Fraudulent MOT's
Discussion
I've bought a few cars from traders over the years. They usually offer a brand ner 12 month MOT. Sadly in more cases than not they're not worth the paper they're written on.
I always thought MOT testing stations had to be pretty stringent on these tests. I've never been one to grass but I'm getting into the mindfrane i'm going to start reporting these unscruplous stations. I know buying from a trader you have to make allowances for a tarnished version of the truth but the MOT stations should not be supporting them. I didn't think test stations made all that much profit on a test. The only reason I could see them doing it is either for volume of cars coming through, the doodgy trader has a interest or just plain old money laundering. I wish I coould direct this towards the trader but it's the MOT station that signs it off.
Current car came with 12 months test 2 days before I picked it up. Horn didn't work and it needs pads and disks all round.
Many others had this experiance? Did you report it?
I always thought MOT testing stations had to be pretty stringent on these tests. I've never been one to grass but I'm getting into the mindfrane i'm going to start reporting these unscruplous stations. I know buying from a trader you have to make allowances for a tarnished version of the truth but the MOT stations should not be supporting them. I didn't think test stations made all that much profit on a test. The only reason I could see them doing it is either for volume of cars coming through, the doodgy trader has a interest or just plain old money laundering. I wish I coould direct this towards the trader but it's the MOT station that signs it off.
Current car came with 12 months test 2 days before I picked it up. Horn didn't work and it needs pads and disks all round.
Many others had this experiance? Did you report it?
Rick101 said:
Current car came with 12 months test 2 days before I picked it up.
.... it needs pads and disks all round.
Pad and disc wear is not an issue at MOT. Brake FUNCTION is tested, not brake WEAR..... it needs pads and disks all round.
Statistical checking of MOT stations is carried out routinely and automatically through the latest online MOT system. Any stations playing games are likely to stick out like a sore thumb.
Rick101 said:
Many others had this experiance? Did you report it?
Years ago, when I was young and naive, I bought a Citroen Saxo VTR off a rather unscrupulous dealer. The car was passed it's first flush of youth and had clearly been owned by some idiot. I was as big an idiot for not just walking away from the car, but it was cheap and there were other lads at work with Saxo VTR's who reckoned they were awesome and the test drive went ok, though the car was cosmetically shabby. I put down a £100 deposit on the car with the condition that the car would have a brand new MOT and I have a mechanic inspect it before I bought it. The day came when I went up with the mechanic to the garage where the Saxo was, and the brand new MOT certificate was presented to me. No sooner had the mechanic started the inspection that he discovered the hand brake was completely knackered; the back wheels spinning away as he inspected the hoisted back end of the car.
I asked for my deposit back, the dealer refused saying he had turned away customers who would have paid upfront for the car as it was. Likely idiots who would drive it uninsured, given the price and the type of car. I wasn't happy, and eventually got my money back when the mechanic threatened to report the dodgy MOT. The dealer suddenly crumbled, saying "hey, hey lads. We don't want anyone to lose their job over £100". I walked out of there, never to return. The mechanic reported the dodgy MOT to VOSA, saying it was that sort of thing that tarnished his profession. I never heard anything more of it after that. I don't know if that dealer is even still there. His cars were as dodgy as f
k. The sort of thing that experience has taught me to stay well away from.Ozzie Osmond said:
Rick101 said:
Current car came with 12 months test 2 days before I picked it up.
.... it needs pads and disks all round.
Pad and disc wear is not an issue at MOT. Brake FUNCTION is tested, not brake WEAR..... it needs pads and disks all round.
Statistical checking of MOT stations is carried out routinely and automatically through the latest online MOT system. Any stations playing games are likely to stick out like a sore thumb.
Explain...
Another example. Went to look at a car from a (ttish) dealer prior to buying mine.
How a browse through the service history and paperwork that was in the glovebox whilst I was checking it. Found the recent failed MOT cetificate from a different location and reports of work needing done. I could see the wear on the brakes and knew suspension bushes were a common thing on that model.
Chatting with the sales guy after, he declared it had full MOT from their local station and had never failed or had no advisorys. Didn't let on what I had seen but he was absolutley adamant the car had gone through without issue.
tish) dealer prior to buying mine.How a browse through the service history and paperwork that was in the glovebox whilst I was checking it. Found the recent failed MOT cetificate from a different location and reports of work needing done. I could see the wear on the brakes and knew suspension bushes were a common thing on that model.
Chatting with the sales guy after, he declared it had full MOT from their local station and had never failed or had no advisorys. Didn't let on what I had seen but he was absolutley adamant the car had gone through without issue.
Remember an M.o.T is only that of an opinion of one tester! This is particularly the case where brakes are concerned. There's a lot of grey areas about what should and shouldn't fail, and exactly what constitutes a worn brake disc for example; when in actual fact its braking ability is still sufficient.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Rick101 said:
Current car came with 12 months test 2 days before I picked it up.
.... it needs pads and disks all round.
Pad and disc wear is not an issue at MOT. Brake FUNCTION is tested, not brake WEAR..... it needs pads and disks all round.
Statistical checking of MOT stations is carried out routinely and automatically through the latest online MOT system. Any stations playing games are likely to stick out like a sore thumb.
