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Servicing Stop, the national online service and MoT provider, has admitted it is turning away customers because it does not have enough independent garages with 24 hour online booking facilities in its network to cope with rising demand.
The company, which appeared on BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den, has over 1,200 approved independent garages on its books but needs to expand its network to meet growing consumer demand.
During the last 12 months Servicing Stop said it it has seen a 30% rise in the number of consumers using the site to book servicing and MoTs but said further growth is hampered by the number of independent garages unable to facilitate 24 hour online bookings.
“The number of consumers booking a service or MoT online is growing sharply. If independents and garages want to grow their servicing and MoT work, they need to be able to offer consumers online bookings 24/7. It is a well known fact that when it comes to buying services, the speed of fulfilment is vital to win over the consumer,” said Toby Richmond, director of Servicing Stop.
“We have a huge volume of consumers looking to book a service or MoT though our site every day and this offers independent garages who join our network, the opportunity to compete with rivals such as Kwikfit, Halfords and franchised dealer groups.”
Servicing Stop was established in 2008 and appeared on Dragon’s Den the following year, attracting offers from three of the four entrepreneurs. It accepted an on-air offer from entrepreneur Deborah Meaden although it did not go into partnership with her.