Black Horse Finance

Two more major Black Horse supporting dealers have achieved the FLA’s Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) competence test.

Car supermarket Motorpoint and Yorkshire & Midlands-based dealer group, The Co-operative Motor Group have both completed the rigorous test, which was introduced by the FLA in 2007 to improve dealer knowledge and consumer confidence in point of sale motor finance.

Black Horse, which itself achieved full SAF Approved status at the end of 2009 after it put its entire sales force through the programme, is currently on a drive to promote the qualification across the 10,000 motor dealers it provides finance to.

Motorpoint is the first major car supermarket to secure the FLA’s SAF stamp of approval. The company’s 100-strong sales team completed web-based tests set by the FLA in order to earn the SAF certificate. 

Says David Shelton, Managing Director of Motorpoint: “We have always worked tirelessly to ensure our sales force are among the most knowledgeable in the industry. With SAF approval we are confident that they will be able to discuss all finance-related issues with customers with even greater confidence in the future.”

Launched in April 1998, Motorpoint currently operates from five locations – Burnley, Derby, Glasgow, Newport and Peterborough.

The Co-operative Motor Group, one of the UK’s leading motor groups, has also put its 129 sales staff through the SAF test.

Says Ian Beardmore, Group Operations Support Manager “As part of the Co-operative’s ethical stance it is important to ensure our sales teams are competent to advise customers on the best funding options available, the SAF accreditation will give our customers the reassurances our team can do this.”

Black Horse Managing Director, Chris Sutton, who was also recently appointed to new FLA Chair, commented: “It’s encouraging to see more and more dealers coming on board and achieving the SAF quality standard.

“The SAF logo is a kite-mark for car buyers and gives dealership sales staff the confidence and knowledge they need to sell point of sale finance effectively and responsibly.

“As the leading provider for point of sale motor finance we see it as our responsibility to work with the FLA to promote the benefits of this quality standard to our dealer base, and in my new role as FLA chair I am more committed than ever to achieving this.

“The SAF test helps to improve the uniformity of information which is offered, ensuring that a consistent approach is delivered from dealer to dealer. This is in line with our own values regarding customers, with a commitment to making things simple and taking ownership to ensure continual improvement.

“The FLA’s figures show that point of sale finance is the most popular means of funding a new car purchase, so sellers have an essential and trusted role to play in helping buyers make the decision which is right for them.

“Ultimately it will also help to increase dealers’ bottom line, through finance penetration and increased motor sales, which is more crucial than ever in today’s economic climate.”

Registering your dealership for the test is fast, easy and free of charge. Find out more and sign-up at www.specialistautomotivefinance.co.uk .

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Press contact: For further information please contact Black Horse PR Manager Mike McPartlin on 02921 386338 or 07795 316090

Notes to Editor

The SAF Competence Test is an annual online test aimed at all customer-facing staff in motor dealerships. The aim of the test is to improve the professional standards and knowledge of staff on motor finance for the benefit of car buyers and the industry.

FLA members believe that improving consumer confidence in finance is a shared challenge for the retail motor and motor finance industries, and so the SAF competence test is free of charge to all dealerships.   

The online test, which must be renewed every 12 months, consists of 40 challenging multiple-choice questions and must be completed within 40 minutes. The syllabus for the SAF competence test can be downloaded here.