MOT regulations?

Prothet_of_Doom

Lum wrote: »

Your first mistake was going to Halfrauds for an MOT.

If they force you to pay for a new MOT, take your business elsewhere.

:beer:

The local independent Place that I go, fitted a new side light bulb for free. And the conversation and negotiation about some minor rust was a delight. "I'm putting it down as an advisory, please sort it in the next month. I'm trusting you"

Helfords, charges 3 times what my local independent motor factor charges for headlight bulbs.

Road_Hog

Lum wrote: »

Your first mistake was going to Halfrauds for an MOT.

If they force you to pay for a new MOT, take your business elsewhere.

Ah, but I like making them give me a half price MOT and then not give them any work. My view, is if they don't want to do half price MOTs without any work, then they shouldn't offer them.

Next year, if they try the same rubbish again, I'm going to go through the VOSA complaints procedure and get the failed part checked at another garage.

I still can't believe that in a day and half, the manager told me to my face, that he couldn't guarantee me that they'd have time to check one wiper blade - he said it with a straight face as well.

Road_Hog

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

Helfords, charges 3 times what my local independent motor factor charges for headlight bulbs.

I'm not sure what they charge, but I just replaced a brake light on the Citroen C3 yesterday and it was a £1 for a Bosch bulb (probably not made by Bosch, just branded by them)., which I can live with.

Lum

Road_Hog wrote: »

Ah, but I like making them give me a half price MOT and then not give them any work. My view, is if they don't want to do half price MOTs without any work, then they shouldn't offer them.

The half price MOT is a loss leader and you're now being punished for not falling into their scam.

You've paid full-price to get that MOT and also bought a wiperblade, admittedly not at Halfrauds rip-off pricing, that was probably unnecessary.

OddballJamie

Road_Hog wrote: »

Ah, but I like making them give me a half price MOT and then not give them any work. My view, is if they don't want to do half price MOTs without any work, then they shouldn't offer them.

Next year, if they try the same rubbish again, I'm going to go through the VOSA complaints procedure and get the failed part checked at another garage.

Last MOT I had done was at the local council test centre at £33, is it really worth the hassle to go back to the same garage and possibly experience the same thing for a saving of about £5?

Road_Hog wrote: »

I still can't believe that in a day and half, the manager told me to my face, that he couldn't guarantee me that they'd have time to check one wiper blade - he said it with a straight face as well.

I think you are failing to understand it's not just a case of going 'oh yes' there's a new blade. They need to login to the system to correct the fail and print out your MOT, all of this takes time. They have other customers cars to deal with and can't just be at your beck and call when you decide to roll up. This is why you need to make an appointment to have a retest.

Road_Hog

Lum wrote: »

The half price MOT is a loss leader and you're now being punished for not falling into their scam.

You've paid full-price to get that MOT and also bought a wiperblade, admittedly not at Halfrauds rip-off pricing, that was probably unnecessary.

No, I didn't pay full price, I did get my retest free, but after a bit of verbal shoving. You are correct, I paid £4 for a wiper blade that I didn't need.

Mind you, TBH you take your chances with everyone. About 3 years back I used an independent that failed the power steering pump and when I cleaned it up and took it back (leaking) he passed it - what hadn't helped is that the the Citroen main dealer in London had serviced it and packed the steering pump out with that blue towel stuff that you get in workshops, rather than repairing the seal.

I don't know what it is about Citroen dealers, but the current one that's been serviced by a main dealer, has just 'popped' a spark plug and it seems that they obviously threaded it when they changed it. Yes, you might say, why do you keep gettting Citroens and I'd reply, because my inlaws keep buying them and offering them to me for free when they get to 3 years old - so a bit of a no brainer, I'm afraid.

Lum

If you're super organised and certain that the old blade is still safe&legal, swap your old wiper blade back on, and keep the new one for when it is actually worn out.

And yes I wouldn't turn down a free 3 year old Citroen with FDSH every 3 years.

vaio

hey, I'll give a good home to the 6 year old one when the next three year old one arrives

forgotmyname

Back in the day the MOT would take 10 minutes with a tea break. But now its all computerized its the best part of 1 hour. If they complete the test in under that time they wonder if it was done properly.

They want as many cars tested in a day. No point paying the tester to make tea.

1f they open for 8 hours, He can only test 8 cars. He wont earn anything from your retest if its a minor item.

vaio

I thought the allocated time was 20 or 30 mins, certainly none of the ones I've had recently have taken more than 30 mins