The Institute of Motor Industry Reviews 

I became a student member of the IMI back in 1978 in the days where you had to complete a course and take an exam to become an Associate Member. So during the last 47 years (yes 47 years), I have been a Student member, Associate member and a full member, paying the annual subscription continually. I did apply to become a Fellow but was denied this, being told I didn’t qualify despite my extensive experience and qualifications and holding a very significant job. I have now retired and my membership has lapsed. I was not expecting contact from the IMI, but it would have been a nice gesture for them to acknowledge 47 years of support. I won’t miss them or their increasingly ‘diverse’ magazine.

Staff are not trained engineers sack the lot and start again with trained staff

I Reported Automotive Consulting Engineers (ACE) to their membership and awarding body THE IMI, due to the massive amount of damage this company caused me and the law firm I was using, that had gone on over a 6 or more month period. (see the review below)
The IMI accepted all I said as it could not be disputed as I provided the with all the correspondence to prove it. They also witnessed it themselves first hand when ACE promised them they would comply with directs but then refused to actually do so.
I also provide ACE with all the 1* Trustpilot and Google reviews.
They accepted this was a breach of professional standards, but said they would not consider it serious misconduct, as I was the only person that have complained directly to them.
I explained I had had to do much research and spend a lot of time finding out The IMI gave ACE their membership and that there was a complaint procedure.
I told them they had not received more complaints for this very reason but they still effectively disconsidered the 1* reviews which make up the vast majority of all reviews of ACE.
I also told them that their policy did not state their decision to take away accreditation would be based purely on the number of complaints they received.
I told them this was wrong given that most consumers were unaware the IMI had a procedure they could refer a complaint about ACE to.
Also I stated this was wrong because the IMI's complaint procedure does not state this is what they will bases their decision on and disregard other factors, this is despite them accepting their complaint process needs a complete overhaul as a result of my contact with them.
They also refused to give any detail of number of members they have ever banned and stopped from using the IMI's logo to promote and legitimise their companies.
It seem the IMI are not as transparent as they claim and that even when a member is bring their organisation into disrepute they will not even suspend them let alone remove their from their membership.

Below is my review of ACE setting out their many failings and problems that have cause the vast majority of reviewers and no doubt many other that have not left reviews.Complaint to their Regulator The Institute of the Motor industry
As you can see from the many 1 star reviews on Google, and 1 star reviews on Trustpilot here which was used as evidence the investigation by the IMI, Mr Thomas of ACE is anything but reliable or capable of providing reasonable customer service.
Should you find yourself in this position contact their regulator The Institute of the Motor industry tel (0)1992 511521, they are independent and can investigate complaints against Mr Thomas, not surprisingly Mr Thomas will not make you aware of this.
I did this under their complaint about professional standards. Despite the IMI being provided with the thousands of complaints on Google reviews and Trustpilot they did not consider it gross misconduct so he was not suspended or struct off. However they have told me this is only because mine was the first complaint they had received, why they prioritise this over thousands of bad reviews I can't understand and they won't explain.
However they said if they receive more complaint he will likely have his membership terminated. so if you are one of those that were treated in the same way as me please raise a complaint with the IMI. tel (0)1992 511521
The IMI did write to him stating he had breached their professional standards so the complaint was upheld against him, this I reviewed today.
Graham Thomas inspected my car which he stated had a fault due to a design flaw / fault due to Porsche faulty manufacturing. It took weeks to get him to produce the report, and when asked to follow through and provide a response to Porsche trying to belittle in competence and impartiality Mr Thoms would not respond despite many request by text email and phone.
He and his firm would not investigate a complaint against their poor service.
He continued this refusal to communicate with a large law firm after making appointments he would not attend or meet and request to do so.
He even told a senior member of the IMI that he would communicate and then refused to, so they saw it first hand.
The whole point of getting a report from ACE was to get them to represent me and the law firm in court, otherwise his report is useless.
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You can see the rest of my review on Trustpilot