M.0.T rant!!!

photome

To the OP, I see you dodnt comment on my post which was ..why not name the garage?

Then others can choose if they want to use, I for example would never use a garage that charges the full price for an MOT there are a few round here that charge either £25 or £30

anewman

photome wrote: »

To the OP, I see you dodnt comment on my post which was ..why not name the garage?

Then others can choose if they want to use, I for example would never use a garage that charges the full price for an MOT there are a few round here that charge either £25 or £30

OTOH some cheap MOT prices are there to reel in customers to get unnecessary work done. I'm happy paying £40 to the place I go to for the reassurance they won't try get any work out of it.

cyclonebri1

anewman wrote: »

Lucky you're still alive. The MOT is to test the safety of the car for yours and other's benefit. While some garages would like to think so, it's not a method of ripping you off to get them to do unneeded work.

Perhaps there should be a website called badgarages.com where people report garages that screw them over. Would probably have legal issues with being sued though, but it can't be any worse than a goodgarages.com where garages go posting praise for themselves.

I'm afraid that even today in the age of online computerised MOTing the honesty and value of an MOT is still down to the scruples of the test operator. A false mot can still be bought. No I can assure you it's not the garage I use that I'm talking about, I value my own and my families safty too much.:A

For example;

1) there is nothing to stop the emmisions probe being stuck up the exhaust of a 3 year old fiesta whilst the actual car being tested is a smokey 10 year old mondeo in the next bay:eek:

2) MOTs are timed, they have to be running on the system for about 40-45min min. But if a gargae has 3 bays and 3 registered operators, one guy can have all 3 log on cards and efectively test 3 cars in the 40mins while the other 2 ops are doing totally unrelated work, £££££££££:eek:

3) there is no link between the brake figures achieved during the test and the computer, they have to be input manually, well you can imagine,:eek: that will probably be the first one to be closed but for now.....

And no doubt the list goes on

larmy16

photome wrote: »

To the OP, I see you dodnt comment on my post which was ..why not name the garage?

I would not name the garage on here because even though I did not like what they had to say, I cannot know for sure that they were not right in what they had to say. It is feasible that the other headlamp had become insecure in the period between first and second MOT and I certainly had not checked it prior to the second MOT.

They are a family firm with a very good reputation for not ripping people off so I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt. They are not however, the kind of garage that jeannieblue mentioned who would source an old part for you - they wanted to order direct from the manufacturer and I know from past experience they charge a blooming fortune.

I have been given the name of another guy who collects your car, takes it to the centre, then if it fails, gives you the estimate and then does the work and takes it back for re-test. He is more used to doing older cars, so will try him next time!!!

photome

anewman wrote: »

OTOH some cheap MOT prices are there to reel in customers to get unnecessary work done. I'm happy paying £40 to the place I go to for the reassurance they won't try get any work out of it.

I agree with your comment, however the garage that myself and another family member used for about the last 7 years were charging £20 and didnt fail either car in that time.

Changed hands now though and the fee has gone up, There is a newly opened RAC MOT centre close by and they are doing MOT for £25 havent used them tho

photome

larmy16 wrote: »

photome wrote: »

To the OP, I see you dodnt comment on my post which was ..why not name the garage?

I would not name the garage on here because even though I did not like what they had to say, I cannot know for sure that they were not right in what they had to say. It is feasible that the other headlamp had become insecure in the period between first and second MOT and I certainly had not checked it prior to the second MOT.

They are a family firm with a very good reputation for not ripping people off so I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt. They are not however, the kind of garage that jeannieblue mentioned who would source an old part for you - they wanted to order direct from the manufacturer and I know from past experience they charge a blooming fortune.

I have been given the name of another guy who collects your car, takes it to the centre, then if it fails, gives you the estimate and then does the work and takes it back for re-test. He is more used to doing older cars, so will try him next time!!!

You say they are a family firm who dont rip people off but your earlier posts contradict that. If you dont name them thats fine and I understand but it does give other Moneysavers the chance to avoid them after all they certainly were not a moneysaving garage.

If it was M and S or Tescos you had this experence with you wouldnt hesitate to name them...what is the difference

cyclonebri1

larmy16 wrote: »

photome wrote: »

To the OP, I see you dodnt comment on my post which was ..why not name the garage?

I would not name the garage on here because even though I did not like what they had to say, I cannot know for sure that they were not right in what they had to say. It is feasible that the other headlamp had become insecure in the period between first and second MOT and I certainly had not checked it prior to the second MOT.

They are a family firm with a very good reputation for not ripping people off so I prefer to give them the benefit of the doubt. They are not however, the kind of garage that jeannieblue mentioned who would source an old part for you - they wanted to order direct from the manufacturer and I know from past experience they charge a blooming fortune.

I have been given the name of another guy who collects your car, takes it to the centre, then if it fails, gives you the estimate and then does the work and takes it back for re-test. He is more used to doing older cars, so will try him next time!!!

I have to agree with you Larmy, there is nothing to be gained in naming/shaming unless you're absolutely sure your written word cannot be construed as libelous(sp)

M&S won't remember you, the local place will;)

larmy16

Well it is their leaflet that states they are a family firm who do not rip people off or words to that effect. Someone recommended them to me years ago, after I had a lot of trouble with an unreliable self employed mechanic. I decided I would rather put the car in a garage and know (well hope) that the work would get done, but it is not cheap.
The labour is exorbitant.

You are quite right, I probably would not hesitate to say if it was M&S or Tescos, but I have only ever heard one other person critisize this garage and I just would feel like I was slandering them. After all it is just my side of the story. Someone else might be perfectly happy with their experience with them.

jeannieblue

Thanks Larmy!

We've been at it again today.... Sourced a brake caliper for an MR2 we had in, prob saved him 150 ish.

Alot of my days are spent phoning round and checking prices - I'm very good with the "How Much?"!!!! Sometimes - and they are getting a tad better, sometimes the genuine parts are cheaper than pattern! I've come across this in particular with VW and Vauxhall. Which is surprising as I work for Toyota/Lexus specialists! But we get everything 'all breeds' coming into us!

Its why we are always busy - customers know we really do care - and recommend us in person or on Toyota forums etc.

I sound like an advert.............

goldspanners

on a customers vehicle i hate fitting second hand parts,even when you tell them the parts you are fitting are used they think great its cheaper,but when they dont get the same life expectancy from the used parts as they would a new part they arent happy.
if i was asked to quote for a repair i would always quote new part prices and fit new parts,this way you have a comeback on your part supplier if it fails,but if it doesnt then you dont look bad to your customer.