SAF was introduced by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) – the trade body for the motor finance industry – in 2007 to improve knowledge in showrooms and increase customer confidence in motor finance. SAF Approved demonstrates to customers that a business has committed to educate its staff on how to sell motor finance. Around 300 Marshall staff from some 67 dealerships have passed the online SAF competence test to achieve the increasingly popular kite-mark. Marshall Motor Group’s inclusion in SAF coincides with growing consumer interest in the ‘Dealer Directory’ (www.FinancingYourCar.org.uk) that enables car buyers to search for their nearest SAF Approved showroom. With 21 of the top 30 dealers in the UK now recognised as SAF Approved, more and more businesses are getting involved, as savvy customers demand accurate information about motor finance.
Paul Harrison, Head of Motor Finance at the FLA, said:
“SAF is a kite-mark to give consumers confidence about the motor finance information they receive. If customers are given clear and reliable information on why a particular product is right for them then this will inspire confidence and hopefully keep customers coming back in the future.
“I am pleased that Marshall Motor Group is SAF Approved. This now means that 70% of the top 30 groups have voluntarily raised standards on motor finance for their customers. We continue to speak to all groups about SAF.”
Sue Myers, Head of Finance and Insurance at Marshall Motor Group, said:
“Marshall Motor Group is delighted to become SAF Approved. The hard work that has been undertaken by the sales teams to achieve the necessary standards shows our continued commitment to offering customers the highest levels of advice and service. Visitors to our nationwide dealerships can be confident that they will be guided to the most suitable finance deal for them by our trained staff thanks, in part, to the SAF competence test.”