No recovery for decent rates
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Jennifer Ball reports on AVRO's disgust at another case of rate-cutting.
RECOVERY OPERATORS' association AVRO has hit out as another breakdown firm has cut its rates to operators. branding the move "disgusting".
The blast came after motoring organisation Europ Assistance announced that its contracted recovery operators will only start earning mileage rate after 25 miles, rather than the present 20, whether local or. regional.However, its basic call-out fee is rising by £3.
In a letter to Europ Assistance, AVRO chief executive Gary Satchwell warns that competition between motoring organisations, "hell bent on delivering the cheap est package subsidised by the independent recovery operators" has got to stop.
-This rate reduction comes at a time when the costs are exploding... You may find some bona fide operators will withdraw their services, which will leave you with fewer professionals and the need to employ the services of operators with questionable standards: this will no doubt lead to questions being asked about the safety and quality of your service," he writes.
Bob Cooper, national council member for the Road Rescue Recovery Association, says: "I want what is the perceived abuse of the professional services offered by our members curtailed and sensible commercial rates applied to each and every breakdown situation that recovery operators may be called to at any time."
A spokesman for Europ Assistance claims it has standardised the rates for local and regional operators, which means that all rates have risen. "As well as being fairer for contractors, it also makes it easier for staff when allocating work.We have won a contract for Royal & SunAlliance,which means that the volume of work will also rise."