'Incompetent' garages increase breakdown risk
23 August 2010 15:46:23
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| Research has highlighted worrying levels of incompetence in UK garages. |
Consumer watchdog Which? asked 62 of its members to book their cars in for a service at a selection of garages throughout the UK.
Prior to servicing, Which? inspected the cars and recorded any pre-existing problems that should be noticed or fixed during a routine service. The body also introduced four simple faults.
After servicing, the watchdog re-examined each car to see whether the pre-existing and deliberate faults had been spotted and addressed.
Analysis revealed that nearly 90% of garages missed at least one potentially dangerous fault, while 39% charged customers for a product that was not supplied.
The findings provide cause for concern, as some faults could increase customers' reliance on their breakdown cover, while others could put lives at risk.
Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith commented: "This is a worrying snapshot of an industry that desperately needs to clean up its act.
"Almost all the garages in our investigation failed to fix basic faults. This could have endangered the lives of drivers and other road users and is simply not acceptable."
On a more positive note, a recent study by Admiral Insurance found that almost three-quarters of female drivers know how to check their vehicle's oil and water levels, which should greatly reduce their risk of a breakdown.
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