This is one of the reasons my cars will NEVER go to a main dealer for an MOT ( even if that MOT was free )
Failed MOT
- Thread starter GaryPL
- Start date
Is this the general opinion?
I need to book my MOT, now I'm not sure who to use.
I've got the choice of:
Local place up the road (£50 and can walk back)
SEAT Dealer (£50 + probably £15 ish for a courtesy car)
Franchise place down the road £30 but I'd probably have to wait while it's done.
Car was just serviced at the dealer so I'm not expecting any issues.
I only took it there as it was due a service and MOT at the same time. Lessons learned and all that.
As I said - I didn't press the issue on whether they'd let me drive it. Was shocked at the bill which is in addition to the cost of a major service, brake fluid change and the MOT itself. So I'm expecting a £750 bill later today. And I don't need that, especially when it's a 3 year old car and my job is likely to be gone by the summer.
But even if they did let me take it, would a dealer choose to report me? Are they obliged to tell VOSA whether the car was repaired, driven away or towed away? A tow truck for the journey across a rural area for 15 miles won't be cheap or easy to arrange. And therein lies my point - the new regulations make extorting repair fees all too easy as it essentially removes ALL competition.
As I said - I didn't press the issue on whether they'd let me drive it. Was shocked at the bill which is in addition to the cost of a major service, brake fluid change and the MOT itself. So I'm expecting a £750 bill later today. And I don't need that, especially when it's a 3 year old car and my job is likely to be gone by the summer.
But even if they did let me take it, would a dealer choose to report me? Are they obliged to tell VOSA whether the car was repaired, driven away or towed away? A tow truck for the journey across a rural area for 15 miles won't be cheap or easy to arrange. And therein lies my point - the new regulations make extorting repair fees all too easy as it essentially removes ALL competition.
If I was you before approving the work to go ahead, which I sense you will, spend an hour phoning round all the garages nearby and get a number of quotes from them - I suspect independent garages will be able to do it for less. Then speak with the dealership and see if they can price match.
If not, book it in to the place that gave you the price you are happy with and tell the dealer you are coming to collect the car and take it to another garage to have the work done. They can not keep your car or your keys from you.
If not, book it in to the place that gave you the price you are happy with and tell the dealer you are coming to collect the car and take it to another garage to have the work done. They can not keep your car or your keys from you.
It is not the case (as far as I remember) that you cannot take your car away, you cannot drive your car away, it has been diagnosed with "dangerous" fault- not something the tester does lightly-so you can take it away but not drive it, wether or not if you pushed it out of sight and then drove they would report you, I have seen cars come for an mot and have dangerous faults so bad that I would have stood in front of it whilst being pushed let alone been in it when driven.
Under 3 years old, warranty? is it at a Seat dealer?
Under 3 years old, warranty? is it at a Seat dealer?
I'd be checking the buckle/clasp assembly in case it has worn through and that has been damaging the belt fabric, at this stage it does look like acceptable wear on the fabric, but seeing as the dealer's MOT tester says otherwise, and the car is still within warranty, I'd force that dealer's warranty officer to make a decision on it and contact SEAT UK for the authority to replace it FOC.
If any or all that failed, I'd pay up and go public to waste a bit of SEAT UK's name, they deserve it!
Edit:- this is one example why getting at least the first MOT just within the last month and at your main dealer should be a good plan, if handled correctly.
If any or all that failed, I'd pay up and go public to waste a bit of SEAT UK's name, they deserve it!
Edit:- this is one example why getting at least the first MOT just within the last month and at your main dealer should be a good plan, if handled correctly.
They can't stop you taking the car away, that was one of the main issues when they brought the new classification system in.
Otherwise a bent garage could falsely list a load of dangerous MOT items and charge a customer for replacement, as they've have them over a barrel.
Otherwise a bent garage could falsely list a load of dangerous MOT items and charge a customer for replacement, as they've have them over a barrel.
Hi GaryPL, this is shocking as it would appear more like that the dealership is just pulling your pants down! Let me explain - in your OP you mention “minor fraying of the belt” and that the garage has listed the issue as a major/dangerous fault. The latest MOT Testers Manual lists the following:
Are you telling me that your just under 3 year old car has a defect that you haven’t noticed/mentioned to the dealer before and that the belt condition is so bad that it is “significantly weakened” - I doubt it very much. Ask for this to be photographed and an enquiry sent to Seat/VAG for warranty to investigate as this absolutely stinks of the dealership holding a loaded gun to your head.
| Category | |
|---|---|
| (a) A statutory seat belt missing | Major |
| (b) A seat belt: (i) or flexible stalk damaged (ii) webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened | Major Dangerous |
| (c) Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type | Major |
Get a picture yourself, sure we’ed all like to see this.
When I worked in a main dealer no permission from manufacturer/importer required for warranty work unless the total bill was in excess of a £1000, contact customer services?
At full retail £300 might be about the cost for a seatbelt replacement, some parts prices are just silly and area dependant hourly rates are going through the roof.
When I worked in a main dealer no permission from manufacturer/importer required for warranty work unless the total bill was in excess of a £1000, contact customer services?
At full retail £300 might be about the cost for a seatbelt replacement, some parts prices are just silly and area dependant hourly rates are going through the roof.
You can take a picture and ask another MOT controler. If its minor, the way the belt is made is to provent it from shredding more. But if like kgp280, the belt has cut thro the plastic buckle exposing the steel, then it is dangerous in a crash cause it CAN cut the belt.
The other tester can’t change the fail to a pass it’s been logged as a fail. Even if someone else tells you there opinion on the belt the tester who motd it deemed it a fail.
He has logged it in the system as a fail. You mot a car to make sure it’s safe and a seat belt defect isn’t something you can expect a mot tester to use his discretion on someone’s car that he’s never seen before or know from Adam. It’s his name and his job and your life on the line. Customers always moan when there cars fail the mot and it’s normally over something they knew about and just left unfixed for months as it was cheaper to do that then having fixed which I understand.
I knew that the belt was fraying, and am not
I haven't disputed that there was fraying. I knew there was. My concerns were - cost of a replacement which people said was about right for a dealership; whether it was a dangerous fault (seemingly open to debate and interpretation); and the fairness of capturing customers using the MOT regulations.
I have the old belt but can't seem to unfurl it. So think I need to dismantle it. After I've done this, I'll share a photo. I'm perfectly open to it being a dangerous fault and I'll query the warranty situation when I have a photo to share.
Just to add that the garage in question has been professional and I haven't been unpleasant with them.
Thanks everyone for their thoughts
Just to add that the garage in question has been professional and I haven't been unpleasant with them.
Thanks everyone for their thoughts
You have to have it in its upright position to pull. they are very sensitive.I have the old belt but can't seem to unfurl it. So think I need to dismantle it. After I've done this, I'll share a photo. I'm perfectly open to it being a dangerous fault and I'll query the warranty situation when I have a photo to share.
Just to add that the garage in question has been professional and I haven't been unpleasant with them.
Thanks everyone for their thoughts
Try not end up taking it apart, that will only reduce your chances of SEAT accepting that you are entitled to some money back.
Have you examined the clasp buckle to see if the plastic has failed and the belt is being damaged by belt<>metal contact and nor as designed belt<>plastic contact.
Edit:- spelling error!!
Have you examined the clasp buckle to see if the plastic has failed and the belt is being damaged by belt<>metal contact and nor as designed belt<>plastic contact.
Edit:- spelling error!!
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