Making things better for consumers shouldn’t be so hard. Often there’s no obvious money to be made, the established order doesn’t like it, there’s always a haystack of hidden agendas working against you and sometimes it feels easy as trying to move the Albert Memorial. But, (and this is why we do it) positive change helps people lead safer and more reliable lives.
Take the car repair game. It’s broadly unregulated, standards are surprising variable and most UK motorists don’t feel they get value for money. Sure, there’s a whole hill of motor industry schemes, codes and associations that promise accountability and arbitration, but most require just the simple signing of a cheque to be a member and the garage concerned is rarely checked, monitored or ever audited. Call me old fashioned, but that’s sloppy.
The British Standards Institution has its own Kitemark garage scheme that really is the industry gold standard. To wear the hallowed Kitemark brand, garages need to be trained, premises and kit inspected, they’re mystery shopped and regularly audited. And if they don’t measure up or fail their customers, they’re out on their ear. Kitemark demands total customer dedication and the highest industry standards possible. BSI means professionalism.
And we’re not the only ones passionate about customer rights and protection. Robert Halfon, MP for Essex, has just tabled a motion in parliament to review the protection for motoring consumers. Like all of us at BSI, he believes we need a clear and consistent set of standards across the garage servicing and repair industry to stop the rip-offs, irregularities and rapacious charging that’s sadly becoming too common. Halfon believes that the UK deserves better car repair standards and other MPs do as well.
But here’s the crazy bit. To be a Kitemark approved garage costs just a few pounds a day and every garage that’s joined the scheme so far says it’s made a significant difference to their business and turnover. Consumers love the peace of mind it brings too. Everybody gets a better deal. So answer me this? Why is getting the car service and repair industry to understand all these simple principles like wrestling with a mattress full of treacle? Is it just me, or could some garages actually be afraid of practicing higher standards?
So if you’re a garage owner, an MP or just a weary motorist, join my campaign for better car servicing and repairs. BSI has already transformed the accident repair industry and we’re determined to do the same with garages. Because this is 2010 and getting your car serviced and repaired safely, professionally at a fair and reasonable price shouldn’t be like throwing a dice. Things need to change.
