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15/05/2003
'Good Garage' code promises a better deal for drivers
Drivers are promised a better deal as trade associations representing 10,000 garages across the UK commit to a new 'Good Garage' code of practice today.
The code will put in place service standards measures in the car servicing industry - which is worth around £9 billion a year - including audit checks and 'mystery shopping'.
Garages were warned last year that they had to do much more after a mystery shopping exercise found low levels of service. It found that 51% of garages missed one or more safety-related defects in cars or items that should have been picked up in a regular servicing.
The survey also revealed that only 5% of garages sampled carried out a thorough service against the manufacturers' schedule and were judged to be 'very good'. Also 86% of garages missed at least one introduced fault and 43% of garages did not provide customers with an accurate quote prior to the service.
Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson said that the introduction of the code would be a "big step forward" in delivering a better deal for drivers.
"This is a golden opportunity for the industry to prove that self-regulation can be effective and make a big difference to consumers," she said.
Businesses that are not members of any trade association will be able to take part in the code. Consumers will have a mechanism to make complaints and access to independent arbitration if a matter isn't resolved with the garage.
(GMcG)
The code will put in place service standards measures in the car servicing industry - which is worth around £9 billion a year - including audit checks and 'mystery shopping'.
Garages were warned last year that they had to do much more after a mystery shopping exercise found low levels of service. It found that 51% of garages missed one or more safety-related defects in cars or items that should have been picked up in a regular servicing.
The survey also revealed that only 5% of garages sampled carried out a thorough service against the manufacturers' schedule and were judged to be 'very good'. Also 86% of garages missed at least one introduced fault and 43% of garages did not provide customers with an accurate quote prior to the service.
Consumer Minister Melanie Johnson said that the introduction of the code would be a "big step forward" in delivering a better deal for drivers.
"This is a golden opportunity for the industry to prove that self-regulation can be effective and make a big difference to consumers," she said.
Businesses that are not members of any trade association will be able to take part in the code. Consumers will have a mechanism to make complaints and access to independent arbitration if a matter isn't resolved with the garage.
(GMcG)
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