The Body Repair Industry Campaign (BRIC) is pushing the Office of Fair Trading’s Markets and Policies Initiatives Division to conduct a study into the car body repair sector.

Despite recent calls from the National Consumer Council for the garage industry to put its own house in order, BRIC still feels the OFT should act.

“We raise issues that the Government often does not wish to hear,” says Shaun O’Reilly, research director of BRIC. “It is our belief the OFT’s stance of continued non-action is born from a fear of failure regarding tackling the problems we highlight.”

BRIC’s latest submission is the fifth sent by BRIC in recent years to the OFT. Although O’Reilly admits he has no idea if it will be successful, he vows: “If we do not succeed this time, I have no doubt we will succeed another time.”

O’Reilly is on record saying many garages are inadequately equipped to complete repairs safely. “We have a crazy legislative situation that demands licencing for wheel clampers, yet any garage with staff is permitted to put an accident damaged car back on the road. It is alarming that the Government is prepared to allow this to continue,” says O’Reilly.

BRIC believes Government sponsored licensing is the only way forward. Asked for feedback on BRIC’s lobbying, a spokesperson for the OFT says: “We have received the submission and will consider it in due course.”