Convicted Driver
Motorists pay £150 extra for servicing and repairs
Thu, 30 Mar 2006
Each UK motorist is being ripped off by an average of £150 for car servicing and repairs, according to new research.
It is estimated cowboy mechanics are costing the nation as a whole £4 billion.
The National Consumer Council (NCC), which conducted the survey, is now pushing for better standards in the industry to halt practices that can cost drivers dearly.
NCC chairman Lord Whitty said: "The garage industry has long been bad news for consumers.
"The good news is that the industry is now starting to show some signs of turning the corner. However, there is still a long way to go before Britain's 25 million car drivers can be sure of a fair deal."
The NCC has launched a route map for improvements that, it is hoped, will lead to higher standards and make sure a garage that does a good job at a fair price is in easy reach of most people
The NCC's plan gives the trade a deadline of September 2007 to "put its house in order", including getting Office of Fair Trading (OFT) approval for a code of practice.
Lord Whitty added: "Our message to industry is sign up now to these initiatives, and make a positive difference for consumers."
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