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Original poster

To think this is really dodgy??

24 replies

ChatterMonkey · 26/05/2021 08:03

My MOT is due at the end of the month so booked it in for its last MOT of the service plan i have with the big chain dealership i bought the car from, going in on saturday.

Yesterday i got an email which was a sales invoice, zero value which i guess makes sense as its covered by the service plan. But the invoice states the MOT certificate has been issued, gives certificate number and expiry date of 30.05.22. The car doesn't go into the garage until Saturday??

How on earth can they have already processed and issued the MOT?

Is there any other more innocent explanation for this other than the fact that they are fraudulently passing and issuing new MOTs without actually doing any testing?

If it was just a generic invoice with no real detail then i guess it could have been sent in error when processing thw booking in or something, but its the fact that it has generated an mot certificate number that is making me rather suspicious.

To add, defo the right car, invoice is headed with the correct reg number, the mileage enetered when cardying out the booking in. So no mix up with someone elses invoice.

OP posts:
mainsfed · 26/05/2021 08:06

Maybe it's just for their system to trigger an MOT reminder for you?

I had an MOT with Kwik Fit 8 years ago and still get annual reminders from them, even though I have not used them since (as they are a bit far).

RevolutionRadio · 26/05/2021 08:06

Have you checked the mot website to see what's registered for your car on there?

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 26/05/2021 08:11

It wasnt the reminder i got that and booked it in for the mot, did that a couple of days ago. Then yesterday the invoice arrived.

Surely a reminder wouldnt habe a certificate number and an expiry date though?

OP posts:
Spandang · 26/05/2021 08:18

I suspect it’s the finance department trying to process invoices before a bank holiday and it’s been generated in advance so that it falls within the May accounting period.

In theory your expiry date will be as they’ve said. Does it actually state MOT Test Number on it with a number next to it?

mainsfed · 26/05/2021 08:20

@ChatterMonkey

It wasnt the reminder i got that and booked it in for the mot, did that a couple of days ago. Then yesterday the invoice arrived.

Surely a reminder wouldnt habe a certificate number and an expiry date though?

I don't mean that that was the reminder, I meant that it could just be a formality to ensure you are sent a reminder for your next MOT due on 30 May 2022. But I'm not sure.
Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 26/05/2021 08:21

Just checked online and it now says it expires at the end of july?? It was defo the end of may before so idea why it has all of a sudden got an extra 2 months. Is that even possible to issue?

It just really calls into question the garage integrity imo. Myself and my partner have both got our cars from there, its where they go for the services and mots, through service plan packages. It really makes you wary about the quality of the work they are carrying out, and therefore the safety of the vehicals we both use a lot for work, covering large mileage on both cars.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 26/05/2021 08:22

@Spandang

I suspect it’s the finance department trying to process invoices before a bank holiday and it’s been generated in advance so that it falls within the May accounting period.

In theory your expiry date will be as they’ve said. Does it actually state MOT Test Number on it with a number next to it?

@spandang yes is states an MOT certificate number on the invoice, and states that it passed the MOT apparently carried out.
OP posts:
Devastatedyetagain · 26/05/2021 08:23

Have you asked them? Probably the best way to find out.

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 26/05/2021 08:28

Going to phone later on. But wanted to research a bit first. If it is dodgy then they are hardly going to tell me that on the phone are they?

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 26/05/2021 08:38

Did you get an extension last year due to Covid?

Redsquirrel5 · 26/05/2021 08:59

Comefromaway
Just what I was going to say. Have they been allowed to extend them due to garages being shut and now a back log. DD and partner had this in NZ both MOT and their Visa extended. They still can’t get a flight home.

Lostinacloud · 26/05/2021 09:03

Does the plan you have cover any repairs or replacements that would need doing in order for the car to pass its MOT? In that case then they would know it is a guaranteed pass when they get the car in to run the tests and maybe they’ve issued the paperwork early for bank holiday anyway or accounting reasons.

