The AA says that petrol prices are at their lowest for nearly three years but lower prices failed to revitalise UK pump sales during the last quarter of 2013, as new government figures reveals.
Overall, petrol demand in 2013 fell by more than 850 million litres, equivalent to 19 days consumption.
Demand for petrol from October to December fell 4.2% compared to the same period in 2012, but the big four supermarkets were hit hardest with a 4.9% reduction while other retailers saw sales fall 3.6%.
Diesel
Sales of diesel at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrison's and Asda fared better than on non-supermarket forecourts, with a 2.8% boost in the final quarter of last year as opposed to a 1.5% increase at non-supermarket fuel stations.
Overall, UK diesel demand from October to December rose 2.0%, helped by a 2.0% rise in commercial sales.
A 4.3% boost to supermarket sales of diesel contributed most to an overall 1.8% increase in UK diesel sales in 2013 compared to the year before. This added more than 450 million litres to demand or the equivalent of an extra week's consumption.
Balancing spending
"From September to November, the pump price of petrol fell from a late summer peak 138.38p a litre to a low of 130.13p, before hovering around the 131p level for the rest of the year. In 2012, petrol sales recovered when prices fell – but not in 2013," says Edmund King, the AA's president.
"We think that, having learnt to use car travel and fuel consumption as a budgetary lever, UK families reacted accordingly when faced with the threat of a 10% rise in domestic energy costs. In December, when we gauged how 17,629 AA members would respond to a power cost surge, 35% said that cutting back on car use was their way to balance spending."
Fight back?
Although supermarkets have been charging more consistently for fuel, with the price gap between rural towns much less, their share of petrol sales has fallen more than for other retailers.
Price-matching and reward point schemes that offer pretty much the same may have made it harder for consumers to distinguish between the two types of retailer. However, Tesco's new reward card fuel offer may indicate a fight back that other supermarkets will follow. More competitive diesel prices, though, seem to be working better for supermarkets.
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
Monday, 7 April 2014
Friday, 4 April 2014
Bad driving habits revealed
A new survey into the bad habits of British drivers has uncovered:
. 58% of people will risk cutting across another vehicle if they are not in the correct lane;
. 77% sometimes or regularly eat/drink while driving;
. 45% of motorists are willing to speed by 20 mph or more on dual carriageways and motorways;
. 81% check out other drivers to see if they're attractive.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is a common problem on roads across the world, and the UK is no exception, as our survey has revealed.
Cars in front of us not going as fast as we'd like prove to be one of our biggest bug-bears, with tailgating representing the most common response.
61% of those surveyed admitted to tailgating the car in front when they weren't going as fast as they were, with almost 1 in 4 of us (24%) claiming to do so 'often' or 'all of the time'.
More aggressive reactions such as flashing headlights, sounding the horn or gesturing were less common, with 73% claiming to never do so, however at least 10% of respondents admitted that this is how they deal with this situation 'often' or 'all of the time'.
It was also surprising how many of us will take a risk cutting across another driver if they are in the wrong lane. Although only 14% will do so often or more, a massive 44% will do so if they "think it is safe".
Distractions
Despite recent laws toughening up on using a mobile phone while driving, a significant proportion of UK drivers will still take a call or send a text when behind the wheel.
Although the majority of motorists would never take a call on a handheld phone (65%) or send a text (63%) while driving, 51% would answer a hands-free phone (20% 'All of the time'; 31% if they thought it was important),
However we're even more distracted by food and drink behind the wheel, with 26% of respondents eating or drinking whenever they felt the need, and over half (51%) doing so at least some of the time.
The car radio/CD player and sat-nav are also common distractions for modern drivers, with only 6% of those surveyed claiming to never adjust either of them while in motion.
Signalling
We all know the importance of indicating our intentions when out on the road, and 83% of respondents only fail to indicate if they forget to do so, while 81% check to make sure the various bulbs are working correctly at least every 3-6 months.
Speeding
Speeding to some degree is undoubtedly one of the most common habits drivers display, and a staggering 38% of drivers admit to speeding on ALL kinds of roads - even those where vulnerable road users may be present.
