Can anyone here provide clarification on this message from Fords. Does this mean that they not doing any Servicing or MOT's?  (Or do you think

it only relates to Sales?) :

 

Latest Update on TrustFord's Covid-19 Actions

Update: 24th-March-2020.
Please see below a Statement from our Chairman regarding TrustFord's action relating to Covid-19.

Coronavirus - Covid-19: A message from Stuart Foulds, Chairman & CEO 24th-March-2020.
We must play our own part in protecting the most vulnerable in our society and make sure that the NHS and front line services are able to function in the days and weeks ahead.

In light of the Government’s announcement last night we will be temporarily closing the majority of our business today, 24th March, until further notice.

To keep the country’s NHS, and those key workers listed under the Government’s official list, on the road we will maintain skeleton aftersales and in support of these functions, our Parts Plus business will also continue to operate. 

If you are a key worker whose vehicle is currently in our workshop or have a specific question please contact 0208 536 6120 and we will do everything we can to return your vehicle compliantly and safely.

On behalf of the board & leadership team I would like to thank everyone in the TrustFord family for their hard work, loyalty and incredible efforts over recent weeks to help us get through what has been an unprecedented time in our lives. 

We all look forward to happier times – if you wish to stay in touch, we will continue to use our social media pages to stay connected with everyone in the TrustFord community.  

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Stuart Foulds

Chairman and CEO

 

 

 

The govt has explicitly excluded garages (the servicing/maintenance side), only the car sales/showroom needs to close.

In what you've copied, it says "maintain skeleton aftersales", this is what Ford calls the service department.

Obviously they will have fewer staff, so the waits might be longer and they won't want to do any work that isn't necessary.

It's unclear at the moment what will happen about warranties, MOTs, or the roadworthiness of a car.

I've just had my windscreen replacement cancelled. It would fail an MOT, it's a 30cm crack in the area of the drivers main vision, however I need the car to get food shopping. 🤷‍♂️

(It is low enough at the moment for me to see over it most of the time and only look through it occasionally, I just hope it doesn't get any worse, I live in the country, there is no bus routes, no pavements, I can't walk several miles along a country back road to get food and home delivery is fully booked the next month).

Thanks @alexp999 I wish the email was clearer. I have a Service Plan with them....you would have thought they would speel out exactly HOW it would

impact customers. Seems like a rushed email message to me, understandable given the times we are in, but made me panic a little 🙂

For MOT worries:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/351926/mot-tests-six-month-extension-granted-wake-coronavirus?utm_source=FordOwnersClub&utm_medium=ForumLinks&utm_campaign=referrals

Thanks Sly, just read that too. Official source here : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vehicle-owners-to-be-granted-mot-exemption-in-battle-against-coronavirus

The exemption is only for vehicles due an MOT on or after 30th March. If your MOT expires before then, you are not covered by the 6 month exemption. 

@CallMeSteven My Fiesta ST was due it's service and MOT with them (a month in advance) next week on a service plan like you. It's clear from their statement that they're only going to deal with NHS and key worker vehicles now. Fortunately I qualify for the 6-month extension. I'm going on the assumption that we'll be back to normal (ish) before the end of October and I'll get it serviced and MOT'd then under the service plan as normal. An email to tell me that my booked service and MOT was cancelled wouldn't have gone amiss though.