IntermittentParps · 26/05/2021 09:12

If it is dodgy then they are hardly going to tell me that on the phone are they?
No, but you're not asking them 'is this dodgy?'; you're asking for clarification on the MOT date of issue and the two different dates given. Approach it as a neutral puzzle to be solved.
Write down everything they say and ask for a follow-up email/letter to confirm the details.

nevernotstruggling · 26/05/2021 09:15

I don't see how they can legally generate an mot certificate when the mot hasn't been yet done that's very suspect!

EverNapping · 26/05/2021 09:19

You can check your car on these

www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

www.gov.uk/check-mot-status

DamnitFanny · 26/05/2021 09:47

In NI we are getting MOTs extended due to COVID - I got mine automatically renewed in March with no physical MOT inspection.

OwlIsBeingAnOwl · 26/05/2021 09:51

You're right to question it, but I suspect it's just them trying to get payment for a 'normal' MOT and will add any further charges if you need work doing/retest. It's probably just the default wording of 'passed MOT' that they have filled in to get it through on their systems (I hate when people do this, not realising that others will be interpreting it as the actual meaning of the words!).

OwlIsBeingAnOwl · 26/05/2021 09:51

But do double check what date your current MOT runs to as you don't want to be affecting the annual date by getting it done 'early'.

TroysMammy · 26/05/2021 10:02

My MOT was originally in May but because of lockdown last year I had a 6 month extension. I had my MOT done in the July when I was able to but thought the MOT would be next due the following May. It was for the following July, 12 months from when it was done.

DynamoKev · 26/05/2021 10:09

I don't think it's dodgy. Since all MOTs went online, its almost impossible to get a "bent" MOT. The details are all monitored centrally.

This also means you (as you have) check centrally via the gov website.

If they had just issued a "rubber stamp" MOT (which is well nigh impossible) then yours would show expiry as 12 months ahead, but it doesn't because the test hasn't been done yet.

As many others have said it seems they have had to fool their accounting system into thinking the MOT has been done - but only for paperwork reasons - nothing dodgy.

Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 26/05/2021 10:36

I do agree it appears that it hasnt actually triggered an mot pass, as it would show online, and isnt.

But surely even if it was just to 'fool' their own system for whatever reason its is very far from what you would expect best practice and transparancy of paperwork/income/hours worked etc etc?

It just feels very strange and not the norm that you would expect.

OP posts:
DogInATent · 26/05/2021 10:41

@ChatterMonkey

Just checked online and it now says it expires at the end of july?? It was defo the end of may before so idea why it has all of a sudden got an extra 2 months. Is that even possible to issue?

It just really calls into question the garage integrity imo. Myself and my partner have both got our cars from there, its where they go for the services and mots, through service plan packages. It really makes you wary about the quality of the work they are carrying out, and therefore the safety of the vehicals we both use a lot for work, covering large mileage on both cars.

Check the MOT history online, not just the MOT status (it's a different link, @EverNapping has given both links above). That way you'll see every MOT certificate that's ever been issued against the vehicle since the MOT system was digitized rather than just the current one. An extra two months can't just appear by magic.
EverNapping · 26/05/2021 15:38

Also, both those links are good if you want to distract kids on a journey...

DynamoKev · 28/05/2021 10:43

@ChatterMonkey

Just checked online and it now says it expires at the end of july?? It was defo the end of may before so idea why it has all of a sudden got an extra 2 months. Is that even possible to issue?

It just really calls into question the garage integrity imo. Myself and my partner have both got our cars from there, its where they go for the services and mots, through service plan packages. It really makes you wary about the quality of the work they are carrying out, and therefore the safety of the vehicals we both use a lot for work, covering large mileage on both cars.

This is the result of crappy systems, but its not suggestive of wrongdoing in itself.

It is very obvious your MOT has not been carried out and it doesn't appear the garage is trying to claim otherwise.

On the other hand, multiple surveys show the big chain and main dealer garages are usually poor value and not the best quality.

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