily promoting garages in their Local members' network for no other reason than personal recommendation which isn't a reassuring standard for me.

Just a few foxy thoughts from me, putting the customer's perspective for your consideration ;-).

Steph Savill