Twenty bodyshop members have resigned from the Retail Motor Industry Federation's (RMI) consultative committee.
In a letter sent to RMI chief executive Matthew Carrington, the members of consultative group of the RMI's Bodyshop Services Division said they had become increasingly disillusioned at the actions of the RMI in the body repair industry.
The letter said the members were concerned at:
· The departure of key Bodyshop Services Division staff over the past 24 months,
· The lack of commitment, communication and action from current Bodyshop Services Division staff,
· The resultant decline in the standing of the RMI Bodyshop Services Division within both the body repair industry and the insurance industry, and
· The lack of support for the Bodyshop Services Division from RMI Executive Management.
"As such," says the letter, "we, the undersigned, no longer have any confidence in the ability of the RMI to articulate the issues within the industry or to represent repairer interests, whether they be large or small organisations. We are therefore resigning from the Consultative Group with immediate effect."
According to reports, the members are understood to be considering resigning from the RMI altogether if changes are not forthcoming.
The members signing the letter are: Julian Allen, Motorvation; Andy Blair, ADR; Nick Boret Fleetline; Ian Clark, Seward Group; Ron Dobson, Lancashire Motor Bodies (Atherton); Gerry Facenna, Allied Vehicles: John Galbraith, Allied Vehicles; Paul Glover, M&M Vehicle Repairs; Tracy Howard, Howard Basford; Neil Kirk, Howard Basford; Ken Lane, Nationwide; Paul Marden, Seward Group, Gary Marshall Marshall Panelcraft; Zaf Melan, KAG Accident Repairs; Tony Parish, Alton Cars; Doug Redfarn, R&T Coachworks; Dave Shepherd, Deejay; Steve Tooth, Bassetts of Swansea; Karl Vella, Karl Vella and Mick Whitehead, M&M Vehicle Repairs.
