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Steve Gray's penetrating insight into Thatcham's influence on Vehicle Accident Repair Costs (CM, January 27) is marred by the assertion that average labour charges are now £6 per hour.
That is the current rate which repairers should VillialthilASOMailtagffigeN Unless and until the British insurance industry charge out for their labour to remain viable and to permit a prudent programme of re-investment. The truth is, however, that insurers exert their considerable influence — as the preponderent user of the body repairers' services — to depress the accident repair charge-out rate by a level of £1-£1.50
The Mr Wells who criticise the "RHA's decision to withdraw one category of its rates recommendation(CM letters, Feb 10) is an ex-ownerdriver, and not John Wells, organising Secretary of the CMLDoY contest. ph below that of the gara retail rate, thus creating i perpetuating a repair industry which is fragmented, under-capitalised and suffering from a chronic labour turnover. recognises the sheer wat in valuable skills and experience which is bein lost for all time as a resul their penny-wise, pound-foolish policy of depressing labour rates, only Thatcham, but all th, King's horses and all the King's men will be powerless to put the accident repair industry t on its feet and achieve a partnership which will be beneficial to all, insurer, repairer and, not least, th policy-holder, who, at tht end of the day, must pay price.
BILL SUNDERLAND, Chief executive, Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association, Leeds.