COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates

Statement

01/06/2020

Dear Customers,

It has now been 10 weeks since we took the decision to close Direct Cars’ retail operations for the safety of our customers and the local community.

During this time, we have been preparing our premises at Eckington Way for when we reopen and keeping up to date with the latest information and safety advice from the Government and industry bodies.

We believe that it is now safe to restart our retail operations with the adjustments we have made to our processes.

Some of the things we have implemented include:

• resources to enable office staff to work from home
• a feasible social distancing policy
• hand sanitising stations throughout the site
• protective screen in all customer engagement locations
• PPE and sanitising protocols for all employees

We have broken down our reopening into 2 stages.

• 1st June 2020

  Access to site is by appointment only, which can be booked by contacting us. During these appointments, customers will only be able to view the vehicles specified with their booking. Should you wish to purchase the vehicle, orders and handovers can be arranged.

  The Service Department is taking bookings and working through the enquiries that were made whilst we were closed.

• 8th June 2020

  Access to site will be open to the public. However, access to the showroom will continue to be by appointment only. This is to minimise the number of people in the showroom at one time, and to allow us to still deliver a great customer experience. Should you wish to purchase the vehicle, orders and handovers can be arranged.

  The Service Department will also open at this point and return to normal operation.

We are continuously reviewing our procedures and will make alterations if necessary.

As always, we will continue to answer your queries through; live chat, email, SMS, and social media. Our SMS number even works on WhatsApp!

Please continue to stay safe, we cannot wait to welcome you again soon!

Regards,

All the Staff at Direct Cars
"One of the UK's original car supermarkets - serving the community for over 20 years"

MOT: Changes to rules

25/03/2020

Due to the unfolding COVID-19 situation, cars and vans and motorcycles due their MOT from 30 March 2020 will have their MOT extended by 6 months.

This will continue until confirmed otherwise and will allow vehicle owners to continue being able to get to work where this absolutely cannot be done from home or do essential shopping.

Update 30/03/2020: We have received some information on how this process will work. The DVSA will start moving MOT expiry dates automatically from 30 March 2020. This will initially be done in batches, so that after a few days they are working 7 days ahead. This will mean, for example, that every Tuesday the following Tuesday's tests are extended by 6 months. The government will keep this process under review.

More information can be found at the links below:

• guidance on MOTs due before 30 March
• guidance on MOTs due from 30 March

We are still taking service and MOT enquiries and will prioritise booking customers in the order they were received once we reopen.

To book, please call our service department on 0114 2511 222.

Statement

24/03/2020

Dear Customers,

As promised, we have been closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation regarding the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and the impact it is having on our community and staff.

Last week the Government ordered the closure of cafes, pubs, restaurants, and other leisure related retail to help slow the spread of the virus – and has repeatedly reiterated that everyone must play their part in the fight to defeat this fast spreading disease by protecting our NHS and it’s workers from being overwhelmed - with extended measures taken last night (23^rd March 2020).

The directors, together with the senior management of the business, strongly believing we have a responsibility to the wider community and have therefore taken the decision to close Direct Cars retail operations to customers from 24^th March 2020 as a temporary measure until we know it is safer to reopen. For now this will also include our vehicle servicing and MOT testing operations.

A few key members of staff are remaining on site over the next few days in order to finish preparing and delivering vehicles to customers who have already placed their trust in us to provide them with their next car.

For those customers who still wish to purchase our cars, we are exploring options to facilitate this in the coming days. Please keep checking our website for details.

We are a family owned business that has been known for 25 years as Direct Cars, but we were established for nearly 20 years prior to that as Eckington Motor Company. Serving our community has always been one of our key principles and it is through this temporary closure we believe we are continuing staying true to this.

We will continue to answer your queries through; live chat, email, and social media.

For now, please, stay safe. We’ll look forward to welcoming you once more upon our reopening.

Regards,

All the Staff at Direct Cars
"One of the UK's original car supermarkets - serving the community for over 20 years"

COVID-19 Response

17/03/2020

What are we doing to protect you?

Our Service

• Our sales team will continue to welcome you with a smile, but will refrain from shaking hands.
• Our sales advisors are happy to discuss information both inside and outside the showroom.
• We can discuss information about our cars over:
  • phone
  • live chat
  • social media direct messages (Facebook Messenger, Twitter DM etc)
• You can pay a deposit for a car over the phone or online.
• Business Managers can be seen in their offices but, should you feel more comfortable, they can see you at one of the desks in the showroom.
• Sales desks are operating, where possible, with a safe distance between staff and customers.
• Sales desk are sterilized every morning, and throughout the day.
• Keys are being sanitized before being handed out, and on return.
• We have modified our test drive procedures:
  • During test drives, our accompanying staff will be situated in the rear of the vehicle.
  • After test drives - vehicles will be sanitized.
• All our cars were valeted to an exceptionally high standard before the outbreak, and we will continue to offer this quality of care.

Our Facilities

• All door handles and surfaces are sterilized regularly throughout the day.
• We have sinks and hand wash available for hand washing at all times.
• Our toilets use automatic hand dryers.
• Our toilets are being monitored and cleaned throughout the day.
• We have provided tissues throughout the showroom should you need them.

Our Staff

We are supporting our staff by ensuring they:

• Understand the symptoms of COVID-19.
• Continually wash their hands throughout the day.
• Notify their line manager if they, or any member of their household, feel unwell.
• Cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing - with dispose of tissue.
• Keep their areas clean and tidy so it is easier to be wiped down.
• Wash their hands before giving keys out, and on return.

What are we asking you to do to help us?

• Please don't visit us if you:
  • are feeling unwell, and/or
  • live in the same household as someone who is feeling unwell or is in isolation, and/or
  • have visited any of the affected countries in the world in the last 14 days.
  Instead, why not reach out to us over:
  • chat
  • email
  • social channels
  We'd be happy to take additional photos or video of any car to help you with your buying decision until the time is right for you to visit.
• On arrival to the showroom please take 20 seconds to wash your hands. Our bathrooms are cleaned regularly and our staff will be ready to help with anything when you’re done.
• If you need to cough or sneeze, please feel free to use the tissues provided and place in one of our bins - then wash your hands.
• Please make sure after visiting the bathroom, you wash and dry your hands with the items provided.
• The Government is advising "Social Distancing". All our Staff will be following this advice and we ask that you do too. As much as we've enjoyed shaking the hands of our happy customers over the last 20 years - we value your health and safety even more!