NEWS

MOTOR Codes customers who supply feedback on their garage are being incentivised with a monthly prize draw. Up to £500 of service redemptions can be won every month by customers filling in the online feedback form. What’s more, garages can join in the prize handouts too: they can win £250 of Snap-On tools vouchers every [...]

USED car sales need tighter regulations to help protect customers against unscrupulous car dealers. Warranty Direct has made the call, after OFT stats showed secondhand car complaints had risen 18 percent in the first half of 2010. It’s costing motorists an average of £425 per car, reckons Warranty Direct MD Duncan McClure Fisher. This is [...]

MOTOR Codes is hitting the mark with UK garage users as 93% say they’d recommend a Codes-approved garage. Over 3700 people were surveyed, on how impressive their overall garage experience was. Findings showed that over 9 in 10 would subsequently recommend the Motor Codes-approved garage they used to friends and family. There will be no [...]

CAR dealers are being urged to clamp down on bad practice following an investigation by BBC’s Watchdog show. HPI teamed up with the ‘Rogue Trader’ investigators to highlight the risk of car clocking. It helped show up fraudsters who were making thousands of pounds per car sale – on national TV. Which is why HPI [...]

WHICH? Car says car dealers are taking customers for a ride over interest on finance scheme deals. The consumer body carried out an undercover investigation and says that not a single salesperson revealed the total cost of interest on car finance. As a result, it has reported its findings to the OFT. Without full interest [...]

MOTOR Codes subscribers have another new member as warranty firm AutoProtect signs up. The car warranty company will add further to the 3 million car-related products Motor Codes members already administer. ‘This is good news for consumers,’ said Motor Codes director Chris Mason, ‘as yet another organisation demonstrates its willingness to embrace self-regulation for the [...]

USED car dealers have been slated by buyers in a series of reports recently published by the OFT. OFT investigations into second hand car sales have produced 4 reports into the state of the market. Consumers have taken the opportunity to express their disappointment with used car dealers in them, with the surveys finding that: [...]

MOTOR Codes is celebrating its 5th anniversary of the New Car Code regulating new cars motors in the UK. The New Car Code was the first set of regulations to get full OFT approval. It sets standards for the industry to follow, meaning customers of car dealers subscribing can be assured of a high level [...]

CAR Dealer Magazine has already reported on the Office of Fair Trading’s planned survey into used car sales. It seems the investigation is now underway – and the Government body has contacted us, to appeal for help! The OFT will be contacting ‘a large number’ of car dealers over the coming weeks. Wherever possible, it [...]

MOTOR Codes is one step closer to gaining full official code approval under the OFT Approval Scheme. The Motor Industry Code of Practice for Vehicle Warranty Products has just gained Stage One recognition. This will help give official peace of mind to 1.75 million warranties, and 3 million automotive products. It means customers can identify [...]

CONSUMER Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas has taken the unusual step of writing to car garages. In an open letter, he calls upon independent garages to sign up for the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair. ‘The code has got off to an encouraging start,’ he said, ‘with some 5000 businesses already committed [...]

USED car sales are to be investigated by the OFT, Car Dealer Magazine learns, after complaints rocket. The body wants to understand why so many complaints are arising – and is focusing its attention on CAR DEALERS. Results of the investigation may even lead to tightened legislation and stricter enforcement. The surprise announcement follows over [...]