Retail Motor Law

MPs hear it first! Andrew Moody reveals joint RML/VBRA price fixing complaint against RBS Insurance, Akzo Nobel and ACIS to the All-party Parliamentary Group on Insurance

Retail Motor Law and the Vehicle Builders & Repairers Association have made a formal complaint to the Office of Fair Trading accusing RBS Insurance, Akzo Nobel (the world’s largest paint company) and the paint distributor ACIS of price fixing.

On the 29th January 2013 Retail Motor Law has the opportunity to present to the ALL Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance and Financial Services.

At this debate MP'S and Lords will consider the findings of RML's report, which led to Channel 4's recent Dispatches programme. Direct Line Group will also be present.

The Press Release from Parliament states:

'Motor insurers are in the firing line again as body shops expose alleged bad practices but how widespread are these abuses? That will be the key question for MPs at the first meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Insurance & Financial Services for 2013.'

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· Dispatches: Secrets of Your Car Insurance – Mon 7 Jan, C4, 8pm

Retail Motor Law, with its unique combination of motor industry and legal expertise, provided the shocking new evidence that sparked tonight's Dispatches: Secrets of Your Car Insurance.

Andrew Moody, managing director of Retail Motor Law (who spent 15 years working as a car mechanic and panel beater before retraining as a barrister and solicitor), commented:

"We showed the Dispatches team our Retail Motor Law report outlining the agreements that certain paint manufacturers and distributors enter into with insurance and accident management companies. They decided the subject deserved further investigation and we have been on hand to provide background information and expert opinion throughout the production process".

'RML praises OFT decision to refer motor insurance market to Competition Commission as 'good news for small businesses and consumers'

Retail Motor Law (RML) has welcomed today's announcement by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that it is referring the UK's private motor insurance market to the Competition Commission.

In December 2011, the OFT announced it was launching a market study to establish 'the facts and reasons behind recent reported increases in private motor insurance premiums'.

In May 2012, it announced a 'provisional decision' to refer the issue to the Competition Commission, citing 'evidence that insurers compete in a dysfunctional way that may push up premiums for drivers by £225 million a year'. The full market study is available on the OFT website.

Today, 28 September 2012, the OFT confirmed that it is to pass the matter to the Competition Commission.