Standards
The primary purpose of the Consumer Complaints Service is to help members comply with consumer protection legislation and resolve customers complaints when they arise. The SIMI's Consumer Complaints Service is a free service offered to members and their customers with the objective of resolving complaints without recourse to expensive and time consuming legal proceedings. Clause 13 of the terms of the SIMI Order Form obliges customers to refer their complaints to the SIMI if the matter cannot be resolved directly with the garage. A customer may refer their complaint to the SIMI if it relates to the purchase of a used vehicle or the service or repair of a new or used vehicle by retail member companies provided the issues is within 3 months from the date the cause of the complaint first manifested itself.
The Complaints Service is a public expression of the integrity and ethical standards to which members of SIMI subscribe to, as per the SIMI Code of Ethics. Members of the SIMI are proud of the service they provide and are expected to co-operate fully with the Service with a view to resolving complaints.