View Full Version : What should you do if you think an MOT centre lied?
marbleapple
24-07-08, 20:35
As some of you know I bought a Supra recently, and promptly made a mess of it less than a week later. (Yes I know I am a Muppet).
I have had the car at a garage today and it appears that the underside of the car has damage on both the O/S and N/S chassis rails and the rear suspension mounting. Now this could have been caused by my attempt to use the car in figure skating but the other alternative is that this damage was done before I bought the car.
Interestingly the car had just had an MOT just before the car was sold to me, which begs the question as to whether the MOT garage has turned a blind eye?
I am driving the car up to Envy tomorrow and plan to ask Gaz to have a look at the damage to decide whether to inform the insurance company (who will likely write it off due to its low value) or pay to have it repaired. I will also be asking Gaz as to his opinion as to when the damage was done since there is rusting already around the damage.
My question really is what do people think I should do if it appears the damage was done before I bought the car and the MOt garage has ignored the damage?
Get it independantly checked ASAP. Taking it to Gaz will confirm any previous damage, but the fact u know him from the forum might be taken the wrong way.
marbleapple
24-07-08, 20:44
Get it independantly checked ASAP. Taking it to Gaz will confirm any previous damage, but the fact u know him from the forum might be taken the wrong way.
Thats a valid point.
Btw: Picky I know, and I'm no angel, but any chance you could amend you sig to 'no one' as opposed to noone... even better 'no body'
Hahaha, of all the people on this forum you weren't one of the ones i thought would pick up on that. Its actually a direct copy quote so i can take no blame.
Would be exceptionally hard to prove it was done prior to the MOT, regardless of if a second opinion says they do not believe YOUR recent incident caused the damage.
Also, I dont think the MOT is so detailed as to fail a car for dings and dints on the underside...provided the chassis is in tact and not rusting away.
RobSheffield
24-07-08, 20:52
Its been bugging me for ages too ;
marbleapple
24-07-08, 21:09
Its been bugging me for ages too ;
My underside? :blink:
Would be exceptionally hard to prove it was done prior to the MOT, regardless of if a second opinion says they do not believe YOUR recent incident caused the damage.
Also, I dont think the MOT is so detailed as to fail a car for dings and dints on the underside...provided the chassis is in tact and not rusting away.
Yes I see your point and I think legally I would have a hard time, but I was more interested in if there is a way to obtain revenge, i.e. report them etc.
In relation to the damage, it isn't just dings and dents... and from the people I spoke to at the garage, there is rust.
if the damage was proven to be before the mot and a blind eye was turned, then that would make your insurance null and void and the mot tester having his license revoked, tread carefully;)
................lets not get carried away here.
The garage presumably let you go without any serious concerns?
as "I am driving the car up to Envy tomorrow"
If it were me i'd assess the possible recovery of cash by parting it out and just taking a hit if there is a shortfall on your original £2K...........
........then just buy another?
RobSheffield
24-07-08, 21:57
My underside? :blink:
What you do with your underside is no concern of mine ;)
I'm pretty sure as long as there was no corrosion within a certain distance of a structural bit it would pass an MOT anyway. It's not a check on the condition of your car, it's a check that it's roadworthy at the time.
if the damage was proven to be before the mot and a blind eye was turned, then that would make your insurance null and void That's not true.
Personally I don't think there's anything you can do which will help you determine when the damage was done.
That's not true.
how so jake, as i am thinking nulled mot would result in null insurance:blink:
marbleapple
24-07-08, 23:07
how so jake, as i am thinking nulled mot would result in null insurance:blink:
Without taking sides between Gaz and Jake, Gaz's point above makes legal sence as there is the duty of up most good faith but I don't know much about insurance.
Scooter: I didn't really understand your comnent mate. The money isn't the issue, I'm more concerned some garage out there could be giving dodgy MOTs.
The garage let me go as it isn't dangerous but highly extensive. They (being an Mot centre) would have failed it and were the ones who queried the actual MOT
Scooter: I didn't really understand your comnent mate. The money isn't the issue, I'm more concerned some garage out there could be giving dodgy MOTs.
my first comment was regarding the 'damage' and that if the garage looked at it and then let you drive away then there cannot be much wrong with it can there? so it probably isn't an MOT failure and so there is no question of dodgy mot's??
As has been said a few dents and a bit of rust is no problem come MOT time.
My point re the money was just saying what i'd do if you are worried about the damage etc then you could get another one. I personally wouldn't throw lots of money (repsray bodykit) at one that i was 100% happy with. You can obviously replace things etc to make yourself content but i was just trying to point out that this route may be more expensive and ultimately less rewarding satisfying than starting afresh.......its an option....is all i was getting at.........
Im an MOT tester and an MOT is the very basic requirements. The chassis legs would have to be excessively corroded within certain parts or damaged enough to split. A bit of rust is not a failure.
Also, not having an MOT does NOT invalidate your insurance. It's a common myth that one. The only thing that could happen is that if you had an accident the insurer could pursue you in the civil courts to recover their costs IF they could prove the car was unroadworthy and that caused the accident.
dangerous brain
26-07-08, 00:30
Clutching and straws chap. Like the rest have said unless its got heavy rust within inches of main suspension mounts (and thats rusted through not just surface rust) then there is no MOT failure. If its got buckling and or creasing of suspension mounts and or major structure then maybe you'd be in with a shout.
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