The old MOT scam...
Discussion
So no name and shame here however worthy of a mention...
Had a good friend call me up this week asking for a bit of advice (and actually a loan!) as his 2002 V70 had just failed its MOT at a franchised dealer. It had failed on brake discs, brake pipes (corroded), suspension bushes, emissions, gearbox oil leak and rear tyres. Anyway said franchised dealer had quoted over £1k to put it all right.
Now I know his car I know he keeps it well maintained etc and said let me take a look and see (not that I am a mechanic however!) so I took a look and frankly to me it looked ok, with the exception of the tyres. So I advised him to get a set of rears sorted (which he could afford) and take it to the council testing centre in the same city (which I use) and see what they have to say, as they are generally more thorough and have no vested interest in fixes as they just MOT.
Needless to say it flew through not a single advisory and even when he mentioned the specific items said franchised dealer had failed it on they said "no sir they are all fine"...
I know we all know it goes on but FFS it is just p155 boiling!
Had a good friend call me up this week asking for a bit of advice (and actually a loan!) as his 2002 V70 had just failed its MOT at a franchised dealer. It had failed on brake discs, brake pipes (corroded), suspension bushes, emissions, gearbox oil leak and rear tyres. Anyway said franchised dealer had quoted over £1k to put it all right.
Now I know his car I know he keeps it well maintained etc and said let me take a look and see (not that I am a mechanic however!) so I took a look and frankly to me it looked ok, with the exception of the tyres. So I advised him to get a set of rears sorted (which he could afford) and take it to the council testing centre in the same city (which I use) and see what they have to say, as they are generally more thorough and have no vested interest in fixes as they just MOT.
Needless to say it flew through not a single advisory and even when he mentioned the specific items said franchised dealer had failed it on they said "no sir they are all fine"...
I know we all know it goes on but FFS it is just p155 boiling!
It's too late to go the "official" route of an appeal test with VOSA because there have been repairs done (the tyres) but they're still likely to be interested. Even if they don't act immediately in this case, it helps them (in theory) target their inspections if they know a centre is pulling this sort of thing. They take incorrect fails pretty seriously as bringing the system into disrepute 
I'd be giving a copy of both MOTs and advisory certificates to VOSA, and letting them investigate.
Perhaps try to get some kind of letter from the council tster saying that the parts the dealer failed were fine, but not new or recently fitted (or (or think of another way of proving that). Otherwise the dealer might well try to say your friend had their fails fixed and then took it elsewhere for its MOT.
Perhaps try to get some kind of letter from the council tster saying that the parts the dealer failed were fine, but not new or recently fitted (or (or think of another way of proving that). Otherwise the dealer might well try to say your friend had their fails fixed and then took it elsewhere for its MOT.
balls-out said:
If its a franchised dealer, write to head office telling them what the garage is doing to their reputation.
Especially seeing as (I believe) Volvo use cunifer brake pipes, and have done for a long time, which really shouldn't be corroding in 9 years. Which suggests their quality control is at fault and could even be a recall issue 550Hep said:
Anyway said franchised dealer had quoted over £1k to put it all right.
Not surprised at all, Volvo for laugh. balls-out said:
If its a franchised dealer, write to head office telling them what the garage is doing to their reputation.
HO will tell you to stuff it, they are not responsible for what their network is doing.Edited by nouze on Friday 11th February 12:52
Motorrad said:
Go and talk to the dealership in question's general manager with both certificates in hand and tell him you're sending the lot off to VOSA.
This...with a caution:It'll go one of two ways:-
- They'll bend over backwards to be nice to you
- They'll make sure your car REALLY fails next time you take it in for work...
ker's face when he realises what a shower of s
Rob287 said:
O/T and I apologise. If a car fails it's MOT, but the previous one doesn't expire until a few weeks later. I'm assuming it is now an MOT failure and you are breaking the law if you drive away? Even if you don't believe the failure is correct?
Interesting point actually as I know you are allowed to drive a non MOT'd car to get an MOT but what is the position on driving it to get any failure points fixed? As it happens he drove it home, then the following morning to the other test so it was <24hrs and only driven to and from a pre-booked MOT.
I guess by driving it home after failing at the first place he was technically in the wrong. Would be interested if any BiB are reading as to the way they play that kind of situation.
Rob287 said:
O/T and I apologise. If a car fails it's MOT, but the previous one doesn't expire until a few weeks later. I'm assuming it is now an MOT failure and you are breaking the law if you drive away? Even if you don't believe the failure is correct?
No, existing MOT still applies, and a car failing its MOT does not necessarily make it dangerous to use on the road (see threads SP&L ad infinitum)Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff