MOT Rip Off? Quoted £860! Please help

iBreakTheDawn

Hello, I purchased a Fiat Punto Mk2 1.2 in March.

Due to a constantly changing work rota (I work nights), I only had the MOT expiry date available to book a test - turns out another rota change meant I didn't have the day off either!

I feel the garage took advantage of this and have quoted me £860 after failing the car for a long list of major defects and 2 dangerous (needs new front tires worth no more than £60).

I expected a few hundred based on the receipts I have from the previous owner for each MOT/service, plus the age of the car...but £860!

How does 10,000 miles between this MOT and last result in £860 worth of wear and tear?

Out of all the MOTs, only the 2017 notes any signs of corrosion as ADVISORIES and for; 'Rear Both Bumper Mounting', 'Rear Shock absorber' and 'Offside Rear coil spring'.

Yet an excerpt from the 2019 'major defects' lists:
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn lower wishbone rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn lower wishbone rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Could they be exaggerating?

Is £860 a fair price to repair a car with that list?

I expected the hand brake to come up again as it's been a recurring issue on this car but I feel as I'm a young (effeminate) man and I had my retail work uniform on when I went they obviously think I'm an idiot and pushover - far from it.

MOT I JUST HAD (17 JUNE, 2019)
Mileage
101,608 miles
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e))
Repair immediately (major defects):
Offside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))
Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
Offside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (3.5 (a))
Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn lower wishbone rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn lower wishbone rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))
Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak front exhaust/cat leaking (8.2.1.1 (b))
Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))
Offside Rear Parking (secondary brake) on a single line braking system has inadequate effort at a wheel (1.3.1 (a) (i))
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))
Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))
Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))
Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

BY COMPARISON:

2018 - PASS
Mileage
90,009 miles
MOT test number
3047 3222 3549

2018 - FAIL
Mileage
90,009 miles
MOT test number
4762 1865 5378
Do not drive until repaired (dangerous defects):
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))
Repair immediately (major defects):
Offside Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))
Offside Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

2017 - PASS
Mileage
83,757 miles
MOT test number
4094 8658 5472
Expiry date
17 June 2018
Advisory notice item(s)
Rear Both Bumper Mounting Corroded.
Rear Shock absorber has slight corrosion to the casing Both (2.7.2a)
Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)
Front Inner Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Front Outer Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
Engine Sump has slight Oil Leak

DUTR

You can take it anywhere for the repair work to be completed.
Just like you, people do not work for free.

iBreakTheDawn

DUTR wrote: »

You can take it anywhere for the repair work to be completed.
Just like you, people do not work for free.

Did you even read the post?

Where did I imply that I had no intention of paying?

The MOT expired yesterday, the garage had it for its last day of MOT, thus I can't just hop in and drive it elsewhere as that's ILLEGAL.

I'd have to have it moved.

unholyangel

It being the last day before your previous MOT is now moot - they changed the rules in 2018 (I think) so you can no longer drive under the previous MOT certificate if your car fails.

Although its impossible for any of us to say whether the garage are ripping you off, you don't mention age of the vehicle but at 100k+ miles, I wouldn't say any of the faults mentioned are unlikely.

Do you get the vehicle serviced at all? If not, might be worth considering starting - you can even get it done 6-4 months before the MOT and ask them to flag any work needed so you have time to get it done before the MOT.

iBreakTheDawn

unholyangel wrote: »

It being the last day before your previous MOT is now moot - they changed the rules in 2018 (I think) so you can no longer drive under the previous MOT certificate if your car fails.

Although its impossible for any of us to say whether the garage are ripping you off, you don't mention age of the vehicle but at 100k+ miles, I wouldn't say any of the faults mentioned are unlikely.

Do you get the vehicle serviced at all? If not, might be worth considering starting - you can even get it done 6-4 months before the MOT and ask them to flag any work needed so you have time to get it done before the MOT.