Unsurprisingly, it is on dual carriageways and motorways where people are most likely to speed, with 45% of motorists happy to drive at least 90 mph, while almost 1 in 4 (24%) claiming to speed by as much as they can feel they "can get away with".
The percentage of those who claim to never speed on 40 mph, 50 mph and 60 mph roads increases to 30%, while the majority also speed by up to 10 mph at least on 30 mph roads (58%).
Even on 20 mph roads and school zones the percentage of motorists willing to speed is 38%, with almost one third of those willing to do so by 20 mph or more.
Perhaps the most telling statistic though is to the question of whether motorists believe their bad habits put themselves or others in danger. Almost half (44%) claimed that their bad habits weren't dangerous, while 37% felt that the risk was not greater than any other driver.
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
Thursday, 3 April 2014
Crash for Cash - Reading gang arrested in raids
Police have arrested four men after raiding properties across Reading as part of an investigation into "crash for cash" insurance scams.
Officers searched buildings in Cardiff Road, Wantage Road, Cholmeley Road, Elm Park Road, and Elm Lodge Avenue.
The men, aged 27, 30, 38 and 39, and all from Reading, were arrested on suspicion of fraud.
"Crash for cash" is thought to involve people staging collisions in order to make claims against motorists.
Thames Valley Police (TVP) is investigating crashes between March and September 2013 in the South and Vale, Abingdon, and Oxford areas, in what is being called Operation Shunt.
Police said a "substantial amount of cash was seized" and that another man, 27, has detained by immigration enforcement officers.
Det Insp Louise Roddy said: "The types of offences we have been investigating present a risk to the public so this operation sends out a clear message that TVP takes such offences seriously and will deal with any offenders robustly."
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
Officers searched buildings in Cardiff Road, Wantage Road, Cholmeley Road, Elm Park Road, and Elm Lodge Avenue.
"Crash for cash" is thought to involve people staging collisions in order to make claims against motorists.
Thames Valley Police (TVP) is investigating crashes between March and September 2013 in the South and Vale, Abingdon, and Oxford areas, in what is being called Operation Shunt.
Police said a "substantial amount of cash was seized" and that another man, 27, has detained by immigration enforcement officers.
Det Insp Louise Roddy said: "The types of offences we have been investigating present a risk to the public so this operation sends out a clear message that TVP takes such offences seriously and will deal with any offenders robustly."
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
Monday, 31 March 2014
Councils Receive Share Of Emergency Road Repair Fund
Councils in England have learnt how much money to expect from the government's emergency fund to repair roads damaged by the recent severe weather. This £183.5 million investment follows a particularly harsh winter and will contribute to fixing more than three million potholes.
The money is being distributed now to ensure that work starts soon, with the expectation that the majority will be complete for the summer holidays. 116 Local Highway Authorities in England will receive a share of the funding, and Transport for London will distribute its payment to the London Boroughs.
The Authorities will then have to reveal to the public where the money has been spent via their websites - so there will be some accountability. Furthermore, the Chancellor of the Exchequer recently confirmed – during the budget of March 2014 – that a further £200 million pounds will be made available to repair potholes in the financial year 2014 - 2015.
