Inconsistent MOT results + rant
Discussion
Well, I'd just like to start off by saying bollocks, arse, feck and, indeed, arse again. There, that's better.
Three weeks ago, sent my car somewhere local (well regarded) for a service and MOT. Service no problem, but MOT would have failed on rusty front wishbones. Was given a quote for the work, but they couldn't fit me in soon enough, so I said I'd phone around and try and get it done sooner as my MOT deadline was fast approaching.
Couldn't find anywhere sensible to do the work sooner, but did find somewhere else (also well regarded) with a better quote, so booked it in there, saying it needed new top wishbones, bushes and an MOT to go with.
So come last week, they'd had the car for a day and phoned me to say that it had failed its MOT again. Strangely, it failed on the track rod end and an blown tail light. I asked if they'd done the wishbones yet and they said they'd not finished yet, but they also said they didn't fail the car on the condition of the wishbones! I grew horns at this point. I also pointed out that the tail light problem was an iffy connector that just needed futzing with.
Soooo... I picked the car up today to find that:
a) the wishbones quote I was given was ex. VAT, despite me having asked if that was "all inclusive" and being told that it was. It's about time that punters being quoted VATEX prices is regarded as sharp practise. I *know* that most things motoring are quoted ex. VAT but it still bloody catches me on the hop now and again.
b) they'd replaced a brake hose without telling me they were going to do it. It was f**ked apparently, but it was another 54 quid (ex. VAT) they didn't bother to get authorisation for before going ahead with the work. I'm sure the sale of goods act says something about unsolicited goods/services, although there may be small print that nixes me there.
c) they'd replaced the bloody tail light bulb, and charged me a bleedin' ludicrous 13 quid (ex. VAT) labour to change the feckin' thing. Come the hell on! Who are they kidding????
That's dealers I suppose.
I'm certainly going to write and bitch about the tail light labour & unauthorised work, but what the arse can I do about the inconsistent MOT result thing? If I'd done things solely at the one place I'd have paid just over 200 quid, if I'd done things solely at the other place, I'd have paid just over 200 quid. Who regulates MOT stations? Is there anything I can/should do?
And, sure, all the work needed doing, especially as I hope to sell the car. But I could have used the luxury of phasing things over a month, rather than in one hit. (Yes, yes, I'm in I.T., working for myself. No, not contracting, consulting. That's *worse*. When your cashflow graph looks like a Pollock painting, sudden financial shocks are incredibly painful.)
Three weeks ago, sent my car somewhere local (well regarded) for a service and MOT. Service no problem, but MOT would have failed on rusty front wishbones. Was given a quote for the work, but they couldn't fit me in soon enough, so I said I'd phone around and try and get it done sooner as my MOT deadline was fast approaching.
Couldn't find anywhere sensible to do the work sooner, but did find somewhere else (also well regarded) with a better quote, so booked it in there, saying it needed new top wishbones, bushes and an MOT to go with.
So come last week, they'd had the car for a day and phoned me to say that it had failed its MOT again. Strangely, it failed on the track rod end and an blown tail light. I asked if they'd done the wishbones yet and they said they'd not finished yet, but they also said they didn't fail the car on the condition of the wishbones! I grew horns at this point. I also pointed out that the tail light problem was an iffy connector that just needed futzing with.
Soooo... I picked the car up today to find that:
a) the wishbones quote I was given was ex. VAT, despite me having asked if that was "all inclusive" and being told that it was. It's about time that punters being quoted VATEX prices is regarded as sharp practise. I *know* that most things motoring are quoted ex. VAT but it still bloody catches me on the hop now and again.
b) they'd replaced a brake hose without telling me they were going to do it. It was f**ked apparently, but it was another 54 quid (ex. VAT) they didn't bother to get authorisation for before going ahead with the work. I'm sure the sale of goods act says something about unsolicited goods/services, although there may be small print that nixes me there.
c) they'd replaced the bloody tail light bulb, and charged me a bleedin' ludicrous 13 quid (ex. VAT) labour to change the feckin' thing. Come the hell on! Who are they kidding????
That's dealers I suppose.
I'm certainly going to write and bitch about the tail light labour & unauthorised work, but what the arse can I do about the inconsistent MOT result thing? If I'd done things solely at the one place I'd have paid just over 200 quid, if I'd done things solely at the other place, I'd have paid just over 200 quid. Who regulates MOT stations? Is there anything I can/should do?
And, sure, all the work needed doing, especially as I hope to sell the car. But I could have used the luxury of phasing things over a month, rather than in one hit. (Yes, yes, I'm in I.T., working for myself. No, not contracting, consulting. That's *worse*. When your cashflow graph looks like a Pollock painting, sudden financial shocks are incredibly painful.)
