My banger failed its MOT on brakes, which I let them fix right away.
Went to collect it later and immediately noticed a scary wobbling sensation. Took it back - all the 10 yards I'd made it down the road - and dragged out a mechanic to look at it.

A back wheel was hanging off. The nuts hadn't been tightened.

So, the mechanics a. hadn't tightened the nuts b. hadn't re-tested the brakes (as required by law in those circs) and c. hadn't checked each other's work.

I showed the boss what had happened and he sort of shuffled his feet.

This was a monumentally disastrous bodge, because we'd taken all our cars there for 10 years or more and trusted them. We won't be back.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Mon 14 Mar 2011, 9:34, 9 replies)

I would have considered telling VOSA
or at least telling the garage that was what I was considering.
( M3rx likes the Asian ladies, Mon 14 Mar 2011, 12:51, closed)

Yup, should've done that.
I bet I wasn't the first customer whose car they skimped on. They'd be closed down if there were enough complaints.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Mon 14 Mar 2011, 18:33, closed)

I take it the whole MOT and fix thing was subsequently 'free'?

( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Mon 14 Mar 2011, 13:21, closed)

Nope, it had already all been paid for and I wasn't sticking around to argue the toss.
On reflection I should've stayed and kicked off!

However, I had lost confidence with them and wouldn't have gone back anyway. We now go to another garage where the boss knows what went on and has been 'courting' us with free check-ups and little jobs.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Mon 14 Mar 2011, 17:49, closed)

At least you got something good out of it.
I hate the garage I go to but I have no option to switch ( for very complicated reasons).
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Mon 14 Mar 2011, 22:23, closed)

What you need is fire
and lots of it.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 15 Mar 2011, 13:10, closed)

It's an interesting technique you propose...
Unfortunately it now exists out in the online ether so I imagine I would be primary suspect!
( number5 has been fighting tramps and losing., Wed 16 Mar 2011, 18:23, closed)

Similar thing happened to me.
I popped 2 tyres on one side on the way home from work 1 night. Went back the following day and got the local tyre place to come out with an extra rim and new tyre (I'd obviously already changed the spare over) - it was the wrong size. Eventho I'd carefully told them the rim and tube size...
Eventually got to the place and they put my new tyres on my rims and took off the spare. I saw the young bloke put them on with a rattle gun. A couple of days later I noticed the car felt quite "loose" around the corner on the way home from shopping. This was an Escort GL so loose wasn't in its vocab. Got home and checked the nuts. All loose, the rims were just sitting on the posts. Que 1 very annoyed phone call to the tyre place and me telling anyone who needs new tyres/rims to avoid them like the plague!
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Mon 14 Mar 2011, 22:47, closed)

That sort of thing gets round fast
They'll have lost a fortune in business. I reckon my old garage won't be far behind. What idiots!
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Tue 15 Mar 2011, 13:12, closed)