MOT centres charging labour for work breaking the law?

bobert50

bobert50

bobert50

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I've just read this on a thread and thought i'd start a new one..

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Originally Posted by eidolon
MOT = £85 a year (£50.15+1/2hr labour+VAT at my local indy)

but then fox replied with..

Did you know he is breaking the law charging you that? The DOT sets a maximum charge for an MOT test. He can't then bill you for 30 minutes labour as well.

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K i'm sorry for my lack of quotes :p

I recently had my mot done last month and was expecting them to make something up to do me for. After the MOT they said that everything was fine except a corroded brake pipe (yea..bit random :p) which needed replacing and they quoted me £75 for the part, i couldnt get hold of one elsewhere and i'd left the MOT till one of the last days so i felt i had no option but to accept. When i got the MOT/receipt it showed that i'd been charged £25 for the part and £50 for the labour which must have taken about 20 mins :(

So in total it was £55 for the mot + £75 for this part, £50 of which being labour.

Were they breaking the law? I'm not 100% on this but they may / may not have taken it next door to whats probably a separate firm where this work was carried out. Is that possibly their loophole? is there any really good sources of info on this?

I'm keen to find out as if they're on very dodgy ground i'll be arguing for my money back ;)
 
I don't think they are breaking the law charging for labour if something needed fitting. They are breaking the law for charging labour to actually DO the MOT.

Otherwise you could technically take a completely mashed up car in for an MOT and say "oh no it needs work done, buy the parts but you can't charge labour" and then they have to spend over 1 day doing something for free. It would never work!
 
I pay £26 but there is a maximum fee listed on the DOT's website. Garages cannot charge more than the maximum fee to perform an MOT Test.

Work carried out is seperate to that.
 
Paid £28 for my last one at Kwik Fit (thats the maximum discretionary discount kwik fit staff can give)

To be honest no-one need pay anything like the £50.15 for a quick 30min check of their car given that nationwide auto centres with places all over the country test for £27.
 
Local garage were doing a deal of a free MOT with a Full service so I just went for that and it didn't work out too pricey.

£139.99 inc VAT
 
Jez said:
To be honest no-one need pay anything like the £50.15 for a quick 30min check of their car given that nationwide auto centres with places all over the country test for £27.
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50mins for an MOT test... minimum.

My mot's cost me nothing, just an hour of my time :p
 
realscot said:
50mins for an MOT test... minimum.

My mot's cost me nothing, just an hour of my time :p
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Well, whatever. It still doesnt ever need to cost more than £27 given that one of the biggest nationwide chains are charging that. Kwik Fit can also charge £28.
 
I have no problem with paying £50 or whatever. Rent of a unit, 4 poster ramps, equipment, DLVA fees, labour all cost money so I can't expect them to do it for free.
 
eidolon said:
I have no problem with paying £50 or whatever. Rent of a unit, 4 poster ramps, equipment, DLVA fees, labour all cost money so I can't expect them to do it for free.
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no one would expect them to do it for free, that's not what the thread was about at all.
 
Another vote for free. Thanks Audi :)

edit: On topic - as has been mentioned, I'm sure they can't charge labour for the MOT itself, but any work that has to be carried out in order for it to pass can be charged.
 
Wicksta said:
no one would expect them to do it for free, that's not what the thread was about at all.
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Ok, I'll rephrase.

I can't expect them to do it for £10 or £20 as that would most likely be less than it costs them or they're rushing through your MOT and are unlikely to pick up on some potential defects.

Some people might prefer to save a few quid and drive around in an unsafe car but I'd prefer to know if my floorpan is about to fall out.
 
eidolon said:
Some people might prefer to save a few quid and drive around in an unsafe car but I'd prefer to know if my floorpan is about to fall out.
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And I wouldnt trust a garage which is breaking the law to extract more money from you to tell you that. If they are simply performing an MOT test, they cannot bill you 30 minutes labour as well as the statuary fee.

Heck an Official Porsche Centre would cost you less!
 
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