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
| ENGLAND | £173,499,998 |
| LONDON | £10,000,000 |
| EAST MIDLANDS | £11,774,197 |
| Derby | £221,695 |
| Derbyshire | £2,946,577 |
| Leicester | £250,828 |
| Leicestershire | £1,491,977 |
| Lincolnshire | £3,311,952 |
| Northamptonshire | £1,544,481 |
| Nottingham | £232,906 |
| Nottinghamshire | £1,565,207 |
| Rutland | £208,574 |
| EAST OF ENGLAND | £16,174,242 |
| Bedford | £289,423 |
| Central Bedfordshire | £467,714 |
| Cambridgeshire | £1,531,297 |
| Essex | £2,700,386 |
| Hertfordshire | £3,620,756 |
| Luton | £120,725 |
| Norfolk | £3,689,546 |
| Peterborough | £325,057 |
| Southend-on-Sea | £273,418 |
| Suffolk | £2,944,452 |
| Thurrock | £211,468 |
| NORTH EAST | £6,298,272 |
| Darlington | £178,442 |
| Durham | £1,241,952 |
| Gateshead | £294,795 |
| Hartlepool | £131,268 |
| Middlesbrough | £140,529 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £282,923 |
| North Tyneside | £251,071 |
| Northumberland | £2,736,241 |
| Redcar and Cleveland | £263,488 |
| South Tyneside | £172,647 |
| Stockton-on-Tees | £258,308 |
| Sunderland | £346,608 |
| NORTH WEST | £13,179,700 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | £171,935 |
| Blackpool | £142,518 |
| Bolton | £309,888 |
| Bury | £192,770 |
| Cheshire East | £1,249,785 |
| Cheshire West and Chester | £856,911 |
| Cumbria | £3,018,761 |
| Halton | £230,978 |
| Knowsley | £202,454 |
| Lancashire | £2,279,110 |
| Liverpool | £465,035 |
| Manchester | £419,421 |
| Oldham | £811,773 |
| Rochdale | £238,301 |
| Salford | £259,010 |
| Sefton | £300,119 |
| St. Helens | £252,281 |
| Stockport | £286,735 |
| Tameside | £220,026 |
| Trafford | £234,953 |
| Warrington | £313,559 |
| Wigan | £358,930 |
| Wirral | £364,447 |
| SOUTH EAST | £44,575,080 |
| Bracknell Forest | £162,840 |
| Brighton and Hove | £295,048 |
| Buckinghamshire | £2,507,486 |
| East Sussex | £2,645,187 |
| Hampshire | £11,509,673 |
| Isle of Wight | ** |
| Kent | £8,602,389 |
| Medway | £266,288 |
| Milton Keynes | £371,011 |
| Oxfordshire | £4,782,149 |
| Portsmouth | £146,868 |
| Reading | £151,947 |
| Slough | £87,613 |
| Southampton | £221,057 |
| Surrey | £5,341,676 |
| West Berkshire | £1,489,480 |
| West Sussex | £3,475,968 |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | £2,123,047 |
| Wokingham | £395,353 |
| SOUTH WEST | £46,753,155 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | £417,931 |
| Bournemouth | £349,312 |
| Bristol | £342,924 |
| Cornwall | £10,758,008 |
| Devon | £6,985,437 |
| Dorset | £5,874,311 |
| Gloucestershire | £3,308,360 |
| Isles of Scilly | £80,827 |
| North Somerset | £395,350 |
| Plymouth | £1,573,772 |
| Poole | £255,311 |
| Somerset | £12,335,841 |
| South Gloucestershire | £479,062 |
| Swindon | £250,459 |
| Torbay | £336,225 |
| Wiltshire | £3,010,025 |
| WEST MIDLANDS | £14,389,334 |
| Coventry | £362,105 |
| Dudley | £318,757 |
| Herefordshire | £3,538,803 |
| Sandwell | £302,501 |
| Shropshire | £1,783,118 |
| Solihull | £723,664 |
| Staffordshire | £2,131,285 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | £261,821 |
| Telford and The Wrekin | £333,278 |
| Walsall | £251,947 |
| Warwickshire | £1,969,251 |
| Wolverhampton | £231,973 |
| Worcestershire | £2,180,831 |
| YORKSHIRE AND HUMBER | £10,356,018 |
| Barnsley | £606,045 |
| Bradford | £575,187 |
| Calderdale | £380,034 |
| Doncaster | £521,974 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | £1,302,654 |
| Kingston upon Hull | £204,375 |
| Kirklees | £606,663 |
| Leeds | £949,426 |
| North East Lincolnshire | £213,863 |
| North Lincolnshire | £646,518 |
| North Yorkshire | £3,223,589 |
| Rotherham | £392,016 |
| Wakefield | £487,955 |
| York | £245,719 |
Saturday, 29 March 2014
The controversial subject of repairing cracked alloy wheels hit the headlines last year.