Inconsistent MOT results - I'd call the DVLA. One of the garages should have their licence to issues MOT's removed.
I agree its bl**dy frustrating and I had a similar thing many years ago. The whole point of an MOT is for safety so if there is no consistency it makes a mockery of the whole process.
I agree its bl**dy frustrating and I had a similar thing many years ago. The whole point of an MOT is for safety so if there is no consistency it makes a mockery of the whole process.
Mine went for its MOT a few weeks ago. Apparently I needed a new wiper are, how nmany times have we heared that one. It was changed without my authorisatiuon. The whole bill was 75 quid. It took 30 mins to fit. I wished id moaned now, hindsight is a wonderful thing. Perhaps a bit mor factory training may come in useful. And I had a big greasy hand print on my bonnet. That was free.
>> Edited by zippy500 on Tuesday 6th August 08:09
>> Edited by zippy500 on Tuesday 6th August 08:09
My Brother in law had some unauthorised work done on a Corrado, something he was capably of doing himself. He was so ****** off he forced the garage to take off the new part and replace with the old one. I guess if you have arranged to have a particular job done, then there is a contract between you and the garage. He argued that there was no contract for the unagreed work, so why should he have to pay for it?
I remember a few years ago I took my golf for an MOT, it was about 5 years old at the time and well looked after, they garage failed it on the brake compensator. Quoted me about a hundred and something quid to replace. I said I will think about it and got in the car took it to a garage about 15 miles away and guess what?? It passed with flying colours.
I've always found that staying with the car duting the MOT and chatting up the mechanic helps. Not only can you get away with 'cautions' on things that might otherwise have failed, but you can also get extra little bits done at the same time. Like when I replaced the headlight pods in my Griff, the alignment was way out and normally it would have failed. But by loitering, the guy kindly did the alignment for me, for free, during the MOT.
The one exasperating MOT story I've had was when I left the car (BMW 320) there, thus breaking my own advice. I'd asked them to fix the exhaust (an obvious MOT failure) and then to give it an MOT. What did I get back? 'It failed on a busted exhaust, mate, here's the bill'.
Fucking halfwits. Should be stacking beans in a supermarket, safely away from complicated things.
>> Edited by simpo one on Tuesday 6th August 11:37
The one exasperating MOT story I've had was when I left the car (BMW 320) there, thus breaking my own advice. I'd asked them to fix the exhaust (an obvious MOT failure) and then to give it an MOT. What did I get back? 'It failed on a busted exhaust, mate, here's the bill'.
Fucking halfwits. Should be stacking beans in a supermarket, safely away from complicated things.
>> Edited by simpo one on Tuesday 6th August 11:37
many moons ago I took a mazda montrose (remember them?)in for an mot, it failed on the r/h front which I duly changed and took back, the original chappie had gone to lunch so his mate promptly failed the l/h wheel?!!! when I politely enquired as to his reasoning he said that I could of just swapped them round?! being young and naive I accepted it
Once had to get rid of a Golf GTi cos I needed the money. Needed an MOT so took it off to one of those "while you wait" service places. Anyway, inquired with the chaps there to see if I can join them as it passes through the testing to see what happens. They agreed and I duely walked the car through the MOT. Quite interesting really, but the only concern was the windscreen - big unrepairable chip on the screen in the view of the driver - instant fail....
Tester turns to me and says "could have sworn that you did that tomorrow!". Promptly passes the car and I go off and sell it - without replacing the screen..... Makes you wonder on the other things too....
A separate tale, my wife had a Honda Civic 1.5LSi - you know the one with the VTEC-E engine which is very low burn and economical. Anyway, came up for its first MOT which it failed on emmissions!!! I played merry hell with the Honda dealer and refused to pay the £200 they wanted to correct it.... same dealer sold the car in the first place. They tried to claim some of the money, but when I threatened legal action as they had so obviously sold me a car that would have failed the MOT in the first place, they realised that they didnt have a leg to stand on.... didnt pay in the end...
Just goes to show that dealers (main or otherwise) see the MOT as an opportunity to fleece the public for money on un-necessary work. Rip off Britain? You betcha....
Cheers,
Paul
Tester turns to me and says "could have sworn that you did that tomorrow!". Promptly passes the car and I go off and sell it - without replacing the screen..... Makes you wonder on the other things too....
