Vizion reacts to support repairers during crisis

Vizion Network has announced a range of measures to help repairers remain operational during the coronavirus pandemic, including parts discounts and quicker payments.

It has recognised that government restrictions announced on Monday, resulting in the closure of car showrooms, has had a dramatic impact on parts supply. The showroom ban has had a disproportionate effect on dealerships, although this does not necessarily affect any conjoined repair centres or parts distribution, in some cases entire operations have been closed.

A Vizion statement said: “With more than 90 per cent of the UK vehicle repair sector still operational we recognise that for some this will now present you with additional problems sourcing some parts, and will require changing suppliers and sourcing parts elsewhere and in some cases from a number of sources including directly from the manufacturer on a VOR basis.”

With immediate effect, Vizion has introduced a range of changes to commercial agreements:

• The parts discount applied at estimation on behalf of any listed insurer partner will be reduced by 10%;
• Where a courtesy car is not available all insurers will support confirmed NHS staff by sourcing a vehicle from the approved hire providers at no cost to the repairer;
• It has introduced a Covid-19 charge to allow for additional cleaning in relation the handover of customers vehicles during the period of contagion. This charge will include the sanitisation of keys and areas of the vehicle where contact is possible. This COVID-19 charge should be entered under Specialist as an “Operational Overhead” at a cost of £10.00 on each Audatex assessment.

Meanwhile, Aviva, Hastings, NFU Mutual and Vizion are working to make payments as fast as possible with 90 per cent of all payments now being made in under eight days. The next phase of measures could see even faster payments as well as an adjustment to how total losses are calculated to generate more volume if required.

Chris McKie, managing director of Vizion Network, said: “These events are extraordinary and frightening. The work being done by NHS staff is amazing and cannot be understated. The support our industry brings to this and other critical functions must continue. There are hundreds of thousands of medical and support staff who must remain mobile or people could die.

“There are also hundreds of thousands of people keeping utilities, food and medicine moving. It is fantastic to see our repairers, Vizion, customers and the supply chain pulling together in this massively collaborative way to make positive changes so quickly that could affect so many.”