The controversial subject of repairing cracked alloy wheels hit the headlines last year. All sides of the industry had their say on the safety issues and practices, and as a result, bodyshops have subsequently come under scrutiny to ensure that under their duty of care, they advise consumers accordingly on issues associated. bodyshop’s Joe Gregory reports.
Consumers may not realise it, but a cracked alloy wheel is far more dangerous than they might think – no matter how small the crack may be. Even a crack which is unnoticeable to the naked eye could have disastrous consequences. For this reason, industry professionals tend to steer clear of cracked alloys unless they have gone through thorough testing – the risks far outweigh the benefits.
However, repairs of this nature do happen, and it is a bit of minefield for everyone concerned. As a precedent, one consumer, with the help of What Car? took a dealership to court last October and won £1,160 in damages after it sold a vehicle with a ‘repaired’ cracked alloy wheel. What Car? quoted The Welding Institute as saying that ‘weld repair on a cast aluminium road wheel is potentially lethal and could fail catastrophically without warning.’
The wheel in question, however, had been initially repaired, and was of such a poor standard that the tyre deflated after five days. Who repaired the wheel is unknown, however, the fact that these repairs are happening in the first place is a cause for concern as it tarnishes the repair industry as a whole.
‘I have never seen a cracked alloy wheel repair that is safe, or that has had a thorough inspection apart from a visual safety check – and it is impossible to detect hairline cracks with the naked eye,’ said Trevor Ferris, managing director, Eco Express Systems. ‘It is important to note that the point of impact is not always where the fracture appears. Critically, in all cases, without exception, a non-destructive test (NDT) kit should be used if a repair has been undertaken. To the best of my knowledge we are the only company to not only supply the kits, but also have an IMI certified training course for alloy wheel repair.’
Remit
Some have considered conducting these repairs as part of their wheel refurbishment remit, but have, when realising the dangers they pose, abandoned the idea. ‘When considering if we would implement crack/tear repairs in our wheel refurbishment business, we set a stringent test to comply with our health and safety obligations,’ said Anatol Poyer-Sleeman, director and franchise owner, Chipsaway Cambridge. ‘To engage in this sort of repair work, we would need to be sure that the expert opinion is undivided and that such repairs can be consistently achieved to a safe standard. We would also need to implement a non-destructive test of each weld before it goes out to ensure road user safety. We weren't able to satisfy ourselves as to that test.’
This advice rings true throughout other parts of the industry too. ‘Our recommendation is that a body repairer doesn’t repair a cracked wheel,’ said Steve Paver, sales manager, Optima Smarter Solutions. ‘There is, however, a unique code on the back of the wheel which provides full tractability enabling any bodyshop to see if the wheel has been repaired before. Therefore, providing the wheel repair has been conducted by properly trained and skilled technicians, consumers should feel reassured that their wheels are as good as when they came off the factory production line and will be safeguarded from further impact.’
NDT techniques are varied and include: radiography, computerised tomography scanning, x-rays, ultrasonic testing, liquid penetrant testing and more. This potentially adds to cost of any repair, which is the crux of why some unmonitored cracked alloy wheel repairs are on the road.
‘I am sure that the reason no test is carried out is that there is no awareness that this is a critical safety check area,’ said Trevor Ferris. ‘It should be known that a test would take an average of five to10 minutes to carry out, and that the cost of a NDT is less than a can of paint.’
Security
Unfortunately, for the unsuspecting motorist, there is no legislation or security for them at present. ‘I would expect that it would take legislation, or at the very least Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance backed up by robust enforcement, to prevent dangerous wheel repairs continuing in the market,’ said Anatol Poyer-Sleeman.
However, making the public aware of this matter is also a stumbling block – as proving a vehicle collision occurred solely because of this would be tricky to say the least.
‘The recent cosmetic repair automotive technician accreditation (ATA) has created a national standard for professional repairers, and NDT is widely available,’ said Mark Llewellyn, managing director, Revive! Auto Innovations. ‘However, if a consumer’s first priority with a wheel repair is the cost, then they will ultimately ignore the risks of having a professional repair done.’
