Automotive Discussion

Post a Response

The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by James Dillon on July 15, 2009, 11:13 am
Message modified by board administrator July 15, 2009, 2:56 pm

Hello All

As announced in the news section on the SMMT website Motor Codes Ltd is now THE industry's self-regulatory body.

Is there any credible alternative to Motor Codes?

What about the entry requirements? Shouldn't a proper regulatory scheme have an assessment made examining the garages 'fit for purpose' (investment in training, equipment, technician assessment, business manager assessment, insurance, quality control etc.)

Is there any real issue with Motor Codes Ltd being wholly owned by the SMMT who are the independents biggest competitors (the franchised sector) industry's body?

Do you think/are you worried that in time the code may lead to a competitive advantage for the SMMT members against the independent garage?

Does anyone in independent garage land really care?

Do your customers really care?

I am interested to know your views.

It is interesting to see that Motor Codes is beginning to have a dig at 'other' schemes, stating that "customers should look for the logo when booking their car in and ask if the garage subscribes to the right code'.

I guess the right code depends on your persepctive and requirements, both as a garage and as a customer. Perhaps the right code has a tick, but is it green or is it blue? Very confusing.

James.

Excerpt from SMMT website:

Thousands of car owners across Britain believe they have been ripped off when getting their car serviced or MOT’d in the last five years, according to new research released today. The study commissioned by Motor Codes Ltd, the motor industry’s self-regulatory body, reveals that:

Over a third of motorists have been dissatisfied with their garage experience
One in five car owners have been charged more than the garage’s quote
12% of motorists think they’ve been overcharged by a garage
70% of people don’t know who to speak to if an issue arises with a garage
94% of car owners want a recognised garage code with minimum standards

According to Consumer Focus, this overpricing and inconsistent repair work is believed to cost Britain’s motorists £4 billion a year. Despite this, if motorists had a problem with a garage or repair centre, over two-thirds of them admit they would not know where to go in order to get the issue resolved.

Now motorists have a freephone advice line and a central point of contact for all their motoring issues at www.motorindustrycodes.co.uk. Whether you’re buying a new car or warranty product or getting your existing car serviced or repaired, Motor Codes Ltd has developed a code of practice to protect the motorist.

“Although the survey findings are surprising, they do show that motorists are still unsure of where to go to for advice. Motor Codes aims to fix this and with a single website and freephone number now available, motorists can be confident that they’re getting the right advice from industry experts,” said Motor Codes director, Chris Mason. “Motor Codes is working to build and maintain standards in the motor industry so motorists should look for the logo when booking their car in and ask if the garage subscribes to the right code. It’s the safest way to guarantee good work at an honest price.”

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by neil webb on July 15, 2009, 10:03 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Neil Webb

James, I think customers only care when they have a problem.
I think the vast majority of garages only care when they have a problem.
The knowledgeable and interested people who use this and other like forums are the small minority who care about the industry and the work they do.
Very few spend any time learning and researching outside of normal work hours.
Its why the trade is in such an appalling state.

Garages taking on work with not even a basic idea of how things work is quite normal.

I recently heard two people talking in the post office, about having just picked up a car from a garage locally after having work done, be careful garages will rip you off was the theme.

This is the public's perception of our trade and i personally believe only a licence approved national government backed scheme with tradesmen properly qualified and regulated, and a national advertising campaign to back it, would make any difference.

The young people who are needed in the trade today are not available to us, those we need are training to do other types of work, they may love cars and engineering but they are not so stupid that they join us because the money is too poor and the perception of the job is so low.

Everytime i have a work experience lad from a local school they always send someone who is struggling with school work, the teachers perception of our trade points those lads in our direction, I always speak to the teachers myself and ask them how they would feel with their pupil working on their complicated car, "didn't realise it was that complicated" is their answer.

I don't know where we go from here.

ever the optimist ,Neil.

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Peter Lomas on July 15, 2009, 10:03 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Peter Lomas

Hi James
The only reason i have heard of SMMT is because i read about it on hear. Non of our customers have heard about it.Will it catch on or will it end up like ISO2000 ???.If they sponsor Coronation street them they might get known

Regards Peter

Cardinal Carlo Caraffa (16th Century)
The people want to be deceived,
let them be deceived

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Graham Bullock on July 15, 2009, 11:30 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Graham Bullock

I personally think a lot of the problems are caused by the manufactures building crap cars with crap parts and then the after market supplying crap replacement parts with crap tools to do the job. That may be blunt but it sums it up.

