SAF Approved starts
August 3rd, 2009 by Richard Aucock
FINANCE industry representative the Finance and Leasing Association has launched a new car dealer award.
The Specialist Automotive Finance initiative will now be available to car dealerships, not just individual staff.
This means that the car dealership itself can become SAF Approved – and the award can be extended to dealer groups, too. 15 of the country’s top 20 are already signed up.
It recognises car dealers who have voluntarily improved showroom staff knowledge on car finance. It also ensures these staff will receive the latest expert insight on finance products, meaning they can better serve customers.
Even better, these dealers can also use SAF’s own material in their showrooms – a real boost to credentials and customer confidence.
The FLA’s Paul Harrison reckons ‘dealers that meet the FLA’s eligibility criteria for SAF Approved will benefit from the use of point-of-sale materials to help promote finance.
‘SAF has also been welcomed by regulatory bodies, as it helps provide customers with reliable information on their finance options. We hope car buyers will seek out SAF Approved dealers.’
Car dealers welcomed the move. RMIF director Sue Robinson said that it was ‘good for consumers, and good for dealers, and the RMIF fully supports the initiative.’
Even car dealers themselves are positive. Vertu Motors director Peter Stewart said that ‘SAF has benefited our colleagues by giving them knowledge and confidence when discussing finance requirements with customers.’