Categories
Wheel repair comes under two categories, cosmetic and refurbishment. Wheel refurbishment tends to include the complete overhaul of wheels including stripping, resurfacing and repainting. Diamond cut alloys are also common on today’s vehicles and these can be re-cut through a refurbishment process. Mark Llewellyn explained how a cosmetic repair to a diamond wheel can still be of a good quality. ‘A diamond cut wheel cannot be completely replicated through a cosmetic repair – however, in many instances, where a professional repairer is involved, a cosmetic repair to a diamond cut wheel is acceptable,’ said Mark. ‘However, a cosmetic wheel repair should not be carried out if the wheel has any structural damage ie if the wheel is buckled or has chunks missing.’
The market as a whole is also changing a lot for a variety of reasons. Spare wheels found inside vehicles are often replaced with other alternatives, due to the weight and space savings that can be made. Although this is unpopular with some consumers, more and more modern cars are now fitted with space saving wheels, for example. This, as well as tyre monitoring systems, has swung the refurbishment and repair market into the limelight.
‘Many systems have onerous maintenance requirements eg a new specialist valve every time a tyre is changed’ said Anatol Poyer-Sleeman. ‘We have noticed that many wheels have tyres changed and old valves refitted or valves fitted wrongly, for example, galvanic corrosion or bolt-in valves hugely over-torqued are the most common we’ve come across.’
In numbers: Wheel refurbishment*
*courtesy of Optima Smarter Solutions
A bodyshop view
Fix Auto Cardiff South and Pontypridd owner Steve Peart, has invested £110,000 developing an alloy wheel repair facility, tells us his view on wheel refurbishment.
An alloy wheel can be repaired to a safe standard, but that obviously depends on the severity of the damage. Safety is paramount and if an inspection throws up any doubt, then we would always discard it.
The confidence has to be with the repairer. While our dedicated facility is new, like many reputable bodyshops, we have been refurbishing and repairing alloy wheels for a long time. It is that experience and expertise that guarantees a wheel has been repaired to the highest standards. We would never put a wheel onto a vehicle if there’s any question over its safety.
There’s a huge educational campaign needed. Motorists are not aware of the dangers of driving with defective or damaged wheels. They are potential killers. Personally, I believe a thorough wheel inspection should be included in the MOT test. The situation of alloy wheel safety has been heightened with the increase of substandard ‘fake’ alloys flooding our market. Wheels produced by vehicle manufacturers are made to the highest standards possible by using the best quality alloy metal available. You simply can’t say that about cheaper, copied, versions. Those who put them on their vehicle are gambling with their lives, the lives of the passengers and the welfare of other road users.
http://www.bodyshopmag.com/Features-wheel-refurbishment-feature-cracking-up.aspx
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
Consumers may not realise it, but a cracked alloy wheel is far more dangerous than they might think – no matter how small the crack may be. Even a crack which is unnoticeable to the naked eye could have disastrous consequences. For this reason, industry professionals tend to steer clear of cracked alloys unless they have gone through thorough testing – the risks far outweigh the benefits.
However, repairs of this nature do happen, and it is a bit of minefield for everyone concerned. As a precedent, one consumer, with the help of What Car? took a dealership to court last October and won £1,160 in damages after it sold a vehicle with a ‘repaired’ cracked alloy wheel. What Car? quoted The Welding Institute as saying that ‘weld repair on a cast aluminium road wheel is potentially lethal and could fail catastrophically without warning.’
The wheel in question, however, had been initially repaired, and was of such a poor standard that the tyre deflated after five days. Who repaired the wheel is unknown, however, the fact that these repairs are happening in the first place is a cause for concern as it tarnishes the repair industry as a whole.
‘I have never seen a cracked alloy wheel repair that is safe, or that has had a thorough inspection apart from a visual safety check – and it is impossible to detect hairline cracks with the naked eye,’ said Trevor Ferris, managing director, Eco Express Systems. ‘It is important to note that the point of impact is not always where the fracture appears. Critically, in all cases, without exception, a non-destructive test (NDT) kit should be used if a repair has been undertaken. To the best of my knowledge we are the only company to not only supply the kits, but also have an IMI certified training course for alloy wheel repair.’
