Anyone ever had problems with an MOT garage ?

[jackal]

Guys, i had an MOT done today. They failed the thing on a couple of points one of which was excessive play in nearside front track rod end ball joint.

I've taken a look at said ball joint and a few things come to mind:

1. there is no play in it

2. it's the same tie rod they failed on last years MOT which I replaced, just 6000 miles ago

3. last year they said the lower arm was also shot as well and needed replacing but i couldn't find fault and didn't replace it and they passed it when they restested (but i gave them the benefit of the doubt that time)


Also, this time, I have a split CV boot and having taken a peek it looks very fresh to me. I'm seriously thinking that they may have cut it. Given last years lower arm poppycock it all adds uyp to a pretty suspicious picture.

I wanted to ask people's views on whether this sort of thing goes on quite a lot ? I intend going to main dealer tomorrow and then a third garage and getting 2 other written opinions on this track rod end. If it turns out that I am right then I will be absolutely fuming as I know a ton of mums and families who use this garage and 99 out of 100 of them would always just pay for any bills that came up on the spot. This sort of thing really gets my goat.

Does anyone have any advice as well ? i was thinking that if my suspicions check out then I am going to go straight to VOSA to get a free restest elsewhere by a VOSA technnician, demand a full refund from the original garage and then think about dedicating some time to alerting the local community about these people. Any advice would be most welcome.

[mikefacel]

Use your local council's MOT station. They've all got one, mainly for MOTing council vehicles, but also do MOTs for the public. Since that's all they do it's not in their interests to find faults and they're usually very helpful.

[TallPaul]

It does happen, but I dont think its that widespread, garages could potentially loose a lot of income if they lost their MOT licence, so is it worth them trying to generate a couple of hundred pounds worth of work? I'm not saying they havent mis-MOT'd the vehicle, just that its rare!
My understanding of VOSA's complaints procedure is that you have to pay for the MOT at another garage (possibly one suggested by your local VOSA office) and then things go from there, but TBH, I'm not that familliar with that scenario.

[C. Grimsley]

Having an mot station myself I would say if that's true what you are saying they are being very foolish as loosing there mot license would cripple them.

Carl

[bmthnick1981]

It does happen, a mate at work had some MOT probs previously and as you are saying he went elsewhere and got written opinions that no faults were present. These were sent to VOSA and the 'dodgy' MOT centre investigated. My understanding is VOSA take this stuff v.seriously and there is only so many strikes before they are 'out' and have licence removed.

[davidjpowell]

Years ago I had a Renault 5 that failed it's mot on bits and bobs like bushes, and also needed a tyre due to a bulge that I had missed.

Before I had time to complete everything my mother blew up the engine. A short delay ensued.

I did get a replacement engine, and while the tyre was being replaced thought I might as well let them MOT it as the free retest had expired.

bds failed it on a load of new stuff.

Took it straight back to original station, who were principally a HGV workshop but did car tests on the side - but not any work on the cars, so you knew it was straight, and it passed.