miaspa
Part of things
Posts: 829
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Not retro related, but car related girlfriend took her Punto in for an Mot yesterday, one of these places offering them for £25. She asked them to phone her at school if an issue. Needed disc's pads an exhaust section, and a tyre total cost £450 which she agreed to. Wish she had told me it was going in for an MOT would of checked it over for her and at least seen if work was needed. Priced the job up myself at main stealer prices for genuine parts and labour, can't hit that figure even if the entire exhaust is replaced. Do I have any recourse other than go round there with the big stick usually reserved for lowering? Have some Punto's for your troubles... Really struggling to find any decent Punto's out there,
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Found my flashing Pao again.
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This sort of thread appears on this board from time to time, while its tragic that someone has been shafted, xmas is coming and MOT testers and their employers need a xmas bonus. This phrase Wish she had told me it was going in for an MOT would of checked it over for her and at least seen if work was neededor a very similar one, seems to be always included in these 'garage ripped off my wife/GF/mother/significant other' moans. Do you want to change the title of this thread to MY GF WAS RIPPED OFF, and its all my fault. at least, the very least, you should have known if the car needed a tyre or not, don't you keep an eye on loved-ones tyre condition and age?
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2009 9:54:42 GMT by Autofive
Someone just shot the elephant in the room.
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I heard of a lad who paid £400 to have a wheel bearing changed in a Mk2 Fiesta years ago.
I lost count of the times I told my Ex's mum she was being ripped off by local kwikfit. £450 to do the discs and pads on a Mk4 Escort 1.4 Bonus, and that was in like 1994.
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Nov 25, 2009 10:09:49 GMT
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I have no advice, but offer a stanced Punto.
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Nov 25, 2009 10:16:05 GMT
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Its almost always when a lady takes the car in, the garage see a perect chance to take advantage of someone who doesn't know about cars.
Simple answer, don't let them take the car for MOT. Take it yourself
As to if you have any recourse, get a look at the reciept to see what was supposedly done Then check its actually been done You can't argue with their price mark ups after the fact, but if they've charged for work they must have actually done it.
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miaspa
Part of things
Posts: 829
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Nov 25, 2009 10:16:54 GMT
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This sort of thread appears on this board from time to time, while its tragic that someone has been shafted, xmas is coming and MOT testers and their employers need a xmas bonus. Thanks will check on line tonight and see what it failed on first time round, or if it passed first time. www.motinfo.gov.uk/ Great fun checking your cars history
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Found my flashing Pao again.
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Nov 25, 2009 10:56:29 GMT
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I'm always a little wary of the cheap MOT places as never had anything but issues. Take mine to Fastfit for the last few years and test is nearer £50-£60 but they never pick up anything silly only genuine issues.
Was fooled by one of those "we just do MOTs" places a few years back. Lots of slightly marginal fails which their sister garage next door just happened to have quoted for in case I was interested!?
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Nov 25, 2009 11:12:46 GMT
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I live near Bicester which is where the VOSA MOT-tester-testers hang out. VOSA are lazy 50ds, they can't drive more than 5 yards from their office without stopping for doughnuts so all the local testers are scared of their own shadows because they've been tested so many times while further afield they seem to have a much easier time.
As a result I've chosen my MOT tester VERY carefully, I expect a stringent test, but a fair one.
If you want a place that truly does only do MOTs and really has no associated garage to rip you off, try your local council motor department, or your local police force. If they do their own MOTs, they have to offer the same service to the general public.
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"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor
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Nov 25, 2009 11:25:02 GMT
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There is an association you can report them to.... the MVRA but it depends on whether they are members as to what they can do. Here's the link.... www.mvra.com/index.htmAlso your local trading standards office. What you need to have is a fully itemised invoice listing all parts with prices and the labour time to do the various jobs. I can't see either how they could possibly make that amount look credible if they had to sit down and justify the total in an itemised form. You could also try your local paper but if they are regular advertisers they will no doubt refuse to run the story but if they do it will make a great story especially if she's doing work that is regarded to be low paid or she's a student. Not saying she'll get a partial refund but at least it might give them something to bear in mind when the next 'sucker' walks through the door. On the up side..... it don't half make you feel glad you do your own maintenance.
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2009 11:26:39 GMT by arrocuda
'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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Nov 25, 2009 11:25:35 GMT
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try your local council motor department, or your local police force. If they do their own MOTs, they have to offer the same service to the general public. Is that true? I can imagine being laughed out of the police station for asking them to MOT my car...
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Dom
Part of things
Limey
Posts: 617
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Nov 25, 2009 11:36:56 GMT
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I think the best thing is to take your car to a place that only do MOTs and no repairs. Nothing gained from failing it. Doesn't help you now of course. Maybe you could call and stop them if they've only done part of the repairs, same a bit of the cost. But they're likely to say "No do's, the car's all over the shop."