Remit
Some have considered conducting these repairs as part of their wheel refurbishment remit, but have, when realising the dangers they pose, abandoned the idea. ‘When considering if we would implement crack/tear repairs in our wheel refurbishment business, we set a stringent test to comply with our health and safety obligations,’ said Anatol Poyer-Sleeman, director and franchise owner, Chipsaway Cambridge. ‘To engage in this sort of repair work, we would need to be sure that the expert opinion is undivided and that such repairs can be consistently achieved to a safe standard. We would also need to implement a non-destructive test of each weld before it goes out to ensure road user safety. We weren't able to satisfy ourselves as to that test.’
This advice rings true throughout other parts of the industry too. ‘Our recommendation is that a body repairer doesn’t repair a cracked wheel,’ said Steve Paver, sales manager, Optima Smarter Solutions. ‘There is, however, a unique code on the back of the wheel which provides full tractability enabling any bodyshop to see if the wheel has been repaired before. Therefore, providing the wheel repair has been conducted by properly trained and skilled technicians, consumers should feel reassured that their wheels are as good as when they came off the factory production line and will be safeguarded from further impact.’
NDT techniques are varied and include: radiography, computerised tomography scanning, x-rays, ultrasonic testing, liquid penetrant testing and more. This potentially adds to cost of any repair, which is the crux of why some unmonitored cracked alloy wheel repairs are on the road.
‘I am sure that the reason no test is carried out is that there is no awareness that this is a critical safety check area,’ said Trevor Ferris. ‘It should be known that a test would take an average of five to10 minutes to carry out, and that the cost of a NDT is less than a can of paint.’
Security
Unfortunately, for the unsuspecting motorist, there is no legislation or security for them at present. ‘I would expect that it would take legislation, or at the very least Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance backed up by robust enforcement, to prevent dangerous wheel repairs continuing in the market,’ said Anatol Poyer-Sleeman.
However, making the public aware of this matter is also a stumbling block – as proving a vehicle collision occurred solely because of this would be tricky to say the least.
‘The recent cosmetic repair automotive technician accreditation (ATA) has created a national standard for professional repairers, and NDT is widely available,’ said Mark Llewellyn, managing director, Revive! Auto Innovations. ‘However, if a consumer’s first priority with a wheel repair is the cost, then they will ultimately ignore the risks of having a professional repair done.’
Categories
Wheel repair comes under two categories, cosmetic and refurbishment. Wheel refurbishment tends to include the complete overhaul of wheels including stripping, resurfacing and repainting. Diamond cut alloys are also common on today’s vehicles and these can be re-cut through a refurbishment process. Mark Llewellyn explained how a cosmetic repair to a diamond wheel can still be of a good quality. ‘A diamond cut wheel cannot be completely replicated through a cosmetic repair – however, in many instances, where a professional repairer is involved, a cosmetic repair to a diamond cut wheel is acceptable,’ said Mark. ‘However, a cosmetic wheel repair should not be carried out if the wheel has any structural damage ie if the wheel is buckled or has chunks missing.’
The market as a whole is also changing a lot for a variety of reasons. Spare wheels found inside vehicles are often replaced with other alternatives, due to the weight and space savings that can be made. Although this is unpopular with some consumers, more and more modern cars are now fitted with space saving wheels, for example. This, as well as tyre monitoring systems, has swung the refurbishment and repair market into the limelight.
‘Many systems have onerous maintenance requirements eg a new specialist valve every time a tyre is changed’ said Anatol Poyer-Sleeman. ‘We have noticed that many wheels have tyres changed and old valves refitted or valves fitted wrongly, for example, galvanic corrosion or bolt-in valves hugely over-torqued are the most common we’ve come across.’
