Complaints Procedure

Although we endeavour to meet our customers' expectations at all times, we understand that from time to time complaints may arise

Your complaint will be taken seriously and we will make every effort to resolve the problem straight away.

We define a complaint as any expression of dissatisfaction, whether oral or written.

Who should I contact with my complaint?

All complaints should initially be sent to:

email: mark.langford@breeze.co.uk

post:  Mark Langford, Managing Director, Breeze Motor Group, Yarrow Road, Poole, Dorset, BH12 4LY

How will my complaint be dealt with and what happens if it cannot be resolved right away? 

There may be times when we need to carry out further investigations and will not be able to resolve your complaint straight away.

We will acknowledge your complaint promptly (generally within 5 business days) in writing, and will include details of our complaints handling procedures dependent on the nature of the complaint.

If you are still dissatisfied

If we cannot resolve your complaint within 8 weeks, you may refer your dispute to the Financial Ombudsman Service. This service is free to use. Their consumer helpline is available on 0800 023 4567

You may also contact Automotive Compliance Ltd, The Factory, 44 Alfred Street, Gloucester, GL1 4DD

Telephone: 01452671560       E-mail: complaints@automotive-compliance.co.uk

Any reference to any of the above will not affect your right to take legal proceedings.

MOTOR FINANCE DCA COMMISSION COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Complaints about Discretionary Car Finance Commission Arrangements (DCAs)

On 11 January 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced their intention to review historical motor finance discretionary commission (DCA) arrangements across the motor industry.

As part of the review, the FCA has paused the 8-week deadline for firms to provide a final response to relevant customer complaints.

The pause will apply to complaints about motor finance agreements where there was a discretionary commission arrangement in place between the lender and the intermediary or broker (car dealer).

This pause was originally scheduled to end on the 25 September 2024; however, it has now been extended until the 04 December 2025.

The purpose of the pause is to ensure that complaints are dealt with fairly and the outcome of the FCA’s review will decide what action needs to be taken on relevant complaints, such as customer compensation.

A relevant customer complaint must meet the following tests:

• It must be about a regulated credit agreement taken out between 6 April 2007 and 28 January 2021.

• It must have financed the purchase of a vehicle (including Hire Purchase Agreements, such as Personal Contract Purchases).

• There must have been a DCA in place between the lender and the intermediary or broker (the car dealer); and

• The complaint must have been received between 17 November 2023 and 04 December 2025 inclusive.

Complaints Process

You can refer your complaint to us as normal. During the period while the FCA review is ongoing, there will be a few changes to the usual complaints handling process and your complaint will be subject to longer than usual complaints handling timescales. This is due to the pause which the FCA introduced with immediate effect from 11 January 2024.

Please note:

• If you have a relevant DCA complaint, you will not receive a final response from us within the usual 8-week deadline. This is because the FCA has extended the deadline, and, as a result, most relevant customer complaints will not receive a final response until 04 December 2025 at the earliest.
• If you currently have a DCA complaint in progress with us, the 8-week deadline has been paused and will resume on 04 December 2025.
• If we sent you a final response to your complaint between 12 July 2023 and 25 September 2024 inclusive, or if we send you a final response to your DCA complaint between 26 September 2024 and 29 April 2025, and you remain unhappy, you will have longer to take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). Usually, you have six (6) months from the date of our final response to refer your complaint to the FOS, however you now have up to fifteen (15) months from the date of our final response or 29 July 2026, whichever is the later, to refer your complaint to the FOS. If we send you a final response to your DCA complaint between 30 April 2025 and 29 January 2026, you will have fifteen (15) months from the date of our final response to refer your complaint to the FOS.
• If your complaint does not relate to a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA), the revised complaints handling timescales do not apply and the standard Complaints Procedure will be followed.
• For full details of the temporary complaints handling timescales and how the rules affect you, please visit the FCA’s dedicated webpage for consumers at https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/car-finance-complaints

If you have a complaint about a Discretionary Car Finance Commission Arrangement (DCA)

You can notify Automotive Compliance of your complaint through the following channels.:

By Post: Automotive Compliance Ltd, The Factory, 44 Alfred Street, Gloucester, GL1 4DD

If you are not sure if you have a discretionary commission arrangement (DCA) complaint, you can ask us to check. We will aim to find out and respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.

On receipt of your complaint, we will carry out a detailed review and we will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within five (5) working days.

We will keep you updated, as appropriate, while the FCA carries out its review and during the period the pause for responding to customer complaints about discretionary arrangements (DCAs) is in place.