A few friends have KTM motor bikes that are supplied with a good workshop manual and a good spares catalogue. The spares are reasonably priced and are good to get, and the few special tools required are available. Compared to our mess it is heaven to be involved with KTM.

As a comparison, I have just been doing a timing belt job where data was hard to get, the parts even harder to get - on back order for months. Stretch bolts not in stock (probably because nobody replaces them)and the Laser tools I bought to do the job had to be cut and stretched about 4mm and welded back together before they fitted correctly.

On the other hand there is always the tipex brigade down at the pub that can do the job at half the price without the tools (because they don't loosen the adjustable cam sprockets etc) who then shout to everyone that I have ripped them off. BUT, why does the local factors have a list a mile long of warranty claims for failed parts fitted or diagnosed incorrectly? I could suggest it is because they will supply anybody - trade or otherwise. Where do we stop at trying to police this trade? Somewhere down the line it is usually down to money and there are very few people who will put their money where their mouth is to benefit the trade as a whole.

When all is said and done the only way to do a job is to do it correctly and the sooner the manufactures make it easier for the repairs to be carried out then the more often it will be done correctly by both the dealers and the independents. Lets face it, if genuine parts and tools were competitively priced and the delivery and service was as good would anybody bother with factors or aftermarket tools?

Meanwhile I think it is disgusting that Motor Codes is having a dig at 'other' schemes. I haven't seen anything yet that makes them any better than the others.

Graham

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by ian Whitmore on July 16, 2009, 8:10 am, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Ian Whitmore

Hi
I have never got involved in these type of discussion before but I will now throw in my thoughts.
Why does any one / body think that regulation will clean up / sort out the motor industry.
Its been tried with other industries electricians gass heating etc.
Well it started with Corgi now they have changed that to Gass safe (WHY ????)
Still have a few bad ones (just as before)that continue to rip off people. Some how because they have a badge & training they become more believable when inventing a problem.
The classic gass rip off is when a leak test is done, a small hole has been put in the test equipment they use so they can happily show you the resulting test.
To a degree the motor trade is self regulating anyway, the good garages will always have a good reputation & be busy through referal etc.
Customers them selves are also to blaim.
I certainly have never just picked up a directory & phoned up some one I dont know to come & do work in my house, I only use referals & then take up references as well.
I dont think this will ever be resolved properly !!!!!!

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Steven Humphreys on July 16, 2009, 7:23 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Steven Humphreys

Hi
.......The young people who are needed in the trade today are not available to us, those we need are training to do other types of work, they may love cars and engineering but they are not so stupid that they join us because the money is too poor and the perception of the job is so low........
Must agree with what you say, Interestingly, my son left school this year and was hoping to be an electrician, to enroll on the course he needs 4 GCSE,s grade A to C,we looked at some other courses most needing at least 3 GCSE,s including plastering which requires 3 GCSE's grade A to C,(no offence to plasterers)but amazingly there is none required for you to enroll on motor vehicle studies, all it says is you need to have a basic understanding of English.
As you say there is a low perception of this job,and unless you start at the grass roots all the motor codes in the world ain't going to fix it in the long run.
Must also add I was talking to our apprentice about this and he admitted he wanted to be an electrician but could not pass the aptitude test ( took it 3 times ) so they put him on the motor vehicles study course instead.
Steve.

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Thomas Williams on July 16, 2009, 10:28 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Tom Williams

Hi all,

I've been interested in the subject of regulating the motor repair industry almost since I started nearly 40yrs ago. As James has said in a couple of publications recently, probably only a compulsory scheme would work. However regulation of anything in the UK tends to get turned into a bureaucrat's wet dream. Frankly, the government is so discredited and unable to regulate even itself it's unlikely they could succeed at regulating the motor repair industry.Perhaps it's time for another QUANGO? If they had started at the beginning, around the time they started licensing aircraft mechanics (1919) it would have worked. These days I just look on in a kind of puzzled amusement at the next daft idea that is dreamed up.Usually accompanied by another stealth tax.

