The industry’s major dealers are to meet a rigorous set of criteria in order to be an ‘Approved Dealer’.

The scheme is backed by the National Caravan Council (NCC), the industry trade body, and launches to the public at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC (from 16-21 October). At the scheme’s core is a consumer ‘code of practice’ that covers tourer sales, which sets a benchmark for standards among caravan dealers in the UK.

The code of practice demands high standards from a dealer in a number of areas of its business, such as how it markets its products, handles requests for information, guides buyers through the process, conducts the sale and handover, fulfills warranties and responds to complaints.

Once a dealer meets the required standard, its ‘approved’ status is policed by the scheme.

It’s open to NCC members only, but the scheme is impressive. It chimes with feedback we’re getting from you in our Owner Satisfaction Survey, so there’s clearly an appetite within the industry – backed by the main manufacturers – to differentiate the best dealers from the rest of the pack.

We’re also pleased to see the code includes a formal complaint handling policy, which can be escalated by the NCC to an Independent Case Examiner on the buyer’s behalf.

The NCC’s Code Manager, Frank Finch, told us: “The Approved Dealer sign gives customers reassurance that a dealership has been independently assessed, has good customer protection and operates to industry best practice.”

Click here for more information on the Approved Dealer Scheme.

 

*Follow this link to see our own list of AWS Approved Dealers
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/ncc-approved-dealers