VRA September meeting to cover motor finance class action case

The September member meeting of the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) will cover some of the key issues impacting dealers.

Jon Butler, VRA legal counsel and partner at motor industry legal specialist Geldards, at whose Derby premises the event is taking place, will look at the class action filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal last month against finance houses Black Horse, MotoNovo and Santander.

The claim relates to historic discretionary commission charged before it was banned in 2021.

Butler will also look at the Consumer Credit Act review, new legislation covering digital markets, and the

An update on the current state of the used car market will come from Andy Webb, head of sales at vehicle valuations experts Brego.

Louise Wallis, automotive retail specialist and director of Auto Strategies, will present the latest developments in Block Exemption, the government’s review of MOT test intervals, and the impact of the new Flexible Working Act.

Finally, there will be a discussion panel looking at trends in motor auctions, examining subjects including the expectations for 2024 and physical versus online sales. It will feature Michael Tomalin, chief executive officer, City Auction Group and PurpleRock; Gordon Cockle, head of sales at Aston Barclay; and Anthony Baker, area general manager at Manheim.

VRA chair Philip Nothard said: “This is the final VRA member meeting before our big annual VRA seminar at Warwick University in November, and we are very pleased to have been able to deliver such an impressive line-up of speakers.