Garages that have been removed from the MOT scheme following formal disciplinary action have been made public from April of this year. Here at ACC UKLtd, Independent Volvo and Toyota Servicing, Repair and MOT Specialists based in Farnborough, Hampshire think that this is a good idea! It allows the public to see what garages have been performing below sub standards and help them to avoid these type of garages.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has agreed with Government Ministers to make the information publicly available as part of an ongoing process of improving the regulations that surround the garage sector. We have come across so many customers cars that have been brought into us with substandard repair work carried out, quotes for work not necessary and over charging on a wide scale. This type of common practice give the honest and reliable Independent Garages a bad name. This doesn't just happen in the Independent Sector though it does also happen on a dealership level. We have always maintained that you should ask for recommendations from friends and family as to which garage they use, and maybe which garages to avoid - once you have found a good Independent garage - stick with it. Don't forget to do your research online too and don't be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure of anything.
From April, members of the public have been able to sign up for email alerts, which are sent out monthly so that consumers can find out which garages have been removed.
Details of garages removed from the MOT scheme are published after the appeal period has lapsed or the appeal has been determined.
Each year in Great Britain some 35 million MOT's take place at some 21,000 authorised premises - the annual cost to motorists of the test alone is in the region of £1.5 billion.
Last year the Motorists Forum looked at the whole customer experience when they are taking their vehicles into a garage. The aim of the study was to identify how ‘best practice’ could be rolled out across the industry to improve the quality of service for motorists in the UK.
In February 2014, a number of changes were made to the MOT site assessment. These changes included approved codes of practice, discounted test fees, and making it easier for members of the public to access information on local garages. This we hope will help improve the customer experience on the whole, allowing them easier access to information and helping them to make a more informed decision on where to take their vehicles for their regular servicing, repairs and MOT's.
