Taxi! – take a ride in style to top quality car service

The UK’s ‘Independent Garage of the Year 2007’ – Dorking Service Centre on South Street – has put an iconic London black cab on the road to transport its customers in style.

The company is part of the Bosch Car Service network – the UK’s leading group of independent garages with 400 members.

The highly distinctive 1995 Fairway cab has been fully refurbished and carries eye-catching, all-over advertising for the company. The taxi is being used to take customers to their homes, workplace or even to the railway station after they’ve dropped off their cars for servicing or repair - and to collect them again when the work is completed.

“With this London black cab, we’ve brought a classic piece of British culture to the streets of Dorking and it’s certainly making heads turn,” says Sid Swaine, Managing Director of the company.

“It’s quite a novelty to see one of these cabs in the leafy suburbs of Surrey, and our customers really appreciate the comfort and convenience of travelling in it, saying it makes them feel special.

“An added bonus is that it gives us free advertising, whether outside the railway station picking up a customer, collecting them from their place of business, or simply parked outside our own premises. We’ll also put it on display at local fêtes, school events and other public events.”

Putting the cab on the road is typical of the innovative approach that Dorking Service Centre takes to customer care, and which won it the title ‘Independent Garage of the Year’. Since opening in February 2004, the company has introduced numerous imaginative ideas to make it easier for customers to have their cars serviced or repaired, and to reward them for their loyalty.

As a result, it has attended to more than 7,000 vehicles in just three and a half years, and given back to customers more than £20,000 in loyalty discounts since January this year. It has targeted local businesses, schools and other organisations, offering free vehicle collection and return so that the customers suffer little or no disruption to their working day. It also sends all customers a Christmas card with vouchers they can redeem during the year, to help meet their car servicing costs.

“Now that EU rules allow car owners to get their cars serviced at a place of their choosing without compromising their warranty, they can come to us and save money, compared to a franchised dealer,” says Sid. “The Bosch sign over the door means they can be sure of quality work and value-for-money prices.”

Added confidence comes from the fact that the Bosch Car Service network is the first independent garage group to be given approval for its Consumer Code of Practice from the Office of Fair Trading. Displaying the BCS/OFT logo makes a statement that customers can expect good service, and that a clearly laid down system is in place for the open, fast and fair resolution of any complaints.

Dorking Car Service Centre can be found on South Street. Full details of their services can be found on their web site at dorkingservice.co.uk.