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REG
Senior Member
United Kingdom
530 Posts |
 Posted - 05 Feb 2011 : 10:37:55
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I or should I say, my car is in need of an MOT (and me, but fear I would fail such testing). I have purchased our local paper to find such advertisements. One garage have advertised a promotional £20.00 off the price on production of advert! I telephone to book in because surely an MOT is an MOT. They quoted me a price of £48.95, I mentioned the advert and confirmed the price therefore being £28.95. I was then told that with the advert the price would increase to the RRP and therefore would be £34.85!? So I have booked my car in at a garage that says it as it is advertised. Autocare advertise at £39.95 and that's what they are going to charge.  |
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Scottman
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1759 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2011 : 11:02:39
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You do have to be very careful. Too many stories about those places that offer 'discount' MoTs then finding something to fail it on, and fix, at extra charges to cover their loss leader. The Fiat garage, Disera, on Ware Road (now closed) was famous for it.
I would always advise people to take their car to a no nonsense MoT centre and pay the proper price - we use Roy Carter on Ware Road and he has not obviously knocked us during 30 years. |
Edited by - Scottman on 05 Feb 2011 11:16:58 |
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boyboy
Average Member
257 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2011 : 11:08:40
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| I use roy Carter for my MOT's simelar amount of years as Scottman, never had cause for complaint. |
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skippy
Advanced Member
1019 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2011 : 14:52:38
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I used one of the larger chains of garages who had a money off offer for MOT on production of an advertisement.
They honored the offer, but wanted to charge me £20 for replacing a faulty horn, but then had to quickly back track when I pointed out that they had put a new on on for me only 3 months earlier.
I obviously do not use them anymore.
Go by reputation and not adverts that entice you in, as they only make it up elsewhere |
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Surfer Rosa
Average Member
United Kingdom
243 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2011 : 14:57:22
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Yes we've used Roy Carter for years. They have my undying loyalty a) because they are good and b) because they don't run annoying adverts on Jack FM like so many local MOT places seem to!
REG, what you described may be false advertising (depends on the exact wording in the promotion) and if you have a few minutes to spare, you could try filling in the online complaints form at the ASA
http://www.asa.org.uk/Complaints/How-to-complain.aspx
Please let us know how you get on. |
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harvey
Junior Member
27 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2011 : 12:48:27
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Roy Carter have always been good with my cars
Always get an MOT there |
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FLIPPER
Junior Member
United Kingdom
57 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2011 : 16:19:50
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| Most of the discounted MOT's advertised are used as lost leaders. Once they have your car, some will find a problem that will require fixing before your car will pass its MOT. As most older cars require servicing yearly, I always arranged for my cars to be serviced and MOT'd at the same time. When I had three older cars requiring MOT's yearly, I always booked them in to Autocare in Ware. Hence I had a very reasonable priced service but in effect a cheap £39.95 MOT |
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Andy B
Moderator
New Zealand
3159 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2011 : 21:33:19
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As I have done before I can only agree with others and commend Autocare to be honest and reliable.
Just as an aside, here in NZ we have the Warrant of Fitness (WoF) which has to be done annually to six years old and then every six months. This cost £15 approximately, its a shorter version of the MOT but is carried out at a testing station and they do not do repairs so have no benefit to failing a vehicle. Maybe this is the way to go? |
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Whereaami
Senior Member
United Kingdom
814 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2011 : 21:55:17
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| I disagree Autocare in my experience "invent" leaks during MOTs that need urgent attention £400 of work ......funny how a 2nd opinion found nothing wrong. |
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Andy B
Moderator
New Zealand
3159 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2011 : 23:30:17
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quote:
Originally posted by Whereaami
I disagree Autocare in my experience "invent" leaks during MOTs that need urgent attention £400 of work ......funny how a 2nd opinion found nothing wrong.
You're entitled to disagree Whereaami but I seem to remember you have raised this before when did this happen?
I can only emphisis that I have nothing but praise for Autocare and everyone I recommended going there have been pleased. And yes I still use them from here!! |
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Whereaami
Senior Member
United Kingdom
814 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 01:32:05
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I have mentioned it before, i recieved bad service, bad attitude, repairs cost alot of money and fault re-occured numerous times, could they give a damn NO!.
So you will appreciate why i warn others that there is another side to all the rosy , autocare are fantastic and perfect comments. |
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Andy B
Moderator
New Zealand
3159 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 02:24:00
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quote:
Originally posted by Whereaami
I have mentioned it before, i recieved bad service, bad attitude, repairs cost alot of money and fault re-occured numerous times, could they give a damn NO!.
So you will appreciate why i warn others that there is another side to all the rosy , autocare are fantastic and perfect comments.
But you are the only one who raises anything and I believe it was a while ago so is not time to move on?
I used them over the Christmas period via a family member and can confirm my comments. |
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JCB
Average Member
United Kingdom
348 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 08:23:29
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I too have heard good things of Autocare, but have never used them myself.
Slightly out of town in Spellbrook, Bishops Stortford is Hilton Suzuki, a main dealer but not a massive chain, where you get fantastic service, a free MOT (yes - actually free) and service costing less than £100 - can't beat it in my book! |
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Whereaami
Senior Member
United Kingdom
814 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 10:30:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Andy B
quote:
Originally posted by Whereaami
I have mentioned it before, i recieved bad service, bad attitude, repairs cost alot of money and fault re-occured numerous times, could they give a damn NO!.
So you will appreciate why i warn others that there is another side to all the rosy , autocare are fantastic and perfect comments.
But you are the only one who raises anything and I believe it was a while ago so is not time to move on?
I used them over the Christmas period via a family member and can confirm my comments.
Good for you. I dont and wont trust them ever again. |
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REG
Senior Member
United Kingdom
530 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2011 : 18:28:31
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| Thank you for replies - I must say my family were in the Motor Trade for over a hundred years and my Father is always on hand for good advise. He feels strongly that some garages are advertising Cheap/Discounted MOT to find work to fix. The advert is in this weeks Mercury and is clearly misleading and mis selling, so I am happy to say I trust Autocare and am all booked in. Looks like a majority vote I done the right thing. |
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JCB
Average Member
United Kingdom
348 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 09:05:05
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| If you really believe the advert to be mis-selling, then you should report it to your local Trading Standards who will investigate. |
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Winter
Wolfer
United Kingdom
651 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 09:19:27
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| Or report it to the ASA. |
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JCB
Average Member
United Kingdom
348 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 09:58:51
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| Absolutely - good call Winter |
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REG
Senior Member
United Kingdom
530 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2011 : 12:16:51
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| I do agree on reporting as such, but called then twice and on second call I did say it was possibly misleading, their reply was that, The Mercury had wrongly printed the advert.I shall wait for this weeks. |
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