A separate tale, my wife had a Honda Civic 1.5LSi - you know the one with the VTEC-E engine which is very low burn and economical. Anyway, came up for its first MOT which it failed on emmissions!!! I played merry hell with the Honda dealer and refused to pay the £200 they wanted to correct it.... same dealer sold the car in the first place. They tried to claim some of the money, but when I threatened legal action as they had so obviously sold me a car that would have failed the MOT in the first place, they realised that they didnt have a leg to stand on.... didnt pay in the end...
Just goes to show that dealers (main or otherwise) see the MOT as an opportunity to fleece the public for money on un-necessary work. Rip off Britain? You betcha....
Cheers,
Paul
Wife booked her first car (Fiesta) in for an MOT at one of those deadful franchised garage places. I know the Fiesta was in good shape because it happened to be looked after by me (Look - it takes about 10-20 attempts, but I get it right in the end, often with the help of the RAC)...
Anyway, grease monkey calls naive blonde wife and tells her that the engine is 'bent on its mountings'. This could apparently be tremendously dangerous in that the engine could fall out 'backwards like, love'. All of the mounts will need to be replaced to correct it.
Hmm.
Husband walks down to the garage (so far, garage does not know that husband exists). Better still, I have been trying all afternoon to change the fecking spark plugs on my Alfa (the hardest job in the world on a 16v boxer - I am on about my 15th attempt). I am in overalls and covered in oil and the skin on my knuckles is but a distant memory. I look vaguely like I know what I am talking about. I figure that the large gaps that do exist in my knowledge can be covered adequately by anger.
Grease monkeys are coaxed away from coffee and porno mag and are asked to explain exactly what a bent engine is. They change their tune. Apparently, what's really happened is that the mountings are rotten. Aaah. Good. I see. Unusual problem? No, not on these motors, mate. (Gosh - that 1.1 engine must have a lot of torque). Do they have Fiesta mountings in stock? They do! What a surprise! I dispatched a monkey to collect one. So, chap comes back with his mount, and the car goes up on the ramp. Together we inspect the mountings and play 'spot the difference' with the mount he has in his hairy mit. There isn't any. Oh dear.
I begin to rant. The Manager appears. A conversation follows (which I am excluded from). This is followed by apologies from the Manager - apparently there has been some confusion. No, no, it won't be necessary to talk to Head Office. Because of the confusion, the car has passed! Would I like my MOT free? Splendid. He'll even throw in the new wiper arm free of charge....
>> Edited by beljames on Tuesday 6th August 22:21
Anyway, grease monkey calls naive blonde wife and tells her that the engine is 'bent on its mountings'. This could apparently be tremendously dangerous in that the engine could fall out 'backwards like, love'. All of the mounts will need to be replaced to correct it.
Hmm.
Husband walks down to the garage (so far, garage does not know that husband exists). Better still, I have been trying all afternoon to change the fecking spark plugs on my Alfa (the hardest job in the world on a 16v boxer - I am on about my 15th attempt). I am in overalls and covered in oil and the skin on my knuckles is but a distant memory. I look vaguely like I know what I am talking about. I figure that the large gaps that do exist in my knowledge can be covered adequately by anger.
Grease monkeys are coaxed away from coffee and porno mag and are asked to explain exactly what a bent engine is. They change their tune. Apparently, what's really happened is that the mountings are rotten. Aaah. Good. I see. Unusual problem? No, not on these motors, mate. (Gosh - that 1.1 engine must have a lot of torque). Do they have Fiesta mountings in stock? They do! What a surprise! I dispatched a monkey to collect one. So, chap comes back with his mount, and the car goes up on the ramp. Together we inspect the mountings and play 'spot the difference' with the mount he has in his hairy mit. There isn't any. Oh dear.
I begin to rant. The Manager appears. A conversation follows (which I am excluded from). This is followed by apologies from the Manager - apparently there has been some confusion. No, no, it won't be necessary to talk to Head Office. Because of the confusion, the car has passed! Would I like my MOT free? Splendid. He'll even throw in the new wiper arm free of charge....
>> Edited by beljames on Tuesday 6th August 22:21
Excellent stuff! Me Julie was ripped in similar fashion (before we met) by a Fiat daler in Nuneaton who claimed that a certain part was duff. Now she'd already had the part replaced and the car merely required the warning light resetting. So she produced the old part from her handbag and the story (surprise surprise) changed. There was a 'loose wire' somewhere. She had to walk the streets of Nuneaton until they condescended to ring her and say they'd fixed it. The bill? What a surpsrise: it was within pennies of what they'd quoted her to replace the already-replaced part.....
And me? Well, I took my Tasmin to back-street Billy's for a 10 quid MOT. It failed on emissions. I took it elsewhere, and it passed. So I took it back for the free retest, and it passed the emissions and failed on a worn trackrod end.
