Watchdog tonight.

pogofish

ukmike wrote: »

They stated that because the car had no MOT,the tax & insurance would be invalid.I don't think that's correct.

The correct and accurate position has been stated a great many times on this board already. With full reference to the official C&V to back things-up.

Hoof_Hearted

iainscomputer wrote: »

Hi, I saw the programme & really thought it was a useless article.
They buy a £500 banger that is 15 years old & pick at the tyres being 1.55mm when the limit is 1.6mm, broken wipers & washers.
The car didn't start when they first viewed it, that car was old & needed attention. But to have BBC's top consumer programme picking on a back street garage selling bangers, it was just lazy journalism.
Insurance companies like policyholders to have an MOT but it doesn't invalidate the policy & doesn't even carry points when caught by Plod!

I quite agree. Only a complete moron would buy this. At least you would say that you'd pick it up when the MoT was done. They are cowboys, I'm sure, but this item was rubbish.

facade

Haven't you realised yet that sensationalist TV is all scripted, and usually factually inaccurate?

Remember when that investigative reporter (I forget his name) destroyed Apples by talking loudly, enunciating clearly, and getting people to repeat any incriminating statement slowly to his toolbox, that he kept repositioning so the camera could see them?

"Hur hur, we fleeced that customer, £200 for a brake fluid change and we never did nuffin, hur,hur"
" what, you are saying that you charge £200 and do nothing?"
(turns tool box slightly)
"Hur, hur, yeah, we charged £200 and did nuffin, hur, hur"

He did much the same to drug dealers, except he kept talking loudly & clearly to his briefcase.

They had to be scripted, no-one could be that stupid surely???

(This all happened on his first meeting remeber, and him with a stick on false beard and glasses with no lenses...)

Stoke

Do garages have a legal obligation to force you to pay tax and have insurance then?

interstellaflyer

Stoke wrote: »

Do garages have a legal obligation to force you to pay tax and have insurance then?

I always thought they did have an obligation to ensure that all documentation was in order before letting the car off the premises, all the cars I've bought in recent years, the dealer has asked for the insurance cover note or policy details to tax the vehicle but then maybe I've bought from responsible dealers not back street car lots selling bangers, so it may not be a legal requirement.

Strider590

Everyone thinks that what they see on TV is real, when in truth clips are cut and rearranged to the point where you can't trust the timeline AT ALL.

forgotmyname

So all it failed the MOT on were items that were clearly visible to anyone thats passed a driving test?

Steering cowl missing and wiper stalk stuffed into the dash?
A massive crack across the windscreen?
One cracked tyre thats 0.05 under the legal limit?

OK you may have missed the washer pump, but wouldnt most people test the washers and wipers?

And he says the clutch is slipping but no mention of that previously, so is it slipping or just really high?
I bought a car with a high clutch and thought its going to need doing sooner rather than later, over 4 years later it still didnt slip. Just a high clutch position.

Traded that one in in 2009 and its still going. MOT'd until next August, I wonder if anyone fitted a clutch or are they still thinking that pedals high and
its going to need doing soon.

If it was a private sale it would be a sub £200 car. If your good at DIY possibly worth doing. But as mentioned by several members on here all
too often a £500 car from a dealer is going to be very close to the crushers
jaws.

facade

Stoke wrote: »

Do garages have a legal obligation to force you to pay tax and have insurance then?

They have a legal obligation to not sell you an unroadworthy car (not one with no MOT ) as they can be an accessory to your driving it (it also applies to private sellers, if you know they are going to drive your spares or repairs wreck home with no brakes and they crash you are in trouble)

There is no such obligation for tax or insurance AFAIK, as it is you that commits the offences in your vehicle.

Responsible dealers like you to show insurance to "cover their backs" in todays litigation intensive world, just in case someone tries to blame them for what you did/not snitching on you when they suspect you have no insurance.

prosaver

That reminds me
I went to see a car to buy and he pretended to open the car with a key...he just put it near the lock and stood in the way but i seen him..ha ha
Then when i didnt want it he went mental and started shouting halve way down the street .
I told him the car was crap and the locks didnt work..
Are some people stupid..??

jase1

Thing is the complaints from viewers were valid and serious, and referred to quite expensive cars, yet the car they buy is a £500 cheapie?

You pay £500 to a dealer you get a wreck. Especially if that £500 car is a VW. Anything decent would be at least double the price.