VOSA pledge

VOSA pledge

03 Jul 2009

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Motor Industry Code of Practice recruits powerful ally as VOSA breaks with tradition to pledge support

VOSA has broken with tradition to give its strongest possible endorsement of the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair.

A statement released on Wednesday (July 1st) by the scheme’s organisers at Motor Codes says VOSA is supporting the scheme as a way of encouraging improved customer service.

As a government agency, VOSA is prevented from expressing any political views or preferences. Its role is simply to carry out government legislation.

In a carefully worded statement, VOSA’s chief operating officer Alex Fiddes said it welcomed schemes “such as” the Code that could improve customer service standards rather than technical skills alone.

Alex’s statement read: “The 19,600 garages authorised to issue MOT certificates have already demonstrated their competence in order to fulfil VOSA’s own accreditation process but through subscribing to schemes such as the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair, they can also demonstrate their commitment to customer service.

“We would encourage MOT garages to sign up to industry codes and seek to improve standards for motorists,” added Alex.

“This code is specifically aimed at providing reassurance to consumers and comfortably operates alongside other schemes – which can only help during what is clearly a challenging time for any business.”

During the storm over now-defunct plans to switch to a two-yearly system of MOT tests, VOSA was unable to express any opinion on the plans – even though privately, senior VOSA staff did not support the idea.

This makes VOSA’s necessarily vague support for shemes “such as” the code all the more unusual and significant as a powerful ally for the scheme.

A spokesman for VOSA clarified its official position. "VOSA wishes to promote and encourage best practice among the industries it regulates and it welcomes initiatives that bring about improvements in accordance with its objectives,” she said.

“VOSA does not endorse any particular code of conduct but is willing to express its approval where appropriate. Garages can decide whether or not they subscribe to services but this will have no bearing on any of VOSA's internal processes."

The Code needs to recruit more independent garage members to convince the government it can regulate standards within the trade and prevent the need for mandatory legislation.

Since its launch in August last year, 5,500 workshops have signed up although the majority of these are from the franchised sector.

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