Problem with garage - where do I stand?

interstellaflyer

Beckyy wrote: »

I took my car for it's MOT to a garage that was recommended to me. It wasn't until after the test I realised they weren't an MOT test centre, they did the work and used another garage for the tests.

Putting to one side your other comments, the above paragraph is not really cause for concern, many small independent garages use other garages to carry out MOT tests, this alone does not make them bad, in fact the vast majority probably do a better job because there time is spent fixing cars, not faffing around with MOT tests.

colino

OP as you already know, the person who recommended this place really should keep their opinions to themselves. Any garage that can't turn around a Fiesta in double quick time for it's MOT on such a short list of faults shouldn't be in the business. Does it have a particularly good ICE system that they were enjoying?
Seriously, a garage that can't fix Fiesta brakes and then secures a seatbelt mechanism with any old nut is no good. Pay them for the work you agreed (they appear to have given you the reasons/options open for delays) and make sure you never darken their door again.

Beckyy

Update:

I've had my car in for an MOT at a seperate garage. They sorted it and corrected the other garages errors.

The first garage had put a new ofs headlight unit in, but had put the lamp back in incorrectly and the angle it was at has burned the reflective area above the lamp. The garage I took it to told me not to pay for the unit unless they replace it as it's damaged. I don't want them touching my car again really, so am I in my rights to refuse to pay for it? Do I need to give them it back? Can easily fit a new one myself.

They had also tightened my handbrake but not slackened it at the back (or something similar) so it was rubbing on my wheel hub, which was what the noise I was getting when driving was.

They had also failed the car for having a jammed midde rear seatbelt which was only an advisory, 2 other garages have told me. They had put a new seatbet in, but had not connected the cable (it's still unconnected) and I had to find a knut myself to secure it. Can I hand them back the belt and refuse to pay for it?

They did put in new brake adjusters at the back though.

So... what am I obligated to pay for? And how much labour would be fair considering I had to pay to have their mistakes rectified.

Hintza

Beckyy wrote: »

For example, if the new garage says my handbrake only needed tightening do I pay them for all the time they spent 'adjusting it' and failing to get it sorted when it was a simple task?

These simple jobs have a tendency of becoming a pain. Took hours to get the handbrake to work on the Panda effectively and that was after new cables and stripping down one of the hubs.

Westmead_Fan

They had also failed the car for having a jammed midde rear seatbelt which was only an advisory, 2 other garages have told me.

Really???

was these other 2 garages MOT approved testing stations or just wannabe testers? if the seatbelt does not operate that is a failure.

Beckyy

Westmead_Fan wrote: »

Really???

was these other 2 garages MOT approved testing stations or just wannabe testers? if the seatbelt does not operate that is a failure.

The two other garages were approved testing centres. The one which isn't a test centre insisted it was a fail, and were using a different test centre for my MOT.

Beckyy

Hintza wrote: »

These simple jobs have a tendency of becoming a pain. Took hours to get the handbrake to work on the Panda effectively and that was after new cables and stripping down one of the hubs.

I understand that, but I didn't need new cables and they didn't adjust it as such from what I could tell, just tightened it til it was rubbing on my hub at the back by the sounds of it. The other garage managed to get it sorted, along with the rest of the work and only charged me 2 hours labour.

Beckyy

I've spoken to the first garage on the phone and asked tem to invoice me, I tried to talk to them about the problems but they just asked me to come in with the car. I won't be able to til later on in the week, so will have to see what happens. If anybody has any opinions on what would be fair to pay I'd be quite grateful.

swiftnick

Beckyy wrote: »

The two other garages were approved testing centres. The one which isn't a test centre insisted it was a fail, and were using a different test centre for my MOT.

They need a refresher course then. If its fitted it has got to work. HTH

Westmead_Fan

swiftnick wrote: »

They need a refresher course then. If its fitted it has got to work. HTH

not a refresher course, the station needs some new testers who know what they are talking about.