SUPPORT for the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair has been pledged by the Independent Garage Association.
The body will encourage its 3500-strong membership to sign up.
IGA chairman Jonas Zambakides said: ‘One of the key objectives, for my period as chair of the IGA, is to deliver a consistent and fair method of members dealing with customers, and the Code is the way we intend to do this.’
He explained that the Code has all an independent garage needs to cost-affectively improve its service to customers.
It is also an aid to them remaining competitive with other garages, he added.
The threat of a super-complaint by Consumer Focus to the OFT has also influenced the chairman. So far, only 10 per cent of Code subscribers are independents.
Motor Codes director Chris Mason is frustrated by the Consumer Focus statement, but still says it is encouraging the group sees the Codes as being a success.
‘The independent garage sector now needs to join the process of delivering a consistent, industry-wide method by which we can demonstrate our ability to self-regulate,’ he said.
‘The message is quite clear: sign up, and prove that you are a responsible business, committed to taking consumer protection seriously.’