We are subscribers to motor codes and a UCCC neither of these bring us anymore business through the door. I have to agree with one reply that if subscription is voluntary it leaves out all the cowboy garages, therefore has little value. I would pay for proper money for legislation that made fred in a shed get his act together or get out. Unless back yard cowboys are eliminated from this trade it will never gain the reputation it deserves.

We know the majority of main dealers don't take motorcodes seriously as most have no feedback on the codes website.

There is hardly another "high street" service industry that requires so much knowledge, equipment, training, enviro legislation. etc etc.

All these garage schemes just scratch the surface of what can be a very demanding trade to be in. Most just offer lip service to garage owners to get them to sign up. I used to think other large reputable companies in the trade eg Unipart, Snap on, GEA etc etc were our allies. But over the years have realised they are the same as other anonymous corps (like utility companies) that are just trying to stitch you up. They come in promising the earth, you spend a load of money with them then they move the goal posts. You find your tied in for X time, time runs out you start all over again.

The other major risk with motor codes and any other web based business that allows public to comment and review is: Should someone have a problem with your business (regardless of fault) they can spend an evening ranting on different sites and potentially destroy your reputation - all over a greasy foot print on a carpet, that could have been resolved amicably by talking.

What this "service trade" needs is a big budget TV show that blends Top Technician and Master Chef. So eventually Jo public will understand that we dont work on Vauxhall Vivas anymore.
This is the PR motor codes need to be working on for us.

Master chef has meant that people will now pay £20 for a piece of 3 times cooked belly pork. So long as its cooked by an expert.