MOT retest question

milliebear00001

Hi there

Just took my car into local garage for its MOT. Pointed out to the guy that the wipers weren't returning properly when turning them off. Duly got a call saying it had failed for this reason and I'd need to take it somewhere else to get it repaired. This would be annoying enough, but I now can't get the work done within the next working day and so am liable for a partial retest fee. Is this correct?

As I understand it, if I take the car away, I either get it back to original garage within the next working day COB for a free retest, or I have to pay a retest fee if I have it done within 10 days? Seems really unfair when it's not my fault the garage can't do the work (and knew they'd have to when I took it in).

hartcjhart

Did YOU ask them if they could fix the wipers if needed?
if not then why are you upset with them? you took the car in for an MOT and that is what they have done.

as for fees it is up to the individual MOT station wether you get a 'free' retest or pay a partial or indeed a full fee.

Premier_2

I'm not sure there is any requirement for the wipers to return automatically to the park position (although not able to park them manually in that position may be a failure as they might be considered to obscure the view).

Can't see anything here as to a requirement that the wipers must park automatically when turned off.
http://www.ukmot.com/6-1.asp#Text_top

milliebear00001

hartcjhart wrote: »

Did YOU ask them if they could fix the wipers if needed?
if not then why are you upset with them? you took the car in for an MOT and that is what they have done.

as for fees it is up to the individual MOT station wether you get a 'free' retest or pay a partial or indeed a full fee.

What I said was that I expected it to fail on the wiper basis. They replied that it was almost certainly the motor (apparently a known weakness of this model). My beef is that they could clearly have pointed out at that time that if that was the case, they would be unable to repair the fault. The fact they didn't seems underhand to me.

If they were to charge me a full fee to retest, is there anything stopping me simply taking the car to another garage who can do the work, and paying them to do the second MOT, or am I beholden now to the garage that issued the fail cert?

milliebear00001

Premier wrote: »

I'm not sure there is any requirement for the wipers to return automatically to the park position (although not able to park them manually in that position may be a failure as they might be considered to obscure the view).

Can't see anything here as to a requirement that the wipers must park automatically when turned off.
http://www.ukmot.com/6-1.asp#Text_top

They don't return manually either and so are actually 'obstructing' my view when stuck across the screen!

hartcjhart

milliebear00001 wrote: »

What I said was that I expected it to fail on the wiper basis. They replied that it was almost certainly the motor (apparently a known weakness of this model). My beef is that they could clearly have pointed out at that time that if that was the case, they would be unable to repair the fault. The fact they didn't seems underhand to me.

If they were to charge me a full fee to retest, is there anything stopping me simply taking the car to another garage who can do the work, and paying them to do the second MOT, or am I beholden now to the garage that issued the fail cert?

Its not for them to advise on wether they can or cannot do the work IF they were not asked the specific question,
i.e. 'If the car fails on the wipers are you able to fix it?'

why you think it is underhand beggars belief,it is not as if they are trying to make more money out of you by suggesting their mate fixes it,are they?

you can take the car anywhere you want for another MOT,but it will be a full test not a retest, but make sure you ask them if they can fix the wipers

milliebear00001

hartcjhart wrote: »

Its not for them to advise on wether they can or cannot do the work IF they were not asked the specific question,
i.e. 'If the car fails on the wipers are you able to fix it?'

why you think it is underhand beggars belief,it is not as if they are trying to make more money out of you by suggesting their mate fixes it,are they?

you can take the car anywhere you want for another MOT,but it will be a full test not a retest, but make sure you ask them if they can fix the wipers

They are making more money out of me by charging me a retest fee I wouldn't have needed to pay if they had been able to carry out the repair. I would have no objection to paying this if it was my choice to have the work carried out elsewhere, but I really wanted all the work done on-site.

I suspect I can get another, full MOT for about the same price as the original garage's retest charge. I can also get the work done at the alternative garage and am pretty shocked that the original garage is unable to carry out what appears to be a simple job anyway (all the other garages in the area that I rang could do the work, although not until Thursday at the earliest). In future, I will go to the (further away) garage I should have gone to in the first place.

jeannieblue

Poor Millie - you only asked...

Garages vary - but you will be given ten working days (not including weekends and bank holidays) to get the vehicle repaired, that is the law. But if they charge you for a retest, that is up to them, we don't - but as I say, garages vary.

If you look at your failure sheet - you will see that it gives you ten days etc.

Just don't use that garage again if you are not happy with the way they carried or not carried out the work!

hartcjhart

They are making more money out of me by charging me a retest fee I wouldn't have needed to pay if they had been able to carry out the repair. I would have no objection to paying this if it was my choice to have the work carried out elsewhere, but I really wanted all the work done on-site.

supposing they could have fixed it,
at the time of the test it failed the MOT,then they fix what is wrong,they then do a re-test which they can still charge you for

milliebear00001

hartcjhart wrote: »

They are making more money out of me by charging me a retest fee I wouldn't have needed to pay if they had been able to carry out the repair. I would have no objection to paying this if it was my choice to have the work carried out elsewhere, but I really wanted all the work done on-site.

supposing they could have fixed it,
at the time of the test it failed the MOT,then they fix what is wrong,they then do a re-test which they can still charge you for

Except the retest at this garage would then have been completely free - as it has been at every other garage I've ever been to for the twelve odd MOTs I've paid for over the years...

hartcjhart

jeannieblue wrote: »

Poor Millie - you only asked...

Garages vary - but you will be given ten working days (not including weekends and bank holidays) to get the vehicle repaired, that is the law. But if they charge you for a retest, that is up to them, we don't - but as I say, garages vary.

If you look at your failure sheet - you will see that it gives you ten days etc.

Just don't use that garage again if you are not happy with the way they carried or not carried out the work!

yes she did ask and I pointed out what is what,garage mechanics are not well known for their phsycic abilities,so why whinge if you have not asked the right questions