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Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations #

Posted by Keith Simpson on December 4, 2009, 2:50 pm
Message modified by board administrator December 9, 2009, 4:14 pm

Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

SUBSCRIPTION to the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair should be mandatory for all MOT testing stations, parliament has been told.

Today (Tuesday, December 1st), Motor Codes boss Chris Mason spoke to the All-Party Parliamentary Motor Group (APMG).

The former technician and garage owner urged MPs that self-regulation was the way forward for the service and repair sector, rather than the more costly option of legislation.

However, he called on the government to support the self-regulatory code by making it compulsory for MOT stations – a move that may please those who have criticized the code for its reliance on self-regulation rather than a compulsory licensed approach.

Chris was joined in parliament by Colin Brown, director of consumer policy at the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and Richard Burden MP, chairman of the APMG.

“We are determined to build on the early success of the Service and Repair Code, working collaboratively with industry to raise and maintain standards across the sector through effective self-regulation,” said Chris.

“The Service and Repair Code provides garages with a hallmark of quality that consumers can rely on and presents the sector with a means of outing rogue traders that tarnish the reputation of their industry.”

During the discussion, Chris called on the government to show its support for the code by making subscription a requirement of being an MOT testing station.

“The incentive for independent and franchised garages to sign-up is clear,” continued Chris.

“As a Motor Codes garage, each subscriber plays a part in the regulation of the industry, whereas if government is forced to introduce legislation that imposes standards, the rules will be out of the sector’s control and will certainly cost them significantly more to comply.”

The Service and Repair Code has almost 6,000 garages signed-up. It is currently seeking approval from the OFT under its consumer codes approval process and achieved stage one approval last year.

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Graham Bullock on December 4, 2009, 4:47 pm, in reply to "Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Graham Bullock

Hi Keith, I had just seen that in an email and thought about posting but you beat me to it.

So if it was compulsory for MOT stations to sign up to this code and a customer was not happy about their test result and wanted to complain - who would have the ultimate say - Vosa or the Motor Code?

Does this insinuate that test stations are not being policed correctly by Vosa?

Why would a test station want to pay to join the code and then pay for arbitration every time a customer complains about a test?

I still don't see the "Code" as being any use!

Graham

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Peter Warman on December 4, 2009, 4:59 pm, in reply to "Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."

Motor Codes has been running for a year and a half but still only has around 6,000 members. Nearly 5,000 are Franchise Dealers that were put in initially, many probably without their knowledge, this means less than 5% of Independents have taken up the code so far

I think this has fallen far short of Chris's expectations. By asking the Government to make MOT's testing stations join is perhaps a cynical way of boosting Independent Garage membership

If the Government decided to make membership mandatory for ALL garages to join the code before they can trade, then fair enough, but why single out MOT stations?

Voluntary means voluntary

As for the Super Complaint.....well you can make your own mind up about that myth. The Motor Trade is one of the biggest Industries in the UK, from the Aftermarket supplier, Dealers, Independents and Manufacturers employing 100's of thousands of people down the chain, do the Government really want to slap legal legislation on such a big market.......will cost millions and years of legal wrangles, Trading Standards certainly don't have the man power to enforce and police

Peter

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Keith Simpson on December 4, 2009, 5:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Keith Simpson

Vosa haven't enough staff to police the existing stations hence the traffic light scheme and might view this as a good idea (I think not). In my opinion it is just very good idea by Chris Mason to generate more revenue for Motor Codes.

However I cannot see this scheme ever getting off the ground just like the present one hasn't. 6000 garages is not that many, I would say the GGS could have just as many.

Keith

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Dave Harney on December 4, 2009, 6:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Dave Harney

This stinks of sharp practice, Chris Mason has obviously failed to convince the majority of Independant garages to sign up to this “code” so is now trying to convince the government to bend us over instead !

Shame on you Mr Mason !

Regards all
Dave

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Keith Simpson on December 4, 2009, 7:06 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."

The Government are very good at bending us over, They have had plenty of practice over the years.

Keith

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Peter Warman on December 8, 2009, 2:34 pm, in reply to "Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Peter Warman - Administrator

This is Chris Masons response

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

1.5 Million would be a nice little cash injection plus 3.5 Million for inspections of workshops. 20,000 members in one swoop

Once he has all the MOT testing stations on board all the remaining Independents would just be branded as rogues until they sign up

Peter

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Graham Bullock on December 8, 2009, 3:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Graham Bullock

Quote Chris Mason "Essentially, we need to ensure that when a garage claims to be a good guy - they actually are, and are being monitored appropriately to ensure this is the case".

If he can say this, how come it is taking so long to assess all the garages that have become members? Or, is he leaving it to the general public to assess them?

I would really like to know what was happening about the garages mentioned in Tony Sefton's posts!

Graham

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Keith Simpson on December 8, 2009, 3:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."

That's what it's all about Peter MONEY. I would like to here Vosa's comments on this one.

Keith

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Peter Warman on December 8, 2009, 4:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."

What it amounts to is:

As an MOT testing station you are trustworthy and competent to carryout a test as you have been vetted by VOSA

If that vehicle needs repairs and you put it on the ramp next to your MOT bay and carryout the repairs, that is when your trustworthiness and competence is being called into question by Chris?

Peter

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Andy Mason on December 9, 2009, 8:37 am, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Andy Mason

Perhaps the government or Vosa are keen, as in many other european countries, to have stand alone Mot testing stations, either privately or state run.
Andy

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Paul Foster on December 15, 2009, 11:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."

Here we go again!

Mason's now insinuating that all independants that are NOT MOT stations, and not signed up to codes are somehow inferior, either technically or morally!
"MOT stations are the 'good guys'."

I mean... WHAT!? I could name 5 local MOT stations that I wouldn't trust to inspect a skateboard. and if they did they'd fail it on discs, pads and shockers! And all they'd need for approval is £75 and the ability to make the right noises in the unlikely event that they were ever visited by Mr Mason's clipboard team.

I also know lots of other MOT stations who do an excellent job and look after their customers' interests without any interference from a privately run, profit making, self appointed industry watchdog whose only clear objective is to undermine anyone in the trade who doesn't bend over for Lord Mason.

His latest statement is just another example of the sweeping generalisations he uses to convince his target audience (an unqualified quango of MPs in this case) that he knows what's best for every garage and tecnician in the country. What right has he to suggest mandatory membership of his Motor Codes protection racket to OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS? He's got a vested interest in his own profits and NO interest in protecting the independant motor trade.

Rant over!

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by tony bickers on December 19, 2009, 12:20 am, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Tony Bickers

Hear hear Paul, fancy standing for election next year !!

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by Paul Foster on December 21, 2009, 1:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Paul Foster

Hi.

Thanks for the vote of confidence but I would never qualify for a public office - I drive a PETROL 4x4!!! Besides, I'd be too busy filling out expenses claim forms to get anything done!!

Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations.

Posted by carl ford on December 21, 2009, 8:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Government urged to make Service and Repair Code mandatory for MOT testing stations."
Carl Ford

I think we should start our own code where you don't pay to to be part of the code unitil you qualify not quite sure how it would work but I think it is the only way

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