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As a confirmed cynic I should add that there are many people out there who devise schemes to con desperate people out of what little money they've got. These poor people are easy prey to sharks. Why do you think there are so many ads out there for secured consolidation loans and the like? Yeah, you're up to your eyes in debt so just take out another loan to help pay off the original debt. This time, however, it's secured on your home or at an exorbitant interest rate! I know this is just an MOT but the principle's the same. Promise something that people want to believe and they'll queue up for it whether it's true or not. Don't go there HF.
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I have used these places and yes, you can walk away if the car fails.
What they tend to do is find a fault on emissions or lighting and offer to do the adjustment for a fee (garages that charge an MOT fee in the usual way will often do these minor adjustments for free)
They will also charge you the full MOT fee on passing-most other garages will be cheaper.
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The majority, if not all, specify an car age limit for the NPNF offer.
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The majority, if not all, specify an car age limit for the NPNF offer.
Which isn't on the ad. I'll find out if I phone them - I'd imagine my 1992 car would be too old to qualify!
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Thanks Doc - the emissions is one of the things I'm worried about (although kind of hope that's all that will be wrong). - am going to take car on a longish fastish drive in the morning anyway, in 3rd gear, as DavidHM advised me last year and which made it pass emissions test.
I think after reading all these points, I'm safer with the devil I know, if he can fit me in.
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V-man, I take your points - in this and the other post. That's why I'm wary.
From what others have said, it's unlikely they could demand to do the work, but they could tell me the car is undrivable and thus render me stuck. I certainly don't want to pay test fees to two separate places, and I know I'll have to pay a fee sometime, just wanted to check what this free initial failure thing was all about.
By the way, I went to Alan's today - and the shop was closed up. I phoned him too, and left a message on his answerphone - hopefully he'll get back in the morning. With my luck it's his summer holiday break!
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HF,
There is not a big, underground conspiracy out to get you.
An offer, like no pass no fee, is a gimmick to increase the likelihood of them getting to repair your car, at which time they would recover the expense of any failed tests. It is very unlikely that it is a front for an international organisation dedicated to falsely determine cars as unsafe, hence trapping people in their premises until they pay huge sums to have their car repaired.
They cannot "demand" they do the work, although they are free to use discounts and the like to encourage you.
These places are checked from time to time. Of course there are bad places, but most of them are just fine. Its just mroe fun to talk about the bad ones and war stories.
Get it down there and get it tested. See if it passes.
If they mark it as unsafe to drive (which is incredibly unlikely), ask them to show you why, investigate it as much as you can with them, and then tell them you're taking it for a second opinion.
Don't forget, if they say it is unsafe to drive, then it probably is and you should not drive it.
Sometimes the world really isn't out to get you.
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[snip]
>>but HF\'s situation is.........
....hers to explain or not as she chooses.
Mark.
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All everyone has said is true - you need to be careful in accepting "free" services, but they can be genuine if you don't let yourself be pressurised into paying over the odds for the extras.
I think the ones that charge a full fee to start with, then a reduced fee for the retest, are better value.
From recent but imperfect memory, the retest is always free if you leave the car there and they do the work. It is free if you take it away and return within 24 hours for a minor thing - bulbs, wipers etc.
It is half price if you return within I think 7 days for a wider number of specified things, and for anything else, especially the more serious faults, it is full fee the second time.
Those are the maxima - most stations IME charge less than that, some even always free for the retest.
The "dangerous to drive" box is usually just to cover themselves. My recent slightly worn track rod end was hardly dangerous, especially now I new about it and drove carefully. They didn't mention it, and knew very well I was going to drive away anyway. But if the chassis was on the point of collapsing from rust I'm sure they would have said so.
For the non-mechanically inclined motorist I think the best routine is to find a good honest small private garage and build up a long term relationship with them. They don't have to do MOTs themselves - a good option is when they do pre-tests and then get the car MOT'd for you.
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HF - Take my tip and use the 'devil you know 'if you have a regular spannerman.
I have on a couple of occasions tried the 'free MOT ' offers and as others have said they tend to be a sprat to catch a mackerel.
If you find a good independent mechanic who you trust, stick to him like glue and if he doesn't do MOT's himself maybe ask if he can go with you when the car is tested or take it himself. It may well be it costs a little extra but will save you in the long term because he talks the language and won't take any bull.
Good Luck for the test - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
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It's a good offer for people who drive old cars & MOT their cars every 6 months.
If you follow this procedure, at the point when it fails too badly to be worth repairing, you still have a car with 6 months MOT that you can sell (and the failed test has cost you nothing!). If you pass, you pay up £40 in exchange for 6 months' more motoring.
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HF...
What's the verdict then? Hope it all went ok today.
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Cliff, Heli, Mapmaker, PG, and all others who have posted here -
First, it PASSED!!! For the first time in 10 years of driving, I have had a straight pass - and I am so chuffed you wouldn't believe it!
My normal mechanic wasn't able to fit me in, but suggested to me a small local MOT test centre which he uses himself. (the idea being for them to test it and him to do the work next week when he has time). This test centre's own terms are 14 days between test and free retest, which sounds very generous compared to the people Cliff mentioned.
I would of course have stuck with trusted mechanic if I'd had time, but I didn't - and I was very lucky!
I had decided, anyway, from information here, not to go for the NPNF garage, because I'd have to pay a fee in any case, whether at the start or at the end, so I decided that didn't matter too much.
Testing people changed a couple of bulbs for me, adjusted a headlamp arm (?) and all I paid for was the test and the bulbs. Fantastic.
Apparently there are a couple of 'advices' which will need sorting for next year - and I will be asking about these at some stage to get an idea what they mean.
But, for now, I am one very happy driver.
Many, many thanks to all who have posted here.
HF
Oh and DD - your MOT price was exactly what they charged.
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Oh and DD - your MOT price was exactly what they charged.
I should hope so; after all I'm on commission ;o)
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>>I'm on commission
What's your price these days? A crumb off the end of someone's vegetarian ploughman's? Or are you still having to scrape around the floor for the ringpulls after Mark and HJ's indulgent nights out? ;)))
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I'm so glad it passed. I well know the feeling of elation, especially sweet if you had all-but given up hope of a straight pass. It's silly really - it's only a car, not a child!
Have you ever sat in one of those viewing areas? Don't - it's nerve-wracking.
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Well done HF - a good and much deserved result. The moral of the story is though, don't leave it to the last minute next time. It won't cost you any more to get your next MOT done a few weeks before (up to a month IIRC) the old one expires and then if the worst happens you've got more time to sort out any problems - hopefully as cheaply as possible. Also, have a look at the advisory notes and get a 'quote' for the work. At least if you know what this work may cost next year you'll be able to plan ahead for it and if it doesn't happen you'll have a little fund for other emergencies.
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HF - I'm so pleased for you. Excellent news.
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>Cliff: It's only a car not a child
But a child doesn't go expensively wrong at 24 hours' notice, and you don't rely on your child for transport!
Huge relief when they pass for no cost. Well done!
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Yeah and, of course, some people totally rely their cars for various reasons.
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Thanks all!
And Cliff - I nearly fell into the viewing area when I dropped the car off! (that's if the 'viewing area' is the big hole in the ground that was cleverly camouflaged so that I nearly missed it (so you see Mark, it *is* just a huge conspiracy theory!).
Anyway, again thanks for all comments - I was very lucky this year, and will really try and heed advice to be a bit more efficient next year.
Best regards to you all
HF
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