MOT Garage rip off..

[Rossay]

Girlfriends Streetka was due an MOT so off she went to the local MOT station, dropped it off and went to work leaving her number with the garage to call when its done.

Sure enough, later that day they called her and said its failed on wheel bearing, offisde parking brake not efficient and headlamp aim too low.

'We can have it ready and re-tested by 5pm, and the total will be £170 plus your MOT fee'.

She was unsure so told them toleave it til she phoned me.

I called them and it went like this.

Me:'Hi,My girlfriends streetka is in and im just wondering when you close so i can collect the car'

Garage: Erm...im sure she wanted to leave it with us.

Me: I dont think she did, You wanted £170 for a wheel bearing?

Garage: No sir, There is also work required to the brake's and the headlamp needs removed and adjusted.

Me: HAHA, Excellent. Im not sure if you quoted that price to my OH cos you thought she was daft and would go for it, But you and i both know that a wheel bearing costs less than £50 let alone £100.

Garage: But sir, the brakes...

Me: The brakes dont need work, the cable needs adjusted and the headlight doesnt need to be removed to be adjusted.

Garage: MOT it elsewhere then you fking prick.

Me: Watch your mouth pal, There was no need for that. I'll see you when i collect the car.

So i hung up.

Half an hour later i got there to find the place with the shutters, the streetka sitting at the back with the key on the drivers floor with a note saying 'Your not welcome back, Post the £54 mot fee through the door'.

To say i was livid was an understatement, Granted its a quiet area but the wrong person could have been away with it easily enough.

And i got it down to a garage later today due to me not having the time to do it myself and neding it done asap..

Wheel bearing - £16
Fitting - £25

Headlight - Bulb loose

Handbrake - Adjusted - Free (Was same side as wheel bearing needing done so less hasstle for him).

Total £31.00, as opposed to the £170.

Still to post the money through but dont know if to just post it or go in and see him face to face.

What a prat though, Just because he was (rightly) questioned on his price, he gets cheeky then aggresive. I wasnt cheeky when questioning him in any way, He just assumed he could fleece my other half without question.

Customer service is a lost cause these days.

I know there isnt much point of this, But everyone likes something to read and it helps me vent.

[The Nur]

Report them to VOSA. There are too many garages like that in the industry

Edited by The Nur on Saturday 17th July 20:09

[bdr529]

Face to face, surely.

[AyBee]

Absolute disgrace. We could do with a name and shame on this with stories like this!

[mybrainhurts]

A certain In-And-Out-Fast outlet wanted £613 to fix a locked drum brake on my daughter's 206.

Got it done down the road for £75.

[Jasandjules]

The Nur said:

Report them to VOSA. There are too many garages like that in the industry

Edited by The Nur on Saturday 17th July 20:09

Yep. Then go and tell him to his face that you have!

[Si_steve]

Face to face 100%. I have a friend who's OH is one of those who 'dont want the hassle' and pay whatever thick fit or some other bodge shop quote when MOT comes around. She has a 52 plate fiesta and so far it has had: Every single brake pipe replaced...Twice, complete set of tyres three times, two front wheel bearings, new exhaust and new shocks all round, may not seem like much on an eight year old car but it has only done 35k.

[Hitler Hadrump]

Tell him you left his £54 outside the garage in an envelope marked "money".

[The Nur]

Hitler Hadrump said:

Tell him you left his £54 outside the garage in an envelope marked "money".

"You didn't see it? It was underneath the unnecessarily arsey note I left!"

[MX7]

http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/

[Wing Commander]

Dear MOT man,

I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at £54.00 so trust this settles the matter.

Kisses
Me

<insert picture of 7 legged spider>

[rottie102]

And why would the VOSA be interested in it? He did nothing wrong with the MOT itself and as far as I know we still live in a country where I can quote any price I want for my time...

For leaving the car out I would st through his letterbox though

[The Nur]

john_p you crafty git

[matthewg]

john_p said:

Is £170 really that bad to replace a wheel bearing and adjust a handbrake?

Yes it is really.

[rhinochopig]

Hitler Hadrump said:

Tell him you left his £54 outside the garage in an envelope marked "money".

The perfect solution. OP you have to do this.

[Adz The Rat]

£54 for a MOT?? That's a bit steep!

As for leaving the car unattented with the key in, that's just taking the piss.

Definitely confront them face to face and say you left the money outside.

[seany87]

I hate the way women are ripped off by a lot of garages.

Its easy money but how can these people sleep at night?

[freakynessless]

Wing Commander said:

Dear MOT man,

I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at £54.00 so trust this settles the matter.

Kisses
Me

<insert picture of 7 legged spider>

Best thing I've read all day!

[entwisi]

go and see him first thing monday and ask where the car is? let him stew for a few hours that he left the car unattended with keys in and your insurance co are looking to recover any costs.....

Then tell him to go jump for teh 54 quid for being an arse

[steveo3002]

entwisi said:

go and see him first thing monday and ask where the car is? let him stew for a few hours that he left the car unattended with keys in and your insurance co are looking to recover any costs.....

Then tell him to go jump for teh 54 quid for being an arse

yeah do this