My first car was a Simca: it went for an MOT with a huge hole in the floor we'd forgotten to weld up. When they pointed it out, my dad told them it was the air intake for the heater. It passed......
Ian
And me? Well, I took my Tasmin to back-street Billy's for a 10 quid MOT. It failed on emissions. I took it elsewhere, and it passed. So I took it back for the free retest, and it passed the emissions and failed on a worn trackrod end.
My first car was a Simca: it went for an MOT with a huge hole in the floor we'd forgotten to weld up. When they pointed it out, my dad told them it was the air intake for the heater. It passed......
Ian
Trick is to find a good MOT place and stick with them. One of our local garages is absolutely brilliant. Strict on the safety issues but "understanding" on non-safety related stuff. Quite often will let something through with a "get that mended quick as you can lad" (I'm 42!!), but I know that the important stuff has been properly checked. Trouble is, these local enthusiast garages are getting fewer and fewer - I just hope mine keeps going.
quote:
Trick is to find a good MOT place and stick with them. One of our local garages is absolutely brilliant. Strict on the safety issues but "understanding" on non-safety related stuff. Quite often will let something through with a "get that mended quick as you can lad" (I'm 42!!), but I know that the important stuff has been properly checked. Trouble is, these local enthusiast garages are getting fewer and fewer - I just hope mine keeps going.
I have one of these.. been taking all the cars for 6 years.... favourite quote has to be "weld up that hole in the exhaust before you bring it back next year"
If there was anything dangerous with the cars he'd fail them on the spot though.. (and has done in the past LOL)
Cheers
Matt.
I think everyone should realise that the MOT is merely a legal requirement and only refers to the condition of the vehicle on the day of the test.It is therefore possible to have a car with a current MOT that has a lethal fault on it.You will get garages that think they are doing you a favour by overlooking things and you will get garages that see it as a way to rip you off.I would imagine if you took the time and trouble to have your car MOT'ed at three different garages you would get three different results.Also have you noticed how many windscreen suffer stone chips since the inclussion of it in the MOT.Previous to this a chipped or broken windscreed was so uncommon it was a subject of conversation for weeks. Cynical,maybe!
My chimaera failed its MOT yesterday after taking it to a local TVR dealer. Apparently there is a worn bush where the wishbone attaches to the chasis on the front suspension causing the suspension to potentially knock against ths chassis.
I bought the car from a different dealer in Surrey who I was very impressed with. The MOT dealer suggested I call the people who I bought the car from and play hell as it was only 3 months ago and should have been fixed before purchase as they would have done!. I am not really that keen to hear dealers knocking each other but I called them anyway. Incidentally, although only about £3 for a bush a 4 hour job means about £180 fee. So I call the people I bought it from ( warranty won't cover ofcourse ) who seem to have a different view. Fully aware that this can occur and although they say not necessarily an MOT failure unless there is play in the joint, they offer to fix it free of charge before MOT done again. Better to do a 400mile round trip and pay petrol costs that works out cheaper than paying mechanics charges - plus chance for a good long run.(fault not a dangerous one)
Point is, different people seem to have different views on what constitutes a fail - what can you do?
So I will be driving down to Surrey tomorrow first thing - look out for the silver P reg Chimaera and give us a wave!!
>> Edited by silver500chimp on Wednesday 7th August 15:42
I bought the car from a different dealer in Surrey who I was very impressed with. The MOT dealer suggested I call the people who I bought the car from and play hell as it was only 3 months ago and should have been fixed before purchase as they would have done!. I am not really that keen to hear dealers knocking each other but I called them anyway. Incidentally, although only about £3 for a bush a 4 hour job means about £180 fee. So I call the people I bought it from ( warranty won't cover ofcourse ) who seem to have a different view. Fully aware that this can occur and although they say not necessarily an MOT failure unless there is play in the joint, they offer to fix it free of charge before MOT done again. Better to do a 400mile round trip and pay petrol costs that works out cheaper than paying mechanics charges - plus chance for a good long run.(fault not a dangerous one)
Point is, different people seem to have different views on what constitutes a fail - what can you do?
So I will be driving down to Surrey tomorrow first thing - look out for the silver P reg Chimaera and give us a wave!!
>> Edited by silver500chimp on Wednesday 7th August 15:42
Funny, the dealer who did the MOT asked the same question - don't really know - ages since I bought a car from a dealer so I assumed you got the balance of the MOT period. I got the tax disk remaining period which I thought was good plus a comprehensive 1 yr warranty and a few other bits. Do you expect a full MOT from dealers?
>> Edited by silver500chimp on Wednesday 7th August 15:41
>> Edited by silver500chimp on Wednesday 7th August 15:41
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