Warranty First joins the Ombudsman Code of Practice

Warranty First is proud to announce we have joined The Motor Ombudsman as part of the company’s Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)-approved Motor Industry Code of Practice for Vehicle Warranty Products.

We are the second business to join the Code in 2023 and are delighted to be just one of the industry’s providers that have signed up to adhere to the Code, which focuses solely on the automotive sector.

By joining The Motor Ombudsman, we commit ourselves to following no less than 60 different guidelines laid down by the Code of Practice. This covers areas such as the publishing of clear, concise, jargon-free, and accurate communications, product literature and advertising, offering tailored advice and information to vehicle owners according to their requirements, having an in-house complaints process that allows the swift and fair resolution of customer disputes, and directing consumers to The Motor Ombudsman should complaints not be resolved in the first instance.

The Motor Ombudsman was launched in 2009 with the primary objective of improving standards for consumers beyond those required by the law here in the UK. As such, its associated Vehicle Warranty Products Code is there to support customers who take out an extended warranty for a vehicle, ensuring that warranty providers like ourselves can provide the highest standards of service during the process.

Consumers who wish to call upon the services of The Motor Ombudsman can do so completely free of charge as the institute is in place to support both parties involved in any potential disputes. By becoming a member, we are able to attend the quarterly Code committee, industry insight meetings, exclusive webinars and events, and will also be eligible for the prestigious Motor Ombudsman Customer Service Star Awards.

Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Warranty First to our largest ever Vehicle Warranty Products Code portfolio, which has continued to go from strength to strength, as we have gone through the year. Warranty First is a highly-regarded business by consumers, and carries a positive industry reputation. We are therefore very pleased to have them on board, and look forward to working closely with them as a valued addition to our Code of Practice.”

Charlie Whiston, chief operating officer at Warranty First, added: “Accreditation to The Motor Ombudsman reflects our core philosophy of putting the customer at the heart of everything that we do, and that we strive to ensure complete satisfaction at every touchpoint in their journey with us. Being a part of such a respected automotive authority, such as The Motor Ombudsman, puts our business in the spotlight as being a beacon of best practice, and one that gives customers peace of mind that they have free-of-charge access to an impartial and fair channel to support the resolution of any concerns that we cannot bring to a swift and mutually-agreeable conclusion in-house.”

Visit www.warrantyfirst.co.uk and www.themotorombudsman.org for more information.