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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you formally complain about this?

141 replies

bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:05

Car was serviced on Thursday. Was picked up and taken to the garage (large, international manufacturer) and then dropped back the same afternoon.

Fast forward to this morning when I'm driving my 2yo DS to his nursery. Had to do a rather sharp brake, due to car in front suddenly stopping. Wasn't a full on emergency brake, but I was going at about 20mph and had to slow down quite rapidly.

DS is screaming in the back- I turn round and his car seat has flown forward and he is half in the footwell/ half pressed against the passenger seat!!

He has one of the seats that is secured with the seatbelt round the back- basically, I can only presume that the seat was unbuckled when it was serviced and not secured again. I definitely have not undone it and he is not capable of doing it himself.

No one me ruined the seat needed to be re-secured and it was just put back in place... which meant I wasn't even promoted to check. If it has been laid flat/ places back to front or something, I would have known it was loose!

Would you make a formal complaint based on this?

OP posts:
Original poster
bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:06

*no one informed me (should say)

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 28/03/2023 16:06

No; I think the onus is on you to check.

ditavonteesed · 28/03/2023 16:07

No entirely your responsibility to check.

slamfightbrightlight · 28/03/2023 16:07

Agree with above, your responsibility to check it every trip.

Redebs · 28/03/2023 16:07

Wow, thank goodness no serious injuries.
I too think it's up to you to check.

Shoelacesundone · 28/03/2023 16:07

Really this is on you to check

MrsBunnyEars · 28/03/2023 16:08

I would 100% have checked.

tillytoodles1 · 28/03/2023 16:08

No, I'd have checked it myself when i got the car back.

Mouthfulofquiz · 28/03/2023 16:10

This is tricky - I’m not sure I would have checked as would have assumed they wouldn’t need to remove the seat. Maybe feed back to them that they should
tell people if they disconnect car seats. No need to complain but it would be good for the garage to be aware.

TulipCat · 28/03/2023 16:10

I would mention it to them as feedback, ie better to leave the seat definitely not secured so the car owner knows to check. But it is your responsibility ultimately - your car, you driving it.

Original poster
bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:10

Ok, thanks for responses.

It honestly just didn't even cross my mind, but will do in future now!

A scary lesson learned and obvs relieved he is ok.

OP posts:
Travelfan2021 · 28/03/2023 16:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn at the poster's request due to privacy concerns.

Original poster
bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:12

I also do feel that it would not have taken any effort at all to tell me the seat had been taken out/ leave it out of position so it was obvious.

These people are literally checking the safety of the car and yet thought it was ok to disconnect the seat and just put it back in position...

OP posts:
themonkeysnuts · 28/03/2023 16:12

I don't know why the seat should have been unbuckled for a service (MOT yes) but you should check that it is secure anyway before putting your child in it

Coffeellama · 28/03/2023 16:12

Absolutely your job to check, doesn’t hurt to check before setting off on a normal day anyway just incase it has been popped out in error, only takes a quick glance. But it is odd, garages usually won’t touch car seats even when doing an MOT.

FictionalCharacter · 28/03/2023 16:13

Yes sorry, your responsibility to check before every journey.
We always took car seats out before a service. They have to check that each seat belt is functioning correctly so would have to take out the car seat to do that.

Original poster
bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:13

Do people genuinely check the car seat everytime they put their kid in it?? Even if no one else has been in the car/ driven it (unlike my case, I know)

I am starting to feel like a bad mum Blush

OP posts:
LookingOldTheseDays · 28/03/2023 16:15

Coffeellama · 28/03/2023 16:12

Absolutely your job to check, doesn’t hurt to check before setting off on a normal day anyway just incase it has been popped out in error, only takes a quick glance. But it is odd, garages usually won’t touch car seats even when doing an MOT.

Seatbelts are checked as part of MOT, so I would fully expect them to have buckled/unbuckled the seat belt for an MOT.

bloodywhitecat · 28/03/2023 16:15

Most garages won't touch car seats that are strapped into the car even for MOT purposes (mine was MOT'ed yesterday and I was told they wouldn't test the seatbelt where the car seat is as they are not allowed to interfere with car seats in any way). Do you periodically check the seatbelt is still fastened?

FictionalCharacter · 28/03/2023 16:16

bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:13

Do people genuinely check the car seat everytime they put their kid in it?? Even if no one else has been in the car/ driven it (unlike my case, I know)

I am starting to feel like a bad mum Blush

Yes, I did. Just takes a second to make sure the whole thing is secure.
No need to feel like a bad mum!

mynameiscalypso · 28/03/2023 16:16

bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:13

Do people genuinely check the car seat everytime they put their kid in it?? Even if no one else has been in the car/ driven it (unlike my case, I know)

I am starting to feel like a bad mum Blush

I do. Admittedly we don't drive that often because DS gets travel sick so I'm probably more conscious of it than someone who drives every day.

Coffeellama · 28/03/2023 16:17

LookingOldTheseDays · 28/03/2023 16:15

Seatbelts are checked as part of MOT, so I would fully expect them to have buckled/unbuckled the seat belt for an MOT.

Show quote history

They don’t though, they just mark it on the MOT that they couldn’t check that seatbelt due to car seat being installed. I’ve used 3 garages and all have done this.

Coffeellama · 28/03/2023 16:18

bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:13

Do people genuinely check the car seat everytime they put their kid in it?? Even if no one else has been in the car/ driven it (unlike my case, I know)

I am starting to feel like a bad mum Blush

Of course, it takes a second to look at it and could save your child’s life. You aren’t a bad mum but why not just take the extra second to look at the seatbelt?

Original poster
bluelid · 28/03/2023 16:18

My car didn't have an MOT, just a service.

OP posts:
billyt · 28/03/2023 16:18

LookingOldTheseDays · 28/03/2023 16:15

Seatbelts are checked as part of MOT, so I would fully expect them to have buckled/unbuckled the seat belt for an MOT.

Show quote history

Most places doing an MOT will not/shouldn't undo a child seat. They won't test that seatbelt and will probably note it on the test result.

But OP said their car was serviced not MOT'd. Depends how far the service goes.