Motor Repair and Service Code Monthly Update

Renewals

It is now clear, every year the month of August will be frantic as the
Motor Codes office deals with large numbers of garages renewing their
subscription to the Service and Repair Code.  I am delighted that so
many garages have renewed, with over 4,000 having done so at the time of
writing.

We have learnt some lessons for next year, start the process earlier,
with less email reminders being generated from the system and make sure
that subscribers know their username and password! It is probably a good
time to make sure you keep a note of it, or get your computer to
remember it for you so every time you logon to the Motor Codes website
you can access the Subscriber Area and make best use of all the services
that come with your subscription. Why not do it now and save yourself
the bother of losing it again! It'll only take a minute at Motor Codes Renewals
 

If you are still to renew, please refer to the simple step by step
process we have created to make sure the process is as straight forward
as possible, you can download it via this link: Renewal Step By Step


Year one performance

The Motor Codes team is currently working through all the performance
data from the Service and Repair Codes first full year in operation and
while there are some minor matters we'll need to work on with you in the
coming months, I am pleased to say that the overall performance is
excellent in terms of adherence to the Code, dispute resolution service
and Compliance Checks.

We'll circulate two reports to you in the coming weeks that we will also
make publicly available and circulate via press releases and the usual
media channels. These will report the performance of the Code over the
year and back up our claims that 'you can trust a Motor Codes garage'.

This information will first be shared with the Office of Fair Trading as
a substantive part of progressing to full approval status under their
Consumer Codes Approval Scheme; I'll be meeting with them on a few
occasions over the coming weeks to progress this as a priority.


Genuinely, this is a significant moment we should all be proud of. Not
only has the Code been up and running for a year with subscribers
committing to it long term, but your performance under it is allowing us
to do what we said, demonstrate to all that if there are high levels of
consumer detriment within the service and repair sector, you won't find
it at a garage that subscribes to the Code.  

Consumer Surveys

We've seen an increased use in the Consumer Survey since we made it
available for your customers to fill out on-line. It's really easy to
use and once 25 have been complete, your garage rating is displayed on
your Garage Profile page. Remember, over 10,000 visitors to the website
every week, with 10% of those searching for a local garage to use via
the Garage Finder means that this is becoming a great way of driving
some business your way and if your Garage Rating is good, then that'll
give you the competitive edge locally.

It's part of your subscription so why not get using it - it can only
help. Have a look at the Garage Profile page of ABP Motorsport in Crewe.
They've made a nice job of adding information and visuals to their
Garage Profile page. Not only can any potential customer see what
they're all about, they can see how previous customers rated the service
they received - very well by the look of things, well done all at ABP. Link:

Government progress

Since our meeting with Consumer Minister, Kevin Brennan, the team at the
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have been working
on an awareness package for the automotive trade associations to use to
promote the Code to their members. I anticipate seeing this come into
play within the coming 4-6 weeks and will assist awareness of the Code
and what we are striving to achieve in bolstering the number of
independent garages signed up.

Lord Adonis, the new Transport Minister at DfT has arranged a meeting
for Motor Codes to discuss the potential for a greater awareness and
subscription throughout the VOSA network of MOT testing stations. We'll
be meeting with Paul Clark MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State at the Department for Transport on November 2nd, seems his diary
is a busy one...

We'll be making the case once again that Government are telling the
sector to sign up, and indeed telling Motor Codes to sign up the large
groups and chains. Well, at 19,300 - the MOT testing station network is
the biggest there is and that's strung together by who? Yep you've
guessed it. It seems too simple doesn't it?

Industry activity

Discussions continue with the other main trade associations and the most
recent news is the Retail Motor Industry Federation agreeing to make
subscription to the Code an option within their membership and renewal
process from this autumn.

The National Tyre Dealers Association are working hard to make
subscription a viable proposition to their members and need all the help
and support from Motor Codes in doing so, obviously we're happy to help
out but do need to make some significant progress in the near future and
bring some more of their members on board.

Brian Spratt, Chief Executive of the Automotive Distribution Federation
has firmly placed his and the organisations support behind the Code, an
excellent example of an industry leader displaying leadership and
advising his members accordingly and appropriately on the benefits to
the industry of the Code. Link to ADF
 

Much the same as the messages from Jonas Zambakides, current chairman of
the RMIF Independent Garage Association, upon renewing the subscription
of his garage recently. Link to RMIF


Trading Standards Institute


Ron Gainsford, TSI CEO has supported the work of Motor Codes since the
development of the Code began back in 2005. Now he's offering the
further support of his organisation in providing some basic business
training modules for Code subscribers through their Fair Trading Award
and also providing time, support and coverage through various
initiatives that we can work on together that will make sure local
trading standards officers see Code subscription as a positive signal of
intent and concentrate their efforts elsewhere, while consumer awareness
is raised through positive references in the widely distributed
literature they produce - I'll provide more detail on these initiatives
over the coming months.

 
Automotive Technician Accreditation


ATA and the Code are continually treading similar ground, identifying
the good guys, gaining government recognition, consumer awareness,
industry support etc. With 17,000 accredited technicians now on the
scheme and over 5,000 garages now signed up to the Code it seems
sensible to discuss a mutual support from both for each. Motor Codes and
the Institute for the Motor Industry have held some initial discussions
on how we might do this and I'll update you on this in the near future.
Would it make sense for the Code to provide the reassurance to consumers
about the business and reference ATA as the means by which the
technicians within the business prove their competency? Your feedback on
this initial discussion point would be welcome, you know the address
cmason@motorcodes.co.uk  

Subscriber Polls 005/006

Both Polls have now closed, you'll remember that they were regarding the
provision of insurance packages and developing Service and Repair Code
flags. With voting for yes/maybe closing at 72% and 68% respectively,
we'll move on with both and get back to you soon.

 
Press releases, blog and Tweets

We've utilised the website space and put all means of communication
together in the same place for ease of access, have a look and make sure
you check in regularly to keep up to speed with developments from the
Motor Codes office at: Motor Codes Press Releases

All in all, a busy month, with no intention of slowing up any time soon!
It's looking like an impressive first year in operation will be followed
by an even busier one with consumer awareness, increased subscriptions
and broad recognition of the Code and its subscribers being the
priority.