Hi AllI received this e-mail
How are we ever going to raise standards in the motor trade. I look forward to your comments!!
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Dear P Warman
I regret to inform you that the RMI and SMTA have concluded that we must withdraw our joint
application to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) for approval of our CarWise code of practice
scheme.
We apologise unreservedly to you after having supported our application over the last 18 months,
but the attitude of the OFT has made pursuing this particular goal impossible. We are grateful
for your patience through this period, and regret that all efforts in this enterprise have not
taken us to where we hoped to be.
We have met all the OFT's requirements for the scheme, and you have provided satisfactory
results when we carried out our mystery shopping and dealer audit visits. Despite this,
however, the OFT has consistently moved goalposts by changing its requirements, introduced new
requirements and generally acted in a way that has caused us to finally and reluctantly conclude
that it is either unable or unwilling to grant us the full approval that we deserve, at least in
the near future.
I would like to thank you for the support you have given us in trying to take this forward and
sincerely regret the inconvenience and extra work you may have been caused. All members who
have paid the CarWise element of their subscription will be credited that amount on the 2005
renewal invoice. Alternatively, if you would prefer to have your CarWise subscription refunded
by cheque, please contact the RMI data department.
Whilst our confidence in the OFT has been dented, our commitment to a scheme that helps to
distinguish good garages and dealers such as yourselves from bad ones remains strong. We will
continue to develop an industry and consumer recognised code of practice backed by independent
scrutiny and monitoring, but without the OFT's approval.
I am conscious of the unrest that this long period of uncertainty must be causing you since the
original launch date of 18 March this year was abandoned by the OFT, and I am deeply sorry for
these events which were beyond our control.
If at some time in the future the OFT can demonstrate that it is able to make its scheme work as
intended, we will consider then which path will be in your best interests for us to take.
Yours sincerely
Matthew Carrington
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
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