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May 25, 2021 at 9:30 am in reply to: Petition calls for industry support and action plan to correct ongoing effects of last year’s six-month MOT exemption #212733
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Zoe, Steve, thanks for your comments. You’ll need to add your own names to the petition, which can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/585533?fbclid=IwAR0TLVOYh3vANYBbcu_wc_PeHZfAQHU3OzK1iHYH2NoHoGpcVYS60chNXIg
July 21, 2020 at 2:21 pm in reply to: Face masks to become Mandatory for retail businesses – here’s the advice for garages #198743Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Linda, as with everything surrounding the pandemic there’s lots of grey areas when it comes to government guidance and legislation and the use of masks is indeed one of them. While there’s no official line on this specifically for garages, GW understands that the same retail definition used for business rate relief and coronavirus grants are likely to be used here, which would suggest that customers entering a garage should wear a face mask from Friday.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by
Mike Ruff, GW editor.
June 12, 2020 at 4:03 pm in reply to: The Motor Ombudsman reinforces importance of COVID-19 business support portal #196970Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Stewart, keep trying! Many are initially declined the grant but almost all that that are initially declined have got it. It’s a topic discussed in this week’d Garage Wire Podcast. Give it a listen here: https://garagewire.co.uk/garage-wire-podcast/
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Alan, thanks for raising this point. The information you refer to was supplied via press release from the Department of Health and Social Care. To clarify, only those who have been identified as having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive must stay at home for 14 days. To be considered by Test and Trace as someone who has been in contact with COVID-19, you must have been within two metres of someone who has tested positive for the virus for at least 15 minutes. Providing your staff stick to social distancing measures, they won’t all need to go into self-isolation at the same time. Thanks again, Mike.
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Graham, very good questions!
Government advice states employers must ensure any self-isolating employee is receiving sick pay and give them the option to use their paid leave days if they prefer.
On the MOT fee, we’re aware that the IGA is encouraging garages to “stand united” at the DVSA’s recommended MOT price of £54.85 to help garages recuperate costs from the loss of revenue throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we’re not aware of any indication by the DVSA to officially “fix the fee”, despite long-held calls for it to do so.
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi all, these WAIglobal vehicle sanitiser kits are available to motor factors and garages and can be ordered by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01243 833 420.
March 25, 2020 at 10:22 am in reply to: Statement: Garage Wire aims to keep trade connected during tough times #193252Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterThe very latest on MOT news with all of the details here: https://garagewire.co.uk/news/associations/dvsa/breaking-mot-due-dates-to-be-extended-by-six-months/
March 25, 2020 at 8:55 am in reply to: Statement: Garage Wire aims to keep trade connected during tough times #193222Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Nigel, Garage Wire has requested an update from the DVSA and we’ll report on any responses as and when we receive them. As of this morning, we understand that testing stations may stay open if they wish. Latest information is here: https://garagewire.co.uk/news/associations/dvsa/breaking-carry-on-testing-says-dvsa/
January 24, 2020 at 1:39 pm in reply to: Faults found on 48 out of 55 MOT lifts in Northern Ireland #190576Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Carl, Thanks for your comment. You’ll be pleased to know that Garage Wire has approached the Department for Infrastructure for details on the affected lifts. We’ll report back on the response as soon as we receive it.
October 10, 2019 at 8:46 am in reply to: Boston is first to get DVSA ‘connected approval’ for emissions equipment #186298Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Peter,
As we understand it, the DVSA is currently working with manufacturers such as Boston to develop diesel smoke meters, exhaust gas analysers and decelerometers that connect to the MOT testing service. The rule for new connected roller brake testers came into force from 1 October and the DVSA has suggested that rule will be extended to include connected emission gas analysers, diesel smoke meters, decelerometers and headlamp beam testers by early 2020 following on from successful trials.
Boston has now announced that its exhaust gas analysers and diesel smoke meters have been certified by the DVSA as ‘connected MOT equipment’, ahead of the new rule being applied by the DVSA next year.
Hope that helps?
Thanks, Mike.
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterFair point Dougal!
July 1, 2019 at 11:14 am in reply to: Main dealer forgets to secure axle after replacing engine on customer’s car #180900Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Eddie, thanks for your comment – I appreciate your concern. Wherever possible we check facts before publishing and in cases where facts cannot be substantiated we’ll make this clear in the article. In this case, we were only able to report on the story based on the original media coverage in The Sun. Now that we’re aware of the technicalities we have updated the article. Please accept my apologies and understand that your readership is valued. We’ll continue to do our best to fully substantiate facts.
