Autodata Forges Partnership with Trading Standards

Autodata has entered into a partnership with the Trading Standards Institute to supply information to its members. Autodata is providing Trading Standards officers with access to its CD1 service information to assist them in identifying and prosecuting the minority of rogue operators that remain in the industry.

This partnership forms part of Autodata’s ongoing commitment to improve standards in the garage industry and prevent the few rogue operators tarnishing the image of the industry as a whole. This initiative is part of a concerted effort to drive up industry standards and goes alongside its relationship with the Retail Motor Industry Federation and support of the Institute of the Motor Industry’s ATA scheme.

Trading Standards Officers will use the CD as the basis for comparing garage quotes following a complaint or mystery shopping exercise. Information from Autodata will give officers a definitive guide on what operations should be included in a service and what parts should be replaced. To combat overcharging, access is also provided to Vehicle Manufacturers’ repair times, over 1300 separate operations per model.

Because of the high demand for Autodata’s products, the original CD has become a target for counterfeiters and hackers. Despite significant and sustained investment in security software, Autodata has still suffered from piracy. The partnership with the Trading Standards Institute will also assist officers in detecting when illegal software is in use and support any prosecutions. Piracy affects businesses and threatens consumer safety. Pirated CDs are usually based on old CDs and much of the information contained on them will have been superseded.

Commenting on the new partnership Peter Stratton, lead officer motor trade: “The opportunity given by Autodata to every Trading Standards service to have access to this information will be of great value. To be able to reference the detail of consumers invoices in respect of servicing and repair enquires will be a valuable tool for advisory and enforcement officers. It also gives a clear indication of the items to be included in any ‘test purchase’ of garage servicing.”

“It is not difficult to see why Autodata has had this product counterfeited and used by unauthorised garages. If any officers find evidence of this activity they will receive the full support of Autodata in any investigations they need to make.”