MOT advice for a friend

[danjama]

Hi everyone, a friend of mine who i told not to go to kwik fit for her MOT went there for her MOT.

It was already expired by two weeks.

The car failed as the two front tyres were worn through to the cords!

However they sent her away (can they do that if it's expired and dangerous to drive?) to come back tomorrow BUT...

They only have mid range tyres which they are saying will cost £140 fitted. I think this is extremely extortionate, considering they are 165/65/r14's on a 2007 Kia Picanto. After looking online for her i've seen tyres on blackcircles etc from £45 fitted.

Here's they kicker. They said they would do her a favour and only charge half price for the retest!!

Luckily she knows me, so I told her that a retest on same day or very next day is free. Is this correct?

I also told her they are absolutely scamming her with regards to the tyres.

Never mind the fact they never told her the retest was free if she left the car, and actually let her drive home with an expired MOT and dangerous tyres.

I've told her to ring them tomorrow and ask for a same day appointment and free retest, ONCE they have fitted tyres for a reasonable price.

Can anyone give any advice please?

[SamT1993]

Retest should be free within 10 working days even if taken away from test station i think. it should tell her on the mot failiure sheet

[super tech]

typical kwik fit robbery, book mot tomorrow at a proper garage, forget kwik fit altogether and go via a tyre shop.

[shakindog]

You may find the re test is free if the vehicle is not removed from the mot station and the work is carried out there. Or a fee will apply if its removed for work doing and returned for retest.should be able to check on vosa web site

Get a mobile tyre fitter out to change them on the centre car park that would be funny as they can't really refuse even if its a rival company

[andy-xr]

Choices and options really. No-one's forcing her to go back or not go back, other than the OP from the sounds of it. £140 for a pair of mid range tyres in that size doesnt sound a million miles away, if you (though I dont know why) want to get the £45 ones for her, and she's happy to drive around on the cords, great! Do that!

Retest info: http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MOT%20test%2...

Fee info: If the vehicle is left at the testing station for repair and is retested before the end of 10
working days following the day of the initial failure, then only a partial retest is needed
for which no fee may be charged.
If the vehicle is removed from the testing station for repair and returned for retest within 10 working days following the day of the initial failure, then only a partial retest is
needed and a partial retest fee may be charged.

All sounds fair and reasonable to me

[Dusty964]

danjama said:

Luckily she knows me, so I told her that a retest on same day or very next day is free, even though I don't know for sure.
What I should have said was- I told you not to go to Kwikit, you have done, so now pay the price and heed my future warnings. PS, as is tradition with the anonymous folk I shall ask advice from, you may need to send me naked pictures in return for information

[mudster]

SamT1993 said:

Retest should be free within 10 working days even if taken away from test station i think. it should tell her on the mot failiure sheet

You get a free retest only on the next working day (if the vehicle is taken away) and even then, only on certain failure items. Tyres do qualify as one of these failure items.

10 days free retest only applies if the vehicle is left at the testing station.

Edit: several posts were added above whilst I was typing.

[snotrag]

Sorry to be all preachy, but really its not kwik fits fault at all.

Sending a car to an MOT with Bald tyres is idiotic, its just about the one thing that EVERYONE can check and takes about 3 seconds, all you need is eyes.

[Ozzie Osmond]

mudster said:

You get a free retest only on the next working day (if the vehicle is taken away) and even then, only on certain failure items. Tyres do qualify as one of these failure items.

10 days free retest only applies if the vehicle is left at the testing station.

^^^^ This

[danjama]

snotrag said:

Sorry to be all preachy, but really its not kwik fits fault at all.

Sending a car to an MOT with Bald tyres is idiotic, its just about the one thing that EVERYONE can check and takes about 3 seconds, all you need is eyes.

OH I've lectured her on the phone for the last hour, that's covered!

Were they not obliged at all to tell her that if it was left there and the work done the retest would be free? How could they let her drive away on those tyres?

I've advised her to go elsewhere, but she's worried as she has work on Thursday and must get across Dartford bridge. Anyone know a reputable MOT station/tyre fitter in Dartford?

What I basically said was ask for a free retest tomorrow and price matched tyres fitted, or go somewhere else. Even if it means ordering online and getting them fit somewhere else.

[andy-xr]

danjama said:

OH I've lectured her on the phone for the last hour, that's covered!

Were they not obliged at all to tell her that if it was left there and the work done the retest would be free? How could they let her drive away on those tyres?

I've advised her to go elsewhere, but she's worried as she has work on Thursday and must get across Dartford bridge. Anyone know a reputable MOT station/tyre fitter in Dartford?

Hang on...

How did she drive in on those tyres? It's not Kwik Fits fault! I'm not their brand ambassador or anything, but fk me, what's up with taking responsibility now and again? She needs a pair of tyres and a retest. It's a basic attainment level of roadworthiness, not brain surgery

[digger the goat]

How could they let her drive away with those tyres ????

Sorry mate...drivers responsibility to ensure the car is fit for road use inc tax, mot, insurance, tyres , brakes, etc etc etc....
She should count herself lucky she didn't get a tug from plod...
Tell her to put reminder stickers in the car.......Could save her £1000s in fines and points !!

[danjama]

Fair enough. If I was a mechanic at the centre I would have been seriously concerned, and let her know that!!!

[danjama]

Dusty964 said:

Pics may or may not be forthcoming. We'll see

[vrsmxtb]

Watling tyres have a branch in Dartford, they're decent. I believe they also do MOTs - I would've thought a phone call early in the morning would get both issues sorted the same day.

[cambiker71]

Ozzie Osmond said:

mudster said:

You get a free retest only on the next working day (if the vehicle is taken away) and even then, only on certain failure items. Tyres do qualify as one of these failure items.

10 days free retest only applies if the vehicle is left at the testing station.

^^^^ This

The retest will be free if it's taken back before the end of the next working day. There's a list of items that qualify for the free retest and tyres is on it, look at the poster of fees which they will have on display in their reception, it details it all and it's a requirement to heve it in view of customers.

See here, it's on the right hand side, wheels and tyres.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MOT%20test%2...

[davepoth]

A call to Kwik Fit in the morning to ask for tyres in that size will likely be quite instructive. They always have ditchfinders in stock.

[danjama]

Well she got the tyres fitted by a mobile mechanic for £47 each and had a free retest at 4pm.

Saved her £60+.

[Bowler]

Did she "return the favour"?

[danjama]

Bowler said:

Did she "return the favour"?

Maybe tomorrow...

Nah, she's married...

I know, why didn't her husband sort this all out for her...