SIMI Addresses Market Failings? New Used Car Website - beepbeep.ie

Hi Suzanne, Thanks for your contribution. Congratulations on getting the site up and running. Anything that helps the consumer in buying a used car has to be a good thing! I've been through a number of the listings on site but can't seem to find where the vehicle history check is attached. Could you point me in the right direction? Did you know that www.fordselect.ie has been providing car history checks for all their vehicles for over nine months now?

I was interested to read Suzanne's blog that in order for dealers to be a member of SIMI they must adhere to strict and high standards. I searched for a dealer in Dublin and the very first one advertised on their site sounded familiar - sure enough when I googled them it transpires that they have been caught selling clocked cars on more than one occasion in the past including one quite recently which was the subject of an RTE documentary. If that garage is still a member of SIMI does that mean they condone clocking and if so are all their members allowed to carry on this practice? It sure does put doubt in my mind about beepbeep.ie and it's members and their so called high standards.

I have to laugh whenever I read that members of the car buying public in Ireland can be assured when buying a car from a SIMI member. My story is very simple, I bought a second-hand car from an SIMI member thinking my purchased was backed up by SIMI. However, when things started to go wrong with the car and I got nowhere with the car dealer, I followed the complaint procedure set out by SIMI. I provided SIMI with independent proof that the car I purchased had a falsified service history and was clocked. This proof was in the service manual and I know I should have made more thorough checks before I handed over nearly €20,000.00, but I felt safe because I was buying from an SIMI member. When things stated to go wrong I decided to thoroughly checkout my car’s history and it was then I found out the service book had false service entries and false mileage. In my detailed written complaint to SIMI, I provided them with a copy of the service log showing the false service enters and the false mileage. Not only that, but I also proved SIMI with a “signed” letter from a garage that was entered into the service log book as having serviced my car months before I purchased it with more miles on the clock that what was on the clock when I purchased the car. I also provided SIMI with written proof showing that their member had lied to me about three different garages their member claimed had carried out gearbox work on my car but these three garages said they did not carry out any gearbox work on my car. You have to remember that I provided independent written proof to SIMI of what I am saying here so it was not hearsay on my behalf. With all the written proof I provided to SIMI, guess what decision they came up with? They said their member acted responsibly and fair with their offer to repair the car . SIMI totally ignored the fact the car had a false service history! SIMI totally ignored the fact the car had a false mileage! SIMI totally ignored the fact that I had already given their member many, many opportunities to repair the continuos dangerous problems with my car. SIMI ignored the fact that their member lied to me about three different garages who was supposed to have carried out expensive gearbox work on my carry, yet all three garages denied they done the work and I had provided letters from these garages stating that fact. The simple fact that the car I purchased from a SIMI member was clocked and had a false service history should have been enough for SIMI to instruct their member to refund my money but SIMI didn’t do that. They said it was an independent panel who make the decisions. If that is the case, then I would suggest that SIMI put in place a proper system of dealing with complaints because even to this day, almost two years later, I am still not over what I went through for two years trying to get this issue resolved. After listening to what Alan Nolan said on that recent TV3 programme, really got my blood boiling. He and his organisation ignored the mountain of written independent proof I provided to them so they could protect their member. When I hear Alan Nolan and other SIMI representatives advising members of the car buying public to only buy from a SIMI member because you have consumer protection, well, in my direct personal experience of dealing with SIMI, their organisation does not protect the consumer.