BRENTWOOD, Essex, 29 August 2008 – Ford's 620-strong network of Authorised Repair Centres have signed up to the new motor industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair, launched today.
Under the code, consumers have more rights than those required by law. It offers free consumer advice and conciliation service, and low cost, legally binding arbitration.
The code has been developed by industry bodies such as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Retail Motor Industry Federation to promote and safeguard the interests of consumers. It helps them to identify subscribing garages and to gain easy access to the advice, conciliation and arbitration services.
Garages are required to meet a prescribed set of standards in their service and repair operations in order to qualify for the code. The RAC has been appointed to carry out compliance checks, which take place unannounced and at regular intervals. As well as inspecting garage facilities, these checks monitor the quality of the work. A follow-up check is carried out for any garage not meeting the required criteria.
The objective of the code is to ensure that garages provide appropriate standards of vehicle service and repair work, and that customers are treated fairly.
Ford Authorised Repair Centres already operate at standards that meet or exceed the motor industry Code of Practice. However, Ford recognises the need for such a code to raise the performance of the industry as a whole and to provide valuable consumer benefits.
John Cooper, Ford of Britain's director for customer service, said: "We are pleased to be leading the industry by all of our Authorised Repair Centres signing up at the launch of this code. It is an important industry initiative that provides a genuine benefit for customers and sets defined standards for garages for repairing and servicing vehicles."
Ford Authorised Repairers benefit from comprehensive training and tooling programmes. Technicians undergo an extensive training curriculum focusing on all aspects of Ford products and technology. The training is tiered with approximately a third of all Ford AR technicians going on to become Senior or Master Technicians handling diagnosis and more complex mechanical repairs.
Recognising the technical sophistication of modern Ford vehicles, all Ford Authorised Repairers are equipped with Ford's state-of-the-art diagnostic tool (IDS) to ensure that any faults can be diagnosed quickly and accurately, for improved "right first time" repairs and to minimise the inconvenience of vehicle downtime.