Asking garages to check/adjust things before an MOT
Discussion
So I took my bike down for an MOT this afternoon, it expired a couple of months ago so wanted to take advantage of the dry weather.
I noticed en-route that the bike was pulling slightly to the right, and decided to ask the garage if they could check the rear wheel alignment before starting the test.
It was a firm no, and they pointed to a sign on the counter saying:
"There is no 'Can you Just?' during an MOT or during any other Repair/Service work. All extras not previously mentioned when booked in or beyond MOT will be charged labour costs or have to be allocated diary time. This includes tyre pressures, chain adjustment & fluid levels"
Now I'd understand if someone was asking for something time consuming that may go wrong (such as a bolt snap etc) when carrying it out. But a simple check of tyre pressures or chain tension/alignment would take a matter of minutes.
The laughable part is that once I got back home, I was able to correct the problem in a couple of minutes. For a small family run business, you would think customer retention would be very important to them. But in my case, it seemed they couldn't be bothered to do the check beforehand. I was more than happy to pay the labour cost in carrying out this check/adjustment, but it was a firm no.
Do you think this garage's policy is reasonable? Or would you expect a garage to have a little flexibility when it comes to adjustments prior to an MOT test?
I noticed en-route that the bike was pulling slightly to the right, and decided to ask the garage if they could check the rear wheel alignment before starting the test.
It was a firm no, and they pointed to a sign on the counter saying:
"There is no 'Can you Just?' during an MOT or during any other Repair/Service work. All extras not previously mentioned when booked in or beyond MOT will be charged labour costs or have to be allocated diary time. This includes tyre pressures, chain adjustment & fluid levels"
Now I'd understand if someone was asking for something time consuming that may go wrong (such as a bolt snap etc) when carrying it out. But a simple check of tyre pressures or chain tension/alignment would take a matter of minutes.
The laughable part is that once I got back home, I was able to correct the problem in a couple of minutes. For a small family run business, you would think customer retention would be very important to them. But in my case, it seemed they couldn't be bothered to do the check beforehand. I was more than happy to pay the labour cost in carrying out this check/adjustment, but it was a firm no.
Do you think this garage's policy is reasonable? Or would you expect a garage to have a little flexibility when it comes to adjustments prior to an MOT test?
aturnick54 said:
Do you think this garage's policy is reasonable? Or would you expect a garage to have a little flexibility when it comes to adjustments prior to an MOT test?
if you wanted to make it known that they were being assh*les then you should have just walked out and did your MOT elsewhere. Vote with your feet as they say.Jimjimhim said:
A bit of flex would be good, but think about it from the garages perspective, all these few minutes add up and will end up delaying other customers cars.
That's understandable. I'm not sure how long their MOT booking slots are, but a bike takes just under half an hour to do. You'd think they would book a little excess time just in case it's neededIt's difficult, because when the MOT has expired you don't have the option to test ride, but I understand that if every 25 minute MOT has a ten minute 'Can you just' attached, they're failing on their schedule before they begin.
I guess next time, if it is out of MOT then check the alignment with at the very least the manufacturer markings, as well as doing all your other pre-MOT checks (that, let's be honest, should largely be your daily pre-ride checks) before leaving home, or find a new MOT station who are more willing to help out.
I guess next time, if it is out of MOT then check the alignment with at the very least the manufacturer markings, as well as doing all your other pre-MOT checks (that, let's be honest, should largely be your daily pre-ride checks) before leaving home, or find a new MOT station who are more willing to help out.
Baldchap said:
It's difficult, because when the MOT has expired you don't have the option to test ride, but I understand that if every 25 minute MOT has a ten minute 'Can you just' attached, they're failing on their schedule before they begin.
I guess next time, if it is out of MOT then check the alignment with at the very least the manufacturer markings, as well as doing all your other pre-MOT checks (that, let's be honest, should largely be your daily pre-ride checks) before leaving home, or find a new MOT station who are more willing to help out.
With some bikes, the markings on the swingarm do not line up on each side. And visually it looked ok, could only tell while riding which the only time I could ride was to an MOT with it being expired. Everything else I made sure was working as expected.I guess next time, if it is out of MOT then check the alignment with at the very least the manufacturer markings, as well as doing all your other pre-MOT checks (that, let's be honest, should largely be your daily pre-ride checks) before leaving home, or find a new MOT station who are more willing to help out.
If I knew beforehand, I certainly would have called them to see if they could do it or increase the booking time. With some things I suppose you don't know until you're on the way
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