Minutes of Meeting – 26.2.10

Minutes of WTA Meeting 26.2.10.

Present: Adrian Welke, Bryan Williams, Tina Williams, Barrie Munro, Lawrence Carey, Chris Chantrell, Ken Watt, Steven Withers

1: Masterpart.

a) Brian Cresswell out-lined a discount scheme applicable to WTA members. His proposal is that a retrospective discount be applied to the expenditure of WTA members on a quarterly basis (at a rate to be decided) as a credit to the members account. The advantage of this would be to allow members who do WP business not to show the preferential price in an invoice if required to produce one.

b) Masterpart would be prepared to produce a promotional flyer to introduce the scheme, including an outline of the WTA and its aims and objectives. WTA input required on that point.

c) BC further explained that work in progress on the MP website should be completing by May and this could be tied into their re-launch. It was agreed that BC should be allowed to email existing WTA members directly to introduce the scheme.

d) LC added later that Steve White is in on-going negotiations with Qualtex regarding a similar scheme. It was also noted that Qualtex may be in a position to offer legal services to the WTA.

2: Structure and Presentation.

a) LC outlined a desire that the WTA should be seen as a more separate entity from UKWhitegoods. To this end, it was suggested that the WTA forums currently on UKW should be moved across to the WTA site, with the addition of a General Discussion forum. KW said that this should be feasible, with an action date of May 1st envisaged. KW to liaise with CC on this.

b) The creation of a Contact page on the WTA site was agreed to be essential. To this end, a number of linked email addresses should be created:

Chairman@whitegoodstradeassociation.co.uk-linking To Lawrence Carey
membership@whitegoodstradeassociation.co.uk – linking to Steve White.
subscriptions@whitegoodstradeassociation.co.uk – linking to Kilmarnock.
enquiries@whitegoodstradeassociation.co.uk – linking to Barrie Munro.
fgas@whitegoodstradeassociation.co.uk – linking to Ian Dales. (This was suggested after the meeting by LC to CC)

The same page to contain a full list of WTA Council members and their businesses.

c) As Membership Secretary, SW has asked for a job description. It was agreed that this function should comprise of:

1/ Processing applications.
2/ Issuing Membership cards.
3/ Issuing “Welcome” letters and other appropriate information.
The maintenance of the current member database could be performed as function of admin at Kilmarnock, who would be processing the monies. KW explained that a link from the current Repairs@ list could be created to show the membership and allow direct contact should a repair be required.

d) There was some discussion as to whether indemnity cover could be included in the price of subscription to allow for business failure and other problems. This may require an adjustment in Subscriptions in the future when costs are confirmed.

e) Barrie Munro would act as a “hub” for enquiries and would distribute enquiries to the relevant person

3: Future.

Discussion centred round any possible relationship between the WTA and DASA. It was felt that the WTA could be more representative of small repair businesses, whilst DASA leant more towards larger businesses.

LC to invite DASA reps to the autumn meeting with a view to exploring this further.

4: Code of Practice.

a) AW reported that in his opinion we are nearly there. Final obstacle is the Monitoring Scheme. AW’s opinion is that the OFT want all customers to be given the opportunity to comment on the service received from their repairer. To this end, options appear to be an online link to a questionnaire or post-paid drop-off cards. Returns would have to be monitored and collated by a professional person not involved in the WTA. KW mooted that John Hopwood (ISE) was a suitable person as market analysis was his bread and butter. Post paid cards are only charged when used, so major expense should be avoided.

b) Contents of questionnaire to be decided.

c) AW, LC and KW to visit OFT for discussion,

d) Some discussion ensued as to whether poor ratings on a questionnaire should be pursued or treated as statistical information. Consensus leant towards a specific complaint having to be raised to warrant investigation.

Chris Chantrell,
Secretary.