April 2, 2019 at 2:59 pm in reply to: Get your PicoScope questions answered by Pico Automotive here #174161Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterIn the first Q&A of the series, Pico Automotive discusses PicoScope options for independent garages.
Question: Which model scope are mechanical shops using and how many channels is recommended?
Read Pico’s answer here: https://garagewire.co.uk/garage-wire-views-issuu/get-your-picoscope-questions-answered-in-new-gw-views-feature/
March 19, 2019 at 12:54 pm in reply to: DIY car repairs on the rise but drivers end up paying £170 to fix their mistakes, study shows #172731Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterInteresting one this: 30 per cent or owners say they don’t attempt any repairs themselves because they ‘don’t trust’ themselves to do the work, 24 per cent ‘have a friend’ who does it for them cheaper than garages charge and 21 per cent ‘want it done properly the first time’.
Let us know if you have you had to correct a customer’s bodged DIY repair – share your horror stories and pictures!
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterMorning Daryl, many thanks for posting. Would you mind emailing me via [email protected] and I can forward on the appropriate information for you.
Best regards,
Mike.November 30, 2018 at 2:28 pm in reply to: Tesco to install thousands of FREE electric car chargers to its store car parks #167854Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Andrew, it’s a good point! I’ve just contacted the VW UK press office and they have confirmed that these charging points are indeed universal.
November 19, 2018 at 5:01 pm in reply to: The "alarming discoveries" made by UK MOT testers on a daily basis #167286Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Andrew, thanks for your comment and I can appreciate where you’re coming from. The coverage was based on press release material from Prestige Motor Warehouse and as no personal details were revealed, we thought it was a light-hearted piece worth covering – it certainly sparked some interesting comments on the GW Facebook page.
November 19, 2018 at 4:04 pm in reply to: Tecalemit laser alignment machine calibration problem #167284Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Matt, it might be worth contacting the Garage Equipment Association for their advice? You can contact them on 01327 312616.
November 16, 2018 at 12:38 pm in reply to: Landmark jail sentence for car technician who stole customer data #167222Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHe was sentenced to six months in prison at at London’s Wood Green Crown Court after pleading guilty.
October 19, 2018 at 12:04 pm in reply to: "Horrific" motorway incident prompts safety campaign to protect roadside technicians #165904Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterThere’s some good news this week as the AA, RAC and Green Flag have all put their weight behind the ‘slow down, move over’ campaign. We’ve just published the full details here: http://garagewire.co.uk/news/aa-rac-and-green-flag-call-for-new-road-safety-rule-following-string-of-deaths
Hopefully the above article should also answer your question Malcolm.
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Nigel, thanks for your comment. This story was ran as an ‘off-beat’ piece on GW in today’s news bulletin as the incident involved a fast-fit technician who escaped a prison sentence, in part because he would have lost his job. I appreciate your comment though as we’re always keen to get the news balance right for our readers. Thanks again, Mike.
May 15, 2018 at 4:32 pm in reply to: R134a to be phased out so get ready for R1234yf, say suppliers #158135Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Jon, thanks for your post. The information was supplied via Dometic – we’ll look into it and ensure it’s correct though!
Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Bob, still having problems today? I had heard of a few issues yesterday…
April 12, 2018 at 3:04 pm in reply to: GDPR new rules. Can anyone explain in English please? #156145Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Val, you can watch the GDPR coverage on GWTV here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNqm5lXZnjU
Thanks,
Mike.
April 10, 2018 at 5:54 pm in reply to: GDPR new rules. Can anyone explain in English please? #156002Mike Ruff, GW editor
KeymasterHi Val, it’s certainly a hot topic and there still seems to be lots of confusion at the moment. I’ve been working with the Independent Garage Association recently to get some straight answers on what GDPR means for independents and i’m currently putting together a GWTV video feature on the topic which will be published later this week.
To answer your question for now though, it’s my understanding having discussed this with the IGA, that you need to ensure that your customers are aware of how you intend to use their data. You need their consent to contact them about MOT and servicing reminders. I’ll post the video here for you to watch once published, got lots of great information in it!
Thanks for the posting.
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This reply was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by
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