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Sean Connelly on July 16, 2009, 10:29 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Sean Connelly

Hi James

I attended a meeting of our local trading standards approved workshop scheme that we are members of and one of the consultants to the scheme has been looking at the Motor Codes scheme and has been invited by the OFT to provide an independent view on it.

He gave the meeting a brief summary of his thoughts on the scheme. Needless to say he wasn't very complimentary of the scheme. He has analysed their recent report on the scheme very carefully.

Obviously his main concern was that any garage could sign up without any form of compliance check, training, etc. Apparently only 149 garages have been complianced checked and given the current membership and the rate of the checks, its going to take 8 years to visit them all! And they reckon they will only visit every couple of years.

I didn't quite get the details on this part but there was also some discussion on the negative scoring of some of the compliance checks and feedback responses and the report suggested that due to the small sample size this was an incorrect statistic and until the sample size is increased these negative results will not be shown on the website.....

A couple of the other scheme members who are from franchised dealers confirmed that they had been almost forced to join by the manufacturer and that when they were complianced checked the inspectors weren't interested in the real side of the business, i.e. training, quality checks, etc. In fact it was no where near as stringent as the compliance checks that we are subject to join the trading standards scheme.

My personal oppinion is that our customers have far more reassurance in us having a Tradings Standards Approved sign above the door than some national scheme they have never heard off. Also the arbitration is much cheaper.....its free for both sides, ublike Motor Codes!

Having said that, for £75 we can get our company registered on the website so its cheap advertising and if they do go all the way, we will probably have to join anyway.

I'm happy for the goverment to legislate and make licensing compulsory.....that is the only way to close the rogue outfits down. If you're comitted to doing the job properly, you have nothing to lose.

Regards

Sean

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Andrew Clarkson on July 16, 2009, 11:07 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"

There was a small article in yesterdays' Daily Star, 'Motorists Get Rip Off Rage'. This journalist has seen the Motor Codes statements that James has highlighted. This is good publicicty for Motor Codes but very bad publicity for the motor trade. As mentioned, Joe Public has a low opinion of the motor trade (generally) and this sort of report will strengthen that view, the media will take advantage of this.

What I would like to see is someone carry out a thorough work study of several (if not all) trades and 'Professions' etc. compare them all pound for pound, hour for hour, knowledge for knowledge etc, and then publicise their report. I bet the media wouldn't want to know.

I would challenge anyone from the media, (such as Which mag. the BBC, tabloid newspapers etc). to open their own garage for 12 months (with thier own money) and then report on their experiences, (so we can all have a laugh).

They can report on overheads, customers, pressure of work, the manufacturers inability to produce well designed vehicles, realistic service intervals, realistic repair times, technical information. But again they wouldn't want to know.

Should the day come when we have to be 'registered' would it not be better to have an organisation that the public already know and associate with motoring e.g. the AA or RAC, (I'm not recommending either of these but how many people have heard of Motor Codes, SMMT, Good Garage, MVRA, IMI etc.)?

However I feel that the motor trade is already closely regulated, if someone doesn't like a garage, they don't go there, and won't recommend them.

I'd better stop there as it's getting late.

Regards,

Andrew,

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Roger Wheeler on July 20, 2009, 9:09 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"

Hi Guys
Great topic of conversation.
As far as I can see most of these schemes allow just about any garage to join. I had a recent shock when I drove past a new garage that has been open less than one month and apparently doesn't know how to test if a headgasket has gone but are on a good garage scheme. How does anyone know how good they are??
I am fully up for a licensing scheme that is properly policed but I feel this is, as with all trades, impossible to do. There will always be those who can get on the scheme and still have questionable practices.
Until this happens I will continue striving for 100% customer satisfaction leading hopefully to recommendations.

