NI MOT centers, anyone had any problems with their car after visiting one?

blackadder1b

Have heard of other cars (diesel engines) getting ruined from being reved too much.

arkonite_babe

My test was in Coleraine when they failled it. :mad:

jnd

Maybe the Belfast Telegraph would like to hear of these stories. My first experience of watching it from the "dugout" made me say to the guy next to me, that if it was anyone else doing that to your car you'd chin them. Personally I think it causes unneccessary stress to the car. I never understood why we do our own MOT's anyway....

CheekyLittleMonkey

Hi Everybody

After reading your threads regarding the new MOT test centres. I would say complain, complain, complain!

I am an IT Contractor and I have recently finished working for Siemens Business Services who built the MOT Computerisation system in Coventry. They still have skeleton staff working around the clock (most of my mates are still there) dealing with numerous complaints.

It works like this: each test centre has its own ID and they (the test centre) are known as AE's - Authorised Examiners. Within each test centre they have their staff, who each have a "Smart Card" to swipe for each test slot (for each MOT), these guys are known as NE's - Nominated Examiners.

VOSA have nominated Siemens the contract to build. The staff are there to deal with the complaints BUT I must add, that these complaints are to deal with the faulty system itself (and it is full of holes, I don't know how it ever got signed off to go LIVE), thus if you feel that the problem is with the test itself, then complain direct to Siemens.

If the complaint is with the Garage, report them to VOSA for misconduct and mistreatment, giving your date of MOT, timeslot, and details of complaint. Be very stern and demand a re-test or that the garage in question fix the problem that was not there before the MOT took place. Oh and take photographs of said damage.

Hope this helps someone. At least I tried!

arkonite_babe

CheekyLittleMonkey wrote:

Hi Everybody

After reading your threads regarding the new MOT test centres. I would say complain, complain, complain!

I am an IT Contractor and I have recently finished working for Siemens Business Services who built the MOT Computerisation system in Coventry. They still have skeleton staff working around the clock (most of my mates are still there) dealing with numerous complaints.

It works like this: each test centre has its own ID and they (the test centre) are known as AE's - Authorised Examiners. Within each test centre they have their staff, who each have a "Smart Card" to swipe for each test slot (for each MOT), these guys are known as NE's - Nominated Examiners.

VOSA have nominated Siemens the contract to build. The staff are there to deal with the complaints BUT I must add, that these complaints are to deal with the faulty system itself (and it is full of holes, I don't know how it ever got signed off to go LIVE), thus if you feel that the problem is with the test itself, then complain direct to Siemens.

If the complaint is with the Garage, report them to VOSA for misconduct and mistreatment, giving your date of MOT, timeslot, and details of complaint. Be very stern and demand a re-test or that the garage in question fix the problem that was not there before the MOT took place. Oh and take photographs of said damage.

Hope this helps someone. At least I tried!

Hopefully it will help some of us who have had problems in the past. I'm quaking now because my car is up for MOt in just over a week. *insert nail biting smilie here*

blackadder1b

It may sound bad but it may be worth while getting your alignment checked before you go into the test centre (as they do not check the alignment) and then again once you come out, just to make sure its ok. This may save you £100 like it cost 2 of us already

raymond

I would think the fitters were telling you stories

There is no machine they use in the MOT centre that will alter your wheel alignment, and if it was done by the jack lifting the car it will have bent something which could have much more serious consequences than a couple of worn tyres.

Almost all misalignment of wheels is caused by potholes and driving into kerbs.

talksalot81

But what about the instance of one driving into the test centre with no problems, then the return trip showing symptoms of misalignment.... in the absence of an other possible source of misalignment, something in the test MUST be responsible.

almillar

I remember around the time of people complaining about their diesel engines being damaged how stupid this was. If your car isn't able to rev, yes, several times, yes up to full revs, then it isn't roadworthy and it shouldn't pass. Don't complain if your belt snaps or your engine blows - if this happens, its better to happen in the centre than whilst driving! As far as I know, they've stopped doing this part anyway.
The handbrake cable doesn't hold the weight of the car, but if it snaps when a human gives it a tug, do you really think that's safe? Again do you want that to happen on the road?
The wheel alignment thing is more tricky - I can't believe anyone could drive round in a car with the metal poking through the rubber, that's extremely irresponsible and doesn't happen overnight. The car gets shaken around a lot to test the shock absorbers, suspension etc. but along the same theme as above, if this force knocks out the tracking, toe or camber of your wheels, there is something wrong with YOUR CAR - going over a big bump in the road will quite easily do the same thing, and something needs tightened or replaced.
I personally think we are fortunate to have a government run MOT system, in GB any old (certified) garage can do it, and the quality of cars driving round is lower.
What would be the point in the test if everything passed? Sorry if this is harsh, but it sounds like most people in this thread want to drive dangerous cars.
Anyway, a suggestion I can make is that you should regularly check the entire width of all your tyres, not just the outside, and this will alert you to any tracking, toe or camber problems, that you can fix before the tyre becomes illegal.

Thanks,
Alan

talksalot81

almillar wrote:

The wheel alignment thing is more tricky - I can't believe anyone could drive round in a car with the metal poking through the rubber, that's extremely irresponsible and doesn't happen overnight. The car gets shaken around a lot to test the shock absorbers, suspension etc. but along the same theme as above, if this force knocks out the tracking, toe or camber of your wheels, there is something wrong with YOUR CAR - going over a big bump in the road will quite easily do the same thing, and something needs tightened or replaced.

The problem is, how am I meant to know what the problem is if I have bere experienced it before? In my case when it first manifested, the car was skiddy. Drove it carefully for a bit, checked tyres and such like, and it did get somewhat better. Knowing nothing about cars, it is unfair to assume someone like me could know any better.

If the loss of alignment is due to a fault in my car.... again this is not my fault. I cant afford a shiny new car so i live with an old one which gets put through a full service every year and has its MOT. If these is something seriously wrong with it, then either the MOT or the service guys should pick it up! Otherwise, what is the point!?