A friend at work can get an MOT on any car for £200.
His latest shed is a 10 year old Scenic, with the latest fault being the rear suspension is totally knackered and has collapsed. It's so low, it looks like it has a huge 2 ton boulder in the boot, yet it's empty. Despite this, it has just recently received a brand new MOT.
His latest shed is a 10 year old Scenic, with the latest fault being the rear suspension is totally knackered and has collapsed. It's so low, it looks like it has a huge 2 ton boulder in the boot, yet it's empty. Despite this, it has just recently received a brand new MOT.
dnt 
Its a pain in the arse nowadays having to take it down there!
Its useful having mates in all walks of life;) however passing a car that is unsafe to be driven on the road is just stupidity. I can guarantee that the garage owner will have a friend who puts them through for him, possibly on the provision that he sorts what it fails on before he sells it, which he isn't bothering to do!!
Bibbs said:
I knew a tester who would post you an MOT if you couldn't get your car to him.
I used to always get my MOT through the post until recently Its a pain in the arse nowadays having to take it down there!Its useful having mates in all walks of life;) however passing a car that is unsafe to be driven on the road is just stupidity. I can guarantee that the garage owner will have a friend who puts them through for him, possibly on the provision that he sorts what it fails on before he sells it, which he isn't bothering to do!!
There's a lot less MOTing by phone nowadays as they are aware that VOSA can be round the corner knowing what cars are logged in as being tested at the time.
Having said that, if you are expecting a MOT station to test a car for a private punter in exactly the same way as for a trader who brings them five cars a week and wants them all to pass, you may be kidding yourself.
Having said that, if you are expecting a MOT station to test a car for a private punter in exactly the same way as for a trader who brings them five cars a week and wants them all to pass, you may be kidding yourself.
diddles said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Rick101 said:
Current car came with 12 months test 2 days before I picked it up.
.... it needs pads and disks all round.
Pad and disc wear is not an issue at MOT. Brake FUNCTION is tested, not brake WEAR..... it needs pads and disks all round.
Statistical checking of MOT stations is carried out routinely and automatically through the latest online MOT system. Any stations playing games are likely to stick out like a sore thumb.
There are plenty of adverts on Autotrader which say 'Will come with 12 months MOT at point of sale'. I always immediately dismiss any that say this because invariably the MOT will be carried out either by themselves or their dodgy mate.
What if the dealer does take it to another honest garage who pass it but it is returned with a long list of advisories? You have already paid the deposit and getting the dealer to sort those advisories or return your deposit is likely to be a massive ball ache.
Sticking a blank piece of paper over the advisories and then giving the customer a photocopy of said MOT with no advisories on is not unheard of either.
I love cars but I hate the process of buying them.
What if the dealer does take it to another honest garage who pass it but it is returned with a long list of advisories? You have already paid the deposit and getting the dealer to sort those advisories or return your deposit is likely to be a massive ball ache.
Sticking a blank piece of paper over the advisories and then giving the customer a photocopy of said MOT with no advisories on is not unheard of either.
I love cars but I hate the process of buying them.
Yep, bough a wee runaround vitara for taking dogs out from a body shop garage ( he sells a few damaged repaired too) car had just been Motd and was decent money for year and miles.
Guy is(sorry was) a friend of a friend so didn't think I'd be screwed over, how wrong was I!
10 months after buying and only 2.5k miles the exhaust needed replaced but was expensive so I wanted to see if anything else needed done rather than throwing £800 at it for the exhaust.
Turs out the car was rotten sills etc and would need £300-£400 of welding work.
Ended up scrapping it!
I did take it back to guy who Motd it the year before to see what he would say telling him that I knew the exhaust was a fail but could he check it for reason mentioned before.
His reply to the sills damage etc was "that could happen in a year and 2.5k miles."
Aye right!
Buyer beware my fault but more pissed off at MOT than anything.
Guy is(sorry was) a friend of a friend so didn't think I'd be screwed over, how wrong was I!
10 months after buying and only 2.5k miles the exhaust needed replaced but was expensive so I wanted to see if anything else needed done rather than throwing £800 at it for the exhaust.
Turs out the car was rotten sills etc and would need £300-£400 of welding work.
Ended up scrapping it!
I did take it back to guy who Motd it the year before to see what he would say telling him that I knew the exhaust was a fail but could he check it for reason mentioned before.
His reply to the sills damage etc was "that could happen in a year and 2.5k miles."
Aye right!
Buyer beware my fault but more pissed off at MOT than anything.
sodslaw said:
But they would appear as an advisory.
Explain...
Not necessarily..........Explain...
My car passed the MOT with completely knackered brakes & pads all around, infact the rears were so bad the handbrake barely worked at all. The one advisory I got was for a rear tyre close to the legal limit.... no mention of the shagged brakes.
VolvoT5 said:
My car passed the MOT with completely knackered brakes & pads all around, no mention of the shagged brakes.
If your car passed an MOT with brakes which didn't work then I'm amazed.If your car passed an MOT with substantially worn but still functioning brakes then I'm not at all surprised.
On a lot of cars it's extremely difficult to see the inboard brake pads or even the inner facce of the discs. People who think an MOT test is a guarantee of excellent vehicle condition are misguided.
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