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miaspa
Part of things
Posts: 829
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Nov 25, 2009 11:47:30 GMT
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Will check the history of the mot online tonight when I see her, should show a fail and why, then a retest with a pass.
If it don't can argue money back, if it does and needs the items will put it down to experiance. And make the effort to drive up to hers a bit more often and check her car.
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Found my flashing Pao again.
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Nov 25, 2009 12:27:14 GMT
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I think the best thing is to take your car to a place that only do MOTs and no repairs. Nothing gained from failing it. Officially if the car fails you are liable for partial retest fee, so they can make money that way
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Nov 25, 2009 12:43:40 GMT
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try your local council motor department, or your local police force. If they do their own MOTs, they have to offer the same service to the general public. Is that true? I can imagine being laughed out of the police station for asking them to MOT my car... You'll have to do a bit of research, and I'd suggest not walking in to a police station, but yes, if an organisation such as a police force or local council etc has its own on site MOT testing facilities then they have to offer MOT services to the general public too. They don't have to advertise them, but if someone asks they have to be prepared to do the MOT. For example, a couple of decades ago when I was a spotty oik student in Hull I had a mate used to get his tatty R reg Mk1 Fiesta MOT'd by the local TA army barracks. (He had a mate there who'd run off an MOT for anything, wouldn't get away with it now!)
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2009 12:45:49 GMT by herald948
"Jeremy Clarkson, a man we motor enthusiasts need on our side like Lewis Hamilton's F1 car needs a towing ball and a Sprite Musketeer" My motor
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Nov 25, 2009 12:53:11 GMT
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I think the best thing is to take your car to a place that only do MOTs and no repairs. Nothing gained from failing it. Officially if the car fails you are liable for partial retest fee, so they can make money that way thing is a MOT test should take an hour, with all the associated paperwork, moving vehicles etc. Full price for an MOT is about £50 now? Which is what a lot of garage charge for an hour's labour and less than many charge... Any garage which is doing MOTs at £25 is either not taking an hour to do them or has an unusually low labour rate if they are in proffit at that. A retest isn't a big win for most garages as most don't charge full fee and in most cases they are required to do a full retest. I am more than a little wary of cheap MOT places - they are either doing a crappy job of the MOT or they are out to con you. The MOT is a safety check. I want it done properly. I am amazed how people who are into cars as a hobby / pseudo-lifestyle manage to get by without having a tame MOT station. Place I go take mine I trust. OK I could save a few quid going somewhere else, somewhere closer may be more "convenient" but when they say its a fail, I know its a fail, and when they say its passed I know its all good. Plus they'll let me fix the car there and then if I can. Or occasionally they do it. I've asked why things were a fail before, and been told a good answer. You need a good MOT place. Its just the law.
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2009 12:54:51 GMT by akku
1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Nov 25, 2009 13:15:38 GMT
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I am amazed how people who are into cars as a hobby / pseudo-lifestyle manage to get by without having a tame MOT station. Place I go take mine I trust. OK I could save a few quid going somewhere else, somewhere closer may be more "convenient" but when they say its a fail, I know its a fail, and when they say its passed I know its all good. Exactly. That is the answer in a nutshell. Having a good MOT centre is like buying decent tyres or opting for the higher octane fuel at the Shell garage... you don't have to and it may cost a little more, but it just makes sense.
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Nov 25, 2009 13:37:57 GMT
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I am amazed how people who are into cars as a hobby / pseudo-lifestyle manage to get by without having a tame MOT station. Get the hobby bit..... but not sure how you mean 'pseudo-lifestyle' .... am I missing out on something here? Please explain
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'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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Nov 25, 2009 13:46:10 GMT
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"owning *brand X* car is a lifestyle, man"
You know what I mean.
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Nov 25, 2009 13:54:29 GMT
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"owning *brand X* car is a lifestyle, man" You know what I mean. Nope.... not missing out on anything then..... never been loyal to any brand..... I either like it or I don't irrespective of the badge on the front.
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Last Edit: Nov 25, 2009 13:55:16 GMT by arrocuda
'71 Arrocuda.... '71 Sunbeam Rapier Turbo (The Grim Rapier).... '63 Hymek D7076..... Audi GT5S
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andyf
South West
Posts: 415
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Nov 25, 2009 14:21:21 GMT
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Sorry chap, but if they quoted a price and the girlfriend agreed, then there is no come back as a contract has been made.
Having said that, it amazes me that people in business deliberately try to overcharge for short term gain. Why not charge a fair price and make more money in the longer term with repeat business/recommends?
Hey ho...
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1980 Triumph TR7.
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