Rip off MOT and servicing
Due to new business commitments I was forced to use a different garage to the one I would normally use in Rochdale for my MOT. When it failed on just 2 wishbones and rear shoes, I thought fair enough and that was quite reasonable, after all it was a P reg Ford Fiesta.
I bought the parts and had to wait a week for them to be able to do the work (this included an oil change). After dropping car off at 10:20 and picking the car up at 4:45, I was amazed to find that I was being charged 294 in total with labour standing at 229 + vat. I thought that this was a bit steep and when I questioned the bill I was told that the job required six and a half hours labour at 35 per hour.
Now the young lad that was doing the work would have been on at the most 10 an hour, so how can I be charged such a ridiculous amount. Surely for a garage to charge this rate the mechanics should be able to do these jobs in half the time?
I know full well that I could have taken the car to any garage in Rochdale and paid 75 for all labour; probably no more than three hours at 25 an hour. I am fuming over garages like this ripping people off.
He then capped it off by saying spending 400 repairing a car this old was not wise and I would be better off part exchanging the car for something newer. Nice of him to mention this after robbing me blind! At least Dick Turpin wore a mask before ripping people off.
My personal opinion, if you find a good local garage then stick with them!
By: Robin barstools!
Response - Robin Barstool sorry you had to wait a week but this is due to a full appointment book with returning satisfied customers, happy to pay 35 per hour. You failed to mention that the car required 4 other jobs to pass its MOT, including failing exhaust emission test. We then had to carry out a full MOT as re tests are no longer permitted. MOTs can not be carried out by trainees. All this work required six and a half hours labour. You provided us with your own cheap parts which took longer to fit. The work was carried out professionally and to a high standard. If the vehicle was satisfactorily maintained instead of being neglected for twelve months your bills would be a lot smaller.
Comments from visitors
Other countries manage perfectly well with far less frequent MOT tests. Uk is way behind many countries in its attitudes.
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_inspection
Some require the first test after 4 years, and then only every other year.
See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_inspection
Some require the first test after 4 years, and then only every other year.
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No To Annual MOTs - 6-Feb-12 18:34
Using a car infrequently is not very good for a car. I know because my car hardly gets used because I am always cycling. Things like the brakes seize up. The tyres perish instead of getting worn out. I often use my car just to get the engine oil circulated.
No to Annual MOTs - if you read internet forums you will find the experts don't really agree with a car only needing a service after 20000 miles. I would certainly never do it. If a car company says just service it every 20000 miles people will buy it because of that. When the car needs repairs after say 8 years will the company pay? What if they accidentally forget to change the oil at the service? 40000 miles with no service!
No to Annual MOTs - if you read internet forums you will find the experts don't really agree with a car only needing a service after 20000 miles. I would certainly never do it. If a car company says just service it every 20000 miles people will buy it because of that. When the car needs repairs after say 8 years will the company pay? What if they accidentally forget to change the oil at the service? 40000 miles with no service!
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The MOT is a roadworthiness test and has very little to do with the vehicle's service intervals which are only there to ensure the longevity and reliability of the vehicle.
The MOT is there to protect other road users against drivers/owners who are unable to maintain their vehicles in a safe condition.
The MOT is there to protect other road users against drivers/owners who are unable to maintain their vehicles in a safe condition.
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The MOT takes places too frequently. It should be mileage based, tied in with the manufacturer's service mileage recommendations. My car does not require a service till it reaches 20,000 miles on the clock. Why if I only use it 6000 miles a year do I need an MOT test every year? Rip-off Britain at work.
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No To Annual MOTs - 5-Feb-12 19:16
their should be tight regulations for this hence why these men are getting away with it.. The Good scheme is a load of crap! because i know a garage who still takes the mickey when it comes to overcharging on MOT.. He puts the frighteners on female customers into thinking their cars are not salvagable and the repair will cost them more than the cars worth and when i shopped around the repair cost less than what he is stating..anyways , where does it leave me in this? I cannot fork out another 300 + and have it happen again next year
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I seem to remember a year or two ago a story about someone who had been to the training school of a chain of fast fit garages. Apparently they were told that if you quote £300 or less for a job then a customer will accept it and give the "go ahead". Any more than that and the customer will try another garage and perhaps find that their brake pads don't really need changing after all. I just noticed Jay and a few other people on this gripe seemed to be paying bills around the £300 mark.
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(talking out of his bum frankly.)
