An aftersales consultantcy company has defended the UK’s mechanics following a recent article published by Direct Line, entitled ‘Cowboy Mechanics’.

Automotive Advantage called the article ‘ill-judged, misleading’ and said it preyed on popular public misconceptions about the repair industry.

Chris Hallam, development director Automotive Advantage, said: “There are thousands of garages that take pride in their work; they employ responsible technicians who like nothing better than learning their trade and typically spend thousands of their own money on expensive tools and equipment.”

Automotive Advantage agreed some garages don’t deliver but found from its own research that complaints and poor satisfaction stem from three areas -insufficient technical training and/or technical back-up support, incorrect or no equipment to carry out the job and poor communication from lack of structure.

“Yes Direct Line, the repair industry does have issues and a great deal of effort is being made by many to improve the situation, but don’t kick mechanics as a whole in pursuit of cheap publicity,” said Hallam.