What would you do?

chirpchirp

Friend took their car to the garage the other day for MOT. When they got there they handed over their keys and left. No one checked the car for damage.

Shortly afterwards they were rung to be told that the MOT hadn't been done and it would be an instant fail due to damage at the back. Friend was in shock as they weren't aware of any damage.

When friend returns to garage, car is badly damaged on bumper but hadn't been like this when they left. Garage are refusing to accept that this occurred on their premises and say nothing shows on their cctv, what would you do?

We can't see anyway forward due to lack of proof, so looks like this will affect future insurance premiums as the car is a company car.

Loganfire

Sure your friends not pulling a fast one

forgotmyname

Did they actually check the back before the MOT? Ask to see the CCTV footage?

Crabman

Make a note of all the cameras that you can see on their site, so you know if footage from one or more is being kept away from you. Also try to see what sort of damage has been caused and any objects, e.g. walls, bollards that are at a matching height/width to cause the damage and obviously look for remains of paint transfer.

andygb

I would like to say that damage to a back bumper does not automatically result in an MOT fail. As long as there are no sharp protruding edges to the bumper (usually on the side - return panel), then it should not fail. I have a Mondeo and it has a piece missing from the rear bumper, and it still passes MOT tests.
Either the garage is trying it on (they have crashed the car whilst moving it), or the owner thought the car would pass OK with crash damage which is a danger to pedestrians or other road users.

chirpchirp

andygb wrote: »

I would like to say that damage to a back bumper does not automatically result in an MOT fail. As long as there are no sharp protruding edges to the bumper (usually on the side - return panel), then it should not fail. I have a Mondeo and it has a piece missing from the rear bumper, and it still passes MOT tests.
Either the garage is trying it on (they have crashed the car whilst moving it), or the owner thought the car would pass OK with crash damage which is a danger to pedestrians or other road users.

The owner definitely delivered it without crash damage. I know they hadn't been in a crash as they would have told me straight away. They also check the car every time they exit it as despite automatic locking they feel the need to check each door! Makes me laugh every time. Also, if the damage had been done before they had got into the car that day, they would have seen the damage on the way to get into the car as it is so huge and yes it is protruding.

Feels like stalemate as the garage are saying there is nothing showing on the cctv and they can't zoom in to see if there is damage to the car when it was left there. Insurance claim under way but it seems so unfair as it must have happened at the garage.

Strider590

This is ridiculous, they should have insurance (not car insurance) to cover these things AND making a claim against that wouldn't affect their premiums. It makes no sense for them to be so stubborn about it unless they don't have the legally required cover.

forgotmyname

??? How can an insurance claim not affect their renewal price?

When i take my car for an MOT i dont expect them to fix dents, scrapes and scratches that were already there, Just in
case it happened on their property.

Checkout the CCTV.. And all will be revealed..

Or not.

TrickyWicky

Call the police. Someone somewhere is taking the mick. If the garage say the CCTV shows nothing (which indicates that CCTV is present) then the police will want to see the recordings and the garage can't deny them to the police.

maninthestreet

The police probably won't be interested in this - they'll claim it's a civil matter.

mcfisco

Another customer could have done it and then made a hasty retreat

Without any witnesses or CCTV you're unlikely to ever find out what happened