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Mark Murphy on July 29, 2009, 9:43 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Mark Murphy

Customer complaints about car servicing and repairs at independent garages are being driven down
Motor Codes Ltd
Wednesday, 29th July 2009

Motor Codes and the garage sector are succeeding in their goal of raising customer service in the motor industry. Figures released this week by government-funded advice service Consumer Direct suggest that the number of concerns with workshops is falling, reporting that it received 8,047 calls between January-June 2009 about service and repairs carried out by independent garages - a fall of 4.16% over the same period the previous year.
"These latest figures indicate that there has been an improvement in the performance of independent garages over the past few months. The more businesses that recognise the benefits to be obtained by subscribing to this Code, the better the overall consumer experience will be," said Motor Codes director Chris Mason. "By working with the sector to provide real benefit for consumers and raise standards across the industry, Motor Codes is best positioned to help motorists identify who they should be doing business with."
Motorists who want their car looked at by a responsible workshop should use the garage finder facility on the Motor Codes website www.motorindustrycodes.co.uk with the confidence they will be dealing with a reputable business. As added reassurance, if any issues arise there are experts at the end of the freephone consumer advice line 0800 692 0825 to resolve the query.
"Businesses that commit to the Code are demonstrating their willingness to provide consistent levels of customer satisfaction and the more that subscribe, the easier it is for consumers to find the good guys. There can be no better way for responsible garages to demonstrate they want to be part of this success story," continued Chris Mason. "The Code has been in operation for less than 12 months and still in the early stages with much more to do, but this latest news is a welcome indication of improved sector performance."
So it is only Independants they are Targeting then?????
Mark

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Tom Yates on July 30, 2009, 3:54 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Tom Yates

"reporting that it received 8,047 calls between January-June 2009 about service and repairs carried out by independent garages - a fall of 4.16% over the same period the previous year."
I think this is more to do with the number of garages going to the wall in the same period
Tom

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Peter Warman on July 30, 2009, 3:57 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"

Is there a cloud that still hangs over the Motor Codes, according to Which its not yet a done deal

"Commenting on the recent launch of the website www.motorindustrycodes.co.uk, Which? motoring editor Richard Headland said that the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair is the last opportunity for the sector to get its house in order - or else face legislation. Supporting Motor Codes' aim of improving levels of customer service, the motorist's' watchdog pointed out that although it was still less than a year old, the Code has made good progress. However, he fears that unless more garages embrace it, government will take action through legislation"

I am not sure how many members are currently in the scheme, but there are 18,000 plus Independents in the UK. When the scheme was launched last year the majority of the members seemed to be Franchised Dealerships, did they know about the scheme or were they Block entered into the scheme, as it now transpires that the new codes has links with SMMT as James points out. Motor Codes needs to get the vast majority of the Independents to sign......will this ever happen without legislation?

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by pete greenow on July 30, 2009, 7:01 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Peter Greenow

Peter

simple answer

NO

Just not set up correctly , will independants ever fully trust the main dealers / manufacturers who seem to do all they can to make our lifes as difficult as possible. Also with reference to the TV appearances made by Mr Mason, non trade freinds of mine who saw it siad he was less convincing than a second hand car salesman & did or said nothing to impress them

Pete

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Paul Foster on July 31, 2009, 5:24 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Paul Foster

What worries me is that Chris Mason is claiming that all these complaints are against 'independant garages'. So why is he differentiating between franchised dealerships and independants? How many complaints do dealerships get? Are their number of complaints falling too?

I was under the impression that all his members were the same but every criticism of the garage sector has been directed against the independants. The more I hear about 'Motor Codes' the more I think it's an underhand method of publicly undermining the independant sector. Every chance he gets he insinuates that any garage NOT on his books are irresponsible, unproffesional rip-off merchants. He knows very well that this isn't the case but there's no-one to gainsay him when he lands an interview on the news. people are all to ready to agree with his thinly veiled insinuations. He's just spouting what the general public want to hear. (A certain Austrian politician used similar tactics to gain the position of Chancellor in Germany in the late 1930's).

Chris should not be allowed to openly slander every independant garage in the country who doesn't bow to his will! And when will he be openly declaring his interests and association with the S.M.M.T?

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by martin young on July 31, 2009, 6:23 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Martin Young

paul
i see what you mean
http://www.motorindustrycodes.co.uk/press-releases/customer-complaints-about-car-servicing-and-repairs-at-independent-garages-are-being-driven-down.html
i have given all my customers a link to this site so they can get good dealer servicing

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by David Harney on July 31, 2009, 10:07 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Dave Harney

http://www.foxyladydrivers.com/foxyblog/?cat=6

Regards
Dave

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Steve Nicholas on August 1, 2009, 8:23 am, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Stephen Nicholas

Hi Dave

That made interesting reading and represented a good viewpoint from the consumer side of the debate.

