What are my options in an MOT dispute

[StevieBoy]

My girlfriend took her car for an MOT last month to a Vauxhall dealer and they said 'you don't need one for another 2 months because your car is still under 3 years old'. 'But you charged me for an MOT this time last year!!!' she said. Being a girl she had no idea she didn't have to have an MOT until 3 years of age. The garage refused to give her a complimentary good-will freebie this year on account of that, and subsequently yesterday failed her car on Discs and wiper blades. I fixed new wiper blades yesterday after she refused to pay 30 quid. went round the corner and got some from halfords for 6 qiud. Today they say it has failed on the blades again. I checked out the MOTUK website and she has gone armed with that. but I'm too far away to deal with these monkey boys for her. Anyone out there have any ideas how to sort these chimps out. or know the standards? Do I contact the Ministry of transport or the Dept of fair trading? etc

[Phantaxus]

I would get the garage to explain to her why they have failed it on the wiper blades ( take the Halfords receipt as proof she has bought new ones) it could be that the blades are not making enough contact with the windcreen in which case she may need a new wiper arm. If the carage insists the wiper blades are faulty take them back to Halfords and have them changed. As for complaints about the garage I would also add Vauxhall head office and BBC's Watchdog to your list.

[darth vader]

I would also consider passing the case onto a solicitor as the garage should not have done the MOT the year before as they would know the age of the car, and the laws regarding MOTs, and were unlawfully charging her for unnecessary labour/work done. Regarding the blades they must give you a reason why a part fails the test (i.e. worn parts, faulty, not minimal standard etc), not just a plain "failed the test" answer, so ask them why it failed

[darth vader]

If you wish to complain then there are plenty of places to start - the Office of Fair Trading is probably most appropriate, Ministry of transport, Watchdog even! - contact the citizens advice bureau who will be able to tell you who is the best to complain to, to get some arse-kicking of this company done

[StevieBoy]

Cheers chaps. leaving work early to travel down to sort these monkey boys out! Appreciate the response!

[gilf]

my advice would be to find another garage that does MOT's and see what they say if they give it a clean bill of health (which a 3 year old car really should get) then you can really start to get busy and get on to the Department of transport and watchdog etc.

[sft42]

Please let us know how you get on......we are all interested now!

[StevieBoy]

Well I knocked off work early and went with her to sort the grease monkey boys out. They conceded they DID owe a duty of care and knocked off the MOT cost. They would have ripped her off had I not been there so I'm glad I went. Needless to say we'll not be going to that garage again. un-named Vauxhaul garage in Chippenham. ;o)

[paulz]

StevieBoy - Glad you got it sorted, are you leaving it at that? Trading Standards would probably be interested maybe even the local paper [tho' they'd lose all that advertising] are you in the AA/RAC etc? Their legal teams would probably take it on. Personally I'd write to Vauxhall's MD and get their franchise removed don't let your lady be the only one to nearly get ripped off by a bunch of greasy apes