Issued By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service

MOTOR TRADE PARTNERSHIP – THE KEY TO SUCCESS

The West Yorkshire Trading Standards Motor Trade Partnership is proving to be an unqualified success. Since its launch in August 2001, membership of the scheme has grown to over 100 dealers.

The Partnership between Trading Standards and the motor trade is aimed at cutting the thousands of complaints received every year from members of the public. At the time of the Partnership launch, 19% of all consumer complaints received related to the motor industry, ranging from poor servicing, and the sale of unroadworthy vehicles to misleading pricing. On closer investigation, the majority of complaints result from misunderstandings by the parties concerned or a break down in communication. Only a very small minority of cases require any form of legal action, but generally the public perceive that they are given a poor deal by the car industry.

Despite a small rise in the total number of complaints made to the “Helpline” about the motor industry in general, there have been very few complaints regarding Motor Trade Partnership members. Where justified complaints have been received, members have resolved them in a courteous and efficient manner and the arbitration scheme is being utilized to its full advantage. Members are clearly using good business practices to ensure that their customers are dealt with in a fair manner.

The newest member of the Partnership is the Lancaster Group, which consists of Appleyard Jaguar, Polar Ford of Bradford and Scotthall BMW of Leeds.

The Lancaster Group have been audited to ensure, amongst other things, that they :

-         comply with the spirit and letter of the law

-         carry out mileage checks on used vehicles

-         have an established customer complaints procedure

-         ensure advertisements are truthful and not misleading

Chairman of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee, Councillor Graham Clarke said, “The public are generally mistrustful of the motor trade and this Scheme has given consumers peace of mind and confidence and has created an ethos of fair trading within the Motor Industry.”

Martin Wood, West Yorkshire’s Chief Trading Standards Officer said, “We urge consumers who are looking to buy or service a vehicle to look for the Motor Trade Partnership logo. We cannot promise you will never have a complaint, but the Partnership will ensure it will be resolved. Details of members are available on the Website, www.ts.wyjs.org.uk, or consumers can contact the West Yorkshire Consumer Helpline on 01133 848 848.   Alternatively, details will also be available at local Citizens Advice Bureaux.”

For further information please contact

Graham Hebblethwaite Divisional Manager/ General Media Contact 0113 289 8218

Paul Smith, Consumer Helpline Officer Tel: 0113 289 8219

Angela France, Motor Trade Liaison Officer Tel: 01132 530241

NOTES TO EDITORS