Garage carrying out work for MOT and still failing

[Ellis44]

Hi I am really hoping someone can help me.

I have recently had my car in the garage before the MOT was due for what (I believed needed doing) front brushes. That came back with a whole host of things they said needed doing for it to pass it's MOT that was booked in with them for 2 weeks after. So due to ill health and needing a car my partner (who knows nothing about cars) went along with it. Costing over £800.

It has since had it's MOT with the same garage and failed. And we were told it needed new back brakes, the handbrake needed adjusting and a new fuel filter. Costing another nearly £400.

So my question is shouldn't these things been brought up in the first place if they were needed for the MOT?
Trying to make sure we are not being ripped off as feel like we have been.
Thank you in advance.

[crofty1984]

Depends really. If you had the car booked in for a pre- MOT inspection, then I'd say they're in the wrong, as they've not properly inspected it.

If you'd had it booked in for the bushes to be done, then there's no obligation for them to look over anything else. They may well say "oh, while we took the front wheels off, we noticed the tyres were bald and the front brakes were bad" which is fair enough (assuming they're not trying to drum up business and they were fine), but unless you've asked them to, why would they look at the rear brakes?

I do feel for you though. Depending on the car, if you'd known the full extent of the works you may have just scrapped it. I guess you're in a bit of gambler's fallacy/sunk costs position now.

[Jamescrs]

Does the garage do the MOT in house or do they take it elsewhere for testing?

It could be the brakes were only picked up as a failure when they were actually tested for the MOT but I wonder why the garage didn’t notice visually they were looking worn in advance and advise.

I really struggle to see how a fuel filter would be an MOT failure directly?

[Ellis44]

They apparently did a full car check. Whatever that is before so they could tell us what was needed for to do done to pass the MOT.
Yes I probably would of got rid of the car and got another.

[Panamax]

This is why most garages do the MOT test first and then tell you what needs fixing.

But this is PH and everyone's terrified of having an "advisory" let alone a "fail". I don't know why people worry about it. Just because a car fails an MOT doesn't mean it's been neglected.

[EmailAddress]

Has it got rear drums?

Handbrake and rears may not have shown up until tested harder.

Fuel filter may not have shown up until idling for emissions.

[Richard-390a0]

Depends how long it sat around due to "ill health" doesn't it? A couple of days I'd have some sympathy but if it sat around again after the initial repairs for some length of time the rear brakes could've seized etc due to lack of use...