In numbers: Wheel refurbishment*
- 32m vehicles on UK roads
- 98% of all vehicles have alloy wheels
- 5.3m vehicles have been repaired
- 40% (2.12m) vehicles have undergone a SMART repair
- Of the 40%, 28% (593,600) have had an alloy wheel refurbishment
*courtesy of Optima Smarter Solutions
A bodyshop view
Fix Auto Cardiff South and Pontypridd owner Steve Peart, has invested £110,000 developing an alloy wheel repair facility, tells us his view on wheel refurbishment.
An alloy wheel can be repaired to a safe standard, but that obviously depends on the severity of the damage. Safety is paramount and if an inspection throws up any doubt, then we would always discard it.
The confidence has to be with the repairer. While our dedicated facility is new, like many reputable bodyshops, we have been refurbishing and repairing alloy wheels for a long time. It is that experience and expertise that guarantees a wheel has been repaired to the highest standards. We would never put a wheel onto a vehicle if there’s any question over its safety.
There’s a huge educational campaign needed. Motorists are not aware of the dangers of driving with defective or damaged wheels. They are potential killers. Personally, I believe a thorough wheel inspection should be included in the MOT test. The situation of alloy wheel safety has been heightened with the increase of substandard ‘fake’ alloys flooding our market. Wheels produced by vehicle manufacturers are made to the highest standards possible by using the best quality alloy metal available. You simply can’t say that about cheaper, copied, versions. Those who put them on their vehicle are gambling with their lives, the lives of the passengers and the welfare of other road users.
http://www.bodyshopmag.com/Features-wheel-refurbishment-feature-cracking-up.aspx
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
Friday, 28 March 2014
Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) - 17 arrested in nationwide raids by police tackling 'credit hire fraud
17 people have been arrested in raids across England by detectives investigating criminal gangs making false insurance claims for courtesy cars provided to motorists while their own vehicle is being fixed.
20 warrants were executed at business and residential addresses in Essex, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, London, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey and West Yorkshire, yesterday morning (Wednesday 26 March 2014) in a police day of action that marks the culmination of months of investigation by the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED).
One hundred officers took part in the operation that saw the City of London Police unit supported by colleagues from the force's Economic Crime Directorate and officers from local forces.
Criminal gangs typically set up phoney, or use corrupt, claims management and hire companies to commit this type of insurance fraud, known by industry as 'credit hire fraud'.
Through these businesses the fraudsters will invoice insurers for a courtesy car they have not actually provided, commonly called 'phantom hire'.
In other instances they will 'lease' the same courtesy car to different motorists at the same time and put in a separate claim for each fictional hire, often known as 'cross hire'.
Sometimes they may also bill an insurer for providing a top spec courtesy car when only a basic model was given. Hire periods are also often exaggerated.
DCI Dave Wood, Head of IFED, said:
"This operation reveals credit hire fraud as a nationwide problem which IFED is tackling through a co-ordinated law enforcement response.
"While insurers are the criminals' intended victims, innocent motorists ultimately pay the price in terms of the impact of insurance fraud on the cost of premiums.
"Insurer diligence, coupled with enforcement action being taken by IFED and supported by local police forces, is paramount to confront this threat now and in the future."
Arrest breakdown across the police force areas as follows:
· Lancashire = 3
· London = 9
· Northamptonshire = 1
· Nottinghamshire = 2
· West Yorkshire = 2
The 17 people were arrested on suspicion of a variety of offences including fraud by false representation, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and forgery.
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
20 warrants were executed at business and residential addresses in Essex, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, London, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey and West Yorkshire, yesterday morning (Wednesday 26 March 2014) in a police day of action that marks the culmination of months of investigation by the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED).
One hundred officers took part in the operation that saw the City of London Police unit supported by colleagues from the force's Economic Crime Directorate and officers from local forces.
Criminal gangs typically set up phoney, or use corrupt, claims management and hire companies to commit this type of insurance fraud, known by industry as 'credit hire fraud'.
Through these businesses the fraudsters will invoice insurers for a courtesy car they have not actually provided, commonly called 'phantom hire'.
In other instances they will 'lease' the same courtesy car to different motorists at the same time and put in a separate claim for each fictional hire, often known as 'cross hire'.
Sometimes they may also bill an insurer for providing a top spec courtesy car when only a basic model was given. Hire periods are also often exaggerated.
