OFT Criticises BSI over Garage Shutdown Claims

BSI has landed itself in hot water with the OFT by claiming the Office of Fair Trading will begin closing down garages from January for inadequate repairs. The OFT was responding to a media statement issued by BSI and headed “OFT warns garages can be shut down from January 2007”. It said that the organisation will begin inspections “with a view to taking prompt action and enforcing legislation on the industry when the NCC’s supercomplaint happens in 2007”.

However the OFT says the BSI’s claims are nonsense. “The BSI statement is not substantiated. We’re asking it to issue a retraction,” said a spokesman.”

The BSI operates the PAS80 Kitemark scheme, which costs repairers £745 per year. The BSI promotes this as the only way for garages to demonstrate their quality. Although it is a lengthy process, there are currently 30 Kitemark garages, with another 20 set to achieve the standard soon. In addition to this, there are currently 500 applications/enquiries being processed. This is an improvement on the 11 that held the Kitemark in July.

The National Consumer Council (NCC) has withdrawn the immediate threat of a supercomplaint, as the industry has made good progress towards an OFT Code of Practice.