What should I do is think my MOT was unsafe?

jimjames

Retrogamer said:

It's really strange for a garage you pass a car with obvious faults. It puts them at risk, and they are passing up potential business by not pointing out the faults.

Unless there were no obvious faults and the honesty of the first garage was avoiding a large bill for work that wasn't needed. Clearly exhaust had an issue after driving but that could happen at any time.

If a garage couldn't fix loose wheels I wouldn't really rate their ability unless that's just a paraphrase of the issue.

born_again

Arghbloodyhouse said:

Herzlos said:

How were the tyres and the brakes?

I'm starting to wonder if the tyre garage is lying to you and passed you onto a dodgy garage for the suspension because they've got wind of you being a desperate stranded tourist.  I wouldn't assume the MOT is wrong because what's the incentive for him to give you a fake pass when he could have billed you for a small fortune in repairs? The fact he's already done minor stuff makes me think the car is actually fine.

I'd cancel any work planned with them, and get the AA to come back and give it an inspection. Then you can look at whether you want to find somewhere else to fix it, or if it's indeed fine to get home.

The work has now been done. It's possible the tire place was having me on about the tires, but they didn't pass me onto a named garage, just told me to find someone so I took it to quikfit. Quikfit noticed the suspension and brakes.

I didn't really think the first mechanic was lying.... Just that maybe he's !!!!!!? He's seen my car several times over this year because I kept hearing strange noises and he always tells me it was just a build up of dust etc and nothing really wrong. I use him because he gets me in quickly and is extremely cheap, but maybe he's not the most careful chap?

These things leave me lost to be honest. Anyone of these guys *could* be lying and I wouldn't have a clue.

So AA passed you onto a garage to fix the exhaust, who then said you need new tyres which they changed, but could not fix loose wheels and to find somewhere else...

Which garage did the AA send you to that could do exhaust & tyres, but not other work?

How old is the car & how far did you drive on holiday?

DB1904

Arghbloodyhouse said:

Herzlos said:

How were the tyres and the brakes?

I'm starting to wonder if the tyre garage is lying to you and passed you onto a dodgy garage for the suspension because they've got wind of you being a desperate stranded tourist.  I wouldn't assume the MOT is wrong because what's the incentive for him to give you a fake pass when he could have billed you for a small fortune in repairs? The fact he's already done minor stuff makes me think the car is actually fine.

I'd cancel any work planned with them, and get the AA to come back and give it an inspection. Then you can look at whether you want to find somewhere else to fix it, or if it's indeed fine to get home.

The work has now been done. It's possible the tire place was having me on about the tires, but they didn't pass me onto a named garage, just told me to find someone so I took it to quikfit. Quikfit noticed the suspension and brakes.

I didn't really think the first mechanic was lying.... Just that maybe he's !!!!!!? He's seen my car several times over this year because I kept hearing strange noises and he always tells me it was just a build up of dust etc and nothing really wrong. I use him because he gets me in quickly and is extremely cheap, but maybe he's not the most careful chap?

These things leave me lost to be honest. Anyone of these guys *could* be lying and I wouldn't have a clue.

I hope you got a reach around when kwik-fit had your pants down.  

Arghbloodyhouse

born_again said:

Arghbloodyhouse said:

Herzlos said:

How were the tyres and the brakes?

I'm starting to wonder if the tyre garage is lying to you and passed you onto a dodgy garage for the suspension because they've got wind of you being a desperate stranded tourist.  I wouldn't assume the MOT is wrong because what's the incentive for him to give you a fake pass when he could have billed you for a small fortune in repairs? The fact he's already done minor stuff makes me think the car is actually fine.

I'd cancel any work planned with them, and get the AA to come back and give it an inspection. Then you can look at whether you want to find somewhere else to fix it, or if it's indeed fine to get home.

The work has now been done. It's possible the tire place was having me on about the tires, but they didn't pass me onto a named garage, just told me to find someone so I took it to quikfit. Quikfit noticed the suspension and brakes.

I didn't really think the first mechanic was lying.... Just that maybe he's !!!!!!? He's seen my car several times over this year because I kept hearing strange noises and he always tells me it was just a build up of dust etc and nothing really wrong. I use him because he gets me in quickly and is extremely cheap, but maybe he's not the most careful chap?