It also reiterated many of the comments made here already, which suggests that a lot of UKAT members already understand what their customers require.

On the subject of a reduction in complaints of about 4%, this is hardly a significant enough figure over such a short assessment period (and in the current economic climate as has been said) to warrant any grandiose claims of success.

I say again that Mr Mason seems to be a bit sensitive to replying on our forum and I suspect that his discomfort will increase.

Yes, we do need official regulation but this is not in the form needed. To say that regulation can be achieved by providing a complaints procedure is rather like bolting the stable door after the horse has exited.

Regards,

Steve

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Peter Warman on August 1, 2009, 5:36 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Is it just me or has the Which statement had the Spin Treatment

I did not see any outright support for Garages to join, only the fact that if they don't it will fail?

Motor Codes Blog

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Steph Savill on August 1, 2009, 6:50 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"

Thank you David for linking to my FOXY Lady Drivers Club blog and to Peter who suggested I post my thoughts here.

The SMMT's Motor Codes favoured manufacturer dealers over independents from the start (August 08) because Ford and Peugeot gave them the national coverage they needed by demanding that their dealerships sign up. Other manufacturers may well have done this too.

The OFT had a vested interest here as well - it wanted to earn from a big industry sign up to its approved code scheme despite knowing that the Motor Codes plan was to promote subscribers to consumers early on, when these were clearly mainly dealerships that are too expensive for service and repair work for motorists running older cars and on a budget.

I know from experience that one of the biggest areas for complaints is when motorists (often female) perceive they have been overcharged and/or sold services they didn't want or need.

In effect, any Tom, Dick or Harry garage and/or dealership can sign up to the Motor Code for as little as £75 and then be promoted as a 'good garage' without any fear of imminent inspection.
Add in the compulsory cost of leaflets and the income from c5500 dealers and garages is some £570k - not a bad little earner for SMMT and certainly enough for a national PR and advertising campaign to promote dealerships over independents.

I write about this so that motorists will understand what their local garage choices are and how to identify the REALLY GOOD ones (not just the ones that claim to be GOOD GARAGES...)
I do this because if they wander into a REALLY BAD local garage or dealership (which could just as well be a Motor Codes subscriber) their car could be returned to them in a dangerous state without their questioning this in an industry recommended business.

I suppose the SMMT could be complimented for trying to make things better here and ideally attempting to unify competing schemes (ATA, Kitemark and OFT approved code) but they were always the wrong sponsor for this service. Like the RMI's Carwise and another 11 trade schemes previously and over the last 50 years... they had an obvious vested interest which was never going to put the customer first.

Unless the likes of Lloyds TSB Autoleasing can change the number of independents on board to give motorists more choice, I think the super complaint cometh sooner rather than later now... despite the recent intensity of Motor Codes PR and recruitment activity.

I remain puzzled by any leading dealership or independent garage choosing to subscribe to 'honest and fair services', 'open and transparent pricing', 'work completed as agreed' and 'invoices that match quotes'. What were their service levels beforehand I wonder...

Whereas an independent and consumer-led organisation could have done the job well here. Even FOXY has set its quality bar higher than Motor Codes at www.foxychoice.com (we require a business commitment to never knowingly overcharge, patronise or sell services that motorists don't need or want...) because if you get service levels right for fussy women shoppers, (most) men are likely to be delighted as a consequence. And of course we have the female UK network to do the necessary mystery shopping via the Club.

Steph Savill

Link: a motoring club for women drivers and their family

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Paul Foster on August 5, 2009, 12:13 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Paul Foster

Spin Treatment? Try downright mis-representation!

Chris Mason is claiming the support of 'Which' that has patently NOT been given. Does he think we're all (independant garages, that is) stupid?

'Spin' and lobbying seems to be Chris's forte and if he was genuinely on the side of the independant sector without any hidden agendas he'd be an excellent spokesperson for the industry. Sadly, there are too many unanswered questions about his motivations and where his loyalties lie.

