I just can’t figure out the set up between Motability, OHME and OHME’s “registered installers”, apart from a consortium with a monopoly over disabled customers.
Disabled customers are offered a “free product” by one member, then quoted an inflated amount by another and the middle member makes up the rules in order to retain all the work, with spurious claims that anyone doing work outside their circle will void a warranty and only their partner can carry out any work required.
Where else does such a practice exist, where a customer is basically “sucked in” by an offer and once in (after ordering an EV) they are at the mercy of the next partner and have no option but to accept a quote from the third partner(s).
Are any of the above parties in breach of Competition Law
“Competition law is contained in Chapters I and II of the Competition Act 1998 and is policed by the Competition Markets Authority (CMA). UK competition law is designed to protect the ‘underdog’ consumer or business from anti-competitive agreements or abuse of dominant market positions.
Is being denied the right to have works carried out on your own property by a qualified/ certified contractor, an abuse of market position. E.g Use our installers/contractors or lose the free offer.
The extortionate quotes sent out might also raise a few eyebrows.
I will contact the Competition and Markets Agency (CMA) and find out what their take on this set up is
I will also contact my MP, SMP and the Minister for Disabled People, explain the situation and request their view on this matter.
It has got to the stage that the financial part is not a huge deal, it’s the rights of the disabled customer to be treated with respect and fairness.
Would a normal everyday customer put up with this, where they can obtain a charger from the manufacturer and be told they can only use the manufacturers installers and cannot obtain quotes for work on their property from anyone else? I think not!