Are increased Repair Charges
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Justified?
DISCUSSING motor-vehicle repair L./charges in war-time, at a meeting of the Leeds Section of the Institute of the Motor Trade last week, Captain A. H. Maycock, 0.B.E., F.I.M.T., a Leeds consulting automobile engineer and assessor, urged that the motor trade and the insurance companies should get together for discussions with a view to reaching agreement as to what the charges should be.
It had been stated, said Captain Maycock, that an advance of 33* per cent, over the present schedule of repair charges appeared to be in the air. He also believed that a certain vehicle manufacturer had written its agents to the effect that a 331 increase for repairs was chargeable. He failed to see the justice of such an advance, and firstclass repair concerns had also told him they saw no justification for it. One company had said that it was prepared to carry out all repairs subject to a 5 per cent. increase in charges.
Mr. T. I. Bennett, F.I.M.T., chairman of the Section and of the Yorkshire Division of the Motor Agents' Association, who presided, said that Captain May-cock had spoken of lack of control in the trade, but it seemed to him that the trade, by itself, would not be able to do much in the matter. How, then, would the lecturer deal with the situation ?
Captain Maycock replied that it appeared to be a matter of compromise, to arrive at which the trade and .the insurance companies should get together. He suggested a special meeting in Leeds, at which the trade's representatives could put forward their case on repair charges. The findings of the meeting could then be reported to the trade, to the insurance companies, and to the Institute of Automobile Assessors. He did not suggest that these findings would necessarily be acted upon throughout the country, but, at least, a start would have been made.
Referring to the numerous claims on insurance companies for frost damage to vehicles during recent weeks, lie said that he estimated the cost to date at not short of 42,500,000.