DCI Dave Wood, Head of IFED, said:
"This operation reveals credit hire fraud as a nationwide problem which IFED is tackling through a co-ordinated law enforcement response.
"While insurers are the criminals' intended victims, innocent motorists ultimately pay the price in terms of the impact of insurance fraud on the cost of premiums.
"Insurer diligence, coupled with enforcement action being taken by IFED and supported by local police forces, is paramount to confront this threat now and in the future."
Arrest breakdown across the police force areas as follows:
· Lancashire = 3
· London = 9
· Northamptonshire = 1
· Nottinghamshire = 2
· West Yorkshire = 2
The 17 people were arrested on suspicion of a variety of offences including fraud by false representation, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and forgery.
http://www.motorworldarc.co.uk/news.asp
Wednesday, 26 March 2014
IFB welcomes jail term for fraudsters
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has welcomed the further sentencing of three convicted insurance fraudsters, for failing to repay their ill-gotten gains.
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Originally sentenced to jail in 2010 for submitting over 100 fraudulent insurance claims, brothers Nadeem and Amer Dad and their father, Munsif Dad, were also required to repay almost £280,000.
As Nadeem and Amer haven't repaid a penny, and Munsif has only funded a third of what was expected of him, all three have been sentenced to a total of almost four and a half more years in prison.
Investigators had previously secured a £51,800 confiscation order against Nadeem Dad over a scam which saw false claims made for storm damage, car crashes and even lost pedigree bulldogs.
Ben Fletcher, Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau said: "This decision sends an important message to insurance fraudsters everywhere; if you expect your illegal profits to be waiting for you when you get out of jail you'll be back there quicker than you expect. We wholeheartedly support the actions of the Crown Prosecution Service and their pursuit of fraudsters who somehow think that they are entitled to keep their illegal nest-egg."
The IFB was formed in 2006 to spearhead the collective fight against organised insurance fraud. Since its inception, the IFB has assisted police with over 915 arrests and helped secure total jail terms of more than 235 years for organised fraudsters."
Det Insp Dave Groombridge, of Pennine CID, who investigated the case had previously said: "Fraudulent claims hit the pockets of the decent law-abiding public with every resident, motorist and trader facing increased premiums to compensate for the greed of these criminals.
"Nadeem Dad not only received a custodial prison sentence, but he has also had to face the consequences of his actions by repaying a significant amount of his ill-gotten gains.
"I hope this sends out a warning that if we find you with cash that you cannot account for, you will be targeted."
Originally sentenced to jail in 2010 for submitting over 100 fraudulent insurance claims, brothers Nadeem and Amer Dad and their father, Munsif Dad, were also required to repay almost £280,000.
As Nadeem and Amer haven't repaid a penny, and Munsif has only funded a third of what was expected of him, all three have been sentenced to a total of almost four and a half more years in prison.
Investigators had previously secured a £51,800 confiscation order against Nadeem Dad over a scam which saw false claims made for storm damage, car crashes and even lost pedigree bulldogs.
Ben Fletcher, Director of the Insurance Fraud Bureau said: "This decision sends an important message to insurance fraudsters everywhere; if you expect your illegal profits to be waiting for you when you get out of jail you'll be back there quicker than you expect. We wholeheartedly support the actions of the Crown Prosecution Service and their pursuit of fraudsters who somehow think that they are entitled to keep their illegal nest-egg."
The IFB was formed in 2006 to spearhead the collective fight against organised insurance fraud. Since its inception, the IFB has assisted police with over 915 arrests and helped secure total jail terms of more than 235 years for organised fraudsters."
Det Insp Dave Groombridge, of Pennine CID, who investigated the case had previously said: "Fraudulent claims hit the pockets of the decent law-abiding public with every resident, motorist and trader facing increased premiums to compensate for the greed of these criminals.
"Nadeem Dad not only received a custodial prison sentence, but he has also had to face the consequences of his actions by repaying a significant amount of his ill-gotten gains.
"I hope this sends out a warning that if we find you with cash that you cannot account for, you will be targeted."
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