The Motor Ombudsman has entered into a partnership with AAG, a distributor of passenger and commercial vehicle parts to motor factors, garages, franchise networks and public services throughout the UK and Ireland.
The collaboration has been introduced to enhance the coverage of Motor Ombudsman-accredited vehicle repairers operating to high standards in the service and repair sector, and to widen the availability of the impartial and independent body’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service to a greater number of businesses and consumers across the nation. The formal affiliation with The Motor Ombudsman reinforces AAG’s nationally recognised demonstration of their commitment to industry best practice and customer service excellence through their 1,200-strong, nationwide Approved Garages Network across the UK, including AutoCare, Top Truck, United Garage Services, and NexDrive.
As part of the collaboration, should any member of AAG’s Garage Networks programme have an unresolved dispute with a customer, they will be invited to apply for accreditation to The Motor Ombudsman’s Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)-approved Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair. Subject to meeting the qualifying criteria to become part of the Code, garages will be able to signpost consumers to The Motor Ombudsman for assistance to help conclude disputes using the body’s fully in-house automotive service.
Launched more than a decade ago in 2008, the established Code aims to set a benchmark of best practice in the vehicle maintenance sector and aims to drive the delivery of even higher standards in the provision of ad hoc and routine maintenance to customers, beyond those laid down by law. More than 7,500 vehicle repairers spanning the length and breadth of the UK, are currently adhering to the guidelines which cover areas, such as the booking-in of a vehicle, the work conducted, and transparency for billing, and authorising additional repairers with the agreement of customers beyond the initial scope of work.
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “AAG and their garage networks align with our values in their quest for the very highest level of customer satisfaction and to do the right thing by their consumers. This partnership therefore brings together two prominent organisations in their field with a common goal to move standards forward in the motor industry, and allow more motorists to have access to reputable garages that are committed to excellence.”
Tim Clement, Head of Workshop Solutions at Alliance Automotive Group UK and Ireland, added: “We are very excited to be partnering with an authority in the automotive sector, such as The Motor Ombudsman. We want our garages to be the very best that they possibly can be, and this collaboration reinforces our dedication to always raising the bar even higher when it comes to the level of service and work delivered to motorists, and ultimately challenges the status quo. We look forward to working with The Motor Ombudsman and building on the formidable expertise that this collaboration will offer.”
