25 October 2010

Warm applause at the RMI annual dinner last Thursday night for the unveiling of the ‘Trust My Garage’ scheme. Equally warm laughter when guest speaker, Mike Penning MP, suggested the RMI should launch a ‘Trust my MP’ initiative. Sorry, I couldn’t help but wonder: who needs another ‘good garage’ accreditation scheme.

We already have the OFT-backed Motor Codes (led by the SMMT); the RMI’s own Code of Conduct; the Good Garage scheme (now run by Forte Lubricants); the BSI’s Kitemark scheme; the Bosch Service Code of Practice … and that’s just the ones I can remember off the top of my head.

Pity the poor garage or workshop owner who has to decide which scheme to subscribe too. More pity the poor customer who has to decide which one to trust. In truth, most customers will either use the workshop that is most convenient to them or one that has been recommended by a friend.

Paul Williams, RMI chairman, told us Trust My Garage was “not designed to compete with the other Codes”. But I’m sorry Paul, it will – and I really can’t see what it adds to consumer protection.

Claiming that the scheme will have ‘real teeth’ because it’s backed by the RMI and underpinned by the RMI Code of Conduct is just laughable. If the current Code is so strong, why do we continue to get complaints about workshop standards (including RMI members)? And, as outlined on Thursday, there’s no compulsion on RMI members to join. So where’s the sanction for failure?

At least Trust My Garage is free for RMI members and thus is likely to appeal to the independent sector. One of the major failings of Motor Codes has been its ability to attract independent garages and the vast majority of members (encouraged by their manufacturer partners) are franchised dealerships.

So what is the franchised sector now supposed to do? Join both schemes? Drop Motor Codes (in the face of carmaker support) and join the RMI? It seems unlikely.

The truth is consumers will only start trusting their garages when rogue elements stop ripping them off and the rest of the industry learns to get the fix right, first time, every time. Until then, any code or scheme is just a sticking plaster on an open wound.

Right now I’m off to launch ‘Trust my Journalist’ and Keith Parry at Barclays would like ‘Trust my Bank’. Estate agents can join the queue.

Have a great week, both in and out of the showroom. If you have a story for us, or want to get something off your chest, email rupert@auto-retail.com

Rupert Saunders
 

Tags: Motor Codes, RMI, SMMT, Trust My Garage