Motor trade Safetraders
Motor trade Safetraders
This is a register of South Tyneside businesses who have a history of fair trading in providing bodywork repairs, car sales and servicing.
Car sales, servicing and repairs are a major source of complaints to trading standards throughout the country. Some result from a small number of 'cowboy traders' but most arise when honest businesses fail to check that their staff are doing jobs correctly or are unaware of their legal obligations.
Our motor trade registration scheme is an attempt to reduce these problems and generally raise standards throughout South Tyneside.
Main aims
- To encourage and promote high standards in car sales, servicing and repairs
- To improve the image of the motor trade in South Tyneside
- To increase compliance with consumer laws
- To improve consumer confidence by promoting registered traders
- Have an effective written complaints procedure including that in the event of a complaint not being resolved the matter will be abritrated upon by trading standards
Membership of the scheme will mean that all traders have met the following general criteria:
- Satisfy a county court and trading standards records check
- Had their procedures and practices audited before membership was granted and at least annually thereafter by trading standards
- Comply with the spirit and letter of the law, including any code of practice and to the principles and commitments of the scheme
- Deal with customers fairly, courteously and in accordance with good business practice
- Have an effective written complaints procedure including that in the event of a complaint not being resolved the matter will be abritrated upon by trading standards
- Co-operate with officers of the Trading Standards Service
Motor trade scheme terms and conditions
Car sales businesses must also
- Ensure all descriptions are accurate, honest and truthful
- Make available a pre-sale inspection report for all used vehicles
- Pass on relevant information on the vehicle history to consumers
- Ensure only roadworthy vehicles are supplied for use on the road
- Take reasonable steps to verify mileometer readings
- Use disclaimers when the true mileage cannot be verified
- Refund the full purchase price of the vehicle if, despite making reasonable checks, the recorded mileage proves to be incorrect within 12 months of purchase
Car servicing and repair businesses must also
- Have suitable procedures to ensure any work requested is properly carried out
- Monitor work by checking a proportion of jobs
- Obtain the customer's permission before doing any required extra work
- Retain replaced parts for customer's inspection
- Provide detailed invoices
South Tyneside Trading Standards Service is committed to
- Providing a fair and impartial service to both consumers and businesses
- Assistance in resolving disputes
- Regular auditing of member businesses to identify any problems and provide assistance for rectification
- Investigation any breach of the law by a scheme member which may result in a member being prosecuted, removed from the scheme, or both
If you have a problem involving a scheme member
Notify the trader straight away, in writing if necessary, and give them a reasonable opportunity to correct the problem. Contact us if you are not happy with the outcome.
NB: Nothing in the scheme prevents either party from seeking redress through legal action in the courts.
Limitations of the scheme
Membership commits the business to high standards of fair trading which are checked by trading standards staff. However we do not check all cars sold or work carried out. South Tyneside Council, its members and staff therefore are not liable for any problems connected with the goods or services of businesses approved under the scheme.