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by tony bickers on August 5, 2009, 11:49 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Tony Bickers

I agree with Pauls comments wholeheartedly, Chris is not in this for independants, he appears to be acting as an agent for the manufacturers and the SMMT, ie dealers,Which magazine do not endorse this code and I think it will fizzle out over time, Chris should think about becoming a politician, full of promises but never delivers, AND taking garages money under false pretenses !! Yet another stealth tax as if there arn't enough already !

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by tony bickers on August 6, 2009, 12:12 am, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Tony Bickers

Hi Steph,

Very well put post regarding female customers, it is quite clear from your comments that you have as much doubt about this Chris Mason scheme as most decent independants have, I wish I had a magical answer. I will provide one answer though and that is the one of personal reccomendation from other customers, I have never advertised anywhere,ever ! all my work comes from reccomendations from my current customer base, that suits me as I have a link with everybody that calls upon my service, I collect from up to 30 miles away and drop back by teatime,I am competitive on labour rate and pride myself on doing the best job for the best price. These codes do nothing for my business, if at the end of the day I was giving rubbish service or ripping people off no-one would come to me, and this year despite the recession I cannot keep up with demand.

All on this forum are trustworthy independants, don't use the codes list of garages, look up a member close to you from the database held in this forum, you have to be a member to access that but at least you will have peace of mind in that the person/garage is trusted/honest and will do a good job at a reasonable price.

Regards

Tony

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Steph Savill on August 6, 2009, 9:13 am, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"

Thank you Tony. How encouraging to read that you are doing so well in what are tough times for many.

Don't start me off about recommendations though - many women think a friendly receptionist is a good garage ;-), few check how well the work has been done and the growing trend for website testimonials produces so many bland ones that they are obviously written to order!

Now that I know better ;-) I look for evidence of best practice in terms of qualifications, awards, investment in facilities, green credentials, car collection (very important and good for independents to make much of this because well known national chain names rarely offer) and such like.

So FOXY looks for quality and value for money and we work with the best garages to promote them online to local women drivers and to highlight what makes them better than the rest.

Good to meet you here!

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by martin young on August 8, 2009, 7:03 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"

http://www.aftermarketnetwork.com/item3925
so frank you endorse the code? or is the advert on the right nothing to do with you?
martin

65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service

Posted by Peter Warman on August 18, 2009, 3:21 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Peter Warman - Administrator

http://www.autowired.co.uk/news/article.aspx?storyid=20442

Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service

Posted by Steve Nicholas on August 18, 2009, 9:48 pm, in reply to "65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service"
Stephen Nicholas

"...Motor Codes needs to build its position in this area making it a 'must have' for motor dealers and customers alike"

There will be some confusion caused by referring to "motor dealers".

Unless Motor Codes gets its act together, properly includes independents and differentiates the type of services independents offer from what dealers offer then consumers and trade press are going to remain confused.

This will inevitably affect any scheme's success.

Regards,

Steve

Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service

Posted by Dave Harney on August 18, 2009, 10:35 pm, in reply to "Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service"
Dave Harney

http://blog.motorindustrycodes.co.uk/

When you can do business with a garage that is so committed to providing these levels of customer service and have voluntarily signed up to the dispute resolution service should things go wrong, why would you go anywhere else?

Don't risk a rip off.

All the best
Chris

Mr Mason, how desperate are you for members (Independants) to keep "fueling the fire" ?

How can you possibly know the qaulity of who you are signing up, when you are doing so few compliance checks ? it could take you 24 months to get round to finding out "Fred in the shed" has invested his £75 and the best bit is, you could possibly have sent unwitting customers to his door - will you take responsiility for that when he "rips them off" !!

