Rip off MOT and servicing

There's not much honesty, and not many garages seem to posses people skills. I will not return if I am "Stiffed" if the mechanics cant explain themselves properly, too bad. Best advice is to chat to your mates and family, or locals. Repea\t business is what they should be aiming at.

some people on here make me laugh,alot of you really dont know how much it cost to run a garage just look at what chris (a few below) has to pay out and a massive bill which chris didnt mension are tools such as some timing belt kits can cost £150 as you need the pins ect,and diagnostics about £3000 for machine yearly updates of upto a £1000,autodata £200 a year the list goes on yes I am biass, due to running my own garage but come on people get real just look at our bills most mechanics have about £15000 in there tool box alone,and you mone at £35.00 an hour like chris said just ask a plumber his hourly rate and what his overheads are

Retests can be done within 7 days and can only be charged at half the original price of the MOT. So if you paid £40 they canonly charge £20 or if you paid £35 they can only charge a maximum of £17.50.

I know this because I have just had my car in for an MOT and it failed on pads (was expecting this), asked them for a price to replace the rear pads and they wanted to charge over £80, called round a couple other places and even Kwik-Fit was around £20 cheaper, and this include the lifetime replacemen guarentee!!! so told the garage that they were too expensive and I was taking it elsewhere, so they told me that there would be a £20 retest fee because I had taken the car offsite!!!! Either way they end up with extra money in their pocket and the consumer lost out, they either charge excessive amounts for the repairs or they charge you for a retest, rip off b@#stards!!!!

Called VOSA to see if they could overcharge for work after an MOT and about the retest fee, they told me they do not govern the repair work or charges and the retest fees should be clearly displayed in the garage, however as in most cases I boked the MOT over the phone so was not aware this particular garage would charge, I was told they are not obliged to tell you this on the phone but they do legally have to dispay the poster, but this is too late after they have your money!!!!

In over 25 years of having cars I have never been charged a retest fee, and I have taken cars offsite to complete the repairs, some of which were considerable repairs!!!

Buy a Haynes manual - u. will be surprised at how easy some things are like oil changes and spark plug changes. I have even changed an alternator myself and have neve rturned my hand to mechanical stuff before. I have saved quite a bit. I used to put my car in for mot and service at same time but most of mot checks are excatly the same as service checks but still got 2 bills though. Main dealers - would never never go there - vauxhall garage here chrge £65 an hour and quoted me £75 for a part that cost less than half in another vauxhall garage a few weeks previously.

When I take my car for an MOT at Kwik Fit and they give me a full price for the work then I always get a few other quotes from other garages and there is usually not a lot of difference. Last time I took my car to an independent garage for repairs and they managed to pull the handbrake way beyond its normal travel and I could not for the life of me open the bonnet when they returned it to me so I am very happy with the Kwik Fit Fitters as they always encourage me to bring th car back if I have any problems. Lot of garages will charge a fortune as servicing intervals aint wot they used to be and you should always get an estimate first before your agree to the work. If you dont then it is your own fault.

Garages do rip you off however not all of them, steer clear of main dealers with there over inflated hourly rate, the garages that empty your wallet are those tyre,exhaust and so called brake specialists, the local fitters are amazing while doing my wheel alignment this guy stood under my car looking at the steering and then sprayed some WD40 on the shock absorbers and hey presto told me the tracking is spot on, I asked him why he never put the tracking machine on the car and he said that he had and all was well, complete liar I was standing next to it while watching him.I had words with the boss and was asked to leave and never to come back.

Have you ever -

- been ripped off?
- been a victim of unfair or sharp practice?
- paid for something that you feel was a total waste of money?

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I own a Garage and I have just worked out how much it costs to run each bay in my workshop. This includes: business rates, landlord insurance, company insurance, Rent, Gas, Electric, Water, Wages, Employers national insurance contributions @13%, Stationery, Security, Building repairs and maintenance, Accountant fees and computer software updates from all major manufacturers. I have left out some smaller ones like loan cars ect!
The grand Total for EACH bay is £84,000 a year!!
Now ask a Plumber what his overheads are and how much dose he charge an Hour.

You're not only paying for the employees wage, you pay for time on the ramp when others can be worked on, heating, electric, all small little bills and bobs that you wouldn't associate with MOT or servicing like WD40 and other little trinkets.

The labour charge includes all things except parts. So, it IS justifyable.

I could be considered biased because I'm a mechanic. 99 of 100 cars bought to my garage never have coolant, brake, windscreen washer and power steering fluid levels checked from service to service. People drive at 30 - 40 mph over huge road humps without thinking of suspension, brake, bushes and other associated componants wearing from this.

At the end of the day, it isn't an easy job and car manufacturers make some simple brake pad changes require the removal of all componants under the engine/ suspension bits....just for access.

Know this, before buying a car.

majority of garages rip people off, the think they are entitled to. Most are smarmy,as reply to the unsatisfied customer proves. even the goodgarageguide recommended garages are rip off merchants

Coppull Motors in Coppull, Chorley. Car sold to me contained a sophisticated sat nav and stereo system. I was assured that it all worked properley. In fact several components were missing and the system could not be adequately used as a radio, CD player or navigation system. The garage refused to refund any of the purchase price. Also, the fitted battery was undersized for the car and had to be replaced after two weeks, the owner's manual supplied was for a later model of the car, and after several weeks, the warantee sold with the car has still not been forwarded despite promises to do so. You can make your mind up as this is just my experience, but I advise you to think very carefully before buying a car from this trader.

I had the same amount of work done on my fiesta and was shoked when the labour bill was just £50 and the parts where sold to me at there trade price! And to top that the mot was £35.Mot station was daz's autos near the star of Bengal of Yorkshire street Rochdale. Thanks lads will be using you again.