MOT failure - garage broken bolt, do I have to pay?

Suncar

Hi everyone,

So after 4 new tyres, I thought the car would sail through the MOT. But, they discovered a broken coil spring - fair enough (£305!) But it happens.

What has happened since, is in trying to replace the coil, they have snapped a corroded bolt and have told me they simply cannot remove it and have apparently tried every drill they have. So, I now have to pay for a shoulder which is going to take the bill to £1300! If it was a corroded bolt, I guess any garage could have had the same problem, but part of me thinks "You broke it, why should I have to pay?"

What are people's thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance,

Aylesbury_Duck

Suncar said:

Hi everyone,

So after 4 new tyres, I thought the car would sail through the MOT. But, they discovered a broken coil spring - fair enough (£305!) But it happens.

What has happened since, is in trying to replace the coil, they have snapped a corroded bolt and have told me they simply cannot remove it and have apparently tried every drill they have. So, I now have to pay for a shoulder which is going to take the bill to £1300! If it was a corroded bolt, I guess any garage could have had the same problem, but part of me thinks "You broke it, why should I have to pay?"

What are people's thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance,

It's your car, with your corrosion so yes, it's your bill to pay unless you can prove they were negligent, which it doesn't sound like they were.

Sorry it's not good news, but better the spring and bolt failed on the ramp rather than possibly stranding you somewhere.

Hoenir

If you don't pay then it's never going to be fixed.  

cymruchris

How would any garage remove a corroded bolt? If it was a case of they broke it to repair it - and every other garage would have done the same - no garage would ever take on a job.

Your car has rusted - that's not their issue - they have to get it to a roadworthy condition whatever it takes. You as the owner have to pay the labour/parts to get to that stage.

So no - not their liability in the slightest.

You might consider applying a coat of fresh spray on underseal to help prevent further corrosion so you don't end up in the same position next year.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

I think the only question is whether the bolt could have been removed without snapping it.

AFAIK with services burden of proof is upon yourself when making a claim so you'd be looking at finding a credible, independent opinion that the bolt could have successfully been removed via a method other than, what seems to be, brute force.

I don't think anyone here can comment on that. 

MCT56

Maybe they just don’t have the hardest drill bit available on the market and could order one in for a lot less than £1300 ? I,d do some research myself or a phone a specialist engineering company to find out what’s best. Difficult to judge without seeing a photo of the broken bolt. I assume the head has been wrenched off leaving the rusted stem imbedded. Have a look on YouTube for how to remove broken or rusty bolts. Can’t understand how something as simple would cost so much to fix, but difficult to judge from a distance.