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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be very annoyed at MOT centre

68 replies

Christmasgrinchthesecond · 05/12/2017 13:22

MOT garage picked up my car this morning. Due to sharing it with DD, it has a black box. I didn't mention this as I didn't think the garage would be stupid enough to speed in my car. Hmm

Yet have just looked at the black box app on my phone-

  • lowest possible speed rating (meaning they have sped)
  • another journey made to a town centre a few miles away from MOT centre(during lunch so I expect they've used my car to go to Maccies or something!)
  • another low rating for speed on the way back

So now my driving score on the app has dropped substantially, I'll get less cashback this month and they've used my petrol for driving somewhere other than the MOT centre.

Would I be a bitch to complain or am I being rational? Grin

FWIW the app is accurate and well calibrated... You also have to go over the limit by 5% to trigger the warning for speed!

OP posts:
LittleLights · 05/12/2017 13:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SheSparkles · 05/12/2017 13:52

Garage trade policies are different from regular trade policies-they will have been covered, but that doesn’t give them carter Blanche to be driving like idiots. I’d be going ballistic at this!

LittleLights · 05/12/2017 13:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

InfiniteSheldon · 05/12/2017 13:53

Ring right now ask to speak to the manager and say exactly what you said to us you've had text saying they're driving your car wtf is going on?

Insomnibrat · 05/12/2017 13:55

Yes they'll be fully insured.

UnicornRainbowColours · 05/12/2017 13:55

Wouldn’t bother with a letter they’ll just bin it. Give them a ring and ask why exactly was my car being driven at excessive speeds today when I’m paying you to MOT it.

MaxPepsi · 05/12/2017 13:58

My friend's ex DH owns a garage. She used to sort the insurance when she worked with him.
Policy was over £5k a year. Imagine it's a lot higher now. They were fully covered for all customer cars.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 05/12/2017 13:58

Genuine question, if you know someone has been speeding in your car, are you abliged to report it? So I mean, if they’d got flashed by a speed camera and you get the fine in the post, you’d have to say who was driving. So, even though there may be no ‘fine’ (cos they might have got lucky and not got caught) are you still supposed to report it?

hiyasminitsme · 05/12/2017 14:01

Have you paid for the MOT yet? If not I'd withhold the money until you get an explanation.

Nicknacky · 05/12/2017 14:02

I imagine they will be only insured for the journeys they had permission for. The lunchtime journey they had no permission for.

ForgivenessIsDivine · 05/12/2017 14:02

Can you print off the results from the app? I would print them off and then make an appointment to see the manager. When do you need to pay? Do not pay before you have had this meeting. i would question whether the garage are insured to drive the car other than for MOT purposes and to and from your house if they are collecting.

Nicknacky · 05/12/2017 14:03

judas Report it to who? The police? Of course not.

Insomnibrat · 05/12/2017 14:07

Any service dept manager should take this very seriously. It's ultra embarrassing for them.
Is it a dealership or small local garage?

shoeaddict83 · 05/12/2017 14:19

id 100% ring the garage now and speak to a manager. Advise them you will also be reporting it to the black box company so the results can be adjusted due to their misuse. If they know its also being dealt with externally they are more likely to deal with the complaint in house.
Id be fuming,
want me to ring? i love a good complaint when i know im in the right!! Grin

NeilPetark · 05/12/2017 14:34

They’ll ignore a letter you need to talk to them.

Glumglowworm · 05/12/2017 14:37

Definitely complain! Thats awful!

carefreeeee · 05/12/2017 14:40

Not the end of the world. If they were caught speeding in your car it wouldn't be your fault. You should have told them about the black box to protect your own interests. Most drivers speed at times.

Don't bother writing - garage mechanics aren't normally the strongly worded letter type. I think you should just be honest and say that you know they've been taking it out and about and ask why. After all you could have seen them yourself even without the black box.

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 05/12/2017 14:44

Ask the person standing in front of you, then call the garage while they're still standing there, or ask them to
"Why was my car driven at excessive speeds to town at lunchtime?"
"I dunno"
"call and find out then!"
Definitely withhold payment for the mot unless they can satisfactorily explain it!!

LurkingHusband · 05/12/2017 14:46

Maybe drop a line to the Department of Transport, as they are MOT testers ?

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-standards-agency

blueskyinmarch · 05/12/2017 14:51

That is shocking. You need to take this up with the MOT centre before you pay your bill.

LookingForwardToChristmas · 05/12/2017 14:53

Definitely complain!

AnnetteCurtains · 05/12/2017 14:59

Have you spoken to the manager yet ChristmasGrinch ?

TotemIcePole · 05/12/2017 15:02

Complain!

Bloody cheek.

Jaxhog · 05/12/2017 15:09

And don't forget to ask them to pay for the petrol they used too.

CotswoldStrife · 05/12/2017 15:17

Ring them as soon as the car starts moving!

My dad got an apology from a garage servicing his car - he dropped it off in the morning, later on we were walking back from the shops and as we stood loaded up with bags waiting to cross the road the mechanic drove past us in the car Grin What is it about lunchtime and using other people's vehicles?!