GLASS'S Guide has launched a controversial service to offer used car valuations to retail customers. Fears have been expressed that making its information available to the public will create confusion and ill-will.

Under the terms of the Consumer Valuation Service, customers can phone up with details of the car they want to trade in and the car they intend to buy, and for £5.95 Glass's will provide a part-exchange value and an anticipated 'dealer asking price' of the car being purchased.

A spokesman for Arriva Motor Retailing said the service could cause confusion, with customers failing to appreciate that the information Glass's provided was only an estimate, not a fixed price. John Bailey, chief executive of CMA, described the Consumer Valuation Service as misdirected. and said Glass's was in jeopardy of upsetting a lot of its trade customers.

Tom Madden, BCA's director, customer affairs, said: 'We provide information to both the leading guides for the intended benefit of our customers, the motor trade. The announcement is an interesting, but somewhat surprising break with tradition.'