Regards
Dave Harney

Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service

Posted by Peter Warman on August 19, 2009, 1:25 pm, in reply to "Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service"
Peter Warman - Administrator

Hi Dave

I rang Vines BMW for some parts today and asked the guy (worked there for years) if they had heard of the Motor Industry Codes, he said he had not and asked what it was. I told him Vines was listed from the outset of the code, he did not know what I was on about

Customers are looking up these Dealers on the Motor Codes website and assuming they are fully compliant with the code, when the truth is their staff do not even know Motor Codes exists

"Don't risk a rip off" (by that you mean Independents)

All the Youtube clips seemed to be aimed at Independents, come on Chris take your Video Camera into a Top Dealership an get the receptionist to talk us through how they have signed up to the code and display the Motor Code signs

Or is there one rule for Dealers and another for Independents

Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service

Posted by Steve Nicholas on August 19, 2009, 2:27 pm, in reply to "Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service"
Stephen Nicholas

"the good think about the Motor Industry Codes is that it makes everything and everyone open and above-board"

(A quote from the conclusion of the video Dave's link directs to).

If you believed that then you would be naive.

Regards,

Steve

Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service

Posted by Dave Harney on August 19, 2009, 10:22 pm, in reply to "Re: 65% of motorists say independent garages are best for service"
Dave Harney

Funny how they have designed there search function !!

Original

Wonder why it wasn't designed this way ? says it all !!

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Phil Dunmore on August 19, 2009, 11:15 pm, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Philip Dunmore

Good points there from Steve & Dave. All would need addressing before my reputation is allied to this code.
I have already seen the signs up at a garage I know to have a poor reputation....

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Paul Foster on August 20, 2009, 10:41 am, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Paul Foster

"But Motor Codes also needs to do more to create consumer awareness - and demand. It cannot be seen as a 'lip service' operation. It has to get deeply stuck into some high profile cases and be seen by the public to be on the side of the public."

Sadly - it seems obvious that Chris Mason and Motor Codes are only on the side of themselves and 'Authorised, franchised dealers' (I thought that, under Block exemption rules, we were ALL authorised if VAT registered!)

I think that if a garage have a poor reputation (and they are aware of it) then they would bust a gut to sign up to Motor Codes! What's to stop them after all?

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Steve Nicholas on August 21, 2009, 11:16 am, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Stephen Nicholas

I think we generally agree here; Motor Codes will NOT work to provide adequate consumer protection in its present form.

So, is anyone listening to us and prepared to make changes? Or, is our voice not important?

I suspect the latter!

Steve

Good Garage Scheme Start TV Advertising

Posted by Peter Warman on August 21, 2009, 11:43 am, in reply to "The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"

The Good Garage Scheme is going to launch an advertising campaingn on ITV1 & ITV2 from September 28th

Will this not send out conflicting messages to the motoring public?

Good Garage Scheme or Motor Industry Codes

I hope the Good Garage Scheme make it perfectly clear in their ad that this IS NOT a Trading Standards Approved Scheme, It does not have any Complaints Procedure with clout, and is backed by a company that is Product / Sales driven

As for Motor Codes....well, UPSTAGED I would say at getting the message across

Perhaps Chris should give (or head hunt) the marketing guy at Forte a call

. Sorry Chris but a Blogg, Youtube and Twitter are never going to get the message across to the Motoring Public

http://www.aftermarketnetwork.com/News/Industry+News/item25673/

Peter

Re: Good Garage Scheme Start TV Advertising

Posted by Steve Nicholas on August 21, 2009, 7:11 pm, in reply to "Good Garage Scheme Start TV Advertising"

I believe that most consumers are not stupid (sometimes maybe confused by technology they do not, or have no need to, understand) and will eventually work out that the Good Garage Scheme has its agenda of selling more Forte products.

Similarly, unless Motor Codes gains some real credibility, it will eventually meet with a degree of consumer cynicism and lose its effectiveness.

It will only need a bit of bad publicity to achieve this and if it happens then subscribers to either scheme will be back to square-one.

Unless there is a properly thought out and organised national scheme I do not believe it can succeed and I will certainly not subscribe to it.

Steve (ex GGS member)

Re: Good Garage Scheme Start TV Advertising

Posted by Dave Harney on August 22, 2009, 12:49 am, in reply to "Re: Good Garage Scheme Start TV Advertising"
Dave Harney

I was speaking to a customer of a local "Authorised Dealer" (Motor Codes Subsciber) who had taken his car in because his mil lamp came on.

