As the fallout continues from the Fleet News expose (May 21) highlighting the problem of fleets being ripped off by garages, the Government has demanded independent garages get their act together.

Fleets have complained that some garages are overcharging for work or charging for parts that have not been replaced. Others complain of work being recommended that does not need carrying out.

One fleet manager said she was recommended to change a car’s tyres by a well-known fast fit centre. Seven months later the tyres still have 4.5mm of tread on them. Another was changed for parts that had not been replaced.

In an attempt to stamp out such practices, the consumer affairs minister Gareth Thomas issued an open letter calling on garages to subscribe to the Government-backed Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair.

The code can be used to identify garages that are “responsible and reliable”.

Some 5,000 have already signed up, but that’s not enough said the minister – and the industry seems to agree.

“Those businesses who are sitting on the fence watching which of the myriad of codes circulating in the industry will work are missing the point - there is only one code now,” said Mike Owen, senior technical manager at the Retail Motor Industry Federation.

In a further move to reassure fleet managers, Vizion – a network of BSI Kitemark-certified collision repairers – has launched its own scheme.

"We can no longer afford to have a fragmented, clouded approach to vehicle body repair,” said Eamonn Dunne, chairman of Vizion Network.

“Now, owners, insurers and fleet managers can specify a Vizion Network repairer and be confident their prestige vehicles will be repaired safely and effectively."

The Good Garage Scheme for independent workshops has also produced a guide on what to expect from a service.

It warns that: “Some garages will change only your oil filter, others will carry out a full service.”

It recommends that a service checklist is agreed and followed a completed checklist is returned.
It also recommends that fleet managers ask to view replaced parts and check that all work and parts are fully itemised.