Home Page › Forums › Discussions › General independent garage chat › Latest petition for industry licencing is still long way off target despite widespread calls › Reply To: Latest petition for industry licencing is still long way off target despite widespread calls
This trade should be licensed for several reasons. First there is the safety element, modern vehicles do present similar risks to gas boilers and electricity in the home. These trades are licensed for good reason.
I don’t accept that this will incur additional costs to the business because I maintain that all garages should have properly trained and qualified technicians from the day they opened up, regardless if that was 30 years ago or this morning. Those that don’t will have to achieve the qualifications or not work on a vehicle. To me it is that simple.
I am an ATA Master Technician, as a one man band, the training and qualifications cost me thousands of pounds not to mention the time and commitment. I am constantly undercut or lose work to those in the trade that have little or no formal training and qualifications. These guys then go onto misdiagnose faults, fit sub standard parts which then makes the job harder. Eventually these cars do end up with a qualified technician and a customer who has lost faith in the trade and short of money. Its a lose lose situation for everyone involved.
The average motorist walking into garage has no clue who is handing his her keys to.
We all owe it to the motorist to provide a service by a qualified technician who will diagnose and repair each job correctly.
Licensing is good for our customers and our trade. Its a win win. If garages that cannot or will not meet the correct standards then they will have step aside. That is fair for all.