Deregulation - a clearer route for consumers?

As the coalition Government moves toward the Spending Review on October 20th we are beginning to form a picture of what the future will look like.

Yesterday it became clear that the consumer landscape will face some significant changes

http://tinyurl.com/39tknlx
http://tinyurl.com/3xbvur3
While it is a worrying time for the individuals facing uncertainty I can see logic in this particular process.

For far too long the first words my team running the Motor Codes advisory and dispute resolution service hear from consumers looking for help is 'at last, I've got through to someone who can help'.

The complexities of the centrally funded advisory services have layered over the years, to a point where it appears consumers looking for advice get caught in a whirlpool of referral between them all. The outcome of which is an even more frustrated individual as the process rarely gives them the detailed, sector specific advice required, or progresses a valid complaint through to resolution.

In a logical world, Citizens Advice Bureau would advise people, Trading Standards would deal with local and national trading issues and market competition matters would be dealt with through the UK Competition Commission.

There is another element to this picture which, through the deregulation process acknowledges industry led self regulation as an important part of the landscape.

This allows the industry experts to maintain standards within their area of expertise and collaborate with industry and Government on specific industry issues. It reduces the reliance on centrally funded advisory services while providing consumers with expert advice and allows day to day disputes to be resolved swiftly. The process also provides additional radar and escalation to trading standards if the industry self regulatory body identifies such relevant matters of concern.

This is the process that SMMT and now Motor Codes has been engaged in since the launch of the New Car Code back in 2004, we are now successfully fulfilling this function in the service and repair and vehicle warranty sectors.

Let's hope that through the rather uncomfortable announcements that will follow over the coming weeks we see a clear route to sector specific self regulation and providing consumers with easy access to the very best advice and swift escalation to dispute resolution where necessary.

The Motor Codes advisory and dispute resolution service can be contacted on 0800 692 0825 or via http://www.motorcodes.co.uk/

All the best
Chris