Page 6 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine

NEWS
ANCAP SAFETY FUNDING
PAGE 08
WA INDUSTRY INQUIRY
PAGE 10
HONDA REVEALS HOTSPOTS
PAGE 14
INDUSTRY BODIES WEIGH IN
ON MANDATORY SHARING
THE DEBATE AROUND mandatory sharing of car repair information has continued with two industry bodies weighing in over the past few weeks.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has maintained its support for mandatory sharing of repair information with ACCC chair Rod Sims declaring commitments by manufacturers had failed.
“To fix today’s cars, repairers need access to volumes of complex technical information held digitally by car manufacturers.
“This allows manufacturers to control access to the technical information needed to fix cars, often favouring their own dealer and preferred networks over independent repairers.
“The ACCC has seen numerous examples of practices by a number of car manufacturers that raise concerns.
“We found that there is a dominant ‘culture of repair’ underpinning systems and policies across the industry based mainly around the manufacturer’s warranties, when enhanced remedies may be available under Australian consumer law.”
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has challenged assertions that lack of access to repair information is putting jobs at risk.
FCAI CEO Tony Weber said that repairers are already able to access information necessary for servicing.
“With independent repair operators already servicing a vast majority of the Australian car fleet, the sector is already accessing important information to enable it to carry out service activity. Otherwise, how are these vehicles currently being serviced?
“To mandate this process will require vast amounts of regulation and a new bureaucracy to police the system to ensure consumers are protected as
vehicles become more and more complex.” The ACCC has made a number of
additonal recommendations including that car manufacturers should update their complaint handling system and approach to the handling of consumer guarantee claims.
The FCAI statement said that it supported a viable independent service and repair sector but maintained that a premium should be placed on intellectual property security, environmental standards and the safety of motorists as
a reason for stopping short of open access.
CANSTAR REVEALS CAR INSURANCE AWARD WINNERS
CANSTAR ANNOUNCED ITS 2018 car insurance star ratings award winners after rating policies from 51 insurers across Australia.
The three national winners for outstanding value car insurance in 2018 were Budget Direct, Bingle and CGU.
Each of the recipients offered emergency accommodation and repairs, towing and cab fares after an accident and a lifetime guarantee on repairs as standard.
The winners’ policies also covered non-nominated drivers in the event of a claim.
At the state level, Budget Direct took out the top
honour in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria while SGIC and RAC held the top spots in South Australia and Western Australia respectively.
The outstanding claims service award went to Suncorp who received market-leading reviews for service including repairs, transport options and claim lodgement options, Canstar says.
The star ratings use a system which compares premium and excess costs as well as features including roadside assistance, repairs, claim processes and excess options.
6 PAINT&PANEL July / August 2018
www.paintandpanel.com.au