I bought the car in March...it was last serviced around the date of the last MOT, so a year ago. I was going to have the MOT and service done together but with this quote, I have my suspicions...

Also, looking at the previous MOTs. It seems odd to me that out of all these 'major defects', none show up as advisories in the previous one other than the lights and handbrake - which I pointed out when I booked the MOT test. Even 2017, shows some corrosion as an advisory but not in the areas mentioned in 2019.

I have a feeling they're exaggerating the price. Even when I rang and tried to get repairs done such as light bulb replacements and the handbrake. They insisted they'd just do the MOT and "check it" first. They even offered to do it that day but I had work that evening and have worked every evening since - I need my car to get to work as I finish after midnight and the 1 last set of trains is usually cancelled leaving me stranded.

To make it clear, I DID NOT EXPECT THE CAR TO PASS FIRST TIME.

But I have the last service/MOT receipt from the last owner and she paid £343.70.

The only defects mentioned for that to pass were regarding the brakes. No mention of corrosion whatsoever - as shown in the OP.

konark

TBH presenting a car for MOT with 2 bald tyres would immediately have raised my suspicions about the car if I was an MOT inspector.


You could drive the car home or to another garage if the tyres were legal,

NaughtiusMaximus

Why on earth didn't you check the tread depth of your tyres BEFORE you booked the MOT?

seatbeltnoob

If you fail to plan it can sting you with motoring. Legally you csnt drive the car with bald tyres and could land you 6 points and a big fine for driving like that. I'd argue what harm could driving a mile home at 20mph through local traffic do. But the law is pretty clear on the matter.

Because you failed to plan, this will cost you dear for a mobile tyre company to come down to you and fit tyres.

A lot of the defects are DIY able like bulbs gone. It does sound like the mot place is taking the !!!! and finding spurious things to report. Because the mot is expired they've probably totted up loads more things to bill for work because you cant even drive around in it now yo get repairs done elsewhere.

My missus had an mot done on her car when she was single. The mot garage reported 4 indicator bulbs not working and changed all 4 for £10 each. Not a massive rip off but I've never ever heard 4 bulbs blowing at the same time. Garages take ths !!!! with women

The reports are suspicious. Especially the suspension component stuff. Its unusua for all of this stuff to come on in a 12 month period with no indication in the previous mot. What's more the nearside tends to have more wear and tear on it. Thd road camber means weighg is distributed to nearside so nearside has more wear. Camber means water puddles months nearside and the water causes mord corrosion tonthd vehicles on their nearside as well as erosion on the road meaning nearside gets more wear and tear.

It inserts odd that the wear and tear is equal on the nearside and offside

marlot

unholyangel wrote: »

It being the last day before your previous MOT is now moot - they changed the rules in 2018 (I think) so you can no longer drive under the previous MOT certificate if your car fails....

No they didn't. DVSA tried to get this through, but failed. I've posted the DVSA clarifications on this board.


But, with two bald tyres, the car was illegal to drive to the MOT, and is illegal to drive away from it.

unholyangel

marlot wrote: »

No they didn't. DVSA tried to get this through, but failed. I've posted the DVSA clarifications on this board.


But, with two bald tyres, the car was illegal to drive to the MOT, and is illegal to drive away from it.

Dangerous faults mean you can no longer drive it - even if the previous MOT still had a period left of its validity.

alfie1950

They will not be exaggerating the faults , after all , if you were that way inclined , you could have the car transported elsewhere to have it checked.
From the list you've given the price doesn't seem that unreasonable , what labour rate are they charging? , are the parts quoted genuine manufacturer or pattern parts ? It even sounds as if some welding may be necessary.
Add to that it's failed the emmisions , needs at least some of the exhaust replacing , both wishbones , two tyres @£60 each , work on the handbrake , headlight alignment etc.etc.
You seem to think that only you are allowed to make a living , yet again another person who expects "the moon on a stick" .