Dealerships should be prepared for a more than 25% increase in phone calls in the run up to the new registration plate change in March, that is the warning from phone answering service Moneypenny.

With the impending changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) taking effect in April this year, most expect to see dealers doing brisk business on models that are set to be hammered under the new VED scheme.

Talking about what they expect, Jo McKeown, Automotive Business Development Manager at Moneypenny, said, “We are warning dealerships not to let their customer service levels slip during this busy time, as it can cost them dearly in sales. This of course extends to how they handle their customer calls.

“When staff are busy in the showroom, the phone can go unanswered, meaning customers go unattended and potential sales can be lost. Previously, we’ve seen a 25% surge in calls to our automotive clients during new registration months and fully expect March to be even more frantic.”