There is increasing anger amongst many bodyshops, about the practice of insurance companies putting pressure on clients to use their designated repairers. What some describe as an uncompetitive practice, has become more and more of an issue in recent years and poses a serious threat to the very existence of some bodyshops in Ireland.

This situation is also a major issue in the UK, where if anything, the problem is even more pronounced. This has lead Retail Motor Law (RML), a motor trade legal firm, to organise a petition to the UK government on what it terms anti-steering legislation.  
The petition is being championed by qualified barrister and solicitor Andrew Moody, a director of RML. He says, “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.”

Moody adds ‘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 a recognised quality standard.’