Halfords MOT rip off

[Accy cyclist]

Sorry i can't find the "Halfrauds" thread, so i'll post this here. The other day my father in law who has been a regular customer at Blackburn Halfords for years took his car in for its MOT. They've always been fair with him so therefore he's always returned for anything that he can't fix himself. Anyway, i asked him the other day if the car had passed the MOT, to which he replied "yes it passed, but at a cost"! The bill was for £682! Everything was itemised, from anti freeze at 35 quid, to the disposal of the old anti freeze at three quid.The biggest rip off was the board outside the store advertising MOT's at £27.50, yet on the bill it cost 50 quid! They even charged a tenner just to stick a sewing needle in his windscreen washers as they said the tiny hole was blocked up.
What a rip off!!!

 

[Profpointy]

sounds like a service as well then doesn't it?

After all, anti freeze is not an MOT item

 

[Accy cyclist]

sounds like a service as well then doesn't it?

After all, anti freeze is not an MOT item

I've just asked Mrs Accy about that point. She says that he has a service there every 6 months, but this time it was an MOT only. So it looks like they're doing a bit of servicing to bump up the bill maybe?

 

[Gary E]

Just another reason why I would never contemplate going to Halfords for anything.

Why is it when businesses are closing down all over the place that it always seems to be the good ones (Woolworths etc) that go under while crap ones like Halfords seem to survive? (rhetorical question - not trying to start up a long (and boring) thread about business, I'll leave that to the discussions thread).

 

[accountantpete]

Do Halfords do the MOT test themselves or do they send it to a nearby approved Garage? It should state this on the MOT certificate.

 

[numbnuts]

I wouldn't let them touch my wheelbarrow, that's if I had one

 

[Black Country Ste]

I've been stung by chain garages before, having taken advantage of service/MOT offers and they've 'found' expensive work to do. In comparison my favourite independent garage will do the job if it's necessary and flag the rest as advisory. He's done little bits gratis and is a thoroughly nice and honest bloke.

 

[TVC]

Trading standards or watchdog.

 

[on the road]

That's why I only ever take my car to MOT stations that don't do repairs, there's no benefit for them deliberately failing it seeing as they don't do repairs.

 

[fossyant]

That's why I only ever take my car to MOT stations that don't do repairs, there's no benefit for them deliberately failing it seeing as they don't do repairs.

Same here. The guy that does our cars is a bit grumpy and doesn't miss a trick.

Got a few advisories this year, some so minor like number plate letters are fading, but will not cause it to be mis-read, when its been like that since I got the car. Very picky bloke, but we are yet to get a fail.

 

[Hotblack Desiato]

Always have the service at the same time as the MOT. Would never go to Halfords as there is a back street MOT station and garage I have used for years. From the outside it looks a right dive but inside they have all the latest gear and a lot of the taxi drivers use it. Never paid as much as £300 so far.

 

[Reece]

I was an mot tester until I moved dealerships 18months ago. A lot get puts in advisories to cover the technicians back.

The anti freeze was probably reported on on a health heck all garages have a duty of care to carry out. The anti freeze is not a part of the mot.

Time is money so even the smallest job is chargeable but loyal customers usually and IMO should have small things done for free.

 

[fossyant]

Big fan of independents though. Our local garage I use for repairs is dead honest. I do my own servicing and MOT at a different garage that's more local, but anything big goes to them. My dad also uses them and he was a mechanic by trade ( retired now and can't be bothered getting dirty).

 

[gbb]

My late brother used to be lured by 'cheap MOT's' all the time...and ALWAYS ended up paying handsomely, yet whenever i used to tell him 'its a ploy Kev, to get you in there and then they've got you'...but he'd always reply...'i'm not paying full whack for an MOT'
Agree with the sentiments above , NEVER take my car to an MOTer that does repairs...NEVER. Ive not failed an MOT in donkeys years, i always go to an independant MOT only station, they'll overlook but advise you on silly stuff (like a blown bulb perhaps), but thoroughly check everything thats important.

 

[Night Train]

This is why I take my car 30 or so miles to Murts, near Hebden Bridge, I trust them.