MOT and Service scams

sarahbrown

Just thought I'd warn everyone about this...
My husband took his car for an MOT with Service, so basically you get the MOT free. They failed him on indicators, because when you indicate one direction, then turn the steering wheel, the indicator immediately switches in the other direction. (Ironic thing is, he's passed 2 previous MOT's with this fault, and he also bought the car from the same garage with that fault!).
They quoted him £250 just to fix the switch. So he contacted a different garage this morning, and the mechanic said they must have driven the car to discover that fault, which they had every right to do if they were servicing it. He said this is where these garages make their money...offer MOT + Service, they do the service first, find out all the niggly little problems that they'd never discover if only doing an MOT, then fail the MOT and give you a big list of repairs.
So he's taken the car to the garage he's just phoned, and the guy said he'd carry out an MOT only, and test the indicators to see if they work, and if they do he'll pass the MOT.

ariba10

You get nothing for nothing.

I always take my vehicles to a center that only do M O Ts.

They may charge the full price but at least you know they are not looking for work.

Volcano

I was surprised but apparently this is considered a fail:

"A missing, insecure or faulty selector switch." http://www.ukmot.com/1-5.asp

...however it does seem a bit trivial.

My husband took his car for an MOT with Service, so basically you get the MOT free.

The clue here is in the word 'free'.......

This site has a guide to MOTs: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot

Alternatively, if you find a good garage then stick with it. I use a local garage that only services HGVs, but has a car bay for MOTs. They don't service cars so the potential for extra cash from me doesn't exist, so no chance of over exuberant testing.

sarahbrown

djheath - the same garage sold him the car with this 'fault' and passed TWO MOT's with this 'fault'. It does not make the car unsafe to drive, as soon as the steering wheels turned you switch the indicator off again, therefore preventing it from automatically indicating the other way. This fault would not be picked up on any standard MOT.
And why apologise for being rude?! That's obviously just the way you are.

anewman

This fault could easily be picked up on a standard MOT without the car being driven. The wheels are lifted off the ground and turned fully left to right to check steering components and clearance of other components when wheels are fully turned for safety. You don't need to drive a car to steer it, the other mechanic you talked to obviously doesn't know very much and probably does not have an MOT testing license - or is trying to give scare stories to make you think he's a good mechanic and you should use him instead. Or it is possible the MOT tester who tested your car is a bit more thorough.

I guess it all depends on how you interpret "faulty" though. The switch is obviously functioning although not as intended. It could be construed faulty in that indicating one direction results in indicators for the other direction being shown, which is obviously quite dangerous should it happen at a bad time. I would tend to think this interpretation would be correct otherwise it would have been worded differently in the testers manual.

It sounds like the garage is being quite fair to me - they could have said you needed new brakes and shock absorbers. The switch should ideally be repaired, although I do not know if the price quoted is fair. I don't know how self-cancellers work in most cars (on mine it's nylon clips) - it is possible a little grease in the correct place is all that's needed which would cost nowhere near £250.

ArsenalFC

The garage is not scamming you, clearly the indicator has a fault which could be dangerous. They quoted you £250 for the repair, you are not obliged to go ahead with it. If you think the quote is too much then go to somewhere cheaper you can find. The other poster is not being rude, this fault could be potentially very dangerous no matter what you may say.

If a garage want £1000 to change a light bulb for my car and I agreed to it, it's not class as a scam - it's an agreement between vendor and customer.

sarahbrown

That's exactly what he has done - gone elsewhere. The garage he's gone to isn't trying to give the other garage a bad name, or spread scare stories...he's been honest and told him that he's cheaper to do some repairs himself such as tyres, and light bulbs.
So problem solved.

steveo3002

does sound like a fault that could cause accidents

if they the car like it why didnt you go back and moan?

jeannieblue

Think the cost of new switch/indicator stalk and fitting being £250 - does sound excessive, but we don't know anything about the vehicle, so it could be one that has over priced parts....

Its faulty - you knew that - it failed its MOT - don't be surprised.

I think the fact that you didn't ask for it to be repaired when you initially bought the car, unusual... I would've been back straight away. The fact that it passed MOT previously, doesn't matter. Plus, MOT rules and 'tightness' etc, does change. VOSA have been tightening up on the testers that were known as slack in their ways.

Bad luck. You could always check out some breakers for the part required.

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

sarahbrown wrote: »

That's exactly what he has done - gone elsewhere. The garage he's gone to isn't trying to give the other garage a bad name, or spread scare stories...he's been honest and told him that he's cheaper to do some repairs himself such as tyres, and light bulbs.
So problem solved.

Brillant you put in a car for MOT with dodgy lights and tyres and wondered why it failed

There was no scam here and just because you found a less than thorough garage to pass it with a questionable fault means nothing

harveybobbles

I'm guessing the car is a Peugeot...? With a duff comms 200 switch. these can be replaced. But most folk want to replace them for 200 quid...