Was his name Frank, or was he speaking frankly
The only time I can speak out of my bum is when i fart and squeeze my cheeks together, then I only succeed in making a rasberry sound that nonone understands. Anyone know where i can learn to speak out of my bum
Was his name Frank, or was he speaking frankly
The only time I can speak out of my bum is when i fart and squeeze my cheeks together, then I only succeed in making a rasberry sound that nonone understands. Anyone know where i can learn to speak out of my bum
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I have a 51 plate Corsa C . I had taken it first to Kwik Fit in Bolton over 3 years ago as when i drove i found that the brake would lock and it would literally freeze-unable to move. When i took it to them i was told the brake fluid was contraminated and they had to change the pads, caliper and master cylinder, which cost me three hundred and 80 pounds. Two years had past and i experienced the same thing again and took it to Equipe in Bolton, again i was told it was the same thing. I was bloody angry because it wasnt that long since i had the whole lot replaced..again i was charged over 300.. Now just recently, it happened again and was told by National Tyres that i will need to replace the whole lot. I wasnt aving any of it , so i telephoned Equipe who gave me a whole lot of **** and bull saying that they can only guarantee it for one year . I dont do much mileage so i could not understand how it could have caused such a problem.. I recently aquated a flat tyre and drove it for a short distance in order to charge it. I dont know whether that may have played a part in completely damaging it..but i did notice a few weeks prior it kinda struggled wuth the power and i had to apply the clutch a little more to get it moving and it will leave a little smell of burning clutch..Anyways the guy @ Equipe tried to bullsh!t me by saying this is a regular thing wth Corsa C's, which i doubt - he only said that because im a girl and he thinks that we dont have a clue about cars. I have a little experience , but feel he is talking out of his bum frankly.
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Sorry Jonno I forgot to mention the reason for the reticence of your chosen garage to communicate is they have now topped up the transmission on your blurt & it has made no difference, so they are a bit disappointed at not being able to charge you for a complicated repair. No garage will take on your German blurt least ways not one that does not have a simple transmission top up in mind, followed by a fancy bill.
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Jonno, luxury cars are expensive, German luxury cars are extremely expensive. Bust German luxury cars are prohibitive. You are going to get a bill in the thousands & it will still be bust. I guarantee that no modern garage has the skilled personnel who could repair a Ford automatic gearbox never mind a German one with its Floo foo valves etc. Cut your loss's by getting a price from your garage to tow your German blurt back home, then weigh it in.
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HI There,
I have a mercedes e300 T Deisel that developed automatic trandmission problems. Basically it wouldn't change gear. The garage took it in and took my phone numbers. A week later I phoned to see how they were getting on. They were very vague and said that diagnostics so far had shown nothing but it was a long job and they would fit it in between other jobs to save me money. Good I thought and left it a week. No phone call. I went down to see them and they were very evasive. "No progress. We havn't had much time this week." etc etc. After the third week of getting lifts to work I started leaving messages for them to contact me. They never have. After the fourth week I became worried and suspicious so went down to see them after work. The man would not look me in the eye and went behind his desk to start writing a bill? I don't know, but I asked if it was driveable as I had driven it in there. " No, the battery's flat" he said " I know a place in Colchester who may lend you a car while they look at the gearbox". I said I would try to get a lift and would they please phone me with an update. He didn't reply and I left before I said anything that I may regret. I phoned in the week and got the answering machine. I phoned a week later and got the answering machine. I phoned again and was told by the answering machine that I could not leave a message. Now over five weeks and I am very worried.
How can I get my car back without some ridiculous bill. They have achieved nothing. They don't communicate with me. Can I go to Trading Standards or perhaps to a solicitor? Very Unhappy
I have a mercedes e300 T Deisel that developed automatic trandmission problems. Basically it wouldn't change gear. The garage took it in and took my phone numbers. A week later I phoned to see how they were getting on. They were very vague and said that diagnostics so far had shown nothing but it was a long job and they would fit it in between other jobs to save me money. Good I thought and left it a week. No phone call. I went down to see them and they were very evasive. "No progress. We havn't had much time this week." etc etc. After the third week of getting lifts to work I started leaving messages for them to contact me. They never have. After the fourth week I became worried and suspicious so went down to see them after work. The man would not look me in the eye and went behind his desk to start writing a bill? I don't know, but I asked if it was driveable as I had driven it in there. " No, the battery's flat" he said " I know a place in Colchester who may lend you a car while they look at the gearbox". I said I would try to get a lift and would they please phone me with an update. He didn't reply and I left before I said anything that I may regret. I phoned in the week and got the answering machine. I phoned a week later and got the answering machine. I phoned again and was told by the answering machine that I could not leave a message. Now over five weeks and I am very worried.
How can I get my car back without some ridiculous bill. They have achieved nothing. They don't communicate with me. Can I go to Trading Standards or perhaps to a solicitor? Very Unhappy
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I had an MOT test at Halfords autocentre in newport, failed on number plate and rear brake pads. I bought replacements and have them fitted for a price three times lesser than halfords qoute. But when I came back to them, they charged me again for retest, a RETEST which is about 10 seconds, just to have a glance at the replacements. Greedy!!