They "scanned it" and replaced the 02 sensor, (£140) they also told him it had a "split vacuum/air pipe" but didn't have the pipe in stock, so they let him take the vehicle overnight on the understanding that he returned next day to finish repair and to pay. (longstanding customer !!)
Whilst he had the vehicle overnight the mil came on again. He returned it to dealer, they replaced the pipe, then gave him a bill for £300.
He questioned whether it actually needed the 02 sensor in the first place as the mil had come back on.
They told him that the "diagnostic tool" had said it was a faulty 02 and if he didn't pay, he wasn't getting his car back.

I've advised him to ask for the old parts, and take the first step in advising motor codes that he is unhappy. (Be interesting to see how this pans out)
I suspect the 02 sensor was merely doing its job and was stuck lean due to the excess air (split pipe)
His bill should have been less than £70 even at dealer prices for a diag and a new hose.

Good to see that Motor Codes are doing there job and only allowing the good garages to sign up, the ones the public can put there trust in.
Good job Chris !!

Regards
Dave

Update

Posted by Peter Warman on September 2, 2009, 2:41 pm, in reply to "Good Garage Scheme Start TV Advertising"

http://www.aftermarketnetwork.com/News/Industry+News/item25930/

Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #

Posted by Graham Bullock on September 2, 2009, 5:57 pm, in reply to "Re: The industry's self-regulatory body - Motor Codes Ltd #"
Graham Bullock

I see the page you linked to has been moved or removed.

But here is another interesting article

Garage trade is improving

Graham

Re: Update

Posted by Paul Foster on September 14, 2009, 6:08 pm, in reply to "Update"

Hi all.

I have my concerns obout The GGS as do many of you but the code of conduct it lays down is a very good basis for a self regulating industry code of practice. I know this has been done to death in previous threads but, with the exception of the '..include products that remove contamination.' clause, could be applied to any garage business that wants to focus on customer care.

Yes it's administered by a sales driven company - SO WHAT? At least the fact isn't hidden behind a cynical attempt to scare independant garages into joining beacause of problems caused by the questionable ethics of the Main Dealers. So what is Motor Codes then? Are they NOT a sales driven company? I think you'll find that they are. The difference is that they'll take your seventy five quid and then, should you be unfortunate enough to have a dispute with a customer, they'll take some more money off you for trying to deal with it.

"Ah but..." Someone will wail.
"The only criteria for joining the GGS is that you have to sell Forte's products."

Well the only criteria for joining Motor Codes is that you send them £75. At least someone from Forte comes round regularly and passes on actual feedback from your customers. How many of you who have signed up to Chris's protection racket have actually seen a representative from them?

At the end of the day all this is about customer perception. The GGS are far and away in front in that respect, in my opinion.

Rant over!

Paul.

Re: Update

Posted by John Ritchie on September 14, 2009, 8:42 pm, in reply to "Re: Update"
John Ritchie

Paul for the reasons you mentioned i believe both don't work although GGS may get you more work .BSI & Bosh look to be going in the right direction ..... any thoughts ?

JR

Re: Update

Posted by pete greenow on September 15, 2009, 7:13 am, in reply to "Re: Update"
Peter Greenow

Hi All

How pleasant it is to read reasoned & well thought out posts! I am a member of the good garage scheme & although the scheme is sales / marketing driven the "code of conduct" we display was reffered too by a customer recently as "the 10 commandments" of good business.

I would be interested in joining the BSi scheme & must try to find out a bit more, It has been said many times by folks more capable & eloquent than me that until the motor codes gets over their identity crisis & develops a genuine credibility that unites the industry, then the scepticism & distrust the independant sector feel will continue.

Forte charge a monthly fee yes,they are good at providing justification for that, with the advertising / product & service sourcing etc that help to justify the charge. The codes however will always I feel appear to take on a scare tactic to boost the coffers of the Main Dealers trade organisation.

I have spoken to customers who have recently been to us & shown the GGS & Motor codes blurp , most feel the GGS gives more confidence. However most say that neither cause them to come to us rather word of mouth & quality of service.

Regards Pete

Re: Update

Posted by Paul Foster on September 17, 2009, 10:55 am, in reply to "Re: Update"
Paul Foster

If you search Paul Foster bosch car service you will find my thoughts on BCS! Been there, done that, etc.

« Back to index

[ Automotive Discussion ]