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This item is probably one of the most significant items that I have ever written about consumer rights, something I am passionate about. It will be worth cutting and pasting into a secure file as a reference point in the future should you or anyone you know experience problems. The case I am about to refer to is to do with pension advice provided by a financial advisor but according to Greg Standing, partner in Wragge & Co LLP’s Finance, Insolvency, Recoveries and Sales Team, the Court of Appeal ruling has far reaching affects and is Read more »

Did the measures announced by the Chancellor of the 24^th November have any affect on drivers or the industry? Not much is the answer. The VAT drop on fuel has been balanced out by increased duty but will the duty come off again when VAT returns to it’s current level? It will also have the affect of putting up prices Read more »

The Health & Safety Act 2008, which increases penalties for those who break health and safety laws, has received its royal assent. The act raises the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000 and the range of offences for which an individual can be imprisoned has also been broadened. I will hopefully be able to bring you more information over the next few weeks. Don’t forget that health and safety at work extends to vehicles used for company business. By Graham Hill

Manufacturers were going a bit crazy last week as they warned contract hire companies and brokers from selling on hugely discounted new cars. As though this was earth shatteringly new! It isn’t, how do you think the car supermarkets have been able to sell new cars more cheaply than main dealers can buy them for? The practice of daily rental companies selling on brand new cars to Read more »

Finally it would seem that fewer people are using private cars for business since the Government chose not to adjust the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) in line with increasing running costs especially the increase in fuel costs. The rates are still set at 40 pence per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25 pence per mile thereafter, tax and NI free. This rate was set six years ago Read more »

As if to support my comments made over the last few weeks market analyst Datamoniter has recorded a growth in vehicle leasing in the fleet sector as more companies release cash tied up in their vehicles and reduce exposure to market conditions by selling off the cars they own and replace them with leased vehicles. New vehicle sales generally slumped further in August from the July drop of 7.3% to an unprecedented 15.6%. Consumers, unaware of the cash flow benefits of leasing new cars, have really Read more »

Now is the time to take great care with the funders, dealers and brokers, both online and offline, that you use to fund your next car. Things are getting tough and having lived through the last recession I know many of the tricks and scams that they all get up to in order to secure life saving orders. Cars are expensive items and great care should be taken over the selection of suppliers. I’ve been in this industry for over 25 years and I am Read more »

Insurance giant Norwich Union has warned businesses with fleet insurance policies to avoid the practice known as ‘Fronting’. This practice allows people who are not directly connected to the company to drive under its insurance. Mike Smith of NU said ‘Fronting in most instances, will invalidate the company insurance policy, leaving the business to pay for any damage to their vehicle. Also if any other driver is involved in an accident, while the insurer will be obliged to meet any liability cost, they can seek recovery of any such payments from the policyholder.’ By Graham Hill

Whilst we are pretty much ripped off in the UK when it comes to new cars compared to the US it sometimes has advantages. At the moment many leasing companies in the US have refused to take on any more leasing business as the risk is all on them and the current drop in used car values is costing them a fortune. In order to achieve cheap rates in the UK the manufacturers have to Read more »

According to figures released by Warranty Direct, labour rates for mechanics have risen by 11.3% since the summer of 2006 to an average £75.17 per hour. Rates have increased sharpest by the independent garages to narrow the gap between them and the more expensive franchised dealer networks. The average franchised dealer is charging £95 an hour today compared with £88 in 2006, up 7.7%. In comparison Read more »