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A website has been set up aimed at women to help avoid unscrupulous garages, and save money doing so. Check out bonnetbabes.co.uk. Thanks
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A word to the wise....When leaving your car at a garage, by law you should be asked to sign a consent form with a description of the work to be carried out and the cost. Once this is signed the garage CAN NOT CHARGE MORE. If more work is found to be needed the garage has to gain your authority to continue. Simples. Thats the way we have done it for 15 years and have NEVER had a customer complain about our charges.
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In the response they mention Retests are no longer allowed? That is completely untrue. You have 10 working days from the issue of the VT30 (fail) to get the work done and vehicle retested for a nominal retest fee usually £12.00 for mechanical items and free for non mechanical. This info is printed on the VT30 for all to see. Labour time for a pair of wishbones and wheel alignment is an hour
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I am a garage owner in Chester & need to earn a living! Our overheads for ski11ed technicians & up to date equipment are high as are our rents & insurances etc etc. I spent 16 years in main dealerships & have to say that the skill level of the technicians & staff leaves alot to be desired in most of these places & some main dealers are now charging £120+ in Chester whereas we charge just £50. If you're worried about being ripped off ask around or go to a local garage that is Trading Standards Approved...or come to us...Chester Auto Services Ltd!!!!
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ChesterAutoServices - 4-Apr-11 19:46
Is this legal? Many I have spoken to say it is not.
I booked my car into a garage for an MOT - they failed to mention for the MOT AND the retest both times it was driven to a different garage altogether to be MOT'd & retested. Noone told me this, it was a completely different garage and each time they did this they used up 25 miles of my own diesel which they didnt mention. It wasnt until I figured this out they owned up and refunded the retest & fuel.
When the car first failed its mot I received a photocopy only to show it failed. I questioned why I was given a photocopy - anyway when it passed I received the orignal pass green & white form to show it passed.
However on closer inspection of the photocopy you can see they have stuck their address sticker on top of the fail photocopy sheet which hides the other garage that actually did the mot.
When questioned they said they had to cover themselves for auditing - well they clearly failed an audit there!
Is this legal? Im very disapointed by this. I have told them I wont use them again.
I booked my car into a garage for an MOT - they failed to mention for the MOT AND the retest both times it was driven to a different garage altogether to be MOT'd & retested. Noone told me this, it was a completely different garage and each time they did this they used up 25 miles of my own diesel which they didnt mention. It wasnt until I figured this out they owned up and refunded the retest & fuel.
When the car first failed its mot I received a photocopy only to show it failed. I questioned why I was given a photocopy - anyway when it passed I received the orignal pass green & white form to show it passed.
However on closer inspection of the photocopy you can see they have stuck their address sticker on top of the fail photocopy sheet which hides the other garage that actually did the mot.
When questioned they said they had to cover themselves for auditing - well they clearly failed an audit there!
Is this legal? Im very disapointed by this. I have told them I wont use them again.
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Eppingdene garage in Epping
After being quoted £800 to fit a new flywheel an clutch I was amazed to receive a bill for £1200 which came as a shock £400 difference. In my trade if one of my jobs was going to come to this much more than quoted I would gave the decency to tell the cust of the cost before I was to carry out any work. I only used this garage as it was close to house but will be going back to old mechanic next time and I may have to get bus home (better the devil u know)
After being quoted £800 to fit a new flywheel an clutch I was amazed to receive a bill for £1200 which came as a shock £400 difference. In my trade if one of my jobs was going to come to this much more than quoted I would gave the decency to tell the cust of the cost before I was to carry out any work. I only used this garage as it was close to house but will be going back to old mechanic next time and I may have to get bus home (better the devil u know)
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Being honest - 26-Feb-11 08:47
Perhaps the young mechanic is on 10 pounds an hour, but it is known fact a company must charge on average,3.5 times its staff hourly rate to pay its own overheads,the staff,rates,electricity,ground rates,and tax on what they charged you, and then try to make a profit, no-one puts thousands of pounds into a business to not make a profit !
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len yardley (mobile mechanic) - 19-Feb-11 20:42
Re: Rip-Off Garages. I once put in a 3 yr old Toyota Carina with 35,000 miles on the clock, as part ex for an Audi with 90,000 miles on, at a 2nd hand car place. When I later put in the Audi part ex for a Citroen, the Citroen garage told me that the Audi had been clocked by 40,000 miles before I bought it. A couple of years later I was contacted by some fraud investigation people who asked about the mileage on the Toyota when I sold it. It turns out that the same garage had sold it on with less than 20,000 miles on the clock - they had clocked that car as well. Con men!
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