These things leave me lost to be honest. Anyone of these guys *could* be lying and I wouldn't have a clue.

So AA passed you onto a garage to fix the exhaust, who then said you need new tyres which they changed, but could not fix loose wheels and to find somewhere else...

Which garage did the AA send you to that could do exhaust & tyres, but not other work?

How old is the car & how far did you drive on holiday?

He gave me a few names of local places that are 'tyres and exhaust' places - i.e. that's all they do. Not chains, just independent places and the one I took it to has a very good reputation. I'm on holiday at my parents place where I grew up so I know the area and who's considered 'good'.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on KF but I should say as well that the young lad at the counter did write down everything the car needed and gave me the numbers of some alternative garages in the area because he said it would cost me a fortune at KF (all hush hush behind his boss' back of course) so to be honest I trust him too.

The car is 16 years old and I reckon it's probably 200 miles.

Grumpy_chap

Arghbloodyhouse said:

The car is 16 years old and I reckon it's probably 200 miles.

On cars of that age, things just break and go wrong and you can have a sequence in quick succession.

My 2007 Focus (14yo) had exactly that last year - did the MOT September and needed work so the bill came out at £800.  Just inside my limit as I work to the rule that up to £1k is OK, as that's about three month's payment for a new car so I get 9 months use for "free".  Then, in quick succession a couple of other things developed so in the few weeks I was down £1,250 - bust the £1k rule, but each event has to be considered in isolation.

onejontwo

A gas repair  man who came to my house to carry out a gas check told me of the time he went to one of the big names (I think it was Halfords) for a tyre repair, and whilst he was there one of the mechanics came over after a few minutes and said all his shock absorbers needed replacing. He said ok and to carry on. After around 10 minutes later the same man appeared and handed him a quote for all the repairs, he said that's fine but I won't be paying! The mechanic enquired why not, to which he said "YOU ONLY REPLACED THEM ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND THEREFORE ARE COVERED BY YOUR WARRANTY" At this point the mechanic ran over to the car and told them to stop work and put the car back together and sheepishly told him that they had made a mistake! Needless to say he never used that chain again.

Flight3287462

OP it is time you learnt some basic maintenance checks so that you know how roadworthy your car is.

The MOT garage has nothing to gain from passing an unfit car (as said elsewhere) and a heck of a lot to lose, VOSA spot checks and potential business repairing your car.

It would be exceptionally petty to report the MOT tester, especially since you have no proof and you will look a very silly waster.

AdrianC

Flight3287462 said:

OP it is time you learnt some basic maintenance checks so that you know how roadworthy your car is.

Basic maintenance like knowing how to check tyres, fluids, lights, change wheels, has been part of the driving test for nearly 20 years.

Arghbloodyhouse

Flight3287462 said:

OP it is time you learnt some basic maintenance checks so that you know how roadworthy your car is.

The MOT garage has nothing to gain from passing an unfit car (as said elsewhere) and a heck of a lot to lose, VOSA spot checks and potential business repairing your car.

It would be exceptionally petty to report the MOT tester, especially since you have no proof and you will look a very silly waster.

I honestly think I'm attracting a lot of flak for a misunderstanding so common that all of my family and friends thought the same thing - that the MOT was a check of the state of repair of your car and that it was thus suspect if so many things broke days after the MOT.

It seems we were incorrect in our understanding of what a service and MOT is, and how spontaneously cars can break (I would have thought it was a gradual thing). As I said, my understanding was that morally I ought to report unethical behaviour, which before it was explained to me here, it seemed like this might be. It's good news I was wrong in my understanding.

AdrianC

An MOT and a service are two very different things.

Yes, an MOT is a legally required check on the state of repair of certain areas of the car. It's a bare-bones, basic minimum for a car to be legally used, and no more.

A service is actual maintenance... There's no legal requirement for it, but it's basic common sense prevention of future problems. Work is done to the car. At the very minimum, it's changing oil and filter and (hopefully!) actually removing wheels to look at brakes properly. But, ideally, there's a lot else besides.

So did they just MOT the car, or did they service it, too?

And how often do you do your own basic checks - tyres, fluids, lights...?