Retail Motor Law (RML), has had a petition on anti-steering legislation approved by the Number 10 web team.

Qualified barrister and solicitor Mr Moody, director of RML, comments: “The practice of vehicle insurers and fleet management companies 'steering' customers is widespread and it is bad for both the repair industry and consumers. I strongly urge those in the bodyshop trade and members of the public to pressure the PM to introduce anti-steering legislation by signing the petition on the Downing Street website.”

Anyone interested in signing the petition to the Prime Minister should visit http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Anti-Steering/

Alternatively click the following link to download a paper petition for your customers to sign.

RML Anti Steering Petition  

The petition, which will stay online until January 2011, reads:

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to introduce anti-steering legislation to prevent motor vehicle insurance companies and motor vehicle fleet management companies from pressurising policyholders into a vehicle accident repair centre selected by the insurance or fleet management company.

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“This legislation is needed to ensure the vehicle body repair industry remains able to trade freely and without restrictions imposed by vehicle insurance companies and motor vehicle fleet management companies. With the vehicle body repair industry widely adopting a recognised standard there is no valid reason why consumers should not be able to use a vehicle body repairer of choice providing the repairer has achieved and maintains a recognised quality standard.

"In allowing vehicle insurers and fleet management companies to 'steer' customers the vehicle body repair industry is effectively under the control of insurers and fleet management companies. This control is detrimental to repairers through the dictation to repair methods, quality of components used, and even the supplier from whom components, paint and consumables are to be purchased. It is also detrimental to consumers as the cost of the repair rather than the quality of the repairer may ultimately lead to unsafe vehicles being used."

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